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  #1  
Old 06-15-2019, 12:51 PM
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Air shock to coil spring conversion with 3rd row seat

Have a 2008 X5 with 3rd row seat. I’m switching from air shocks to coil springs.
My situation is, what do I do to get to the top side of the spring with the seat mounted in that area?
My 2005 didn’t have that seat so it was easy to make air spring repairs.
I also have a 2011 with the 3rd seat and also want to bake the same conversion.


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  #2  
Old 06-16-2019, 12:20 AM
ard ard is offline
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Assume just buy the right parts for a 2008 without air suspension?


realoem.com/bmw or any of the many BMW dealer parts sites...two different strut part numbers for w and w/o air
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Old 06-16-2019, 04:16 AM
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To get the air springs out you do not need access from above. Just need to turn the top of the bag 1/4 turn and it releases from the top perch. The airline also is accessible from below.
Curious, why are you switching to steel instead of air? I have 3rd row with air and not had any problem with it in 7 years apart from swapping in a new set of OEM bags a few months after I got the car.
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Old 06-16-2019, 12:55 PM
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FWIW..it is my understanding that the air bags only adjust the body posion. It isn't an 'air suspension' or 'air shockl' per se, but just an air adjustable height on the 'end' of a steel coil system....
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Old 06-16-2019, 05:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TriX5 View Post
To get the air springs out you do not need access from above. Just need to turn the top of the bag 1/4 turn and it releases from the top perch. The airline also is accessible from below.
Curious, why are you switching to steel instead of air? I have 3rd row with air and not had any problem with it in 7 years apart from swapping in a new set of OEM bags a few months after I got the car.






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Old 06-16-2019, 06:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TriX5 View Post
To get the air springs out you do not need access from above. Just need to turn the top of the bag 1/4 turn and it releases from the top perch. The airline also is accessible from below.
Curious, why are you switching to steel instead of air? I have 3rd row with air and not had any problem with it in 7 years apart from swapping in a new set of OEM bags a few months after I got the car.

The ‘05 I had also had air shock problems as well as the ‘08 I own now AND the ‘11 my wife has. I use mine as a work truck (stop grimacing). I carry o s**t load of tools in it as well as 750-800 lbs of horse feed weekly. The coil spring conversion seems to be the better alternative to habitual air shock problems.


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Old 06-16-2019, 08:03 PM
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Welp, after you price the new struts with the spring perch, that $200 a pop for air bags every 2 years will seem very reasonable... Plus, carrying so much weight I'd actually want it to self level.
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Old 06-17-2019, 08:50 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DLarcombe
The ‘05 I had also had air shock problems as well as the ‘08 I own now AND the ‘11 my wife has. I use mine as a work truck (stop grimacing). I carry o s**t load of tools in it as well as 750-800 lbs of horse feed weekly. The coil spring conversion seems to be the better alternative to habitual air shock problems..
I don't know about that. The entire point of the air suspension is to adjust for extra weight, which springs will not do. The air suspension is such a simple system with so few things that can go wrong. If you just fix it properly in the rare event it has an issue, it should continue to operate just fine.

Last edited by Viktimize; 06-18-2019 at 08:09 AM.
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Old 06-17-2019, 06:53 PM
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I don't know about that. .

Somehow you quoted the OP but attributed it to me....


But we agree- coils will not adjust ride height due to loads
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Old 06-18-2019, 05:10 AM
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If you carry that much weight then the air system will work hard each time you load and unload. When load goes in, the compressor will kick in to compensate. When the load comes out the valves open to release air. I can see why that might give you a lot more headache.
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2003 4.4i black ext./black int./black headliner (kid's runabout)
2014 535d X-drive, M package, silver/black interior

Sold but not forgotten:
2009 E70 35d, black ext./black int./black headliner (sold 2021)
2006 4.8iS Le Mans blue/cream int./black headliner, SOLD in 2012 sadly...

Other hardware:
2015 Cayenne S (wife's new DD and definitely wroooommmmm)
2016 Tundra 1794 edition crew cab, luxo hauler
2005 Tundra crew cab, weekend hauler. Sold after 150k very happy miles.
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