Recently I noticed some oil spots on my road when I drew to my home up on a wet day.
I went to my local garage who look after all my vehicles, put it on the lift and investigated.
Light oil leaking from a pipe union forward of the retractable tow bar.
Turns out to be oil feed and return pipes for the air suspension.
Phoned my LR dealership, said it’s a minimum 20 hour job, but that’s just a starting price as it could well end up being double depending upon what breaks when they start to crack off the different assemblies in order to gain access to remove and replace the pipes. So we’re looking at between £3k - £6k plus parts plus VAT to complete the job.
So, I’ve bought the complete pipe assembly, front to back from the LR dealership for around £550 and my independent garage is going to tackle the job in the next few days.
My questions are; is this a common occurrence with the L405 SDV8.
I’ve owned the car from new in September 2014, full LR service record, 51k miles. General condition is excellent.

There are no oil feeds to the air suspension. As it's air suspension, they have air feeds, not oil (hydraulic).

I assume you are talking about the rear active anti roll bar ('Dynamic Response')? There are pipes that carry the hydraulic fluid to and from the rear one. These pipes are manufactured from mild steel and do rust. Whilst not a common problem at present, they will soon become one as these vehicles age.

Are you sure it's the pipe leaking and not the anti roll bar itself? If so, whilst you could replace the pipes in their entirety, I would be much more inclined to cut out the rusted section of pipe, replace and join with compression fittings that are rated accordingly. Or if it is definately the union leaking, just replace this. Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

If it were me i would change the pipes for a flexible hydraulic hose... Much easier to install

That's a good point Craig. It won't rust then! Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

Exactly...

This problem has now been sorted. I bought the complete feed and return pipe set from Land Rover, around £550 GBP. I had my local independent garage undertake the repair, not my usual JLR dealership. Usually my cars have all their work done at the Land Rover dealership, but calling them and enquiring in to this job with the service manager I was told this is a 20 hour job, best case scenario. They went on to inform me that because so many items had to be stripped down in order to access the complete pipe assembly it could well run in to double, plus additional parts that would ‘break’ in the strip down. Hence my decision to ask my (reasonably) local garage to do the job. They did the complete job in around 10 hours, without’breaking’ anything in the process.
When I collected the vehicle we had a thorough inspection of the old pipe assembly. Around 60% of it was severely corroded, with the actual leak coming from the rubber clamp area at the very rear of the assembly near the short flexible pipe section.
So in hindsight it was the right decision to replace the complete pipe assembly, giving me total peace of mind in this regard as it was a ticking bomb as to where else it would start to leak next.
Thanks to all that replied, and for correcting my misconception that this was somehow related to the air suspension!
My questions are now; Should I keep this car for another few years, together with my late 2015 Discovery with 72k miles, or sell them both and continue with my order for a new Defender 110 D300 SE!?

Glad you got it sorted. So what pipe assembly specifically was replaced? Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

It was the the complete feed and return pipe assembly, I believe feeding the Dynamic Response rear active anti roll bar. Range Rover SDV8 Vogue SE - 2014
Discovery 4 SDV6 SE - 2015
Range Rover Classic 2-Door 5-Speed - 1983
Willys Jeep 1945

Sorry I should have mentioned, this is a dual pipe assembly, feed and return I assume. Range Rover SDV8 Vogue SE - 2014
Discovery 4 SDV6 SE - 2015
Range Rover Classic 2-Door 5-Speed - 1983
Willys Jeep 1945

Now you’ve changed them, give them a good coat of waxoyl or similar to save them corroding again, especially if your keeping it. Very common on this model

Good point, thank you!
I had no idea this is a common problem, but Interestingly a friend of mine who owns a 2013 SDV8 with 23k miles had these pipes replaced a few months ago. A somewhat similar set of circumstances albeit with around half the mileage of my vehicle.
I am undecided whether or not to keep my SDV8. I am new to the FFRR forum; perhaps I should post a question for and against long term ownership?
I do intend to sell my late 2015 SDV6 Discovery 4, despite it being totally reliable, as I hear horror stories of ‘body off’ repairs as time passes. Range Rover SDV8 Vogue SE - 2014
Discovery 4 SDV6 SE - 2015
Range Rover Classic 2-Door 5-Speed - 1983
Willys Jeep 1945

To be honest, IMO the SDV8 is the best of the L405 bunch. They’re not flawless but generally are holding up well due the all alloy body. I’ve given mine a good waxoyl over all the metal parts underneath to keep it in good order.
I work for an indie in Derbyshire, and the main issues I see with the SDV8 is corrosion to ARC pipes, as you’ve just replaced and brake pipes, also the fuel tank saddle if left untreated so once they’re protected you just need to concentrate on the mechanics. Keep the oil changed regularly and don’t ignore the transmission giving them an oil change now you’ve broke the 50k barrier. Other than the odd oil leak that is usually an easy fix they’re quite bullet proof, and as you’ll know a dream to drive

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

If it were me i would change the pipes for a flexible hydraulic hose... Much easier to install

Is this what you do on customer cars when you replace them Craig?

Any further insight? Do you replace them front to back with hydronic hose or join and replace just the required section?

Have been looking at a friends L405 for him, and can see that his are in bad shape where exposed towards the rear. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90