New Defender - LR or Retro-fit?

[DukeR]

Hey all, noob question here.

I'm aware that there are a lot of posts regarding many different types of Defender accessories, arguing different merits and providing good, solid, experienced advice. Trust me, I am reading them avidly and will continue to do so.

In the meantime, though, I do want to ask a simple question.

When ordering my Defender - what accessories if any should I order from the dealer?

Even things like the checker-plate protection are easily retro-fitted, and to be honest, I'd much rather give my money to a Landy-enthusiast/modifier than to the stealer. (I'm in Sydney, so should have access to a few).

I'm not asking for a list of all accessories and their merits (assume I want everything :twisted:, and I can read up on individual options and merits in the posts in these boards) - just what, if anything, I should order pre-fitted with the vehicle. I hear that there may be some warranty-issues with some retro-fittings.

Current list of vehicle inclusions Land Rover AU - Compare Models - 110 Station Wagon (http://www.landrover.com.au/au/en/vehicles/defender/compare-models-and-prices/110-station-wagon.htm)

If I have missed a thread that covers this, I apologise.

Cheers,

Duke

[dullbird]

any accessories fitted by the dealer come under your warranty......so that is also something to think about, however pretty sure they have to be fitted in the first 6 months I think

[povman]

G'day DukeR,

I am in the same boat, waiting for the new 110 to arrive...
I went down the avenue of getting a price on genuine LR accessories and ended up ordering mine all through ARB.
I asked the dealer about a bullbar, tow bar etc and they use ARB anyway.
Warranty issues are not a problem when fitted to your new car because the items that you put on are warranted by ARB them selves.
If a warranty claim is in order they will asses if the option you added, caused the warranty claim and if so, it will be an ARB claim, not LR.

Hope this makes sense!

Also, going direct to ARB to order my stuff I ended up saving $1820 compared to what LR were going to charge!
Bulk buy in one go if you can afford it and the savings will be really good!

Another really good place worth checking out for accessories is Rovercraft, ordered my side steps/rocksliders through them and was a really good price!

This is my own experience with the dealer and what shopping around has saved, hope this helps.

Povman.

[DukeR]

This is my own experience with the dealer and what shopping around has saved, hope this helps.

Povman.

Hey Povman,

It certainly does help - thanks for the response.

Duke

[DukeR]

any accessories fitted by the dealer come under your warranty......so that is also something to think about, however pretty sure they have to be fitted in the first 6 months I think

Cheers for that.

Yeah - I think I actually read in my wonderings that it was 3 months lee-way. Still, it does give a little lee-way re accessories.

[Scouse]

Yes, 3 months & then they're covered for the full 3 years rather than just 1 year under Parts Warranty. That's for genuine LR accessories of course.

[KarlB]

I have just been down this path myself, having picked up my D90 last week. I went for all original equipment, tied in with an extended warranty so all my extras are now covered for 6 years, not something I expect you will get from ARB. Indeed many aftermarket purchases are only covered by their warranty for one year. The other thing to consider is the Land Rover prices include installation so you need to add this on to the aftermarket cost. Dealers my well fit ARB or other accessories at the time of purchase but don't be fooled, they will not be cover by the Land Rover Warranty unless they are Land Rover original equipment (eg Warn 9.5Ti winch).

Currently, genuine accessories need to be fitted within one month or 1,500 km (which ever comes first) to be cover by the vehicle warranty, not six months though that could well have been the situation in the past.

[DukeR]

Hey Karl,

Thanks for the response.

Did you just go with the A-Frame bar and winch? I'm not sure about the A-Frame - doesn't seem enough protection for me.

Cheers,

Duke

[KarlB]

G'day Duke

This was my sixth Land Rover purchase (not unusual on this forum) and I have had bull bars in the past. Question is what do you want to protect, what from, and in what sort of collision. Hit a cow at even 30 km per hour and you will do considerable damage to the front of your vehicle and the bull bar, similarly hit a kangaroo at 60 kph and the damage is the same. You hear all sorts of stories about how the bull bar saved my life etc. but the real evidence that the bull bar makes any real difference is just not there. Indeed if there is any evidence it is that they are dangerous to others, particularly pedestrians and bike riders. I am not suggesting we ban them or anything like that, I just think their role in protecting the vehicle is a bit over rated but accept that others, often with far more experience and wisdom than me, have a contrary view. Still if we all went the way of the majority view we would all be driving Toyos.

As for the A-bar, it does afford some protection (as would a bull bar) for the radiator (you can always get home with a buggered mud guard, but much harder with a buggered radiator). The other thing you can do with the A-bar (as again you can with a bull bar) is mount "driving lights" (but need to be mindful of their affect on air flow); and you can mount an antenna though the OEM A-bar brackets at the top, are plastic and need to be replaced with metal ones (available mail order from Mantec for under $40 to your door and then 10 minutes to install).

You can get the OEM winch without the A-bar, and winch price includes the heavy duty winch bumper. The fit is very neat and certainly doesn't compromise the approach angle any more than is absolutely necessary.

