krisstrue
Member Since: 18 Feb 2006
Location: Lodz, Poland
Posts: 24
  
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| Warranty loss on suspension modification |
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Please find my 'sad' story below - looking forward to any comments if I have any chance to argue this decision or is this a clear case for the service and no chance for me:
I bought my Disco 3 second hand in Germany almost 2 years ago. Car was one year old, it was checked by my local LR dealer in Poland with a very positive feedback that all is OK, warranty is valid till Feb 2008, etc, etc. No problem since then, but as my warranty end within the next 3 months I decided to fix some 'minor' issues: steering column knock (standard problem described here as well) + some minor front and rear suspension knocks. And then the shocker came - the service told me car has distances installedon both front and rear which voids a warranty on a suspension. So any of the above repairs if I want them done I need to PAY! (Including a 'standard' steering knock). They also said that some adjusting screws are stuck which happens often at Disco 3 and as a result they need to cut some pieces of front suspension and replace them (sorry, my English is not good enough to explain exactly what they meant) and again as distances void the warranty I would need to pay for this.
Distances were there since I bought the car (even mentioned in the german registration document) and nobody ever commented that they could bring me problems with warranty also in case of usual issues! Do I stand any chance to have the steering column + those stuck adjusting screws replaced under warranty or am I doomed and should expect to face those massive costs for the repair!?
Any advice welcomed!
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 6th Dec 2007 5:00 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
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I take it that they are saying that the Park Distance Control (PDC) sensors are voiding the warranty ? Do you know if the PDC was originally fitted by Land Rover or a 3rd party ? I would suggest that even if the PDC are fitted by a 3rd party, the dealer will have to prove to you that the PDC has impacted on other warrantable systems such as the suspension in this case.
It sounds to me that they are trying to pull a fast one ...at your expense  21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:35 pm |
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SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
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.... 
that seems almost as silly as saying that as my tyres are not the original ones and weren't fitted by the factory my warranty is void........ end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:38 pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
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Unless by 'distances' he means either wheel spacers, or non standard suspension sensor rods or something?
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:42 pm |
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SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
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quite happy to get some Polish translated if that helps? end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:44 pm |
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krisstrue
Member Since: 18 Feb 2006
Location: Lodz, Poland
Posts: 24
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No, not PDCs! By "distances" I meant a 'sleeve' or 'ring' installed 'under' each wheel which makes distance between wheels a bit wider.
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:44 pm |
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SPOTTER
Member Since: 06 Dec 2006
Location: Adrift........
Posts: 3095
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aha, Gareth was right end of an era ....... maybe a Defender when it appears.......
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:46 pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
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Spacers!
Well, to be honest they have a point. However, if they did not point this out to you when they inspected it, then you also have a point!
However, who the ultimate responsibility lies with could be complex. Did the dealer charge you for inspecting and approving your vehicle? if so, then you have a case. If they did it as a favour, then I don't think they can be held responsible.
I would take the spacers off, and go to another dealer 
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:48 pm |
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DG
Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
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krisstrue wrote:No, not PDCs!
 Sorry  21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
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| 6th Dec 2007 6:50 pm |
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Tim in Scotland
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: All at sea
Posts: 496
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Gareth wrote:I would take the spacers off, and go to another dealer
But would he still be able to run on the wheels that he has if he takes out the spacers? Are they LR wheels or even wheels that are suitable for a D3? Now a disillusioned new Land Rover buyer and have jumped ship to something less expensive and more reliable that hugs trees.... now driving a Mini Countryman PHEV as well as my trusty and brilliant 1996 Epsom Green Defender90 Tdi300
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| 6th Dec 2007 8:03 pm |
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Gareth
Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
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Looking at his gallery, he's got 19" MTR's, so should be ok without spacers. The only reason I can think to fit spacers is for providing clearence for snow chains. Because he lives in Poland, this could be why the car had spacers fitted?
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| 6th Dec 2007 8:26 pm |
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BarryG
Member Since: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Eire
Posts: 1333
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Like Gareth , removed the spacers and go to another dealer 
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| 6th Dec 2007 8:35 pm |
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simonsi
Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Auckland
Posts: 1264
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Quote:Distances were there since I bought the car (even mentioned in the german registration document)
But does that mean effectively the car MUST have them fitted, German motoring/vehicle law is quite complicated I understand.... Cheers
Simon
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| 6th Dec 2007 8:42 pm |
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krisstrue
Member Since: 18 Feb 2006
Location: Lodz, Poland
Posts: 24
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Thank you for all those response. To clarify:
1. I bought a car in Germany and it had spacers fitted - why? No idea? I do not need them at all...
2. Spacers were mentioned in German documents, but not in Polish ones so no problem to remove them.
3. LR service refused to take them off - they said it is to complicated and they risk doing some damage!?
I will probably go to local 'hard core' LR workshop and see what they can offer - may be they will manage to release the stuck screws or remove spacers and I will go back to the 'official' workshop for warranty repair again...
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| 6th Dec 2007 8:59 pm |
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