Customer reviews from LEGO
LEGO - Technic Liebherr R 9800 Excavator 42100
Average customer rating
4.6
(28 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 28 reviews
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
2
1 Star
0
93%of customers recommend this product.
(
26 out of
28)
Customer Reviews for LEGO - Technic Liebherr R 9800 Excavator 42100
Customer Rating
2
Excitement quickly turns to disappointment.
on March 25, 2020
Posted by: Grandpop
Excitement quickly turns to disappointment. When I first saw this set, I was very excited to build and share this experience with my young grandson. My grandson loves “diggers” as he calls them and was very excited to help grandpop build this set. Although, too young to build this set himself, I built the set completely, then removed a few pieces so we can complete the set together.
The positives with this set are few compared to the negatives in my opinion. The set is large, well designed and interesting to build. The control app works well when used with a tablet. I made sure all motors were connected to the Bluetooth controller before testing which worked well.
On the minus side is the set was missing parts to complete the build. The parts missing were cosmetic and did not affect the function of the build. Lego, please don’t tell me “Usually they're found stuck in the packaging or hiding on the floor!”. I can assure you they were not included in the set. Stickers on a high-end set like this; really? What good is a set like this if you cannot play with it? The drive system is significantly underpowered. The loose-fitting tracks only add to the issue, jamming frequently. The model is easily impeded by short pile carpeting as the drive motors strain in agony. In my “play” case a couple of corks stopped it cold when I was trying to pick them up in the bucket. The boom, dipper arm and pitman arm work well, however, the bucket closure drive train over travels and the application is unable to calibrate for the situation.
My wife watched as we played, then asked the cost of the kit. I answered her question, she paused and said, next time, just put the money into his 529 plan, and she walked away. A smart woman she is.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from LEGOBy Emily, Customer Service, March 26, 2020
We're sorry to hear this. If you’ve checked all over and the parts haven't appeared, don’t worry! It’s super easy to request replacements. Just go to LEGO.build/BricksPieces-BV to get started.
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
5
Second Technic Build
on October 26, 2020
Posted by: Pepster64
I have to say the LEGO Liebherr R 9800 Excavator Technic 42100 build was pretty fun build. It was challenging, but not too challenging where it causes too much frustration. The only slight complaint that it is a bit on the tad expensive side, but being a LEGO fan it's still worth it. I thought I had a missing piece, but found out that I had accidentally started building the last part before I was finish building an earlier section. I guess that is how eager you get to finish the build. This is my second Technic build, but not my last as I bought the Volvo hauler as my next build.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
5
Liebherr
on May 24, 2021
Posted by: TomSquadDriver
An absolute pleasure to build, and operation of the set is flawless. There were some challenging moments, such as routing the motor wires is often hard to see.
The only complaint I have is the App. There are 4 orange buttons, and if you accidentally hit one, it prompts you to set one button actions, and once you hit that button, you're stuck in a loop of trying to set the things up with no way out. I find myself just exiting the entire app and restarting everything.
The only complaint I have is the App. There are 4 orange buttons, and if you accidentally hit one, it prompts you to set one button actions, and once you hit that button, you're stuck in a loop of trying to set the things up with no way out. I find myself just exiting the entire app and restarting everything.
Pictured is my Liebherr with a few more hours of build time remaining. The bucket is the last thing to add.
The controls are great as they allow feathering of each movement, so fine tuning the rotation to be perfectly straight is easy.
All and all I very much enjoyed this build. Every time I buy a very expensive set such as this, I fight with myself over whether or not it's worth the money. Taking into consideration the people who thought this up, built it, tore it down, documented where each and every piece went, and drew up incredible instructions, I have to say yes. The quality of each Lego part has not changed over the last several decades, and that is a wonderful thing. Once I get my hands in a pile of parts, I know it was worth every penny.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from LEGOBy Jane, LEGO® Customer Service, May 25, 2021
We appreciate your feedback and are happy you find the build enjoyable! If you ever have issues or questions concerning the app, we're here to help at LEGO.build/Service-BV!
