Air suspension, must have or not?

[jditom]

Hello, new to forum. Looking at getting a 4.4. I am coming from an Audi allroad so somewhat fimilar with air suspension.

4.4 has rear air, is it worth getting full air as an option?
Any ride differences or is it just a way to change height?

Thanks all, nice forum

[Donegal TDI]

I also am coming from an Audi allroad.
I got full air suspension on the X5 3.0D as it allows me to drop down the ride height a tad to load up some family elderlies.
Also, as I live in the sticks, the little extra at max height may help me overcome snow season. We don't see gritters, ever.
By the way, the air suspension on the allroad was supremely reliable.
In fact, the whole car was faultless from new while I had it.
Hope the X5 3.0D does likewise.

[jditom]

Originally Posted by Donegal TDI

I also am coming from an Audi allroad.
I got full air suspension on the X5 3.0D as it allows me to drop down the ride height a tad to load up some family elderlies.
Also, as I live in the sticks, the little extra at max height may help me overcome snow season. We don't see gritters, ever.
By the way, the air suspension on the allroad was supremely reliable.
In fact, the whole car was faultless from new while I had it.
Hope the X5 3.0D does likewise.

Thanks old friend from our Allroad fourm! aka ALL Italian!

Anyone else have this option, is it a must have? Does it affect the handeling?
Better/worse?

[Matsoutback]

I bought it with the full air suspension for more height off road. the system works well on road but does have some limitations off. The handling and ride, IMO, is fantastic. When off road, the height automatically goes back to standard height after 50km/h. The problem with it off road is the suspension changes its spring rate. the shock absorbers are not a variable valved unit, and as such are not well matched to the revised rate, when on high setting.

Mat
3.0d

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by Matsoutback

I bought it with the full air suspension for more height off road. the system works well on road but does have some limitations off. The handling and ride, IMO, is fantastic. When off road, the height automatically goes back to standard height after 50km/h. The problem with it off road is the suspension changes its spring rate. the shock absorbers are not a variable valved unit, and as such are not well matched to the revised rate, when on high setting.

Mat
3.0d

the shock absorber ARE variable valve.

[DINANM3]

allthough i have had some problems with the full air suspension. it is still worth it. the ride is much nicer and it handles much better

[Matsoutback]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

the shock absorber ARE variable valve.

I had the australian technical manager tell me they were not??? Because I have had problems.......Plus germany are looking into a fix for it at the moment. The air spring increases spring rate with preasure (hieght) but the shock absorber is not adjusted to suit the new rate. It is a fixed valve gas shock, on all 4 corners.
Maybe the 4.8is is different??

Mat
3.0d

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by Matsoutback

I had the australian technical manager tell me they were not??? Because I have had problems.......Plus germany are looking into a fix for it at the moment. The air spring increases spring rate with preasure (hieght) but the shock absorber is not adjusted to suit the new rate. It is a fixed valve gas shock, on all 4 corners.
Maybe the 4.8is is different??

Mat
3.0d

I remember reading in either X5 brochure or the service manual that they are

[Matsoutback]

Originally Posted by vinuneuro

I remember reading in either X5 brochure or the service manual that they are

I just had a poke around under the car, and there is no visable external wire / tube etc coming from the shocks.(for adjustment) When using the “off-road height” on the full air suspension, the downward travel is not stopped or sufficiently slowed by the shock absorbers until an almighty metal to metal thump. This happens at slow speeds driving simple off road tracks on either of the front wheels. (note, downward travel)

Mat
3.0d
ps I would like to know where they (BMW) wrote it is..

[DINANM3]

try going over a speed bump with th susp in the highest setting. all you hear is the shock about to fall out because nothing slows it down and it just hits hard. just by that observation i do not believe that they are variable because the bound shoud be slowed if it was. Bound is the opposite of rebound meaning the tire is going away from the fender. rebound is when the tire is going towards the fender. Just in case you were wondering.