Front Air Suspension Died :(

ggrace · #1 10-02-2010, 07:25 PM

Sitting at a stop light 2 blocks from my house, the front drivers side of my car just slowly dropped to the ground. I know I'm going to have to get the air suspension replaced.

My question is: Should I do both front corners at the same time, even though the front passengers side is still ok?

p.s. Truck has ~66,000 miles.

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Pisendar · #2 10-02-2010, 07:38 PM

From my own experience , if every other side is ok, then there is nothing to worry about. Just to be safe, you can get it checked anyways.

AZX54.4 · #3 10-02-2010, 08:27 PM

I would recommend doing both at the same time for convenience sake. My front left went out at the beginning of august and now, basically a month later the right side started to sag. I have the right side air strut on order. Hopefully it will arrive next week.

It would have been more convenient to have both done at the same time because I am ordering the air struts from arnott which is in Florida and I am in Phoenix. That means a descent amount of waiting.

I would recommend using arnott. However i received my right air strut at the beginning of the week and was not satisfied with it. It had rust and was just an unsatisfactory refurb. However, my left one from them was in excellent condition. They are sending me a new right one and it should arrive next week! So, I would call and place your order with them and tell them that you dont want them with rust etc...

ggrace · #4 10-02-2010, 09:44 PM

I'll let my mechanic order the parts. How much is the OEM part?

Can my wife drive like this for a few days or is it unsafe?

AZX54.4 · #5 10-02-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggrace

I'll let my mechanic order the parts. How much is the OEM part?

Can my wife drive like this for a few days or is it unsafe?

Air struts from the dealer are going to be $900-$1,100. Refurbs from arnott are $300ish. Many people including myself have gone the arnott path.

As far as driving it. Are they completely bottomed out and collapsed? If so, I wouldn't really drive it. When they are completely collapsed you basically are driving a car with no suspension. This could be unsafe if you were driving it with no consideration that you don't have the same handling, braking as usual. If they are just sagging a little bit I would say it is ok to drive but not for long drives. It depends on how badly they are leaking. If they are leaking a lot driving the car is going to make the air compressor work over time and then you will start wearing the compressor out.

ggrace · #6 10-03-2010, 08:41 AM

Unfortunately, I can't go without the truck for more than a day, as it's my wife's baby hauler. So I'll have to order from local dealer as it would take a while to wait for one from Arnott considering I'm in Canada. I get 20% off at my stealership, so that'll ease the blow a bit.

Maybe I'll order the passenger side from Arnott now so I have it for when that side decides to go...

ggrace · #7 10-03-2010, 09:38 AM

So is it part #1 that needs replacing?

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Levelling device/air spring strut/sensor

AZX54.4 · #8 10-03-2010, 01:23 PM

you cant just replace the air bag (part #1) you have to replace the entire air strut.

ggrace · #9 10-03-2010, 01:25 PM

I believe part 1 is the entire strut (hence $843) but I'll let my mechanic figure it out tomorrow.... It's pretty much dropped to the bottom and the wife's pissed she's stuck in the house!

Thanks for your quick replies!

AZX54.4 · #10 10-03-2010, 04:25 PM

Yeah, it looks like #1 is the entire air strut and if it costs around $900 then that is the correct part. I understand, I am waiting for the right one and am really missing my X. Even though I am using our other X5 which is the inline 6 i miss my V8

Good luck and I hope you are able to get it fixed up soon!

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