Hi all,

Am new to L405 ownership, and as per the title the car crashes in to potholes, worse at the front than the back. Feels for all the world like it hasn't got any shock absorbers.

Havn't had an L405 before, but have had a couple of L322's, and am sure it can't be right.

It's a 2014 TDV8 Vogue SE with 85k, is on 20" wheels with All Terrain tyres. No warnings on the dash and no reference in any of the (very comprehensive) service or MOT history. No clonking or knocking from the suspension, but very crashey over broken tarmac, and floaty over undulations on dual carriageway / motorway. Doesn't seem to roll unduly in the corners.

Have done searches on the subject and doesn't seem to be a common issue. Please help!

Have a read on this post

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic66429.html

Your not on your own with this issue 😂 Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where,s the f**king ceiling!!

From your description, I'll second your view of worn-out shocks, having been there with my MY12 TDV8 L322 which also has CVDs.

aljo wrote:

Have a read on this post

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic66429.html

Your not on your own with this issue 😂

aljo wrote:

Have a read on this post

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic66429.html

Your not on your own with this issue 😂

GraemeS wrote:

From your description, I'll second your view of worn-out shocks, having been there with my MY12 TDV8 L322 which also has CVDs.

Now responding to the right post!


Thanks GraemeS - I don't claim to understand all the complex systems of the car (and have only had it 5 minutes), but in an old school way that's certainly what it feels like.

Think ancient Moroccan Mercedes taxi.

I jest not, that bad!

Hi Tallhoward,

I'm the OP of the big 34 page thread (moan) that you were linked to.

Sorry to hear your having a ride problem, even if not the same as mine.

Do you find your engine reponse and steering weight to be okay?

I am very interested to hear what you specialist finds/has to say.

Wishing you the best of luck with this frustrating issue.

Last edited by MarianaWestminster on 6th Nov 2023 12:26am. Edited 1 time in total

I’ve been paying more attention to mine because of these posts. I definitely feel that the car handles undulations in the road well, nice a soft and a controlled wallow but it’s short fast bump compliance like potholes and rough surface seem to transmit through the car much more that other models.

It almost like it’s too quick to stiffen the adaptive shock setting V8 or else ...

I am preparing to replace the rear CVD shocks on our L322 because the driver's side is leaking oil heavily. A pool collects on the drive, especially on a 40-degree day.

The car rides fine most of the time, but large speed bumps cause it to rock back and forth like a boat. (think US land yacht)

While encountering multiple potholes or a broken road surface, it results in a violent and terrifying shock collapse and rear-end drop followed by a lurch that almost needs steering intervention to correct. Never experienced anything like it. It's not the tyres, brand-new Scorpions just fitted.

So, my point is, a leaking shock could induce symptoms like mine, just FYI. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster - Baltic Blue, Jet interior
1997 P38 2.5 DSE auto & 1998 P38 2.5 DT Manual
1988 Vogue 3.5 EFI - Manual, gone.
2004 Volvo C70 2.0T convertible, had since new.
2007 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Roadster/Coupé, had since new.
2024 Mini Cooper S cabrio, JCW kit, 2.0, DCT auto

Thanks all, as I say with mine it is immediately and significantly obvious. So do not think it could be attributed to tyre / wheel combination or freak road, or picky driver.

One of the main attractions to me of the LR range is their ability to 'waft' which is completely lacking from mine. I would have thought leaking shocks would have been picked up at some point during the MOT / service history, especially all 4, which makes me slightly concerned that it may be some sort of electrical command issue rather than the shocks themselves.

I am only just gaining an understanding, but I think the shocks are constantly being altered by one of the adaptive systems (?), if so that may be more tricky to diagnose and fix than a simple shock change.

Although I think my car may have had a fairly busy horse box towing 85k, so going full circle (and desperately hoping!) its the shocks.

Will keep you posted,

If you unplug the connector from the top of one of the front shocks then adaptive damping will be disabled making the shocks maximum firmness. If still floaty then the shocks are too worn to be useful as the ride should be uncomfortably firm.

Excellent tip, thank you, I will try it