Suncore vs Arnott Air Suspension Components

[stryker14]

Anyone have any reviews on Suncore Air Suspension components?

Anyone have any Arnott reviews?

My 2005 X5 4.8is has had the suspension replaced with BC Racing Coilers and I'm thinking about going back to the air system. I think it will probably ride more like a car on the air bags. I want good components, but I don;t want to over spend.

Suncore front bag/strut combo is available for $250 each remanufactured.

Arnott front bag/strut combo are available for $565 each.

Any thoughts?

Thanks from a newbie![IMG][/IMG]

[Clockwork]

I'm not trying to be a dick here, but this topic is discussed more than Trump vs Clinton. Search on this forum OR GOOGLE and you'll see a hundred threads on the topic. Especially Arnott airbag quality.

[stryker14]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

I'm not trying to be a dick here, but this topic is discussed more than Trump vs Clinton. Search on this forum OR GOOGLE and you'll see a hundred threads on the topic. Especially Arnott airbag quality.

Obviously you have been on this forum a while and I appreciate your frustration with stupid questions. I want you to know that I did some homework before posting this question:

I searched the forum, I found no reviews of Suncore.

I searched the forum on Arnotts, I got some hits, mostly refers to threads where people with suspension problems who were going to or had replaced their bags with Arnott, but not how they liked them.

Google had reviews but I could not find anything specific to X5.

Lastly, yes there are reviews of Arnott quality and their warranty, but I was also looking for info on ride characteristics versus OEM BMW. From my original post you can see that I want to go back to air in hopes that my ride quality will improve as the BC Racing coilers seems very truckish in the ride. I have a E39 and while I know the X5 will never ride like the E39, I am hoping for something a little more car like compared to the BC Racing coilover.

Thanks.

[bmw540san]

I honestly think that too many people make a crucial mistake when they're getting rid of air suspension. Instead replacing it with good setup close to OEM ride they go to some sort of race coil overs or similar and of course it's going to ride worse than air suspension.
I didn't get rid of mine thinking it's bad ride but for 2 reasons:
Tired air suspension = potential big bucks down the road and more importantly I found a setup pretty much similar to OEM ride while not have to worry about:
Leaking air compressor
Leaking air reservoirs
Shot Airbags
Failed ride height sensors
Failed air suspension control module

I have about 500 miles now on this setup and ride is simply awesome:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...gs-delete.html

[stryker14]

Originally Posted by bmw540san

I honestly think that too many people make a crucial mistake when they're getting rid of air suspension. Instead replacing it with good setup close to OEM ride they go to some sort of race coil overs or similar and of course it's going to ride worse than air suspension.
I didn't get rid of mine thinking it's bad ride but for 2 reasons:
Tired air suspension = potential big bucks down the road and more importantly I found a setup pretty much similar to OEM ride while not have to worry about:
Leaking air compressor
Leaking air reservoirs
Shot Airbags
Failed ride height sensors
Failed air suspension control module

I have about 500 miles now on this setup and ride is simply awesome:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...gs-delete.html

Thanks for the feedback! Great thread on your swap. So would you say that the bilstein setup is a tad stiffer than bags?

[bmw540san]

Originally Posted by stryker14

Thanks for the feedback! Great thread on your swap. So would you say that the bilstein setup is a tad stiffer than bags?

I would but not in a bad way. I would point out few things:

We have to remember that in most cases including mine we're replacing tired and worn components with new ones. The difference in firmness will be more vs replacing brand new air suspension with brand new conventional suspension.

In your case and of course depending what level of firmness you're looking for you could do what I did or going with black touring Bilsteins and Suplex coils for softer ride or go with the setup from FCP Euro with Bilsteins HD that I have but combined with lowering HR springs.

There is thread on this last setup and guy is very happy with it but again, it depends what are looking for and what you consider too firm or not.

I said it many times but the best way to tell is to see if you have the family and if they complain or not about the ride. In my case, my wife and daughter approve and actually like it better.

At the end of the day, it's your decision but I personally would never go back to air suspension.

[Bmwtvboy]

Did this to my rear air system. Used tourtech springs with my HD Bill's n love it. It handles little road bumps and uneven surfaces very smoothly without any jarring response from the springs. Going of large pot holes, bumps and road imperfections I feel it as much as with air, but it's different in that you hear the rear more over the bumps so it gives a different impression. I didn't notice any lack of body stiffness around corners, as the air system is weight sensor monitored and not sonar road reading response. BTW, I have a HD Bill's on the front strut setup.
Depending on age and dollar amount needed to fix it you may like the coils.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by stryker14

Thanks for the feedback! Great thread on your swap. So would you say that the bilstein setup is a tad stiffer than bags?

If you want a reliable system in comparison to the air then the coil placement is the only way to go. If you stick with air then arnott has a good warranty and generally on of the better performer. My X5 only has air on the back of the 4.6is and far less complicated then the 4 wheel air systems. The previous owner changed the rear air system to arnott components and has been great so far. I am running H&R springs on the front with sachs struts and lowering links on the rear. Rides better than when I originally bought it and has a great stance.