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
5
Spectacular
on October 29, 2019
Posted by: DrSLK
This is by far the most satisfying build of all the Lego kits I've assembled in my life time.
The final model is sturdy, and feels very solid, such that you are not afraid to pick it up and move it around- no loose pieces falling off when operational.
There is plenty of detailing on the excavator, from cockpit controls (barely visible), to rubber hydraulic hoses, and lots of railings, and nicely made cooling fan blades (again barely visible), doors that open to reveal the hydraulic pumps, and many other details that make this model so realistic.
After reading reviews from Lego suggesting that you should NOT test the electronics until all motors and hubs are completely connected was a truism, because nothing will happen if one tries to run the tests that are suggested in the manual. And it was rather scary waiting so far into the build to see if anything worked, but everything did spring to life at the end of assembly.
The cell phone control app. was also quite amazing in how many ways it gives you to control the model. The movements from all seven motors was smooth and gave realistic actions.
This was in a whole new class of Legos! I can hardly wait to see what the future brings in this type of complex, remote controllable, realistic, solid, robotic devices.
This was a really fun kit to assemble, and also, plenty of fun to operate. Enjoy the journey!
The final model is sturdy, and feels very solid, such that you are not afraid to pick it up and move it around- no loose pieces falling off when operational.
There is plenty of detailing on the excavator, from cockpit controls (barely visible), to rubber hydraulic hoses, and lots of railings, and nicely made cooling fan blades (again barely visible), doors that open to reveal the hydraulic pumps, and many other details that make this model so realistic.
After reading reviews from Lego suggesting that you should NOT test the electronics until all motors and hubs are completely connected was a truism, because nothing will happen if one tries to run the tests that are suggested in the manual. And it was rather scary waiting so far into the build to see if anything worked, but everything did spring to life at the end of assembly.
The cell phone control app. was also quite amazing in how many ways it gives you to control the model. The movements from all seven motors was smooth and gave realistic actions.
This was in a whole new class of Legos! I can hardly wait to see what the future brings in this type of complex, remote controllable, realistic, solid, robotic devices.
This was a really fun kit to assemble, and also, plenty of fun to operate. Enjoy the journey!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
3
Expected more from Lego
on December 30, 2019
Posted by: BrickWagon
I have always expected great things from Lego since their name is synonymous with quality. I have enjoyed designing and building MOCs for some 35+ years. I was overjoyed to get this 42100 model, but very disappointed about the new Control+ system. I have tried time and time again to get the Control+ app to work on different devices, but needless to say, it doesn't perform 100%. The connection & testing of the hubs with my phone didn't work at all to begin with. I had not yet built the model because I wanted to do a quick test to see how the hubs worked with the new motors, but it kept failing to connect. I gave up and started building the model. As I completed the base, I did as the instructions said and tried to connect the hub to my phone. For whatever the reason, it worked... for this part. I proceeded to build and got to the next part to test (as there are 4 testing parts). The second one worked. I finished the model and tried to test all functionality, but I am still unable to sync the 2nd hub so that all functions are able to be tested. The model looks great sitting there, but otherwise functionally unless. I read a few reviews on the app and it appears that others have had similar issues. I generally buy sets for their parts and to see how Lego engineers figure out complex problems, which I was able to do with this model, but the Control+ app so far has been a big disappointment and you can't use the motors without the hubs, so there's that money down the drain until they improve the coding & testing of the app. On the Control+ page of the Lego website, it states very few Android devices that it was test on, but I would assume since it was Android, it should just work anyways, so I am guessing it is a bug within the app itself as I tried it on 3 different Android devices. Overall, I am very surprised that this doesn't work, but being so new, bugs are expected, just not from Lego and especially at the price. I would only recommend paying this price for the amount of parts you get and not the new hubs & motors until they get these bugs fixed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Response from LEGOBy Emily, Customer Service, January 6, 2020
Thanks for your review. We're sorry to hear that you were disappointed in the Control+ experience.
