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Hello new shoes. Hello air
2014 V2.0 UPDATE STARTS HERE WARNING: This thread contains material that a BMW "Purist" will probably find offensive, and therefore should probably leave now;). Ok, with that out of the way on to the more interesting tid bits. With some new wheels and tires set to arrive shortly, I needed to find a solution to the atrocious wheel gap that will ensue. So switching over to an air ride system with some sort of digital ride height control was the answer as i need the ability to keep my clearance for winter. I searched high and low for aftermarket kits, arriving at the conclusion that it was a choice of either airrunner or kits that looked like they were more novelty items than anything. The only problem with the airrunner system being that unless you order the complete kit, they do not warranty anything. So with all that being said, the final verdict was to do some sort of hybrid factory/aftermarket set up. So here's the plan: -BMW's air struts and bags -Ride Tech valving -Dakota Digital Ride Height Controller -Viair Compressor -Some sort of desiccant air Dryer (still sorting this one out) Everything except the struts, bags and dryer are on order, and should arrive shortly, so as the building commences I plan to keep this thread updated on the progress! One last thing, (sorry for the long and somewhat dull post!) before someone jumps in and points out that the project is probably not the most economical solution...:nanana: on you! :) UPDATE: Just thought I'd post a teaser of what the kind UPS man brought. Sorry for the iphone pics, was in somewhat of a hurry! Most of the components arrived. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t..._7925328_n.jpg Ride controller with the "brains" of the operation. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t..._6912259_n.jpg Wheels. The Bridgestone Dueler HP Sports are also sitting in the garage for these bad boys. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t..._1331598_n.jpg UPDATE #2: Here are a couple pictures of where I mounted the air compressor, and ran a SS line over the top of the rad to the air box securing it to the top of the rad with rubber clamps. I used the intake air filter to also filter the air for the compressor. I did have to strengthen up the air box wall just as a precaution; to make sure it would not crack after putting in the bulkhead fitting and connecting up the line. Next to mount the compressor in that location I had to fab up a bracket for it to sit on. Power wires run through the existing rubber insert for the factory harness, to a relay controlled by a pressure switch on the tank. I still have to get another bulkhead fitting to connect the main airline up to the SS line coming off the compressor. Anyways, enjoy. Comp. Intake Line: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0045.jpg Comp. Mounted: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0048.jpg Stay tuned for more!! |
Hell, I'm interested in seeing how it turns out. If for nothing more than the mad scientist like metality. Keep us posted.
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Great idea. Love to hear how it turns out. I had an Audi 6 allroad and it could be driven at three different settings I believe. Never understood why BMW didn't do that on the X5.
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Good luck on the sourcing of materials and install - looking forward to following the process.
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Subscribing...
I want to see this! :thumbup: |
Have at it.... Commscope eCatalog - Dehydrators
Not sure on your plumbing design... but here's my pick based on actual use. Andrew SD-003 If it's good enough to keep the waveguides of some (expensive) Terma RADAR systems dry, it should fit your bill, volume requirements, and at 5"x2", your space limitations. |
First off, my apologies for the lack of updates, school keeps me pretty busy, and I'm off for some fun in the sun tomorrow (Hawaii). Hopefully everything will be completed by the time all our snow melts. So high gear it will be as soon as I'm back!
