Quick background: I originally ordered the vehicle with the pack that included the RAI (reason being, concerned about moondust around here), then it was abruptly pulled off less than two weeks before delivery due to the RAI recall with no ETA to fix (the choice I was given is, drop it or wait for nobody knows how long). Well, I dropped it, now, 5900 miles later, let's see if it mattered.

Not much.

This vehicle has been around lots of dust, and some mud (interestingly enough, that one day trip contributed more crud than the rest combined). Yet, the intake after the filter looks pristine to me, despite all around it being unbelievably filthy (side note, how do you folks clean the engine compartment???) Below what it looks like, and my verdict is - I can replace the air filter about 40 times for the price of the ROI, so yeah, it looks like a good deal. Sure thing, getting it may be financially viable because the price of a pack is a fraction of the price of the parts combined (plus port install vs. dealer install), but not having it shouldn't be a reason to cry one's eyes out - this is my take, YMMV.








Not to get up twice - this is how the cabin filter looked like; I will replace them much more often in the future (though the cabin air quality degradation wasn't really noticeable). It's hilarious how mismatched the writings on the replacement filter are - I guess that's the price you pay for not having the JLR seal of approval. So far, so good.

 

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Very interesting. As of 2024, there was still a recall of the snorkels for the Defenders as they would fly off. RCLRPT-24E102-3460.PDF
I really like the look f the dual snorkels on the V8 Defenders.

 

Big NO from me on the factory raised air intake. When running at Rebelle Rally for a week, the air filter does not get excessivly dirty. Most people put them on for looks. Makes getting a windshield replaced a pain, and has build quality issues. If it is just for looks and negligible gains to keep cleaner air coming in, not going on a Sarek vehicle.

 

Hard pass on the RAI

All downside, no up.

They seem to suffer an inordinate amount of failures.

I change the air filter every year and the box is always in amazingly clean condition. Things get pretty dusty on the trails once summer kicks in. The filter itself is never too bad either. Annual swap is probably overkill but it's cheap and simple preventative maintenance so I'll keep doing it.

A true aftermarket, fully-sealed to the airbox snorkel, would arguably be a reasonable insurance policy for deep wading or at the very least, on angle deep water entry. Some weeks back after verifying the theory " Defender floats when the 900mm wading depth is exceeded", I'm questioning the merit of those also. (Bravo and NDM snorkels).

I think for the most part the OEM RAI is a marketing accessory to add some off-road cred to the esthetic. All hat and no cattle.





The standard air intake seems to be above where must dust and dirt accumulates.

Side note answer: On cleaning the engine bay. I wipe the engine cover and airbox with an oily rag every time I change the oil. No reason. No benefit. Just passes a minute or two as the oil sucks out. I keep the cast iron rear tow loops oiled with the same rag.

 

That’s a great picture of 3 of us “trail meeting”

 

Yep, that's the same recall that hit me.

I looked at my post and realized that I might have shot myself in the foot by inlining the link; yours and mine talk about the same recall but the link I posted is later (February 11 2025) and while yours refers to "unknown population", the other points out exactly which vehicles were affected and how (on page 3/18). Here's the link spelled out for visibility: RCMN-24E102-2023.pdf

I'd love to hear the war stories from people affected by this recall Though it's of entertainment value at this point.

 

Yep, that's my answer now. You might remember all the effort I put into finding the answer, well, I have it now.


Love the photo. Hate being in conditions like that I'll take dust and sun any day of week and twice on Sunday.

Same. Whatever I fix, I clean, sometimes more. But sometimes I have to draw the line Below is the front suspension after FOUR intense washes now; once it dried out I realized that the inside of the wheel well arches is also full of that sticky mud. And the rocker panels. And God knows what else.