New Disco 4 Bullbar No Longer Available

[MessmateTree]

First post on this forum - hello all!

We've just ordered a D4 2016.5

In discussions with the dealer last year we indicated we were interested in the standard bullbar http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/125759-d4-landrover-bull-bar-latest-news.html

But the dealer has now told us that this is NLA - no longer available - due to global legal liability issues relating to pedestrians After asking him some questions he said the supplier was in New Zealand. I haven't been able to find who this was. I'd presume they'd be happy to sell after market.

Just wondering if anyone out there has any ideas? Either of the official one, or the best aftermarket alternatives.

We're planning on doing the Birdsville Track later this year or early next year.

[Narangga]

Welcome to the forum.

This may help

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/228742-does-anyone-make-bullbar-2015-land-rover-discovery.html#post2458648

And this refers to an ARB bar but apparently it may not be truly available.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/231099-bull-bar.html


You'll have some time to look around before the vehicle arrives ;)

[MessmateTree]

Right. Strike ARB from the list.

Any ideas who the NZ mob are?

[Bytemrk]

G'day MessmateTree,

And welcome to the forum.

What the "Best" alternative is, really depends on your reasons to put a bull bar on the vehicle.


Some put one on to protect from animal strike
Some from better approach angles
some for a place to mount a winch or lights or aerials
Some just because they like the look


For protection, in my view the best are either ARB or Opposite Lock.

Keep in mind the threads you just read about some users experiences, reflect more of the franchise businesses and staff that often install these rather than the actual product.

I have an ARB - on a 2012 D4, LandyAndy has the Opposite lock on a 2014, both are great bars and I'd trust either of these miles before I'd trust the OEM product to protect my vehicle. They both give you significantly better approach angles offroad.

Mine:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/770.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/24281/title/bytemrk-d41-/cat/1332)

Andys:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/726.jpg

Good luck with the search, I'm afraid I don't know the details of the NZ mob.

[LandyAndy]

G'day MessmateTree,

And welcome to the forum.

What the "Best" alternative is, really depends on your reasons to put a bull bar on the vehicle.


Some put one on to protect from animal strike
Some from better approach angles
some for a place to mount a winch or lights or aerials
Some just because they like the look


For protection, in my view the best are either ARB or Opposite Lock.

Keep in mind the threads you just read about some users experiences, reflect more of the franchise businesses and staff that often install these rather than the actual product.

I have an ARB - on a 2012 D4, LandyAndy has the Opposite lock on a 2014, both are great bars and I'd trust either of these miles before I'd trust the OEM product to protect my vehicle. They both give you significantly better approach angles offroad.

Mine:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/770.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/24281/title/bytemrk-d41-/cat/1332)

Andys:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/726.jpg

Good luck with the search, I'm afraid I don't know the details of the NZ mob.

Dont the older and younger sisters look so sexy:):):):):):)
Andrew

[Vasculardoc]

I have an ARB bar and it's solid and well made, but doesn't accomodate my front cameras - I think the opposite lock bar is the only one that currently has ADR approval for the front cameras being stuck in the bar (ARB wouldn't even consider drilling two holes and sticking the cameras in - too worried about legal ramifications). Otherwise it is a good bar and not bad looking.

[Catmatt]

I've just had my ECB (East Coast Bullbar) replaced after a heavy roo strike. The bar did everything it was supposed to do and protected us and the car from collateral damage.

I'm very pleased with the quality and build of the ECB product......plus it does look great on the car (I'm a little biased though)

I'm not sure how to expand the photo's to make them larger so you may have to zoom in - sorry.

106581

106582

[MessmateTree]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

Protecting the radiator is important.
A place for mounting aerials etc is important.
Not disabling any modern/expensive features is important.
The wife saying it looks good is important too! (She likes the ECB one by the way).

We got mucked about by LR last year (when they declined to deliver the 2015 D4 we ordered) so they upgraded us to the HSE. I'm certainly not keen to lose any of its features because someone is primarily worried about their legal liabilities. (So we're up to two strikes for ARB now).

I'll check out ECB (the main issue now may be to make sure it can handle all the sensors)..

Still disappointing that the OEM one isn't (easily) available.

[LandyAndy]

I dont know if you have had a close look at a factory one.
They have the looks only a mother could love,they are no where near as strong as the 3 shown in this thread,and they also mount to the top radiator panel.Any strong hit will take out the radiator/intercooler,precisely what you are trying to protect against.It also isnt winch compatible should you decide to go that way later on.
Andrew

[letherm]

I've just had my ECB (East Coast Bullbar) replaced after a heavy roo strike. The bar did everything it was supposed to do and protected us and the car from collateral damage.

