Replacing Rear Air Spring - Suspension Component X5 e70

[boyd823]

Thanks mart_dev.

I replaced the bags with Arnott's Air Spring. Very straight forward hardest part was getting the rim off. So... I woke up this morning and the right rear wheel well was on the tire again. I had it scheduled for an alignment this morning with the dealer. I kept the appt and just asked them to fix the Air Ride, I was done monkeying with it. I just got a call and they said that the brass fitting on top of the bag was cross threaded. Super bummed. I bought this car at the begining of December and the 300 miles I've put on it have been to the dealer for parts or maintenance.

I contacted the outfit I purchased the Bags from and they will not overnight a new bag since I didn't overnight them originally so I've got to pay extra for it and even though the part was faulty, they won't reimburse the labor I'm incurring with the dealership either.

This is my third BMW, second X and very not impressed with this one. I spoke with a gentleman this morning about the Valve Stem Seal's and it appears it's not a matter of if just when.

[DAVE4AL]

So I have a 09 X5 - same issue with dropped suspension. They found the leaking airbags and replaced the "spring". Drove around a little bit and left it overnight and it dropped again. Took it back to our wonderful BMW dealer and they now say it is a leaking "strut" with a separate part number. Is this correct or are they screwing me here? This doesn't make sense...any help? First job cost 1300 or so - now they want an additional 1300?

[wsmeyer]

Sometimes things get lost in translation between the mechanics and the service adviser.

Did they give you the new part numbers?

What are the part numbers of the parts they just replaced?

You can do some sleuthing on your too, most of us have this setup:

RealOEM.com * BMW E70 X5 4.8i LEVELL.DEVICE, AIR SPRING AND CTRL UNIT

[etip]

I replaced my leaking rear driver side air shock this weekend. This write up is pretty spot on.
Couple things though... When I was pushing in the airline, I couldn't get it to seat. After a few minutes I thought maybe the line got a bit flared. I took a file and knocked the lip of the plastic airline down and it slide right in.

The other thing, after a couple minutes running the shock was still not inflating. I started getting stressed, but maybe after 4 minutes it inflated, so if you do this job, know that it might take a few for the shock to inflate.

[DAVE4AL]

I definitely think they are playing around -- the first repair they did for sagging suspension was to replace the airbags with part number:

37126790078 (charged me 1200 or so)

Now they say they want to replace the leaking airbags with part number:

37126790079 (now want like 1500)

These appear be identical parts after a few conversations. The link you gave can be a bit confusing since why would they have separate part numbers for identical parts though? Help?

[wsmeyer]

Originally Posted by DAVE4AL

I definitely think they are playing around -- the first repair they did for sagging suspension was to replace the airbags with part number:

37126790078 (charged me 1200 or so)

Now they say they want to replace the leaking airbags with part number:

37126790079 (now want like 1500)

These appear be identical parts after a few conversations. The link you gave can be a bit confusing since why would they have separate part numbers for identical parts though? Help?

Yeah, that doesn't make any sense at all. They either installed them wrong, installed the wrong springs, or they were defective. Either way it should not have passed their inspection before giving you back the car.

If I'm reading it right:

37126790079 - standard spring

37126790080 - 3rd row and / or sport suspension

37126790078 - for cars with "Adaptive Control"

[mart_dev]

I know it's far too late at this stage but the air bags are far cheaper if purchased directly from Arnotts (probably in the region of 400 for both if not a little less)...and yes, left and right rear are identical. As far as I am aware, Arnotts only has one part number for all E70 models equipped with rear air suspension and I can't imagine them passing on potential income so in all likelihood it is a case of "one size fits all". As the leading independent replacement part manufacturer perhaps you could contact them and find out for sure. Fitting them is also very easy to do yourself.

[rlteee]

I replaced my airsprings with arnott and its still not rising. I hear the compressor trying to pump air, but nothing is happening. The compressor stops after a few minutes and I get the self level error message. What else could it be? I think i hear a hissing noise coming from the passenger rear tire.

[X5ists]

Originally Posted by rlteee

I replaced my airsprings with arnott and its still not rising. I hear the compressor trying to pump air, but nothing is happening. The compressor stops after a few minutes and I get the self level error message. What else could it be? I think i hear a hissing noise coming from the passenger rear tire.

You better check the connection between the air hose and the air bag. I will suggest remove and reinstall it again and make sure do not lower the car until the air is in the airbag, it happened to me once.

[rlteee]

is it safe to jack the car back up, unplug the air hose from the air bag and start the car to see if air is coming out of the hose? Or should i just completely remove the air bag from the hose, put it back, add the wheels and then start the car while jacked up?

The hardest part of all this is getting the top part of the air bag into that little hole..