"Slammed" the X5

[4.8isX5]

No more so cause ive been on other forums and also looked at threads with lowered x5s, same with lowered pickups or orher suv's and if your just someone who thinks your views are 100% right and savs shouldnt be lowered get a car instead etc, i dont want their comments in my thread either, they do about as much input as obama gun control on guns.

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by 4.8isX5

No more so cause ive been on other forums and also looked at threads with lowered x5s, same with lowered pickups or orher suv's and if your just someone who thinks your views are 100% right and savs shouldnt be lowered get a car instead etc, i dont want their comments in my thread either, they do about as much input as obama gun control on guns.

interesting, just because you started a thread, it does not make this thread, on a public forum yours, or mine or anyone's else, for that matter of fact.
this is a very interesting attitude - either you have had a lot of people already telling you that the ride looks out its domain, or you are naturally defensive and do not take any opposing views... and just like with the guns, the freedom of speech is protected as well...

As far as ride goes, that is your car, you want to lower it it, or, raise it into monster truck level, it is your ride, some will like it, some will not... but placing this ride onto a public forum, and expect nothing but the praise - is not that mature... Of course, in my personal opinion...

on the other hand, if you hope to get some advise when something is wrong with your car, it is not to your advantage to alienate people, who otherwise may help you turn a wrench, even when they are skeptical of your aesthetic choices...

It is always nice to play by the "public" rules on the public forums...

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by 4.8isX5

No more so cause ive been on other forums and also looked at threads with lowered x5s, same with lowered pickups or orher suv's and if your just someone who thinks your views are 100% right and savs shouldnt be lowered get a car instead etc, i dont want their comments in my thread either, they do about as much input as obama gun control on guns.

So, all you want to hear is how great your car looks and any other opinions are invalid. Sorry, this is a public forum where you post your pics and you take you chances.

As for me, I don't care what you do to your car or how it looks. My only concern would be whether or not it is still safe on the streets.

[525iT_Feen]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

So, all you want to hear is how great your car looks and any other opinions are invalid. Sorry, this is a public forum where you post your pics and you take you chances.

As for me, I don't care what you do to your car or how it looks. My only concern would be whether or not it is still safe on the streets.

Not exactly sure how lowering the vehicle would make it unsafe for anyone. The ride comfort argument isn't even an argument you definitely give up some comfort but I wouldn't go as far as questioning whether its safe or not haha.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by 525iT_Feen

Not exactly sure how lowering the vehicle would make it unsafe for anyone. The ride comfort argument isn't even an argument you definitely give up some comfort but I wouldn't go as far as questioning whether its safe or not haha.

Depends how it is done. I would imagine that like most things there are cheap ways and more expensive ways. The cheap ways will have cheap parts that may or may not be up to the task. Any chance that a lowered car can cut the tires?

I had a friend who lowered his (older car) and left a shackle bolt extended too far. First time he went hard around a corner the bolt ripped into the tire and he spun out on a two lane sweeper.

Could this kind of thing happen on an X5? I have no clue.

[525iT_Feen]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

Depends how it is done. I would imagine that like most things there are cheap ways and more expensive ways. The cheap ways will have cheap parts that may or may not be up to the task. Any chance that a lowered car can cut the tires?

I had a friend who lowered his (older car) and left a shackle bolt extended too far. First time he went hard around a corner the bolt ripped into the tire and he spun out on a two lane sweeper.

Could this kind of thing happen on an X5? I have no clue.

That reasoning makes sense if your talking about lowering a car with a coil-over shock setup not something with air. With the x5 its doesn't matter if you use the computer, links, the intrax module, or pull an airline and let it air itself out all your doing is changing the amount of air in the system/spring rate. If I had a module (which im considering) and lowered my car to the same height it wouldn't mean its done better - it would give the EXACT same result.

With that said I grew up spending all my Summers in Poland/eastern Europe as a kid and got REALLY into modifying cars living over there. I have put together numerous vehicles that were very low on stretched tires and crazy looking to the average person. I have never had not even as much as a flat tire with one of them and have always used $1000 plus suspension setups which were engineered and built in Germany. Maybe your friend took the cheap route?

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by 525iT_Feen

That reasoning makes sense if your talking about lowering a car with a coil-over shock setup not something with air. With the x5 its doesn't matter if you use the computer, links, the intrax module, or pull an airline and let it air itself out all your doing is changing the amount of air in the system/spring rate. If I had a module (which im considering) and lowered my car to the same height it wouldn't mean its done better - it would give the EXACT same result.

You are specifying a air suspension. My comment was of suspensions and lowering in general.