Status so far: - Air tank is ready to be sandblasted and painted. - Compressor is mounted and plumbed, electrical as well. - The main air supply line (compressor to tank) is run. If I get a chance to wash her off today ill try to snap a few pics! Quote:
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UPDATE #3:
So as this project stands now were about 80% of the way done, the only major remaining part is to install the struts and bags. At this point however i do just want to take a second to point out that this is not a project for the faint of heart as it does require much more work than I had originally anticipated as well as some irreversible modifications. Ride Sensors The fronts were pretty straight forward as there is plenty of room to mount and work around the front suspension. The front sensors were bolted to brackets we fabbed up and welded to the frame just rear of the front axle support mount. The adjustment/measurement arm attaches to the lower control arms. The rears were a bit more of a challenge due to the size of the sensors and the overall tight quarters in the rear. Finally, we decided to go with mounting the sensor on the back side of the upper control arm mounting flange. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/IMG_1444.jpg Air The compressed air comes from the compressor through the main line running underneath the passenger side of the vehicle to the rear compartment, into the tank. On the tank is the safety blow off, pressure switch, as well as the main 1/4 line out to feed the valves. Going from the tank, the air first travels through an inline filter and through air driers before getting to the valves or bags. I went ahead and mounted the valves, manifold (with air driers and pressure sensor) and air filter in a pvc box mainly to keep everything neat and out of the way while still in one location. The pressure sensor on the manifold keeps taps on the tank pressure and will automatically switch the display to the tank pressure when it drops below a certain psi. The connector on the top right of the box is the power/ground wires for the air valves. Assembling the pins into that bad boy was a major PITA!! Tank: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/IMG_1441.jpg Box: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0731.jpg The airlines exit the box through the top and drop down into the spare compartment where they then split. The lines for the rear bags go through the rubber boots above their respective bag, and the fronts follow the same path of the main air line back up front to each strut. Electrical The control unit I have relies solely on the values from the level sensors for automatic ride adjustment, (think BMW's self-leveling), same basic concept. Going into this thing is: 1 - 8 pin harness for valve control 2 - 6 pin harness', 1 for power; the other to connect to the control display. 4 - 3 in one wires which come from each level sensor. I figured the best place to mount the module was behind the glove box in the rack with the rest of the million wire boxes:rolleyes:. It finally fit comfortably after some hot knife surgery to the rack...(Yes I did take the time to remove it from the vehicle, and yes I removed all of the other modules from the rack, and yes my knuckles weren't to happy by the time it was all back in). Brains: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/IMG_1440.jpg It might be worth mentioning that for both the control unit and the compressor, relays were used. The compressor relay may already be obvious, but if not....it will kill a battery rather quickly. This way it will only run when the key is on. The relay for the "key on" power wire to the control unit was used because I didn't want to start tapping multiple wires unnecessarily. It uses the same signal wire, and dedicated 12v source as the comp. relay but this way does not draw anything off the factory harness wires. That is the majority of the project... Its not an overly difficult project, just there is a lot of tedious little sh*t involved, which consumes most of the time. |
UPDATE #4:
Well guys, for the most part we're done! Everything is in and working as it should. Not sure how many of you are still following this but here are my observations: - After going from 17x7.5 wheels to the massive 20x10F 20x11R the ride is actually BETTER than is was before. It feels much more planted (as expected) but also the air springs seem to filter out the vibrations/feeling of the road that the coils transmitted throughout the vehicle.....for a much more luxurious (yet still BMW feeling) ride. - The only thing I will say about handling is that it is still very much a BMW; it does what its mean to, nothing more nothing less. Its not as nimble as a car, nor do I expect it to be. Before http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0704.jpg After http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0753.jpg Display http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0743.jpg The display was custom made orange to try and keep some of the BMW feel. The numbers shown are the height values for each corner (ranges from 0-125 for the travel I specify), but it can be switched to the pressure in the tank at the press of a button. The buttons on the left are the "auto height" presets; High - Medium - Low. The ones on the left allow you to manually adjust each corner. This is only the temporary location, the plan is to remove the sunglasses holder and CAD an overhead display mount into its location. Overall, Im extremely pleased with how this all turned out. It was a bit of a gamble as its definitely off the beaten path, and in fact backwards from the path most take (air to coil conversion). But with that being said I love my X, and still have a couple years left in university; so I plan to keep it for a while yet. Some of you might be wondering the cost of something like this, so here is a quick breakdown: Dakota Digital DCH-2000 system w/ custom orange dispay - $855 " " custom 10 ft display cable - $70 BMW Factory rear air springs - $190 (x2) Arnott Industries front air struts - $469 (x2) [$369ea + $100 core] Arnott Industries valve block - $300 Viair Compressor $180 Misc (fittings, check valves, silencers etc..) $500 For a grand total of $3223. The majority of fittings used for the air lines were DOT approved air-brake air-line fittings. They're a bit pricey compared to standard 1/4" push-in fittings but being that they have endured decades of service in the transport industry, they looked like a wise choice. Here's a shot of them next to BMW's fitting for the front struts. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...D/DSC_0769.jpg The note the o-ring on the inside of the BMW fitting, there is a second one further in the fitting...(enter the non-expert disclaimer here)....the guy I was dealing with for all my fittings and lines took a look at it and basically said that those o-rings will eventually give me nothing but problems...Especially once they have been subject to some of the nice things our roads/weather have to throw at them. The DOT fittings on the other hand have a sleeve that fits inside the airline after being pressed in to prevent the line from collapsing and eventually leaking. So anyone out there who might have entertained this idea, but not quite sure about how to proceed, or if its worth proceeding, hopefully this can be of some use to you! |
Wow! Looks great! Nice work.
