Thread: Disco 1 airbags. Years?

don't forget that they have to be replaced every so often I think it was 10 years but it may now be more

Which is one of the reasons I want one without airbags.

Originally posted by Utemad
Which is one of the reasons I want one without airbags.

Does an RWC require an "in date" air bag?
If not you don't have a problem. Just unplug it so it can,t go off. Having said that, it is a safety device so why not have it.
Of course the Defenders do not have them. May be you should buy a Defender?

Trev.

ooops should have read that one twice utemad,and I think for the road worthy that they must be connected and not past the expirey date

I know all about airbags- I married one.
Seriously though ( hang on I was serious)..
We have a '96 model Disco and the expert opinion - in Vic anyway is that there is no expiry date requirement as far as rego or re- rego is concerned.
One workshop I use - OK Fred Smith in Bayswater, says he just cannot get a committment out of the Vicroads people.
Therefore insurance companies are also non- committal.
There are heaps of SAABS etc from the 70's & 80's with airbags that fly through the RWC, re-rego process.
The 10 year thing is only a servicing requirement according to what I've heard..
If I was looking for another Disco, I would get the best bang for buck regardless of the year. No harn looking into it in your state though.
My pennyworth...

The 10 year thing is not really the main thing. I want to hold onto this 4wd for a while (have had my Rodeo for 5.5 years) and I am probably going to never sell the Disco (due to being worth nothing ) so I want to be able to do mods galore if I so choose. Therefore something without airbags or ABS would be best.
I suppose I could disconnect the airbags and be no worse off safety wise than if I never had them but I wouldn't think that was too legal.
You are not supposed to body lift an airbag equipped vehicle.
Plus being a Landrover the less electrics the better :wink:

Is disconnecting the airbags just a case of pulling a fuse?

Yes, they have thier own circuit, put a blown fuse in though, a removed one is a bit obvious. I wonder how many modded vehicles would actually pass a RWC though, one of my outlaws certifies trucks for a living, and just listening to him go on about 4wd's makes me wonder...
I at least got an "off the shelf" aftermarket suspension kit and put it on my insurance as an accessory, just in case she rolls off a mountain one day. 8O
Good luck with it all

I have an interesting update.

I just got off the phone from the Queensland Transport inspection place. They told me that they will pass a body lift on an airbag equipped vehicle so long as the manufacturer says it won't affect the airbag. However they said it is up to me to find out from the manufacturer if it is ok and that they don't double check.
They also said that it is ok to disable the airbag so long as it was optional. So I assume that if I buy a 97 model which is identical to the 96 model which had a base model that didn't have airbags then I am ok. Although he said 'remove' so maybe if you want to disable it you have to pull it out entirely and not just pull the fuse.
He also said to be careful that the airbag wasn't intertwined with the ABS if it has that also.
However if you can bodylift an airbag equipped model then I don't need to disable it.
I have always read on 4x4 forums that bodylift and airbags didn't mix. Although I learnt long ago that you should 'trust no one'.

Anyway that is good news. So I have a white, base model, V8 auto Disco (with driver's airbag) to look at