Full Circle - Just bought a 4.8is again after all these years and need to mod

[LVR]

Hi All

Well I have today just bought (for my wife) another 4.8is which is all but identical to the one I had back in '06.

It needs some work and some maintenance, but overall it was worth the buy.

It needs a couple of things doing straight up...

New water pump, suspension air bags have had it, angel eyes are oxidized and have wrong leds causing flickering reverse lights.

So I have to mess with the headlights as they are pretty bad, and from memory they are adaptive? Can anyone recommend replacements of the complete vs polishing on a 4.8?

Also, I'm seriously considering ripping out the air bags and replacing them with Bilsteins. Has anyone here done that and able to comment?

Finally, the car is using run flats and has a tire pressure warning light. Th e pressures are the same. Does anyone have any thoughts on what's happening?

Cheers

[ID4.8]

As far as suspension goes, I ripped out the air system and installed H&R springs and haven't looked back. I used a set of struts off of a 4.6is and it's been working perfectly.

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[andrewwynn]

I bought an after market headlight light kit vs polish. One of my lights had been replaced so I have one cataract light one normal. When looking for replacement I could have bought a used non Angel for $100 or two bran new with angel for $220. I don't have angle eye and wanted to upgrade. I haven't installed yet but may soon I'll upload photos

[andrewwynn]

Do you have a proper code reader that can reset systems? Eg foxwell nt510?
My e53s are too old for the tpms but we run on run flat on both cars. I get easily an extra 1000# of carrying capacity with the stiffer sidewalls and crazy grip by running winter year round.

Use Vin decoder to determine which lights you have (1-axis or 2-axis: the naming is too stupid for me to remember which is which)

[Purplefade]

Originally Posted by LVR

Finally, the car is using run flats and has a tire pressure warning light. Th e pressures are the same. Does anyone have any thoughts on what's happening?



Cheers

Not sure about yours, but when that happened to me all I had to do was make sure each tire was where I wanted it pressure wise and then hold the "tpms" button on my dash for I believe 5/10 seconds to reset the sensor.

It isn't so much that the car has tpms sensors because it doesn't, what mine does is measure load at each tire with the desired pressure set and then the tpms light comes on if that "balance" changes by 10 pounds.

My guess is someone had a real low tire that tripped the light, aired it back up and just neglected to reset it.

Note - I am not sitting in mine, I know the button doesn't say "tpms" on it but it should make sense if you see that button on your dash.


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[andrewwynn]

The TPMS reset procedure sound be in the owner's manual

[LVR]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding the adaptive lights, a search on flea bay seems to kill the idea of replacing them so a refurb looks like it will have to be.

I have the S524A Adaptive Headlights.

Does anyone know the sensor location for the lights and how they are triggered? If I remove the self leveling suspension, will that mess with the lights?

I’ve also found that the sunroof makes a loud ‘clunk’ when opening to vent (ie lifting only). Any thoughts?

I don’t have a code reader yet. I’m guessing I’m going to need one soon... my 4.4 is an 04 also.

Cheers

[andrewwynn]

My replacement lights work with the adaptive gear. The movable parts get transferred over that's how they can be reasonably priced.

Look at your sun roof when going to vent mode mine has something broken and only goes up maybe a cm. Wife's goes Al the way up.

The level sensors attach to the lower arms they don't care if you have air or springs.

I'm not sure how you reprogram if you replace the air with springs.

For me air is a necessity! I have between 40 and 1100# 20-500 kg of tools in the back of my car having a suspension that compensates for that is critical.

I've measured 20mm difference in height before and after loading my car in the back. Also fully loaded the front wheels actually get about 100kg lighter

[jbny]

I have replaced mine with strutmasters kit all around, they ride similar to regular height and feel like stock.

I still have the suspension error message and the strutmasters chip did not work.

but i no longer have to worry about ride height issues.

[LVR]

I carry my tools in the boot also... the wife suggested I get rid of the $65k dual cab Ute because I was bitching and moaning about driving a truck around all the time and my tools more often than not ended up on the back seat for security and to get em out of the rain.... and instead buy an old e53, put em in the boot. Best move I ever made. Cover the tools over with the cargo carrier and on the weekend it’s a great car to drive around in.... although I do get some weird looks when I rock up to a construction site and pull out my tools....lol

Regarding the lights, did you buy a specific assembly to suit? Everything I have found so far only suits up to 2003...

Cheers

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

My replacement lights work with the adaptive gear. The movable parts get transferred over that's how they can be reasonably priced.

For me air is a necessity! I have between 40 and 1100# 20-500 kg of tools in the back of my car having a suspension that compensates for that is critical.

I've measured 20mm difference in height before and after loading my car in the back. Also fully loaded the front wheels actually get about 100kg lighter