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WOW that is very impressive. Nice work, you are a true craftsman.
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I also put adjustable air suspension on my civic (yes I said civic...:nanana: ), and the only problem I constantly had was the quick connect fittings. They're a pain, I tried so many different ones and they all failed. Finally I went with Home Depot compression fittings and haven't had a leak since then. Hope it's working out for you though. Nice ride :thumbup:. Something like (SKU #) 541907 but in 1/4" both sides... |
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It's odd that you had problems with quick connect fittings leaking!.....Ive been running this set up for about a year now on just about every kind of road surface/condition you could think of and in temps that range from ~+35˚C to -40˚C, without a single problem. Straight *Clean* cuts on the airline ends are a must though. I could see the plastic quick connect fittings definitely causing problems......but the DOT ones are pretty hefty in comparison, and are built for such abuse. |
Very cool! I like that you did everything yourself. The after picture, is that at the lowest setting?
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L - Summer drive height M - Winter drive Height (~1 inch higher than low) H - Blizzard Mode (for maximum ground clearance) |
Wow! :thumbup:
GL, mD |
sorry to resurect an old thread but what wheels are these ? i have the 22" version on My X5 but never knew what they are
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Hi Mate,
I installed BMW factory airbags and reservoirs in the back end of my E53 3.0d this weekend. At this stage, I'm just manually inflating them. Can I ask where you bought your fittings from? I had to fabricate something fairly dodgy to mate the 4mm air hose from the BMW reservoir, to the 5/16 12 bar hose I had. I'd like to put in something better quality.. Also, how many PSI do you inflate the rear bags up to? It appears about 80PSI or so, I'm back to near factory ride height.. CHeers + thanks, Scott. |
Question for you - with our lovely Winnipeg roads that we have here, I've being wondering about suspension changes for my X. It currently has the sport package, which was great when I was living in BC with their nice smooth roads, but I'm finding it pretty harsh on these roads. When you switched from the OE setup to bags, did you notice an improvement in the X's ability to soak up bumps?
I'm thinking it you have the bags inflated to a happy medium ride height - not so low that you have no travel and not too high that they are infalted to a high PSI - that it might be nicer then the ride I currently have...I could be way off base, I have no experience with bagged rides. Maybe once we both have our summer wheels on, we could do a little back-to-back road tests between the two to compare? might be interesting :dunno: Thanks! |
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Here's the bad news: as far as SUV's (SAV's) go, the X is on the "firm" end of the spectrum when it comes to ride quality. If you happen to live in an area where roads look like they were subject to a Grenade hauling driving around losing it's cargo (aka 90% of our roads here)...the X's suspension isn't really going to help your case. It's really just the nature of the beast. Here's the good news: The one thing I immediately noticed after switching to air was that the bags seem to filter out more of the road vibrations that the springs transmit. As for soaking up bumps, I've noticed that in my "High" setting (more or less standard ride height of a factory 3.0) it does take bumps a bit better than my lowered ride height...but both better than the coils IMO. Whether or not it would be enough to justify the cost, It would be your call! (I'd do it all over again without hesitation!!) My X is apart in the garage at the moment as I'm working on some upgrades to my air system amongst other things....but I'm hoping to have it back on the road by the 25th (that includes summer wheels on with the exterior clayed, compounded, sealed & waxed). We can definitely head out after that!! |
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My summer wheels won't go on for a bit either, waiting until it gets a bit warmer and stays that way! Maybe sometime in May we can check out each other's Xs :thumbup: |
Time for an update!
