I have the H&R lowering kit for rear air which is the two front springs and height sensor links. I tried the Bilstein HDs and took them off. The ride was too harsh. I could have lived with that but the X was skittish, darted around the lane, felt like a handful all the time, was not even comfortable to passengers. In the rain it slowed me down and kept me on full alert. I went back to OEM struts and shocks. FYI- The Bilstein setup was with Eibach sway bars that contributed to the resulting handling.

The front drop was closer to 1.5. I don't recall if the links for the rear were enough, I think they were. I replaced then with metal adjustable links. I also added spacers which dropped it a little more because of the geometry and added to the new look.

@bcredliner, tell me about these adjustable rear links! Where did you get them? How do they work exactly? How much of a range do you have with them?

Thanks to everyone for the great info. I think I'm just going to put H&R's on my stock struts and shocks. Why spend an extra $700 on shocks to just make the ride worse? I just hope I don't destroy my stock struts by bottoming them out on potholes... We'll see.

Purchased the links a few years ago and don't remember the source but they look similar to the following link: BMW x5 Air Suspension lowering Links Module Rear Links Only | eBay

The links I have will drop the rear a little more than 1/2in. more than the links that come with the H&R kit. I don't have them set at the minimum because I want the front a little lower than the rear.

The suspension has not bottomed out and I have stock struts.

I replaced the front struts and sway bar links just this weekend. Wasn't an overly difficult DIY project; I rented the spring compressors from Autozone and had added help from my new electric impact wrench I got on sale at Harbor Freight. I went with Sachs Touring 290 240/ 290 239 and during my test drive my front end is firmed up and drives noticeably smoother on the road. I was overdue for new struts/shocks. I replaced by rear shocks with Sachs this past summer. I also replaced the strut mounts, both front and rear. Currently FCP Euro has the Sachs front struts for $183 each.

The problem is that BMW made several different struts and shocks for the E53, all depending on the options the X came with (sport suspension, air suspension). They all look the same and fit the same but I'm assuming they are tuned or valved differently. Now you see Sachs, Bilstein and Monroe making replacement struts/shocks with just one part number for all. How can this be? Some websites that sell the Sachs shocks say that they are not for use with the sport package. For my 4.6is, I don't think I would go with anything but OEM BMW struts. I would love to find a cheaper alternative, I just can't make sense out it.

There are several websites that offer OE or OEM BMW X5 4.6 struts or shocks that cost much less than purchasing at the dealer.

I have a 4.6 which as you know has only rear air. I have tried aftermarket shocks and struts. I am extremely happy with the suspension package I now have. It is lowered using H&R kit, has 18mm Velocity spacers, Eibach sway bars front/rear, camber plates, strut tower brace and still on 87 rims but with Continental DWS contact extreme contact tires. After trying both an aftermarket HD and standard offering I went back to OEM struts and shocks.

There are several websites that offer OE or OEM BMW X5 4.6 struts or shocks that cost much less than purchasing at the dealer.

I have a 4.6 which as you know has only rear air. I have tried aftermarket shocks and struts. I am extremely happy with the suspension package I now have. It is lowered using H&R kit, has 18mm Velocity spacers, Eibach sway bars front/rear, camber plates, strut tower brace and still on 87 rims but with Continental DWS contact extreme contact tires. After trying both an aftermarket HD and standard offering I went back to OEM struts and shocks.