E53 X5 Question regarding lowering

Post Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:29 pm

Hi all - I am thinking of lowering my car maybe 30mm. I have spoken to my mechanic who does most of the work on my cars and he has a question to ask you regarding the self-leveling that the X5 has.

There's two types of springs that I have come across which is for air suspension and the other which is without. Now my X5 is the facelift 56 plate. And I'm not entirely sure the pre-facelift has self-leveling or not.

We want to know if he was to lower the front only... would the rear adjust itself? Or would you need to put lowering springs on the rear and how would we go about this with the self-leveling? Any issues that we may come across?

Can any of you shed any light on this topic. Thanks.

Post Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:35 pm

I don't get it. Why would you lower a 4x4? Just buy a five series............

Post Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:43 pm

Well thanks for that - do you not think if I wanted a 5 series or instead I would have got one?

Post Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:53 pm

It will have air suspension on the back so it will only need front springs and either reprogram the back or change the length of the rods on the level sensors to trick the suspension computer. could use something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-4-8IS- ... 231f426b3a

Post Sat Sep 15, 2012 6:48 pm

That's what I'm talking about

Post Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:32 pm

it could have air suspension on the front to

Post Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:42 pm

B7 wrote:I don't get it. Why would you lower a 4x4? Just buy a five series............

Chelsea tractor

Post Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:34 pm

or bigger wheels

Post Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:57 pm

my x5 is lowered mate, the difference between the for air suspension and not for air suspension is the kit for air sus only has 2 springs in (front) as oppose to 4 springs , your x5 wont have all round air suspension unless it has ride height adjustment on dash switch, most have a self level rear axle but not all, you need to look under and check, if it has self level rear, fit front springs as usual and then for the rear you can get new self level switch links that fool the switch to lower £100 or you can do as i did and re code the ride height using bmw 1.4.0 or inpa on a laptop.

Post Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:59 pm

BIGJO wrote:Hi all - I am thinking of lowering my car maybe 30mm. I have spoken to my mechanic who does most of the work on my cars and he has a question to ask you regarding the self-leveling that the X5 has.

There's two types of springs that I have come across which is for air suspension and the other which is without. Now my X5 is the facelift 56 plate. And I'm not entirely sure the pre-facelift has self-leveling or not.

We want to know if he was to lower the front only... would the rear adjust itself? Or would you need to put lowering springs on the rear and how would we go about this with the self-leveling? Any issues that we may come across?

to add pre facelifts can have rear/all round air supension, and if you lower the front the rear wont lower on its own
Can any of you shed any light on this topic. Thanks.