I would really appreciate your help if you own or know someone who owns a Lunar Clubman. I am particularly interested in the 2002 475CK and would ask anyone who has one to see how many fingers you can get between the tyre surface and the wheel arch. When, at 18 months of age, there was no longer sufficient room to achieve one finger or a wheel lock for that matter, I was convinced that there was a problem with the suspension. I had already had lots of niggling problems, some caused by shoddy workmanship with wrong parts being fitted. Fuses blowing, lights melting etc so after my dealer had failed to do anything to repair my van after 2 months in their yard I contacted Lunar direct. I was persuaded to accept new, bigger, wheel boxes to rectify the problems. Sure the gap was restored .. for a while, but the problem was still there and after a few months I had to return to the dealer. They took a couple of digital pictures and said they would send them away to be looked at but as I had heard this last winter I decided to take my van elsewhere. The suspension was at fault as I had originally suspected so it was sent back to AL-Ko to be reworked and I now have my van back. It's only 33 months old and has spent 6 months in dealers yards.Al-Ko were very helpful as were Harringtons who fixed it. I still haven't heard from the dealer who sold me the van, their aftersales care is dreadful. I had my van serviced there after the wheel boxes were replaced and have a service certificate to say the suspension was fine. I have written to Lunar via e mail but my request for their comments has been ignored.
So I am building a case, I have checked a couple of identical vans that I have found on dealers forecourts and they have a similar problem. I would love to hear anyone else out there share the same information.
In my opinion the weight of the van over the offside axle is much greater than the nearside even before it has been loaded. My previous van was also a Lunar Clubman 475Ck but that was a 1995 model and the payload was greater. Unwittingly I just transferred all my gear from old van to new and possibly you could say I am to blame even though when I weighed the van with the contents I was within the maximum payload limits. However, the design of the van has water heater, battery,battery charger,table,fridge,cooker and heavy shower unit all down one side. Add to that a potential 17 kg in water in both the toilet and hot water tank, the fact that you use the space provided for crockery and cookware and obviously store food and drink in the fridge. Hey presto problems.
So, if you have a similar situation, please let me know.I personally don't believe I will be compensated for my problems and expense but at least others can judge the situation for themselves and ask the necessary questions when considering their next purchase whether it be new or second hand.
I have only ever been able to afford the luxury of one brand new van, I hope that you experience is not as bitter as mine !