Our developers are always working to test new devices. With so many manufacturers and different implementations for Android, that can take a lot of time! If your device meets the minimum requirements to run the app, it should work fine, though it's possible you might run into the odd bug here or there.
Based on your description of the problem, though, it sounds like you'll want to double-check your build. Because the set has a lot of complex features, it's essential to have all your motors connected into the correct ports. If a connection's out of place, the app won't allow you to connect the hub. A little rebuilding should do the trick.
If you need further help, you can always get in touch at LEGO.build/Service.
Our developers are always working to test new devices. With so many manufacturers and different implementations for Android, that can take a lot of time! If your device meets the minimum requirements to run the app, it should work fine, though it's possible you might run into the odd bug here or there.
Based on your description of the problem, though, it sounds like you'll want to double-check your build. Because the set has a lot of complex features, it's essential to have all your motors connected into the correct ports. If a connection's out of place, the app won't allow you to connect the hub. A little rebuilding should do the trick.
If you need further help, you can always get in touch at LEGO.build/Service.
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
5
Great set to end the year
on November 21, 2019
Posted by: Technicaholic
Let me first say that i like change, in a good way. Lego seems to be advancing pretty fast. It's how a company stays ahead in the game. I do like how they came out with something a little different other than another car or crane (cough* 42082) This set was a little on the high side, the could of dropped it by maybe 100 dollars. I think you are paying for new electronic systems, because the parts are pretty generic and common. The thing i like about the control hubs is that you can pull the battery pack out without removing pins or disassembling the set. I have read other reviews and the most common problem seems to be getting it to connect to Bluetooth. The only advice i can give is to make sure there are no other devices around and you have the latest updates on your device, apple or android, what ever you use. Also try holding your phone close to the model to load the hubs faster.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
5
Father - Son building time
on August 6, 2020
Posted by: LondonMama
My husband got this for him to build with our two sons, however our oldest son (12) did most of the work lol
It took roughly 3 days to complete as they only worked on it for 2 to 4 hours a day but enjoyed every min of it. They were a little disappointed when they completed it so I may need to get them a bigger, more challenging set in the future :
;-)
It took roughly 3 days to complete as they only worked on it for 2 to 4 hours a day but enjoyed every min of it. They were a little disappointed when they completed it so I may need to get them a bigger, more challenging set in the future :
;-)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO
Customer Rating
5
Everything You Want From a LEGO Build
on March 25, 2020
Posted by: QuitWhiningStuR
What an incredibly fun, challenging build this was!
Directions were extremely clear - at no point did I feel I was flying blind. When things didn't work or fit, it was inevitably my mistake. Figuring out those mistakes was part of the fun.
Mid-build Bluetooth motor testing went perfectly. I had a couple of issues with a previously-connected power pack having problems reconnecting, but that was because I exited, but did not terminate, the Connect Plus app. It was easily fixed by taking out a battery and, essentially, rebooting the pack.
When all was done, the last test - the moving of the scoop front to back - failed. I heard the ending purring perfectly, but the gears and scoop did not move. I figured out that I didn't put one key dowel into the red motor input (I accidentally put it in a hole just to the side), and with very little deconstruction got it in the right spot.
That didn't end the problems - the hinges that connect the front scoop panel to the motor/gears were connected wrongly. After about an hour of trial and error, I finally got everything in the right spot, successfully calibrated the unit, and I was off to the races.
I hope this doesn't sound like a criticism of the set - as I said, every error was my own fault, and it was a sick kind of fun figuring out every which way I went wrong. When the unit finally worked perfectly, it was incredibly gratifying.
I will say the Bag # 5 set of parts (the last stage of construction) was a little tedious - lots of ladders, lights, trim, but I do have to say the once it was done (after about 90 minutes of work), all these little bits added up to a better-looking, more realistic excavator.
I haven't played much with the set other than to test out what it can do, but that will come, now that I finally worked out the bugs.
Bottom line: I absolutely LOVED this build. It required a level of focus and attention to detail that I found very, very rewarding.
This takes the place of the Roller Coaster (10261) as my favorite build. I can't recommend this any higher!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting LEGO