Thread: ACE and SLS requirements for 7 seaters?

Originally Posted by Dav2481

Hi All,

Just looking at some D2's for sale and had a couple questions on how Land Rover optioned the 7 seaters from factory.


My understanding is that all 7 seaters must have SLS (Airbags) as a legal requirement.
If a vehicle has SLS, is ACE mandatory to accompany said airbags, or can a vehicle have SLS without ACE?

I understand a coil-sprung vehicle with the ACE option for better handling, without airbags is available.

Can anyone weigh in on what Land Rover did?

Thanks!

I think all the 7 seaters had SLS.

I think all the ACE equipped vehicles had SLS.

After that it's a lucky dip... There was no rhyme or reason with what options went with what.

You could gain leather seats but lose the rear air con... Etc etc

All 7 seaters had SLS. It’s not a legal requirement, it’s just how they were specced. Comfort is my guess.
5 seaters had coils with optional SLS ($1500)
ACE was optional for all variants ($4000)

D2 with 7 seats had SLS.

ACE was an option and did not specify whether coils or SLS were required, think it is more that the upmarket D2's had the extra money spent on the feature and these tended to be 7 seaters.

As to handling of the D2 with ACE with or without SLS, well my D2 came with ACE and had coils fitted which I have subsequently changed back to bags. ACE is effective and very noticeable due to it, the change back to SLS did not change the handling appreciably (if at all to memory) but the ride did improve over the pretty good ride already with the coils.

The thing that changed the 'handling' for me was fitting the ashcroft atb in the front axle and how much more direct the steering feels with out the slack inherent in the standard setup, albeit with, more self centering. It is not pin sharp such as a BMW M3 just input = response.

You might like this brochure, its for accessories!

D2_accessories.pdf

Yeah, as already said, it appears that many/most 7 seaters were sold in Aus with SLS for some reason. Doesn't mean they necessarily were all SLS.
But if you look through RAVE, there are spring types listed for the 7 seater models.

The springs types have a colour coding on them .. small splashes of paint to determine what the spring rating should be used for the specific model .. ie. 7 seat or LH or RH drive and whatnot.
The front springs only change type for the motor type installed.

If the vehicle doesn't have ACE, only the rear springs change for a given LHD/RHD and location position on the car.
If the vehicle has ACE, and coil springs tho, all rear coils should be the same no matter 5 or 7 seater. It's stated as purple type for all models.

ie. you could get ACE and coils fitted.
But keep in mind, this is according to RAVE, which is supposed to be relevant to all models in all countries it's sold.
How LR in Aus set out to market the D2 back in the day would have affected the way the vehicles were specced out.

Also be weary of using the term "airbags" when referring to SLS. try to stick to the term SLS bags, or air springs or just SLS or whatever.
I'm pretty sure that for the entire life of the D2's period, all had 'airbags' as in SRS/driver/passenger safety air bags fitted .. just helps to avoid confusion ... but I'm sure we all knew what you meant there!

Thats an interesting point. The Aus delivered 7 seaters all had SLS. I thought all D2's had SRS aibags, however I saw one which was OS that didn't have at least the PS SRS airbag which really surprised me. I'm not sure if it was a UK local povo pack, tradie version or owner modified.

The other sticking point with assuming 7 seats equals SLS is that there's plenty that have had the airbag's removed over the years.

Originally Posted by Dav2481

Hi All,

Just looking at some D2's for sale and had a couple questions on how Land Rover optioned the 7 seaters from factory.


My understanding is that all 7 seaters must have SLS (Airbags) as a legal requirement.
If a vehicle has SLS, is ACE mandatory to accompany said airbags, or can a vehicle have SLS without ACE?

I understand a coil-sprung vehicle with the ACE option for better handling, without airbags is available.

Can anyone weigh in on what Land Rover did?

Thanks!

I bought a new D2 in Dubai in 2004 - it had 7 seats, ACE, and coil springs. I guess it depends on the market they were selling into.