LR3 Coil Over Conversion
 

Enjoy the info and pics that are hard to find online, that may help you decide to Convert or not Convert your air suspension on your LR3.

Here's Before / After pics of 2005 LR3 with Atlantic British Coil Over Conversion Kit (standard springs) complete with hard wired reflash module, that I installed on my buddies LR3 in a long days work.


Only 4 bolts per shock to remove, but based on rust and limited access, it can take quite a bit of time to remove. No other components had to be removed to pull the air strut out and replace with the sturdy coil over. So no alignment was needed afterward. I used a 15mm 6 point wrench to crack the top mounted nuts loose, then a trusty Craftsmen ratcheting wrench to remove. TIP: Spray bolts/nuts the day before with PB Blaster. Spray the day of, Spray during. Also, once you have a few nuts removed... thread a nut onto an existing stud down then up to remove the rust on the threads. Then when you loosen the original nut, it will come off easy once you get to the cleaned thread portion. Careful not to strip the nut, based on rust it can be a bear to remove.


I chose to solder and then crimp the 6 wires of the module onto the cut ECU wires, as I don't like the plastic hand threaded connectors that come with the AB kit. Just my choice for a better than it has to be wiring install.


The 2005 LR3 was due for it's 3rd Compressor, the front air valve was leaking, the air strut/shocks being 10 years old,... All added to the decision to convert the aging and problematic air suspension to the trouble free coil over suspension. He plans to keep it another 4-6 years so this will eliminate future I$$ues with the air suspension. :-)


End result is Great. Nice stance, good ride, predictable handling, and NO air suspension codes/lights on the dash!


Many good kits out there... but none with the Reflash module to truly eliminate (fix) the warning lights. So A++ for the AB kit.


See the last pic for the ridiculous amount of travel Land Rovers are famous for. Roof of LR3 is over 7 feet tall!


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I call bull$hit on the EAS being so "problematic." I've had my LR3 nearly 10 years and yeah it needs to be maintained but it hasn't been all that big a deal.

...too many advantages to dick around with a coil-conversion.

Thanks for the great write-up and pictures. Very informative.

I'd expect the coil conversions to be more worthwhile for folks in the next 10 years, as these trucks head toward 20yrs old. ... but even then - I too would not be interested. If I wanted coils, I'd have bought a D2 or a Jeep. My wife admits my LR3 rides way nicer over the bumps than her '15 Wrangler Unlimited. :D

Dave

....not to mention the articulation; very respectable for not having solid axles. Worth the cost of maintenance to me.

Sure, having coils might be less trouble, but let's avoid the inflammatory rhetoric while describing systems. Straight talk is appreciated.

Is the compressor toast, or is it just starting to go out? If it still somewhat works, would you sell it to me cheap? I'm looking for one to rebuild.

I guess the word "problematic" is up to each of us to decide... Replace the word PROBLEMATIC with EXPENSIVE and I think we can all agree.


EXPENSIVE EAS system converted to Dependable Coil Over system. :-)


The owner had compressor replaced at Land Rover in 2012 for well over $1000. It needed another compressor along with front air valve... dealer quoted $1450. Nearest dealer is 3 hour drive. Being a 10 year old LR3, who knows how long rear air valve or air shocks will last.


The Owner has a rare 1985 Defender for his off road adventures... This LR3 is for his high school daughter to drive 2 more years and 4 years of college. He decided $1300 installed coil over conversion to be cheap insurance vs. aging EXPENSIVE EAS system.


4 wheel drive components continue to work via ABS as intended by LR. This is a 100% street driven vehicle, still capable for off road.


Just simply wanted to give others a few before / after pics and info, as there really are no current LR3 pics online to view.


Happy Trails!

Supposedly, it began to cycle frequent/often due to leaking front air valve. Compressor quit over a few days LR3 dropped.


Owner wants to leave compressor, drier, air valves intact in case next owner wants to bolt the air struts back in and return to full function. So compressor not for sale.

I'll take the old air strut set up :D

Fair retort, TDW. I don't disagree with that particular owner's decision and I will agree that the EAS is expensive to fix with its complexity and spendy components...but I would contend that over the past 10 years it's been more robust than anyone anticipated.

Eventually I will get a new AMK compressor (when I know for sure it will fit above my RS Sliders and I will replace 3 of the 4 air struts that are original...and be good for another 100k miles (20 years at my current pace). I'd call that a well-spent $3500-$4000.

Owner Weighing In
 

TDW315 did an excellent job on the coil over conversion. I have been driving the vehicle for a week, and it is everything I hoped for. There's a touch of rollout that I didn't notice previously, but it isn't bad. I realized that I would lose much of the off-road capability when the air suspension was traded for the coil over conversion kit from AB. The decision took me 4 months to make, but the car was purchased to be a safe high school/college car for a teen driver. I sold a 2005 Jeep Wrangler Sport with 50,000 mi. for more than I paid for the 2005 LR3 HSE! Even after the coil over and a new thermostat this past winter, I'm still money ahead.


I now have a nice big powerful heavy vehicle with ABS, Traction Control, AWD, air bags all around, leather, Harmon Kardon system, sunroof, heated front and rear seats, and power everything. She's much happier, and safer.


I purchased the 2005 LR3 HSE in Feb. 2014 with 85,000 mi. I was able to get all of the maintenance records from a Chicagoland LR Dealer who performed all of the maintenance. The original compressor was replaced in 2012 at 73,000 mi. When I purchased the vehicle it was maintaining its normal ride height with little-to-no cycling of the compressor. I only drove the vehicle 1,500 mi. in a year, and over the course of the year it began to lose height overnight and cycle more frequently. Unfortunately, I procrastinated, and the compressor failed.


After multiple diagnosis and discussions with LR mechanics, we determined the front cross-link valve needed replaced and the compressor also. Dealer quotes started at $1450.


When the system failed, it was at normal ride height, so I determined that the AB reflash module would eliminate all dash lights and I wouldn't need to have an LR dealer reset any codes. BIG SAVINGS. Also, dealers were quoting $3,600 to complete the coil over conversion. BIG SAVINGS to use the AB kit and do it yourself (Thanks again TDW315).


I realize the coil over conversion isn't for everyone, but it was the perfect decision for me. We now have a very dependable vehicle for our daughter.


My wife drives an 2013 LR4 HSE and I have a '97 (JDM) NAS D90. If I need to go off road, I'm covered!