Ok guys, so it's been about 3 years now with my current air setup and while I had a couple small quirks along the way to sort out (which were directly related to the awesome climate I'm situated in where it routinely dips to below -30), the system is still kicking and working flawlessly! That being said though, over the past couple months I've enjoyed a certain level of refinement on another air system (2011 Sport Autobiography) which left me thinking that perhaps it's time to do some refining of my own to the X's setup. Now before anyone starts with the "see, that's what you get for having air suspension" let me first say this system is still 100% functional, and this is upgrade is only to REFINE it further! I am still a huge proponent for air suspension and the benefits/versatility it offers. This V2.0 set up will encompass a few changes: 1) Higher pressure (110psi on, 145psi off vs current 90/120psi) 2) Larger air reserve (2-3 gallon tanks vs. current single 2 gallon) 3) Addition of 4-corner bag pressure monitoring to current height based system. 4) Addition of coalescing filter & larger desiccant dryer 5) Accuair VU4 valve block 6) Dual 3/8" supply lines to valve block While my system will still remain primarily a height based system, adding in the 4 pressure sensors (one for each bag) will permit me to set limits on bag pressure differentials between sides as well as set low pressure warnings for each bag. This further reduces the chance of cross-loading, and prohibits the suspension from trying to over fill a bag in an attempt to level the vehicle out on uneven ground or steep inclines....think of it as having a system that is now "seeing with both eyes". The higher pressures & increased air reserve will make height changes faster and permit more changes before the compressor needs to kick in. The addition of the Coalescing filter & desiccant dryer will ensure the valves are seeing clean, dry air...which is crucial for any air operated system!! When all is said and done, this new air management setup should rival the speed that I've become accustomed to on the AB, without any of the drawbacks of having a system fully integrated into the vehicles electrical system. I still have a few mounting brackets to finish drawing up on autoCAD....then its to the water jet & CNC break Monday before being TIG welded into the air management box Tuesday! Here's a couple teasers: Sizing up everything for clearances...everything relating to my air management will be housed inside the aluminum box : http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...2.jpg~original ...And yes, I am ditching my spare for a slime kit. Playing a puzzle game....trying to figure out the best/eye appealing way to mount the big stuff inside the Management box: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...s.jpg~original Stay tuned for more in the coming week! |
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i think we're done with snow now...
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@RB - Thanks dude! Most of this stuff is old news to you already! haha...you're gonna love this project; OCD special special comin right up!
Jhay - Maaaaan I hope we're finally done with the snow....summers are short enough to begin with! Micro-Update: The Bad news: Life's getting in the way this week, and as such progress has been slightly slower than anticipated. The Good news: First of 3 brackets is ready to be welded. Here's a quick shot of my 3D AC model & actual piece. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...e.png~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...3.jpg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...2.jpg~original Tomorrow is fitting-shopping day. Once I've got an idea as to fitting space requirements I can knock out the remaining brackets and send everything out to get welded into the box. Before final assembly. ...Stay tuned! -S |
man i would love an air ride some day. but i dont think id have the necessary tools or knowledge for one. maybe a cheaper alternative for me. or maybe even a manual set up, your the man to talk to Spence.
if i plan on doing something air worthy, ill def seek your advice and help. did you go kit or source things out yourself? also looks with the above doing your own work...wicked! |
Jhay, I put together my own kit....there are a couple kits offered for the X, but none really offered what I wanted while others are just outrageously priced.
With the exception of the TIG welding and operating the waterjet/Cnc machines everything else is all done in house. Pretty much all te stops are being pulled on this management system in terms of parts & esthetics...going for factory level function but show-able level build quality. Sourcing stuff can be a challenge, but being involved in the industry I have an idea where to start looking. A manually operated air setup is definitely NOT something you want for a daily driven car....for a show car it works, but not otherwise. I just put in an order for all my fittings and lines...they're about a week away. I'm hoping by next weekend I'll have my truck back on the road! |
PROGRESS UPDATE
