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  #1  
Old 07-21-2016, 07:14 PM
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E70 Under-carriage OverHaul. Advice

My E70 need some TLC, so before I dive into it, I could need some advice.

So here goes:

Front: Left front spring is broken. Seems like the lower part of the spring has somehow jumped past the pad. Hard to see, but guess the spring is broken.

Plan to buy new spring and lower pad and have them replaced.

Right side spring looks OK with no visible rust like the left one, so I guess I will stay with replacing the left only.

However, the question is. When I have the damper and spring assembly out on a car that has 135.000km on it, should I consider changing the suspension strut too? I know I will have to do both sides then.

My feeling is that the car is performing pretty ok. Tilt a bit when turning, and we get thrown around a bit when hitting side bumps, but it feels more like from the back. Could be the Air springs. Those need replacement as well. And haven't heard the compressor for a while.

Sort of thinking that I should go all in and do the following:
+ Both Air springs rear. Possibly change Compressor if broken.
+ Replace suspension on all corners
+ New left spring
+ Have car realigned.

Just the parts will be a killer, but I rather do it all ones, than to change the spring now, then have to come back and do the whole thing again because the suspension is bad.....

OR, I change the spring and the rear airbags(and maybe compressor) and see how it performs.


Espen
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  #2  
Old 07-21-2016, 09:07 PM
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i'm sure you'd have found out by now if your compressor didn't work. the car would be undriveable. i'd say if you have the time and patience to service all four corners, might as well replace both front springs, since they're about the cheapest parts on your list.
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Old 07-22-2016, 02:07 AM
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Hi Ulf

Thanks for the reply.

How does normally the Suspension hold up on the E70?

Is there any way I could "check" their performance?

Im probably aiming way too high here, since they are pretty expensive to replace.
But maybe some non-OEM aftermarket suspension would be OK too?

Espen
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Old 07-22-2016, 02:57 PM
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i can only speak from personal experience, so this isn't representative. my E70 has close to 100k (160tkm) on the clock now and so far the suspension is going strong, apart from wear & tear items like bushings & stuff. i used to break rear springs on my trusty old E36 pretty much on an annual basis, without particularly spirited driving. i also managed to mess up and having to replace both bellows (air springs) on the E39, which had about 100k on the clock at the time as well, just by lifting the rear off the ground to replace the brakes. after a certain age they really don't want to be extended, so i'm waiting for those to go wrong on the E70 in the not too distant future, something you'll have to deal with sooner or later (me too, yikes) if you have air suspension in the rear. the compressor works pretty silently, i barely ever hear mine, so i wouldn't be too worried about that. but the fact that the rear holds up is proof that it's all (still) working. pneumatic systems like these will always leak air, molecules can also leak through the rubber of the bellows over time, same as they would with a tyre. if your compressor suddenly stopped working, the rear of your vehicle would start sagging pretty soon and the car will eventually become virtually undriveable. as for replacing the suspension on your own, i've not done it so i'll hold my advice on that.
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Old 07-22-2016, 03:24 PM
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I guess unless you find any obvious leaks marks on the suspension they are probably doing well.
Looked at some prices for the suspension.
OEM 400$ (which is WAY over the top)
Then there is some aftermarket:
Monroe 70$
Sachs 150$
Bilstein 160-300$(Different types)

I guess the Sachs ones would be reasonable priced enough to do the swap now.
Just wondering how "bad" the quality is from OEM since the price difference is so huge?

Right now Im tilting towards new front springs and air-springs rear.
And leave it like it is otherwise.
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Old 07-22-2016, 03:47 PM
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yeah, ideally you shouldn't have to shell out much more than, say, 80 bucks for a coil. the bellows in the rear, however, $200+. each. be prepared...
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Old 07-22-2016, 04:15 PM
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Prices above was for the Gas Struts/Suspension.

The coils will have to be changed in any case.
I will either go OEM or H&R on the coil springs.

Would you go for a "cheap" 160$ Strut and do it now, than to leave the old ones installed???
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Old 07-22-2016, 06:41 PM
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i wouldn't try and fix something that isn't broken. but that's the lazy engineer in me.
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Old 08-17-2016, 02:30 AM
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So I had the springs and dampers removed up front.
It wasn't only a broken spring on 1 side.
Both were shot and at the same location....!!!???
Hmmmm.

When the dampers where out it was obvious that they were shot too.
Not that Im an expert, but trying the new Sachs dampers beside the old OEM, it was clear that they didn't do much of job any more.

The car is a joy to drive now.
Will do the rear airbags and new dampers (sachs) in the back this weekend.

I guess I have to go in for yet another wheel alignment again.
Its 380$ at the local stealership, but I dont have much choice with active steering installed.
It drives more straight than ever, but there is more to alignment than just going straight......I guess.

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  #10  
Old 08-24-2016, 10:40 AM
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More update:

I just changed the rear Airbags and shock absorbers.

Not qualified to say if those dampers where broken too, but the driving is like "new" now with all corners redone.

Deciding to change all the absorbers was probably the best decision I have made in a long time. REALLY enjoy driving the X5 now.

If it was the rear bags alone or the absorbers that did the difference is hard to say, but the wobbly feeling is gone.
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