The Jaguar Land Rover Range Rover models began production in 1978 but the air suspension setup wasn’t introduced until the 1993 models. This is a suspension system that uses airbags and, barring accidents or other damage, will need to be replaced approximately every 50,000-70,000 miles, or every 10 years.
The costs of replacement and repair are vastly different depending on the make, model, and year of the car. The parts for this repair are expensive and after labor the cost is approximately $1,500-$3,000+ depending on if you need to repair parts of the system or replace the entire system.
This all relies on the make and model of your vehicle as well as how hard you are on the vehicle and how often the suspension has been serviced in the past. The Range Rover air suspension system is made from a few different parts and sensors and most of them aren’t cheap.
If a repair is necessary, used parts are not a good idea and there aren’t really any aftermarket parts by alternate manufacturers that are approved for use in these repairs. The labor to install the parts is a small fraction of the cost, approximately $200-$300, depending on your mechanic.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to reduce the cost of repairing the air suspension in a Range Rover if your vehicle needs it.
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Active Suspension Air Spring Replacement
In the Range Rover Sport vehicles, this is a common repair for the suspension system as they require a lot of maintenance. The cost of each air spring replacement is around $1,500-$1,700 depending on the age of the vehicle.
These are different from traditional springs as they are made of a rubber material that works with the air suspension system to adjust the ride height and smoothness. These air springs work with small airbags within the springs.
When the vehicle height is adjusted, an air compressor inflates or deflates the airbags to raise or lower the height on the corner where the spring is located. Mostly, this keeps the ride comfortable for passengers along different terrains.
You can tell when an air spring needs to be replaced because you’ll notice that the vehicle is sagging on the corner where the bad air spring is located when the vehicle is parked. The vehicle can be driven while the air spring needs to be replaced but it won’t be as comfortable and if it’s left for too long it could cause damage to other parts, making the repair more costly.
Active Suspension Air Compressor Replacement
The air compressor is what pushes air into the bags of the air springs within the system. The cost to replace this part is around $1,200-$1,400, depending on the age of the vehicle.
Where a faulty air spring will cause one corner of the vehicle to sag, a faulty air compressor will cause the entire vehicle to sag. A Range Rover can still run without replacing the suspension air compressor but the entire suspension system will not work for the duration of that time.
The air compressor is needed to send air to airbags inside the springs of the system. If the compressor doesn’t work, the air shocks can’t work either.
Alternative issues with the Range Rover air compressor
If the air compressor isn’t working, that doesn’t always mean it’s the air compressor itself that’s broken. If the battery has been drained, the air compressor can’t work.
A replacement battery can run about $75-$200 depending on where you purchase it and if you replace the battery yourself or have a mechanic do it.
Once a new battery is installed, give the vehicle approximately 10-15 minutes for the air compressors to fill with air and you’ll see the vehicle height return to where it should be. If this doesn’t happen, that’s a sign that the air compressor itself is faulty instead of just the battery.
There are two suspension air compressors
The Range Rover suspension system is equipped with an air compressor in the front and rear of the vehicle. Each one controls the air springs on that side of the vehicle.
If the front of the vehicle sags, the front compressor is faulty. If the rear of the vehicle fails, it’s that compressor. If the entire vehicle is sagging, both compressors need replacing and that’s where this repair becomes really costly.
Each one will cost $1,200-$1,400, bringing the total cost to replace the suspension air compressors to $2,400-$2,800.
Active Suspension Height Sensor Replacement
Within the air suspension system, each corner of the vehicle has a height sensor that tells the air compressor how much the airbags in the springs need to be inflated. Each one will cost about $200 to be replaced, after the approximate cost of labor.
It’s not usual that one sensor will fail out of nowhere. More often, these sensors are replaced when the system is replaced or when each air spring is replaced. However, it’s still possible that the sensors alone are faulty when the air suspension system isn’t working correctly.
Check the suspension height sensors when you attempt to adjust the height of the vehicle via suspension adjustment and nothing happens. You may also notice that the vehicle sags on the side that the sensor has failed but this is not always the case.
Cost of a Full Replacement
Each part of the Active Air Suspension system in Range Rover vehicles comes with a hefty price tag to replace. So is it worth it to replace the entire system vs. buying a new vehicle or taking a hit before you sell your Range Rover?
According to Kelly Blue Book, the standard for selling a Range Rover sport model from the 1990’s is $25,000-$45,000, depending on the mileage and condition of the vehicle.
Replacing a part or two so that the suspension will be in top shape before purchasing or selling a Range Rover seems like it’s worth it with that price, but adding it all up in regards to a full replacement is a different story.
Replacing both air compressors (one on the front and one at the rear) can cost up to $2,800. Each air spring usually costs up to $1,700 and there is one at each corner. The whole system could cost up to $6,800 to replace.
Selling a vehicle that needs this replacement would mean reducing the price by around $7,000. Purchasing a vehicle that needs a full air suspension replacement means spending the same amount to get the replacement done yourself.
When it comes to a brand new Range Rover SVR Carbon edition (2022 model) can cost over $140,000 MSRP. In this case, $7,000 to do a full replacement ten years down the road doesn’t seem like such a hardship.
This is why the age of the vehicle is imperative when considering the cost of a full air suspension replacement.
Air Suspension to Coil Conversion
Some Range Rover enthusiasts that own older LR3, LR4, or other sport models prefer converting their electronic air suspension system to a coil system. Suspension systems in Range Rover sport models used steel coils before the electronic air suspension system was available.
Fans of this system say that it’s more durable and cost effective for older vehicles. The full kit to convert air suspension to coils can cost approximately $1,200-$1,600, without the cost of labor to have the kit installed.
If you don’t believe you can do this yourself, you’ll have to find a mechanic willing to install the kit and, since it’s aftermarket, that may be difficult and they may charge you more than the traditional cost of labor.
Where to find a coil conversion kit
Many Range Rover specialty shops will have these kits. If you’re planning to have a mechanic install the system, your best bet is to ask them where to purchase the kit or have them do it for you.
After the cost of the mechanic, the approximate cost for the conversion is likely to be $2,000-$2,200. There may also be a high cost for shipping if you have to order your coil conversion kit from another country.
Range Rovers are made by the Land Rover brand which is from England. The biggest enthusiasts that would sell a quality coil conversion kit are likely to come from there so factor in a high shipping cost of around $60-$110, depending on how heavy the package is in the end.
General Preventative Maintenance
The Range Rover is made to drive on more than the average smooth road. But if you want to avoid the exorbitant cost of a full suspension replacement, preventative maintenance is imperative.
Have your mechanic check suspension components at every service appointment, especially if you have an older vehicle or it’s nearing the time for the suspension to be replaced.
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