j77 wrote:

The startech conversion is more hassle than it’s worth.

A lot of people said they would buy one if the plate was central. I’d love LR to change it, just to see of those people would put their money where their mouth is.

It looks like a large chunk of the rear door would need to be cut away to fit the conversion, is that the case?

The offset plate is a good idea; it makes it possible to tell the ‘5 apart from all of its competitors from any distance while, close up, it draws attention away from the contrasting plastic nappy. Right up until a major re-skin is possible, the offset plate really needs to stay

While it’s fairly easy to see that the ‘5 was styled by an ex Kia man, it’s hard to believe that the Velar was designed by the same person

I believe so.

It would be interesting to see like for like sales figures, if LR ever did change it, between the offset plate and the central plate. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

The other thing they need to change is the lower rear valance. I was following one today and the spare wheel is on full view together with the boot floor pan. I am not sure what they were thinking when they designed the rear end. I am seeing quite a few buzzing around though so clearly someone likes them.

Discovery to be made in Slovakia, and not UK!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44438846

Sorry if this has already been covered, but this is the first time that I have heard that ALL production of certain models is being moved out of the country.
Not sure, but I expect that this will become the norm with many other firms as we approach our 'cliff edge' Brexit.

The company warned that there may be some job losses in the UK as a result.

Thanks Boris! FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Over 4K to be had offa big boys Discovery on the net today (car wow). FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Pub talk re a D5, 1st service 14,000 miles. New brake discs and pads needed.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

How much you had to drink Bob

Disc & pads are wear and tear items....


Depends how’s its being driven  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Not enough  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Discs and pads are often reported as needing replacing at service and they need to be checked independently.

My rear pads on D4 number 1 were described as being “down to the metal”, with knackered discs, at 32,000 miles and they required “immediate replacement”. An independent inspection, straight afterwards, found a minimum of 4mm of pad material left, with the normal small ridge of metal at the edge of the disc.

We had discs need replacing on 5 MOTs in a row on SWMBO's Misi Colt, never a fail though (although she does only do 4k miles a year)

brakes seem to be made of elephant dung recently. The disco sport forum is full of people having new discs/pads on warranty. (some as early as 28000 miles shock horror)

mines on 17000 miles now and the discs can be described as 'not smooth' At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

One of my D4s apparently needed new brakes according to the dealer health report but wasn’t even an advisory on its MOT that it went through that very morning by my dealer. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

I suppose dealers should in theory be more cautious nowadays when advising about brake wear, given the alleged 21 000 mile or 2 year service interval on the Ingenium engine. I doubt if many owners pay much attention to the appearance of their brakes. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

It does rather go to show what a farce 21,000 mile service intervals are

But it it convinces the contract hire companies that the maintenance costs are going to limited to 2 or 3 services during the length of a contract then the job is done

I'm surprised that there doesn't appear to be any wear sensors on brake pads on the FL2, as it contains so much monitoring. My last couple of Vauxhalls had pad wear sensors, although my Signum gave several false warnings due to an intermittent break in the wiring near one pad.
Few people, these days, even open the bonnet unless a warning light tells them to look. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)