Air Suspension or coils?
 

I've just finished looking through several threads on suspension fixes and changes. My 4.8is with 160k miles (and 4 corner air suspension) has a leaky front bag (or strut, not sure which).

Option 1 is to replace the two front struts/bags (it seems the common recommendation is to do them in pairs) at a cost of around $1500-2000. The problem with this approach is, of course, the rears and compressor, etc might not last much longer (or they might). Benefit is original design (even if I use Arnott).

Option 2 is to convert to coil over suspension on all four corners. Parts cost (ECS Tuning) looks to be $1200ish so probably $2k installed. Perhaps there is salvage value in most of my old parts. Problem is I don't know how the beast will feel or handle, or if other issues will pop up (or out, like rear half shafts). The threads I read through seem to report good initial results - but how has it been over time? Benefit is no more worries about those air components.

Would appreciate any and all input and recommendations. Bonus points for good humor and amusement!

Thanks in advance.

I've got an '01 with the rear air suspension only, but I absolutely love it. I have replaced both the air springs in the rear myself. The rear ones are cheap and easy to do, I think the cost was $220 shipped for both and took a half hour to do at home. Compressor is still doing fine and it has been at least 8k miles since I swapped them. So I would say just replace with the arnotts and then call it good. My local indy says the arnotts are way better then the bmw oem air springs. Just my .02

Arnott a have lifetime warranted as well.

on one of my X5 i have springs and on the other airbag rear axle only. I have to say if you tow with it go with the airbag. I do like the airbag handling over the springs one.
Good luck

Where are you getting $1500-2000 for front struts? If your paying that much ill drive to KY to replace them for you.

Are you adding shop labor or something into the cost? If youve ever tinkered around with cars they are pretty easy to replace. All thats extra from a normal strut job is attaching the air line.

2 reman arnotts can be found for $350 a piece. $700

2 rear arnotts last time i checked are about $120 a piece. $240

Total $940 for complete bag replacement. If your going coilovers a few members on here had good things to say about the BC brand- i believe for 1k or so.

I was looking at new prices although I'd probably go with the reman. The front strut and bag is about $625 each (probably list), so that's about $1250. I added shipping and guessed a couple of hundred to several hundred to install. One thread has $1k+ for labor; my guys suggested about 2 hours. Point is, without shopping too much four corners of coils is about the same as two of struts/bags, so it seems worthwhile to run the traps on which way to go.

On Arnott's web site new $565 and reman $411 plus core, front only. Haven't found them much less anywhere else yet. BMW of course are more (those are the prices I have above).

Rears are $133 each. So Arnott's are new $1400 plus labor of a couple of hundred dollars. Reman $1088 plus the same labor and either a core charge or shipping back.

Coil suspension around $1200 new. Same labor +/-.

Point is not so much about price - both options are in the same ballpark. Question is which way to go?

You do realize that these X5 are made to accommodate a full coil suspension. The air suspension was just BMWs attempt an an elaborate system that could adjust. The coil suspension cannot be all that bad. My 4.6is has the coil suspension up front and air springs on back. If I had all air dampers on all 4 corners and I was looking for reliability with a decent ride I would convert to coils. If you do not like bilstein HD dampers to put with the H&R springs just get the OEM boge/sachs of the 4.6 IS and youve got a great suspension set up. End of story and done.

In your first post you asked about going to coil overs which would be for all four corners. If that is the case there are many threads you can search for information about the change. I don't recall anyone saying they were sorry other than a few that bought inferior products. I recall there is a supplier that many have used and have been happy with but I don't remember the brand.

Coil overs are completely different than the stock X5 suspension.

Agree - that's why I was looking for feedback now that those who have made the change have had a chance to put some miles on. Appreciate all the input so far...

Plus. You may never be able to remove the suspension error when you remove the air. Keep that in mind. Find an expert coding person before you proceed.

I'm leaning toward staying with air; just figure this is the one good time (economically) to make the switch if I ever want to. I'm out of the house for repairs there too, so have to have the shop do it either way. But they are good, fair and trustworthy.

Based on having no problems with rear air in 115,000 miles, that's the route I would go.

No suspension error can be coded out correctly so no warning is noticed. It does take someone who knows what they are doing and fee to make it happen.

Partsgeek has them for $350 the reman arnotts this includes shipping back your old ones ij the box they sent new one in, and label is provided (if not shoot arnott an email and they will send you a label for free)

You can order the rear bags from arnott then, i dont think you have to send back the old rear bags.

Thanks!

Yea I'm pretty sure I know how to do it, but have never tried it before.

Looks like this thread has gone quiet since January, but I am in the same position now of "do I continue to throw money against the air suspension on my 4.6is, or bite the bullet and replace with coil-overs and be problem free in the future?"

I had my rear bags replaced this week - only $550 fitted (Arnotts), so was happy with that. However, when I picked it up, they (being a good local BM Independent here in CO) said that I need to replace some sort of module which is about $570 just for the part. Ouch! The car is driving beautifully again with the new rear bags, but if I get that module replaced - which fitted would be around the $900 mark, including effort to remove all error codes etc. - then I am in to close to $1,500. And my front bags could still fail (car has done 138k miles so more than likely this will occur in the not too distant future) PLUS I have no idea when the compressor could go - potentially another $1,500 job in the future. So all up - I could end up dropping ~$4k on my suspension over the next year or 2. I would rather just spend ~$1,500 on some decent coilovers (don't want to go down the KW path or whatever they're called at $2,700 just on parts). Can anyone recommend something that is cost effective, and would ride and be of similar height to the stock air-bag suspension on the 4.6is?

Thanks!

Having just run the gamut of indy's here in Denver and feeling lost and disappointed I would strongly recommend a call to Paddock. They were unbelievable in helping me. Billy was fantastic on the phone and when I went in yesterday with copies of the previous Indys' invoices to show them the paper trail of issues and solutions they were taken aback at how much I was charged. They then also found out the previous Indy had programmed my leveling system incorrectly and reset it, all while showing me the readouts and explaining the process.

Paddock Imports | Denver's Dealer Service Alternative

I have a 2002 X5 4.4 for reference.

I know its a drive but I would at least call.

I was not aware that the 4.6is had front air struts? My 4.6is has only air on the back. Plus the air ride system on the 4.6is is less problematic (2 -wheel air ) than a 4 wheel air suspension X5. You should be good for years to come

Thanks JJ - I actually had my timing chain done out at Paddock - I took the car out to them a couple of months after I bought the truck (late last year) and he took off the oil filter and saw little metal shavings so we thought "uh-oh, let's get this done now!" They were great, I would definitely take my car to them for the 'big stuff'. But it is a long way out for me (living in Snowmass Village) so was really hoping to find a decent Indy here on the Western Slopes (which I think I have found in European Autowerks in Glenwood Springs).

Jay - thanks for your comments too, you may well be right - I just assumed the front would be air-bags on my 4.6is as well but it's only the rears? That's good to know. Maybe I should just get that control module replaced (it sits in the trunk under the spare-wheel by the looks of things) - I've actually read somewhere else on Xoutpost that you need that module even if you are running coil-overs as it is needed to run the stability control and other things? If that's the case, and I have to have that replaced anyway, then perhaps I should just run with my new rear airbags (lifetime warranty with Arnott which is great) and just hope that the compressor doesn't go anytime soon?