Sensor mounting - Check! Valve mounting - Check! Tank framing - Drawn, awaiting manufacturing! Valve mounting plate - Drawn, awaiting manufacturing! Fittings - In Transit! Budget for this project - Shot to pieces long ago! :bustingup The framework that the tanks & management box sit on are for the most part done....I still need to figure out some mounting brackets for the frame arms, but likely will not do that until I have the pieces in hand later this week. From the side this is what were dealing with: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...6.png~original On the above, the raised portion sits above the battery, and retains about 3" of clearance...more than enough room to remove the ground cable if need be. (I have a ground disconnect switch that needs to be installed....it's been kicking around for almost a year now; prehaps this may be a good time! haha). All in all, the whole assembly once mounted onto the framing, still leaves be about an 1" of clearance to the bottom of the cargo floor....more than enough! In keeping with my "OCD" theme, after figuring out the framing....I decided that although completely unnecessary, I needed a mounting plate for the management box to mount to.....because a simple box frame will not do at this point. This piece sits in the center of the "arms" for the tanks, not only connecting them, but securing the management box to the frame as well. I need to add in a couple bolt holes yet for each arm...but in the meantime, Voila: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...8.png~original To maybe better illustrate... In the shot below, (which is the framing arm) the battery of the X is located where the crosshair is, while the management box mounting plate bolts to these arms in the center recessed area. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...5.png~original As for the management box, I finished off my sensor racks and got the bulkheads welded in place, but am currently waiting on the arrival of all the fittings before I move any further. Each bulkhead fitting was turned out on a lathe from a solid chunk of 1.25" diameter 6061 aluminum. The Sensor mounting brackets were drawn up on cad, cut out on the waterjet and bent in the cnc brake.....OCD baby! :rofl: Anyways, here's some more eye candy: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...c.jpg~original That's more or less where the racks go. The top sensors on each rack (green 2 wire & empty spot) are both tank related sensors...One being the pressure switch for the compressor, while the other (empty spot in pic) is for the tank pressure sensor, which is still currently installed on the V1.0 setup. The square tabs with the holes in them on each bracket are so that once all is said and done, all that will be visible are the SS lines, and a single harness from each corner; Each sensor rack has its own cover. It should clean up everything nicely! http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...7.jpg~original At this point the whole project is about a week behind schedule....But I'm hoping with everything more or less ready for the fittings & lines, that by the time they arrive it should be nothing more than a late night'r assembly job! -S |
Dayamn. Love these type of threads. That looks so nice.
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Thanks Slick! Was hoping this would be a nice change of pace from all the "problem" related threads nowadays.
I got shipping confirmations today and dropped off my drawings as well. Should have all my parts in hand for this weekend, then it's off to the races to get this thing done. In the meantime it's going to be just sitting in the garage as it has been for the last 3 weeks collecting dust! lol. |
Thought I may as well park these here....
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...c.jpg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...5.jpg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original Delivery is confirmed for the remaining swag, end of day tomorrow.....which means I get to play with my hose's all weekend! :rofl: EDIT: I should mention that I had to make some changes to the original design (re my previous post) as some bends we're not feasible without compromising the structural integrity of the material (aluminum) being bent. Hence 1/4" X 2.5" steel for the load-bearing tank mounts while I retained 6061 for the center tray. |
That looks like shit. You need to finish building that and send it to me for further scrutiny. Thank you.
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Lol!! I know, I was thinking the same thing....perhaps back to the drawing board!
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Progress Update
I'll try to make this one short... Pressure sensor harness routed - Check Interior buttoned back up - Check Last round of welding - Tomorrow Sensor covers fabrication - Tomorrow All outstanding required measurements - Check Bulkhead harness build - Either later tonight or tomorrow. I was sent a couple fittings in error and need to swap a couple others to a different angles...so I'll be ordering those tomorrow as well. Right now the only major fabrication work left to do is the hoses, but thats literally the LAST step that's going to take some time. Anyways, while I was getting the last set of measurements for the welder I thought I should snap a couple pics of the what these fittings really look like up close as they're really the stars of this show. The black ends against the titanium combine with the nickel plated adapter fittings looks absolutely gorgeous....it's almost a shame to hide them under a lid. Enjoy: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t....jpeg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t....jpeg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t....jpeg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t....jpeg~original The two 45's in this above were sent in error....should have been 90's, but are going to be more or less out of sight once the valve mount is tig'd into place. They're still going to be exchanged. |
VERY nice, clean work!
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What a massive effort - well done, mate.
