Rear Air Spring Replacement - with photos

[Kjon4]

Great job! I am motivated to do this myself. This happened to me the other day. Air springs started hissing etc... I ordered rear L and R air springs (sport) from arnott. should be here in couple days.
Is it possible to do this one side at a time?

[amor]

It is possible to get it done individually but you are better off doing both of them at once. Let me clear one side and the other while the car is in jack stands I had my tools from harbor freight and you need jack stand and floor jack and 10 mm socket and also 10 mm open wrench to slowly let air out on the reservoir as you loosen the bolt to listen the hissing sound as the air oozing out for 2mns . When you remove the pipe from the air spring you have to pull the black contour edge with a plyer toward the back. It is important to be gentle with black contour at the she of the pipe cause if u break it u have to buy anew reservoir that comes with the pipe ( it is not sold separately). It happens to me now I am waiting for my reservoir and height sensors to get my level back and my friend had just installed GT1on his laptop to help recalibrate it. If you are replacing the air spring , there is no need for recalibration. My case is different cause the sensors needed to change. Take your time and get familiar with your x5 it is worth it cause u will save $ 1000 from the dealer.
NB u can either disconnect the battery or remove the fuses 30a and 25a check the numbers when the car in jack stand . When done with air spring , put the fuses or connect the battery as the tires slightly touch the ground. Do research on it

[Kjon4]

Thanks armor. Need all the help i can get. My springs will arrive tomorrow and am really nervous but excited to do it myself. Glad its only the springs im replacing.
The local dealer in Az quoted me $1100. LOL!! Yeah right! Now gotta go and buy jack stands since already have floor jack and all the tools needed for this job. Thanks again

[amor]

Follow x5kiwi instructions . It is not too difficult I changed my rotors and my break and checked on air springs . I purchased mine at Arnold as well . They are very courteous and helpful . Take your time and spare the whole day for it if you have not used any tool before. My air spring was the first time to dismantle my car. I do not like to time any job but I am willing yo let you experience it . By the way, when you remove the black pouch to get access to the air spring you will see 2 gold or gray clips to unclip by pushing them out. My advice is to put a soft cloth around the area cause inside there is a hole in case your clip is popped out too hard and can get lost in the hole . Pass your finger around u will see it cause I lost one clip and I had to order a new one . Last on , there is a clip a the bottom of the air spring u wil need a screw driver to pull it out that is the hardest one because of his location. Have gun it is your x5 you will not break any thing. Trust your gut

[Kjon4]

amor, Your advice and also this forum has given me extra confident in DIY. I'm ready to take on the world now. haha.

[e30cabrio]

Thanks for the write up & info.

I got suspension inactive when I started the X last night. "rebooted" & it went away I searched & found this thread.

The link to the bags was dead so I looked and found the new link:
Arnott® - Replacement Air Suspension

You have to put in your vehicle to get to our bags.

[e30cabrio]

Went out for lunch and my X was sitting down on the driver side. Started it up it pumped up. Parked at restaurant it's sitting normally. As I assume something must be wrong I ordered a set from an ebay seller for 89.xx each shipped. I added a message asking he ship adsp he responded with a phone number in his signature so I called. FedEx was there so the shocks are on their way.

[e30cabrio]

It was still pumped after work & is still fine now. Is it normal for the bags to leak then stop leaking?

I will replace them this weekend, it just seems weird.

[Ricky Bobby]

If they are leaking they should do so pretty consistently.

So it stayed at the same height over night, you didn't drive it after work at all?

Did you measure the height from ground to fender to double check (even 1/4" of height loss over night is not good)

[e30cabrio]

I did not measure it.


I drove it at 5:00pm after parking it about 1:00pm. It stayed back at or near normal height after being down at 12:00.

I parked it at 5:50 last night.

As it sits now:

Passenger (unaffected side)



Driver (bad side)