Hello everyone I have a problem with my front left airbag going out, it's ok all day after I start it up its only shifted and lowered on the left front the next morning. One of my reasons i see that as a fault is that our family has 3 rovers, 2007 lr3 se v8, Range Rover sport 2007, 2006 Range Rover hse. And all have had air suspension problems of some sort.

So I'm am trying to gauge what about the AB CONVERSIONS kit with emu springs to give 2 inch of lift. Now I know from reading enough forms that i may in some form killing my 4x4 ability ... But I would like to know from first hand someone who has done it and there results. As well I understand it (what people have said) "they drive horrible afterwards". What do they drive like afterwards assuming I haven't driven an older Range Rover/landrover. Does it drive like a Jeep Wrangler or some other common truck or suv?
The reason I am asking more feeling questions is that I spent the day calling rover custom places over the USA and all I got is either no we don't do it or I have heard of people doing it. The "no we don't do it" is it's because of the trouble it creates with the raising and lowering computer. Assuming the AB kit fixes this issue of error, is there someone who has done this and can tell me what it is like, pros, cons, mechanical issues, driving comparability first hand?

 

I looked into this shortly after purchasing a truck, this was the most useful post about the subject I had found back then.

LR3 Air to Coil conversion.....one year later. - Expedition Portal

What I remember focusing most on from a daily-driver angle is:

>The AB stock kit (supposed to give you 2.5" lift) actually makes you sit at stock height so you're pretty much obligated to use the OME option. This means more $$$. He might be an outlier and he did get lucky that AB offered to trade him old man emus in exchange for the normal coils.
>coil conversion costs a lot compared to one valve block or one air strut so a few people have mentioned that it might be best to fix a strut or two until the whole system starts to go then do the conversion
>makes the truck far less valuable from a "kelly blue book" price perspective as you're removing/tampering with a big feature on a luxury vehicle. Okay if you don't plan to resell.
>vehicle no longer self levels when loaded up or hooked to a heavy trailer. I don't use mine to tow but it is nice when I load something crazy heavy in the back that it will level for me. (if you get coils maybe look into adding more lift @ rear like pickups come stock?) Side effect is the headlights might point more upwards if you're pulling a trailer
>No more crazy land rover wheel flex (useful but not always needed)

EDIT: some people reported hating the ride, the main poster said he was fine with it, only noticed a difference in turns where the suspension was no longer adjusting itself to make tight turns easier.

 

While you are looking, also read this.. LR3 Coil Conversion Upper Strut Mount Busted - Expedition Portal

 

I am sure I sound like a bit of a wet dishrag but the reason I purchased my 3 was because of the air suspension. Yes, I wanted air suspension, mostly for the ride and also for the ability for it to lower re getting in.

Yes, keeping the air system up and in shape is a real expense and at time, nuisance as well - you are always waiting for it to drop on its own.

I suppose if I ever really got annoyed re the air, I would just sell my 3 and buy a Jeep.

They are cheap to buy, to operate, to upgrade - they are everywhere and everyone has one; gee, that is a bit of a turnoff.

In the UK, coils are standard on what they call the Commercials - the ones the trades guys buy for everyday use and I suppose maybe the Police units as well.

 

Thank you for your input is see it might be costly probably around $1300 for the AB kit, but looking at the Arrnot air coil replacement i can get one two front air struts for 600 and than a new compressor for 700. So if i was looking downwards at cost of anymore than 3 or individual parts i can come out equal or more than what i would do for the coils. But it would sway me from having to deal with individual air parts going out later on. (please correct me if I'm wrong)

Assuming im not doing crazy offroading but the occasional mud terrain not deep enough for a snorkel by any means. (i had an x3 stock and i beat the heck out of that offloading but it survived beach off wheeling, New Mexico and Arizona desert/ rocky terrain; i just don't do crazy 45+ degree inclines and 4 foot deep water. But i would like to have a vehicle whom can perform a little better off road than an x3)

Yes (bbyer) i have tried looking into uk version of the commercial use of lr3 with coils, I have nt found too much just that what they used is padders coils/king springs. But i am still digging into it as much as i can before i pull the trigger.

(DAVc) if i needed to find lift somewhere higher than normal ride height and went to coils what gear would you recommend i use?

 

You might have to end up getting the normal coils and seeing what happens, maybe if you're lucky like the poster in that thread you can just tell Atlantic British that the coils were not as high as advertised and they'll offer you the OME's in exchange, but this of course means going through the pain of install and then waiting for the replacements. OR you can just drop the extra money right off the bat and get the OME coils with the AB magicbox. Either way you should probably try to get tall enough coils and I've heard only the Old man emu's were suitable for the extra 2.5" of lift.

I assume you've heard of people using GAP-ID diagnostic tools for the LR3 to change the ride height settings? You can modify the air suspension parameters to make it so the normal ride height is the extra 2.5" higher (stock off road mode). I haven't seen them firsthand but I hear good things.

 

Most agree that a coil conversion would be expensive up front but lower maintenance and cost down the stetch. The thought is that a coiler cannot do THIS:

 

This modification isn't for everyone, I get it...

I (as in myself, without help) installed Atlantic British struts & OME 2" springs (Part #L319SRK-OME)

It's not bouncy, it's actually really comfortable. Tires (Obviously) contribute to that equation.

CON- Increased height

 

KMET

You said one of the CON's is increased height how more or less from the normal kit did you get from that kit when you put it on?

As well turning whats does it feel like?

thx

 

The increased height isn't a mechanical CON, more of a parking issue that one should take into consideration before applying this modification.

The change in handling with increased height/coilover is noticeable, but only at unsafe speeds on canyon roads. Once again, tires are a factors.