Burst self-leveling suspension

[MickeyT]

Hey guys

This weekend the left rear self-leveling suspension on my '05 X5 burst with one hell of a bang, and I had to ride 60km back to Fish Hoek with a bike trailer and 3 bikes.

My questions:
1. Might I have damaged the suspension further driving on like that? (albeit not more than 80 km/h)
2. What am I looking at price-wise to fix?
3. Anyone you guys can refer me to?

Much appreciated!

 

[B///Moodley]

Air spring supply company. Have both sides gone down or just one?


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

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http://www.assc.co.za/contact/contact.asp


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

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That's the link...


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

 

[MickeyT]

Air spring supply company. Have both sides gone down or just one?


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

Thanks for the quick reply!

Only the one side, but this morning it seems that her whole arse is hanging low...

 

[B///Moodley]

Call them and ask if they can check both for you. From what I know their Durban Branch does not do installation but I'm sure they can check it for you. Contact either Durban or Joburg and check with them.


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

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The bags are easy to replace and you can do it at home in around an hour. Just make sure you have jack stands and jack the car up at the jack points.


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

 

[moranor@axis]

if the one side is gone it will sag a little on the other also because it has to carry the extra weight

unfortunately there is no stock in SA currently on e53 air spring away from the dealer otherwise I would have been able to supply

 

[MickeyT]

Spoke to the dealer now, and according to him, it all depends on what is faulty, it is goin to be an expensive exercise... Between R13K and R24k...

 

[B///Moodley]

Something's fishy there. That's price is high. And between R13k and R24k?! A bag is R3000+-...


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

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I'm guessing R24k for the motor.


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

 

[rodga]

Something's fishy there. That's price is high. And between R13k and R24k?! A bag is R3000+-...


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

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I'm guessing R24k for the motor.


///MPower FTW!!! Torque FTW!!!

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e39 touring rear bag was 7,5k each last year from the dealer
I got some non oem replacements from ebay for about 2k each

 

[Blue Shirt]

E70 X5 rear air springs were R4k each at the dealers when I replaced mine some time ago. I don't know about the E53, but this job is an easy DIY on the E70.

 

[msm]

Can't recall details, as it was ages since I had my E53, but apparently you can convert to standard suspension on these cars. You would need a specialist to override the air suspension coding though, so that you don't get the constant error messages.

 

[SylisM]

Can't recall details, as it was ages since I had my E53, but apparently you can convert to standard suspension on these cars. You would need a specialist to override the air suspension coding though, so that you don't get the constant error messages.

is that not a better (and cost effective) option? I wanted to suggest the same to my dad for his X5 because its sitting quite low at the rear and it has the self leveling suspension.

 

[rodga]

Its actually an easy diy
I did it myself and it took about 2 hours from start to finish using my basic toolbox and limited mechanic experience.

From my searches I think there were more DIYs online for the e53 than there were for the e39. Just need to get the replacement bags at a decent price.

 

[Liquid Ice]

did you eventually come right with this?
i do have a spare brand new rear airbag. let me know

 

[Ralf*]

Can't recall details, as it was ages since I had my E53, but apparently you can convert to standard suspension on these cars. You would need a specialist to override the air suspension coding though, so that you don't get the constant error messages.

is that not a better (and cost effective) option? I wanted to suggest the same to my dad for his X5 because its sitting quite low at the rear and it has the self leveling suspension.

I am also interested in this
Had a customer yesterday with a sagging arse X5, and he said he would come back next week to see if I have an answer for him

and links to a write-up, to the source the correct springs etc appreciated