I'm very pleased with the quality and build of the ECB product......plus it does look great on the car (I'm a little biased though)



I bought the ECB bar for my MY13 D4. I like the look of them too. :) I have a white car but I bought a dark colour which has a pitted finish. Here's a picture.

http://www.aulro.com/app/data/500/medium/ECB_Bar5.jpg

Martin

[letherm]

I'll check out ECB (the main issue now may be to make sure it can handle all the sensors)..



I didn't comment on this before but one of the reasons I bought the ECB was that it was compatible with sensors, headlight washer and fog light. The sensors work fine except when it has been raining. I sometimes get a constant steady tone as though the sensor thinks it's really near an object. I put this down to the location of the inside sensors near to the vent holes on the bar and assume that moisture is affecting the sensor. I just press the dash sensor button and it stops the noise :) When i bought mine the other brands did not have the same compatibility.

HTH
Martin

[AnD3rew]

Still disappointing that the OEM one isn't (easily) available.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Ugly as a concrete dunny block and looked to my inspection to offer very little real protection to anything and no mounting points and at least $1k more than the best alternatives at stealer prices.

[JamesAdelaide]

I'm shopping myself for one for our MY16 we just picked up.

ARB can stil fit their pre MY14 bar, you just need to supply some pre MY14 bumper headlight washer nozzles.

I've got no front parking sensors or camera, so either ARB or OL work fine for me.

ARB are quoting $2600 OL $2520 (Supply, Colour Matched 2 pac and fitted).

ARB claim fully Australian made, not sure about OL, but I am told by others they are imported.

Has anyone actually had an ARB fitted to an MY15/16?

Bytemrk - yours looks great I just want to be sure it will be same look/fit on the MY16.

Cheers
James

[laughto]

I'll check out ECB (the main issue now may be to make sure it can handle all the sensors)..



Have you had a response from ECB? Their web site suggests they have not tested with 2014 (and by inference 2015/16) models.

[TerryO]

As others have said the alloy LR bar was the ugliest thing ever and made a relatively good looking vehicle look like a bad joke.

There have been a number of discussions about aluminium v steel bars previously. Alloy looks good usually is a little bit lighter than steel but seldom survive a decent roo strike, even to the point I have seen vehicles unable to be driven because the damage to the alloy bar was so great. Plus I have seen plenty of pics of a alloy bar folded back which in turn damaged the vehicles panels. That kind of defeats the purpose of a bar in my opinion. Even a small strike makes a alloy bar look rubbish, so basically any strike means a new bar if you want your vehicle to stay looking good.

Steel bars, well it's very rear to see one damaged by a animal strike, We have hit plenty of Roos in our D3 with a ARB bar fitted and once you hose the blood and fur off it looks just like new.

As for 4wdriving steel bars bash into trees, rocks etc usually without even a small mark, anything you touch with a alloy bar damages and affects the condition and look of the alloy bar.

Looks are judged by the eye of the beholder, I prefer the ARB / OP bar look over the alloy one any day. But looks are not a good reason to buy a certain bar, you fit one so when you are out somewhere many many miles away from assistance you can still proceed after striking a roo or emu etc, which is common if you drive in the country. That being the case give me a steel bar any day.

[rhinosm]

I just received an email this morning from ARB rep whom I had been talking to about bull bars.
He said.
"I received an email from ARB head office saying that they are in the process of designing our new SUMMIT bullbar for the 2014 onwards LR Discovery 4.
An eta on a release is within the next 4-5 months,
As soon as I receive any further information I will pass it on to you.Vin"
Vin. ;)

[rhinosm]

I asked the question about the existing ARB bull bar, as my vehicle doesn't have sensors or cameras
I again quote
"From what ARB have told me the bar physically does bolt up, but there is a lot of modification required to the front of the car in terms of the bumper, headlight washers etc and the final finish isn’t too good according reports.
The new SUMMIT bullbar range on the way for your model will suit the vehicle a lot better in terms of how it looks on the front of the car."
Vin

[MessmateTree]

Spoke to the dealer this week who indicated that the 2016.5 has the same front end design as the 2014 model.

ARB & OL websites don't bother claiming they produce a 2014+ bull bar. The ECB one lets you select it and shows a pic. https://www.ecb.com.au/vehicle.php?Make=19&Model=80&variant=920&SEARCH2.x=41&SEARCH2.y=15&SEARCH2=SEARCH When I called ECB the guy suggested "Has not been tested on 2014 models" means they haven't yet developed one for the current model. It would be up to their product development team to decide whether they want to go down this path. They clearly haven't been too enthusiastic over the last couple of years!

The ECB guy suggested bringing the vehicle in when we get it and they can 'have a look'. Given it'll be a HSE I think I know what the outcome be...