Rear air suspension to coil spring conversion?

[giaka]

Originally Posted by mr_robot

My (new to me) x5 has collapsed rear air suspension. Wanted to swap to a spring but wasn’t sure what the general consensus was in regards to dong this mod.

Won’t be using it to tow or anything crazy, what I am losing by deleting the rear air suspension system?

You're losing self leveling so your X5 will be just like mine. I was actually kind of happy to look under our X5 when we were shopping to see it had regular coil springs but I am new to the X5 scene so I may not know what Im missing. If the system was coils plus bags I would be all for it but bags only is to many points of failure to me.

[ard]

Originally Posted by giaka

If the system was coils plus bags I would be all for it but bags only is to many points of failure to me.

What?

[ard]

Originally Posted by mr_robot

My (new to me) x5 has collapsed rear air suspension. Wanted to swap to a spring but wasn’t sure what the general consensus was in regards to dong this mod.

Won’t be using it to tow or anything crazy, what I am losing by deleting the rear air suspension system?

Just spend the $200 for OEM airbags.... seems a pretty easy choice.

[bmrboi2]

Fix the Bags. Its a better system then conventional springs. It provides a better ride and when you have the ass loaded you will notice a DRAMATIC difference in handling over the coil springs. Even without the rear loaded you will notice a dramatic difference in handling.

[mr_robot]

Just feels like it's a great point of failure with many components that could go wrong. I won't using it to tow or haul stuff. I don't have the 3rd row seats either.

[ard]

Originally Posted by mr_robot

Just feels like it's a great point of failure with many components that could go wrong. I won't using it to tow or haul stuff. I don't have the 3rd row seats either.

Geez

So why own a car? Just take Ubers.

Do whatever you want. 3,4th owners and the hacks come out in full force....

[giaka]

Originally Posted by ard

What?

Isn't the air suspension air only in the rear (some vans/trucks have coils with bags inside to level the load)? I'm just saying if that's the case it has more points of failure than a coil spring. LOL But if they are reliable then I guess that changes things. Then again there seems to be a lot of pics of collapsed air suspension on the internet. That's what turned me off to the system.

[Aquamania]

Originally Posted by hbrezzi

Hi guys,

despite not getting any convincing feedback, I went ahead and did the conversion from airbags to coils... The car feels and drives GREAT!

I am very happy with the result and the only thing left is to figure out how to turn off the "level control system failure" warning message.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

When I got my X, I checked to make sure it did not have the air bags. I wanted just the regular suspension.

[SeanC]

Originally Posted by ard

Just spend the $200 for OEM airbags.... seems a pretty easy choice.

Do you know the manufacturer for OEM airbags? Pelican.com shows three options:

1. generic "O.E.M." (not a brand)
2. Arnott
3. BMW

I'm likely to go with Arnott since it's the cheapest and they seem to use good rubber (Continental).

[mr_robot]

Does the compressor not work when the air springs fail? Started the car with the trunk opened to see if I could here the compressor kick in but it was dead quiet.