Been having a nightmare with our Disco, bought new in the UK before we moved here (2008- 90000 miles on clock). The suspension warning light kept coming on, and so we had it checked in the UK by the dealer where we bought it. They kept the car 4 days, and had to change the compressor and 2 valves - and the bill was 2 grand.

Drove back ok, but as soon as we got here- same problem! Phones garage in UK to discuss- told the manager would ring back- twice. Then e-mailed twice - no reply! Our great local garage, whose owner has 2 discos and services ours (official Subaru garage- several of our friends come a long way to get their car serviced and repaired there as the guy is great and prices much better than in Geneva or Lausanne) ... said we had to take it to the official LandRover dealer so they could test the electronics, etc. (Garage du Pré, Sauser, Fleurier).

Took the car to Emile Frei La Chaux-de-Fonds- and they were great. Took them 3 days to find the fault- they were totally puzzled. Finally found that the new compressor fitted in UK were faulty- and one valve- re-ordered, fitted- and only charged us for labour to replace valve and NOT compressor or for the time it took to find the faults- and arrange with LandRover CH for the replacement to be covered by the Guarantee, without even telling us and kept bill to absolute miminum and even apologised profusely for taking so long to realise the fault was with the new parts- not something else- and all the staff were really helpful
Sturgess Leicester will be getting quite an earful and official complaint letter with copy to WHICH.

Why does everybody assume garages are just out to rip you off everytime ?

Why not give Sturges of Leicester a change to put it right before firing off letters all over.

The fact the compressor & valve were faulty is surely a Land Rover problem rather than one of the garages. As you decided to save money by doing it in Switzerland, you can hardly blame Sturges in the unlikey occasion the parts were faulty. I guess an intermittent fault, which is very difficult to detect without having the car and you obviously didn't volunteer the return with the car.

This is the "downside" when you buy outside Switzerland, as i believe you have already discovered with some furniture....

Perhaps you didn't read my post- we phoned Sturgess twice who said manager would phone back asap and didn't. Then sent e-mails- and they did NOT bothere to respond. The car was not safe to drive back to UK with a faulty suspension. I don't blame them for the parts- I blame them for not returning calls and e-mails - to discuss how to proceed!.

My post was to 'big up' the Swiss garage and service- as we are quick to criticise and often forget to say 'well done' when it happens. In this case we got great service here and poor service in the UK.

That'll be Brexit, then. Make sure you tell the mechanics that they're racist and ignorant when you write to them, otherwise they'll never learn.

In Leicester, you are jesting now

But you already did it with faulty suspension on the way over !

I admit to not reading all of your post, i rarely find it benficial to my blood presure

Yes, as the garage said it was OK to travel to UK, with only 1 fault light on.
By the time we returned- a double fault was showing + the red STOP sign and we were told we should not attempt to return to UK, but drive VERY carefully to then nearest LandRover garage. Thanks.

My post was not to complain about the UK garage, but to thank the Swiss one/s for dealing with it all under guarantee. And my complaint with the Leicester dealer is NOT that the parts were faulty, but because they have not been returning our calls or e-mails. Thanks.

Wow a Swiss person drove a car when the 'STOP' light was illuminated. What part of the word STOP don't you understand! I am sure this would have been considered gross negligence if you had had an accident. The car should have been transported to a Garage, don't you have TCS Europe cover or similar?

The stop light only came on once, for a short time- and both garages, our local Subaru and Land Rover said that it would be ok- we followed their advice- and checked with insurance- thanks for your concern. The 'general fault' warning light (NOT stop) was coming on and off for no reason- and the reason we were told not to drive back to UK- is that the level light was no longer indicating which level the car was at.

What's all the attacks on Odile for guys??

Don't you know Land Rover fault lights illuminate for 2 reasons:
1) There is a fault
2) There is no fault but the fault light works

The "Warning your car with self-destruct in 30s"-light might mean your car will explode in 30s taking half of the kanton with you OR that the warning light works.

In general, and in line with a the Solihull motto "Abstrusa caeco lumen non eamus", the latter is usually the case.

So relieved my car doesn't have a STOP sign and allows me to decide for myself.

I agree landrover Switzerland has amazing service. Been there at least 15 times in the last 2 years. Fantastic people over there.


My previous 2 cars were BMWs. I don't really know the garages well as I only had to drop off the cars for the planned service intervals and tire change.


Which one do I prefer...?

Are they really as bad as this ?

Its probably an Evoque

A friend was selling Disco 3 with 200k km. He said "best car ever"

There was a service list of everything changed in the its life time. I don't think there was one single original part from factory there Something like Trigger's broom

Well, in the 10 years we've had the car - driving all over Europe- apart from basic servicing- we have never ever had a problem. Not bad, really.

And in between the two episodes above- the alternator went and had to be replaced. The Mobilière did pay for the Subaru garage to pick it up from home, as it was dead as a dodo. So - touch wood- great car and hopefully another 90k miles and 10 years +. A lot of the local driving is done in my little Yaris.