I like how you mounted the compressor externally to keep the noise out of the cabin. That would have really ruined the luxury of the car to hear a compressor whirring away in the back. Looking forward to seeing the end result. |
Progress Update:
I know I'm still WAY behind on this project....but we're gettin there! (The ol' motivation level was running on E after last weekends' detail session on the Rover) Right now this is what remains: - Install bag pressure supply bulkheads - Install synflex bag pressure lines - Assemble & install tank supply lines from air dryer - Install Air filter & dryer - Install pressure sensors - Test for leaks I should be able to knock this out over the next couple days..the only potential hold up is on a couple swivel 90* PTC fittings I'm waiting on. The wiring harness I had to make from scratch more or less. The VU4 manifold comes with its own pigtail harness for Accuairs' own ECU, but as I'm using my existing dakota digital to actuate the valves it need to be modified. On top of that, I needed to add leads for 5 pressure sensors (4 bags + 1 tank) as well as my compressor on/off pressure switch....its a total of 21 wires (I think?) which I shrank down to 19 or so with the use of some common grounds. The harness from inside the box all runs through a delphi style bulkhead connector...making the disconnect process quick and clean! Wires, wires everywhere! Wire ends with connector seals on (the green things) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...7.jpg~original Branching & loom process: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...d.jpg~original Initial fitment (The leads running up & out of the box will eventually terminate behind those covers...at their respective sensor terminal) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...b.jpg~original ...It just wiring, so naturally it's not very exciting but was stupidly time consuming. Moving onto the lines....my braided line assembly goes something like this: 1) Take a piece of SS braided line, tape up the end tightly and stick it into a chop saw to obtain a nice straight cut....like so: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...e.jpg~original The tape compresses the braids and prevents what would otherwise be a very very frayed end (which makes the next step impossible) 2) Twist on the collar potion of the fitting, paying close attention not to stray any of the SS wire strands along the way: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...3.jpg~original 3) Stick the thing in a vice (OCD dictates using a rag to prevent marking of the fittings), and lube up the nipple end before threading it down. You get something like this: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...2.jpg~original As you tighten them down it bites into the hose and seals the end. It was a bloody slow process as every end had to be done with rags over the ends to ensure there were no tool marks left on the fitting end when completed. http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...5.jpg~original Repeat this process time and time again with a few breaks for cold ones over the day and you end up with something to this effect: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original After a few holes were put into the ol' digit tips from the occasional stray razor sharp SS wire and blood was spilt building this thing (literally).....you get to the point of this thread everyone comes here for.....Complete-ish Teasers! :thumbup: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...e.jpg~original http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...c.jpg~original (with some of the synflex line installed) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...d.jpg~original All you will see once its in the truck and buttoned up: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original Last but not least; normally I try to refrain from aftermarket logos or branding but seeing as I had this kicking around and needed SOMETHING to fill the big bare space on the the aluminum lid figured I may as well stick the Accuair vinyl on. If I get really bored at some point, Ill anodize the lid and laser etch the X5 logo or something....but for now, its just this: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...f.jpg~original After all is said and done Im hoping to get everything up and running this week so I can get the X all detailed up next weekend to enjoy once again for summer! |
Nnnnice. You nailed the symmetry - which for someone like me who is OCD would have been a massive achievement.
Do the valves dump inside the car or out? |
Thanks! Yeah I really wanted to get everything to look symmetrical...Took quite a bit of day dreaming, I mean errr... "mental construction sessions" to figure out how I was going to route everything.
As for the dumping, I haven't decided yet. The setup i have right now dumps through a single 1/4" line routed into the battery box with a silencer on the end (so technically its still inside the car, but can't be heard). I may just plug silencers into the PTC exhaust ports and see how that rolls as it would save me from having to put any additional bulkheads into the box. Theres no way in hell I'd allow it to be the stereotypical unmuffled "pshhhhhhht" sound....not a chance! lol. Refinement is the name of the game with this setup! |
Just wanted to report that after spending this weekend knock'n this project off....it's up and running!! Full update & pics to follow tomorrow sometime!
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It is tomorrow sometime.
