Air shock to coil spring conversion with 3rd row seat
 

Have a 2008 X5 with 3rd row seat. I’m switching from air shocks to coil springs.
My situation is, what do I do to get to the top side of the spring with the seat mounted in that area?
My 2005 didn’t have that seat so it was easy to make air spring repairs.
I also have a 2011 with the 3rd seat and also want to bake the same conversion.


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Assume just buy the right parts for a 2008 without air suspension?


realoem.com/bmw or any of the many BMW dealer parts sites...two different strut part numbers for w and w/o air

To get the air springs out you do not need access from above. Just need to turn the top of the bag 1/4 turn and it releases from the top perch. The airline also is accessible from below.
Curious, why are you switching to steel instead of air? I have 3rd row with air and not had any problem with it in 7 years apart from swapping in a new set of OEM bags a few months after I got the car.

FWIW..it is my understanding that the air bags only adjust the body posion. It isn't an 'air suspension' or 'air shockl' per se, but just an air adjustable height on the 'end' of a steel coil system....

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The ‘05 I had also had air shock problems as well as the ‘08 I own now AND the ‘11 my wife has. I use mine as a work truck (stop grimacing). I carry o s**t load of tools in it as well as 750-800 lbs of horse feed weekly. The coil spring conversion seems to be the better alternative to habitual air shock problems.


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Welp, after you price the new struts with the spring perch, that $200 a pop for air bags every 2 years will seem very reasonable... Plus, carrying so much weight I'd actually want it to self level.

I don't know about that. The entire point of the air suspension is to adjust for extra weight, which springs will not do. The air suspension is such a simple system with so few things that can go wrong. If you just fix it properly in the rare event it has an issue, it should continue to operate just fine.

Somehow you quoted the OP but attributed it to me....:dunno:


But we agree- coils will not adjust ride height due to loads

If you carry that much weight then the air system will work hard each time you load and unload. When load goes in, the compressor will kick in to compensate. When the load comes out the valves open to release air. I can see why that might give you a lot more headache.