Air suspension issues (usual thing)

[tricky13]

This is my first post and I've been reading 100's of posts about the dreaded air suspension.
I have a x5 4.8is 54 plate with a burst osf air spring, so as to avoid future air suspension issues I've got 2 options.
1. Replace all 4 corners with adjustable coil overs from Stanced uk £750 which means I would have all new and adjustable suspension.
2. Go cheap and replace front struts with second-hand spring struts of a 4.4 v8 and just buy a rear conversion kit for springs only costing about £300 all in.

I wonder if anybody has use Stanced uk coilovers before?

Just after ideals or thoughts from anybody please

[henrym3]

Can't you do like you say at the front with 4.4 struts and retain the air bags at the rear and run like a 4.4/4.6. There must be a way of bluffing the OBC into thinking the front is working perfect.

[tricky13]

But the wouldn't the system be trying to put air in the front all the time because it detects no air pressure or as long as it was level it wouldn't try. 
If it did work that would be a nice cheap fix.

[henrym3]

I work on the principle that there is always a way an if I can't figure it out it's because I'm to stupid, someone will have done it, my thinking is if you  set the ride height sensors to the position they would be in on flat level ground and secure them in that position, why would the compressor want to send air to the front. Not that I have experience with four corner air suspension but surely that would keep your computer happy and not show up any faults. The air pipes would need blanked off at the compressor or air strut end. I'm sure if there is any large gaping holes in my theory then someone will hopefully come on here and throw a spanner in the works/thoughts

[themoog]

Why not just replace the busted air bag...

[tricky13]

Before the bag burst the front suspension was up too high even after replacing both front sensors, its just become a pita, I could fit two new air bags on the front for about £400 and it might not work where as if I fit coils it should work and I can drive the car.

[tricky13]

I forgot to mention if I fit coilovers and the rear spring is fitted over the shock would there be a big hole in the body and in the lower suspension arm where the air spring was.

[henrym3]

themoog question is the obvious one and probably the cheapest if you get an air strut from a breaker. If your only reason for replacing air struts is because the front sits to high then adjust the ride height by shortening the sensor link arm(s) The X5 sits pretty good as standard so saying the front is to high asks the question ,Is the rear to low, has someone been playing about with the sensor link arms already. I know you can adjust the ride height via the link arms and by some of the more sophisticated diagnostics equipment.  It's worth bearing in mind that the air strut in question is probably over 10 years old, I bet your coil overs won.t last half that on a vehicle this weight. If you load it up or tow with coil overs it will sit on it arse anyway.

[tricky13]

I've ordered 2 x front spring struts of a 4.4 and a coil spring replacement kit £270 i'll fit them Fri-Sat and we'll see how we go.