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X5SND is literally a machine, I would never have the discipline to dedicate my whole weekend to this massive and meticulous of a project! Amazing to say the least,
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Progress Update:
So as I previously posted, this new system is up and running....I still have a couple odds and ends to finish off (tidying up the air line runs, pick up my air dryer mount from the machine shop, grab some exhaust port silencers & give everything a thorough clean). I was also dealt a leaky PTC fitting....but all in all I should only be looking at a couple hours of work outstanding, max. Following my previous post it was a matter of final assembly. So here goes: Take a box, and put some fittings in: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...c.jpg~original Now put some more in... and while you're at it, throw in some pressure sensors and a pressure switch: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...b.jpg~original Add in some valves, hoses, & electrical bulkhead: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...d.jpg~original How bout some More hoses? Looks like we need a few more...: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...5.jpg~original MORE MORE MORE!: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...a.jpg~original Once you've had your fill of playing with with hoses, go find a mounting frame...like this: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original Take your spare tire; chuck it out....fill void with twin 3 gallon air tanks mounted to frame 'found' previously. Like so: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...b.jpg~original From another angle: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original Once thats good and secure....and perhaps after a couple cold ones lets have some fun with the 9 million wires that we need to hook up. Now I just want to point out, that I could have shaved about half a day from this nightmare-ish bit, had I not lost my road map (pin-out diagram) of my bulkhead connector.**Enter the "dog ate my homework excuse"** Long story short I had to do it the old fashioned way of testing each pin for continuity. This sucked: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...4.jpg~original Once that was sorted, we need make up the main tank feed lines & temporarily mount the air dryer. Also, can't forget to connect the main feed line in from the compressor....looks something like this afterwards: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...2.jpg~original I will point out that those yellow air lines are only temporary...I ran out of black line, so Had to use this stuff for the time being...they aren't staying long. (You should know me by now....Hell would freeze over before those yellow lines are ever considered "acceptable":rofl:) As I previously mentioned (I think?) with this setup now, not only do I see the live height values & tank pressure, but also see the pressure in each bag. Dakota Digital really incorporated some nice features into this system as you can set independent values for the minumum height error & time duration needed before the ecu will intervene to correct as well as change valve speeds to slow down the system (minimizing overshoot). Also, because I'm using "the full monty" system, I can specify the the maximum psi difference for bags on opposing sides....this prevents cross-loading & over-filling bags to unsafe levels on uneven ground. This is what some of the above mentioned pages look like in my display: Tank PSI readout: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...e.jpg~original Individual Corner height readout (Sitting bagged out): http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...0.jpg~original Individual Pressure readout (They're all reading "00" as this was taken upon the initial start up; Compressor was still building up) http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...7.jpg~original Speed settings; Adjusting Rear valve speed to slowest value: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...1.jpg~original Adjusting Maximum psi difference for Front bags: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...8.jpg~original All buttoned up: http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...0.jpg~original I think I'm going to end up getting some thin gauge stainless shields bent to close in the sides of the tanks/box & finish everything off nicely. That about does'r....aaaaand that concludes how I spent my weekend! I'll No doubt have some more to add, but Im pressed for time at the moment so this will have to do! |
Ummmm, yeah, that yellow line ruins it all. Toss it in the rubbish bin. :rofl:
If you want a professional look next time, hog the box and tanks out of a single piece of aluminum. 6061-T6 preferably. :banana: I always admire people who can do this sort of detailed project. Original thought needed on layout and execution. This isn't a skill set I possess. :( Nice work! :thumbup: However (comma) they make these things call soft jaws for vises. They come in brass, aluminum, plastic, etc. Aeroquip even has their own version for sale (at a BMW premium like price!). OCD my ass. :stickpoke :bustingup |
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As for the tanks, I opted to go with these for a couple reasons. First, they carry the necessary DOT/SAE markings (as does all my PTC fittings & valves) required in my area. Secondly, I really didn't like the way it was going to look with that much aluminum. The black tanks, titanium/black hose ends and nickel plated fittings kept my overall theme more consistent IMO.:thumbup: |
Ready to see that thing on the floor :D
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But since you asked.... http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/t...7.jpg~original It's from my v1.0 setup, but that iteration still allowed me to lay it right out. The pic in my signature is the X also sitting on the bump stops. |
*drool*
I am actually considering a 2003 imola/imola 4.6is for sale in Winnipeg. There seems to be a lot of members on here from there... any chance you might know the guy selling it? He clearly isn't a BMW guy as he states in the ad that it has the "AMG package" LOL... This thread is amazing BTW, I give you maad props as this setup looks professional installed. I recall my 1994 Accord Wagon air ride set up, where I stupidly used 1/2" lines and valves on air pistons bolted to self-made brackets with my newbie welding skills. Thinking back now, the ride was horrible and I had absolutely no control over the height adjustment, 1/2" fast valves and lines will do that to you, and digital management was almost non-existent and/or overpriced (I recall they were just coming out with them in 2003 and were upwards of $5000). Regardless, the ride on the pistons was horrible and the car would bounce off the ground if I hit the switch too fast :S Of course that was a over decade ago and I recall being immature and reckless :rolleyes:. These days, I completely agree with your comment about versatility being that I am a married man now with plans on starting a family very soon (hence my reasoning to finally purchase the super rare imola/imola 4.6is before any children come and the wife says no more toys). http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...d/IMG_0126.jpg |
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