Need some help regarding Adaptive Drive/Self Leveling Suspension coilover conversion

[TehPwnist]

Hello all, This is kind of an introduction for me although I've been lurking here for quite some time. Recently I had what I thought was a grand opportunity to purchase a 2011 X5 Xdrive50i M-sport. Unfortunately after getting all the details of the sale worked out I was notified the car has a dreaded suspension issue. Supposedly the vehicle becomes unlevel in the rear when not running and sitting over a period of time. My initial thought was, oh it's ok I can just swap to coilovers. Not only would they be more reliable but also would give me the desired stance. So today I've been scrambling doing tons of searches trying to determine whether to pursue the deal or not. I did a vin search and determined that the vehicle has both Adaptive Drive and Self leveling suspension. This is where it's gotten very confusing

In my searches I have seen no conclusive evidence that say I can install coilovers on an adaptive drive/self leveling vehicle. I'm not concerned at all with the adaptive drive functioning after the coilover install, what I am concerned with is that the car may enter a "limp mode" and be completely undrivable. If anyone with experience in this subject would be kind enough to help guide me or offer suggestions on this subject I'd be very appreciative.

Cheers
Brandon

[blue dragon]

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[ard]

Why would you not just replace the airbags? I predict this is NOT an 'adaptive drive failure'

AD is far, far superior to any coilovers. "stance" and all....

You DO know that AD is one thing, the air suspension is another: two independent options.

[TehPwnist]

Originally Posted by ard

You DO know that AD is one thing, the air suspension is another: two independent options.

As I said in my initial post the vehicle in question has both AD and auto leveling air suspension. So yes I "DO" know that.

As to "why don't I just replace the air bag?" From a reliability, functionality and price prospective coilovers seem the answer if the are a compatible swap with minor customizations....which there in lies my original question. Is an Adaptive Drive/Auto self leveling vehicle coilover compatible?

[TehPwnist]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

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Thanks for the help

[ard]

Originally Posted by TehPwnist

As I said in my initial post the vehicle in question has both AD and auto leveling air suspension. So yes I "DO" know that.

As to "why don't I just replace the air bag?" From a reliability, functionality and price prospective coilovers seem the answer if the are a compatible swap with minor customizations....which there in lies my original question. Is an Adaptive Drive/Auto self leveling vehicle coilover compatible?

LOL


AD is FAR superior. Functionally there is no comparison to a coilover.

You want to hack out a better system for an inferior system, spend MORE money hacking it out and installing inferior coilovers, and claim you are doing this for..uh..price perspective. You will spend 2-3k plus labor to avoid $300 and 30 minutes? To have worse performance?

Sure bud

Oh, given your obvious expertise- I assumed you know the "AD system" consists of coil/shocks with a electronically adjustable valving on the shock. When you replace this with a "coilover" you are removing the AD system- well, not the whole system but 80% of it. Such that what remains is not functional. But I am sure you knew this.

Sure.

[blue dragon]

Ard, why bother...
OP hasn't taken the time to research what AD / SLS is and what systems are involved. If he wants to remove AD, he hasn't even talked about removing the active sway bars, which share the pump with the power steering (a twin pump). Who is going to do the coding to remove those?

Originally Posted by TehPwnist

I'm not concerned at all with the adaptive drive functioning after the coilover instal

Go ahead, slap on your coilovers..... I have my popcorn ready.

[BGM]

I have Adaptive Drive as well and had one of the bags in back replaced a couple years ago. Not sure why you would want to mess with AD--it's such a difference maker in handling over anything else.

[ard]

Originally Posted by blue dragon

Ard, why bother...
OP hasn't taken the time to research what AD / SLS is and what systems are involved. If he wants to remove AD, he hasn't even talked about removing the active sway bars, which share the pump with the power steering (a twin pump). Who is going to do the coding to remove those?

He's already thought of that: warning lights, dash messages, all that stuff he is fine with- he only would be concerned if the car was disabled.

Nevermind driving around with, essentiall, no sway bars. (I.e. Leaving the now-inactive bars in place). Car flopping around....

Why? Because he wants that 'stance'...big rims, dropped, yeah man.

Race cars have coilovers. I have coilovers. My car must be a race car, or at the very least better than stock.

Finally, while things did get testy with OP, I do hope he takes the advice from multiple people to heart- and takes the time to reasearch and consider.

[BMWCheetah]

I have an e70 x5 that suffered the dreaded rear fire issue in the fuse box area. I had to solder in new wires in the Burnt sections. One of the modules that melted in the fire was the air suspension module part number 37146793163. I am trying desperately to stay with the air ride. I also wondered about replacing the air springs with standard springs which lead me to this thread. Could someone message me a picture of the harness to their module.