Lowered Suspension

[Rossco0506]

Seen these,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161166317651? ... 1423.l2649

on eBay and wondered if anyone has any experience with this kind of thing?

Ive never heard of anything like this before but figured it seems to be a nice and cheap way of lowering the suspension???

[B5tew]

I used these to lower my car and they work a treat and being adjustable you can get the ride height just how you want it I have springs on the front so just needed a pair if you ring them they will sell you two

[Rossco0506]

You had them on long? They just seem to be too good to be true!? :blink:

[Horizon]

Aren't they for all round air suspension though, like on the 4.8, they look like they are just control rods for the height sensors?

[Sanj]

Correct - 4 for air all round and 2 for rears on Stew's car as he has springs up front (hence shorter ones from Shadrack).

[Rossco0506]

So would they be no use on my 3.0d with standard suspension then?!?! I'm totally confused like, lol. :blink:

[Horizon]

They may do a set just to alter the ride height for the rear air suspension, although I think you can do this with BMW scanner 1.4.0 if you have it
The front suspension is standard coil springs. Shorter coil springs are available to buy. Shadrack will know better, as he lowered his X5, and then put it back to standard when he sold it on.

[Rossco0506]

Sorry but I'm still confused. Are you saying I have air on the rear but springs on the front?! I just want to lower my car!! I keep seeing springs on eBay with front only lowering?!?! How the hell do I lower the rear? Other listings have front and rear springs. Obviously I would like to lower both ends!

[X5Sport]

Unless you have 'full air' as a cost option, you will have as above - air bags at the rear (aka self levelling suspension) and conventional spring/damper at the front.  That was the setup for the 3.0D Sport.

Do you have a controller in the car that allows to to change the ride height?  If not then you don't have 'full air' suspension.

Richard

[Horizon]

[quote="Rossco0506"]
Sorry but I'm still confused. Are you saying I have air on the rear but springs on the front?! I just want to lower my car!! I keep seeing springs on eBay with front only lowering?!?! How the hell do I lower the rear? Other listings have front and rear springs. Obviously I would like to lower both ends!
[/quote]

I'm guessing you have a 3.0 d sport, as you haven't  listed your variant in your signature, and I forgot to look further up the post before I clicked on reply.
As X5Sport mentioned, most X5's apart from 4.6's And 4.8's have airbags on the rear and coil springs on the front.
As a cost option when the cars were ordered, you could have all round air suspension fitted.
My guess is that you are most likely to have air suspension on the rear with front coil springs.( if you have a ride height switch in the cab, you have all round air suspension, so that kit will do the job )
The kits previously mentioned are the control rods between the axle and the ride height sensors. These determine how much air is allowed into the air bags to sit the car at a certain height. If a shorter control rod is fitted, the air suspension is fooled into sitting at a lower level.
However, if the car is only fitted with air suspension on the rear axle, as was mine and most X5's the front suspension is sat on conventional coil springs, so is a mechanical setup. To lower the front suspension shorter coil springs must be fitted, this then sits the car lower down, reducing the ride height.
As mentioned before the car can be recoded by a scanner 1.4.0 to alter the air suspension ride height, but the front being a mechanical set up still need to be fitted with shorter coil springs.
I hope this all makes sense.

[Rossco0506]

I don't have a controller in the car to adjust the height. I think these are found on the steering wheel but all I have is radio and cruise controls on mine.

[X5Sport]

In that case you most likely have rear air and front coil/damper suspension.

Richard

[Rossco0506]

[quote="X5Sport"]
In that case you most likely have rear air and front coil/damper suspension.

Richard
[/quote]

So to lower the car, I need front lowering springs and what for the rear? Will it adjust itself or will I need to programme them?

[Sanj]

Rossco you need the scanner for starters to lower the rear and shorter springs for the front. BUT if the scanner won't lower the car, then you need the links from lower-my-ride/eBay (but just 2 of em). Warning - faster inner tyre wear (especially on the rear) and the ride will be slightly harder (not too much)...

[Rossco0506]

[quote="Sanj"]
Rossco you need the scanner for starters to lower the rear and shorter springs for the front. BUT if the scanner won't lower the car, then you need the links from lower-my-ride/eBay (but just 2 of em). Warning - faster inner tyre wear (especially on the rear) and the ride will be slightly harder (not too much)...
[/quote]

My god, what a nightmare. I'm used to just banging in springs all round, lol.

The end result for me is a nice set of 22" rims and lowered suspension but I want to sort out the suspension first. I'm also looking at 20mm spacers all round too but not sure how that will effect the end result. Think I might go for the spacers with standard rims and standard suspension for just now, then lower the suspension before cracking on with a nice set of rims when the weather gets better again??