Originally Posted by 525iT_Feen

With that said I grew up spending all my Summers in Poland/eastern Europe as a kid and got REALLY into modifying cars living over there. I have put together numerous vehicles that were very low on stretched tires and crazy looking to the average person. I have never had not even as much as a flat tire with one of them and have always used $1000 plus suspension setups which were engineered and built in Germany. Maybe your friend took the cheap route?

I think you know that I was not speaking of YOU and YOUR experience. You may be the king of suspensions for all I know. I am talking about the average owner who may buy a cheap kit and put it on and the consequences thereof.

As for my friend, at the time he was a professional and seasoned mechanical engineer and also a car mechanic. I think the fact that he could mis-judge how much the tire would flex in hard corning is my point. If he could make such a mistake can't the average owner - especially one who is not trained?

[TiAgX5]

[QUOTE=525iT_Feen;920545].....The ride comfort argument isn't even an argument you definitely give up some comfort......QUOTE]


????? Ride comfort has absolutly NOTHING to do with ride height, this has become the accepted "fact" about lowering a vehicle due to most lowered cars are running stiffer springs and firmer shock setting then OE.

The KW var3 coilovers have a slightly stiffer spring rate when compared to the OE air bags. The shocks "high speed" damping is not adjustable and is very similar to a good Bilstein upgrade shock, the "low speed" setting is adjustable.

Most of those who lower go for the high spring rates and stiff "high speed" and "low speed" shock setting thinking this is what makes for better handling when all they are doing is destroying the ride and decreasing control on most public roads that are anything less then perfect.

It's possible to lower a high vehicle and IMPROVE ride comfort and suspension compliance, just install softer springs and shocks with milder valving. This fact "flies in the face" of the "Fast N Furious" boy races who do almost ALL vehicle lowering and think STIFFER = BETTER!!!!!!!

[525iT_Feen]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

????? Ride comfort has absolutly NOTHING to do with ride height, this has become the accepted "fact" about lowering a vehicle due to most lowered cars are running stiffer springs and firmer shock setting then OE.

The KW var3 coilovers have a slightly stiffer spring rate when compared to the OE air bags. The shocks "high speed" damping is not adjustable and is very similar to a good Bilstein upgrade shock, the "low speed" setting is adjustable.

Most of those who lower go for the high spring rates and stiff "high speed" and "low speed" shock setting thinking this is what makes for better handling when all they are doing is destroying the ride and decreasing control on most public roads that are anything less then perfect.

It's possible to lower a high vehicle and IMPROVE ride comfort and suspension compliance, just install softer springs and shocks with milder valving. This fact "flies in the face" of the "Fast N Furious" boy races who do almost ALL vehicle lowering and think STIFFER = BETTER!!!!!!!

You lost me there bud. I think we're saying the same thing? What i'm saying is with the AIR equipped x5s going to low severely deteriorates ride quality because the shocks AREN'T valved correctly for lowering the vehicle and the bags have too little pressure which creates excessive bounce from the rear.

With a coilover - the lower you go that stiffer it gets. In the case of the x5 I've found that that theory works for the front shocks but the rear bags being separate prevent the car from actually getting stiffer. Instead you just abuse the stock shocks and bag. I will lower my x5 just less then I have now.

I was saying that I WASN'T arguing that point. I love the way it looks and hate the way it rides. Sucks.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by 525iT_Feen

You lost me there bud. I think we're saying the same thing? What i'm saying is with the AIR equipped x5s going to low severely deteriorates ride quality because the shocks AREN'T valved correctly for lowering the vehicle and the bags have too little pressure which creates excessive bounce from the rear.

With a coilover - the lower you go that stiffer it gets. In the case of the x5 I've found that that theory works for the front shocks but the rear bags being separate prevent the car from actually getting stiffer. Instead you just abuse the stock shocks and bag. I will lower my x5 just less then I have now.

I was saying that I WASN'T arguing that point. I love the way it looks and hate the way it rides. Sucks.

"......going to low severely deteriorates ride quality because the shocks AREN'T valved correctly for lowering the vehicle....."

Shock valving is a constant and therefore there is no change in ride quality until the suspension "bottoms out".




"......the bags have too little pressure which creates excessive bounce from the rear......"

The pressure inside the airbags does not change with ride height, volume inside the bags change. Vehicle weight and airbag cross-section remain unchanged when the compressor/venting raises and lowers an X and therfore the prior sentence is FACT.
An "excessive bounce" condition would be worn shocks or under-damping, not a change in airbag volume or your incorrect logic "too little pressure".