06 X5 4.8is Rear Air bag blew out

[Motorsport1207]

My wife driving along yesterday under 50MPH and the right rear air bag blew out and the rear of the truck just fell.

Are these bags prone to failure?
Are there upgraded bags ?

Thanks
Ted

[David.X5]

A lot of people seem to use Arnott airbags. Look up the parts on their website. I found they were cheaper on Amazon when I bought mine. But prices on Amazon go up and down all the time.

[StephenVA]

+1 Use only the website to buy Arnott airbags, that way you know what you are getting. OE bags are good also as your's lasted 8++ years.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Motorsport1207

My wife driving along yesterday under 50MPH and the right rear air bag blew out and the rear of the truck just fell.

Are these bags prone to failure?
Are there upgraded bags ?

Thanks
Ted

With 9 years on the original airbags, I wouldn't call that a "Prone to failure". I would call that wear and tear due to mileage and age. I would stick with OEM or Genuine BMW airbags, there are cheap Made in Asian countries airbags floating around but how long they last is anyone guess.

[TiAgX5]

Yeah, OE are not failure prone. 12 yrs & 190+ miles on mine.

I have KW Var3 coilover set in the garage, will go in at bag or compressor failure or 200k "all in" suspension/subframe bushing/drivetrain/engine overhaul.

Consider coilovers, if KWs are too pricey, look into BC Racing.

[David.X5]

I'm pretty suspicious of ebay cheapies myself, but Arnott products are not that. They are made in the USA and have a lifetime warranty.

https://www.arnottindustries.com/upl...202014.pdf.pdf

https://www.arnottindustries.com/about-us/

[StephenVA]

[Motorsport1207]

Thanks For all the info. After bag removal and inspecting the bag. I found dry rot cracks at the part that fold over on the bottom, that is where it ruptured. I will post pic later. In the interim I installed a used bag from my parts car, but the long term solution is to purchase Arnott rear bags and install. (Within the next month). While I had the bag off I checked the upper control arm, and as suspected it had play ~ 3/8". This is the only time you can really check the upper link to get a good idea if they are bad. Can't be done with airbag inflated. So I will be installing new upper control arms and new airbags in the back.

[TiAgX5]

Control arm play is easy to check with bags installed/inflated.

A 2nd jack is used to raise the hub carrier around 1". This takes the load off suspension control arms.

[4.8isX5]

Depending on how many miles on the truck, while your taking that apart you may as well do the big upper arm, eccentric arm (toe adjuster), lower balljoint, and the 2 bushings in the back where the huge aluminum lower arm bolts to.