Other extras I got were raised air intake and front mud flaps; and also, so I didn't have to wait until July when the next lot are coming into the country, dual finish alloys and sun roof (these two are factory fitted options that the dealer can't change), and metallic paint. I have posted a picture of the Beastie under "Show us your Deefers".

Cheers
KarlB

[DukeR]

Hey Karl,

Thanks again. Appreciate the detailed and informed comments. All going into the thinking-pot.

Cheers,

Duke

[scott oz]

I hate to differ with some of the posts.:(

But if you get the dealer to fit a non LR part then my understanding is that LR WILL NOT provide warranty cover on the non genuine part or any damage it may cause.

When you think about it why would LR warrant the part? LR get no $ and have no input to the parts quality or suitability.:angel:

The advantage of having the dealer fitting the part is that if there is a problem they have the problem of getting the warranty claim through either LR or supplier. You don’t care which.:D

My advice would be if the dealer is saying the alternative part which they say will be covered by the full six (whatever) year warranty then make sure you have that in writing on your order.

Otherwise it will be “he said she said”. Note manufacture warranty does not make LR the manufacturer of an non LR part fitted by the dealer.:angel:

[KarlB]

Spot on Scott

[DukeR]

Hey Karl,

(nice Beastie, btw)

Just wondering with the extended warranty - was that a dealer warranty or from LR? I have mates who have been bitten hard by extended warranties, as the fine-print said that all services had to be carried out at that particular dealer and extra fittings may void it etc etc (though none of my mates had bought Landys, so don't know if this is typical of LR dealers)

Cheers,

Duke

[DukeR]

Hi Scott,

Yeah - I think the general agreement is:

A - Get LR to fit it, pay the extra and include it in LR warranty

or

B - Get it retro-fit, save some $$ and use the accessory's manufacturers warranty to cover it.

Part of my concern is the quality of accessory. For example:

Land Rover Accessories Online Catalogue Defender Accessories (http://accessories.landrover.com/inter/accview.do'manSC=ldr&marketSC=uk&langSC=EN&modelCode=L316&productHierarchyId=BA0911F736FA49B690023EDD539932C 7&groupId=863482F4C70A474DA96E3795CC0536F8&accessoryId=4CD11DD782CC4ADA8C544CD534F572C8)

vs

Expedition LR Defender 2.8E - Dolium Pty Ltd (http://www.dolium.com.au/view/page/120/item/RMRLDEF-28E.html)

And these sliders look mighty fine, but would mean I don't need the checkerplate on the sills, for example - so I'd be better off getting the plate retro-fitted etc

Side Rails - Mulgo Pty Ltd - Australia (http://www.mulgo.com.au/p10_Mulgo-Side-Rails.html)

As always, I appreciate the feedback from you all.

Cheers,

Duke

[KarlB]

G'day Duke

Land Rover (in Au at least) no longer offer extended warranty. The dealership was offering Allianz extended warranty. There is some discussion re a couple of options on the AULRO some where (just do a search). Certainly the indication is that the any options that are included under the Land Rover warranty would be covered by the extended warranty and I would expect anything that would negate that warranty (in whole or in part) would also affect the extended warranty.

The extended warranty requires that the vehicle is serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You could do that your self but proving it is another thing. You really would need to get it done by a licensed motor mechanic and keep a record of such. In deed in Australia, you do not void the Land Rover Warranty if you get the servicing done outside of a dealer.

I should add that my Beastie Girl is a purchase under Land Rovers Corporate Program (ie in my case, salary sacrifice) and as such servicing by Land Rover is included in the price (plus a free loan car on those days). When you go to a dealer you may like to suggest to them that you would be likely to purchase from them if they could include you under the corporate program (they seem to be able to do this).

Cheers
KarlB

[DukeR]

Kk thanks for that - located the warranty thread and will have a read.

Just another question - that snorkel you had fitted to Beastie Girl - is that a standard ram head? Could be my eyes are being dazzled by that bright red, but it looks more like a mushroom top to me...

Cheers,

Duke

[KarlB]

Not quite sure what you mean but here is a close up from the UK Land Rover website: http://assets.config.landrover.com/lr/gb/l316/accoly_gb_l316_lr008383.jpg?11wy

[PRDS]

My two cents worth. Am on my third land rover all new vehicles. In my experience you will not have problems with aftermarket accessories from the big companies so you won't need the warranty.
Not sure of the quality of genuine accessories now but have not had good experience in the past. Bull bar on Disco fell to pieces after bottoming out on a dip, try getting a replacement on warranty when the bar is on the side of a track500km from no where. Side steps fell apart, roof rack broken.
Any warranty is useless when this happens in the middle of a trip miles form no where it just ruins your holiday.
Not sure about the current snorkel but the genuine one fitted to a discovery 8 years ago had the land rover logo as well as the safari one, so on the defender I saved a lot of money by fitting a safari one.

[KarlB]

What you say PRDS is all too true but could just as easily be applied to after market assesories, even from some of the big named companies. I have seen some shockers.

[Frenchie]

Be prepared to haggle. When I was pricing up accessories for mine the dealer wanted $900 for a snorkel. ISTR it was about $450 from the accessory shops. When I mentioned that to the dealer he said "yeah we can do it for that price".