boneca's x5m mcb

[boneca]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

I like that middle part of the bumper painted. Ive seen others do it on AW and it looked great. Might have to get that done.

in my case it's not painted but wrapped and yes I think it looks better with this splitter
I got this idea from Kimo (m5guy) he did it first on his previous X5M

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by boneca

in my case it's not painted but wrapped and yes I think it looks better with this splitter
I got this idea from Kimo (m5guy) he did it first on his previous X5M

im thinking to try a wrap on mine too but without the spoiler. I've seen it here on the forums and it looked good from far away.

[boneca]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

im thinking to try a wrap on mine too but without the spoiler. I've seen it here on the forums and it looked good from far away.

not sure how its gonna look by itself without the spoiler, I haven't seen examples, I can imagine pretty good but if you have a picture I'd like to see it!

In my case coming from Vorsteiner to M Performance it felt that there is too much empty space in between the splitter and the lower bumper, doing this wrap visually makes the front end look finished!

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by boneca

not sure how its gonna look by itself without the spoiler, I haven't seen examples, I can imagine pretty good but if you have a picture I'd like to see it!

In my case coming from Vorsteiner to M Performance it felt that there is too much empty space in between the splitter and the lower bumper, doing this wrap visually makes the front end look finished!

Sounds good. I'll try to find the pic.

[boneca]

so another unexpected expense just happened!

found my driver's side rear sagging on to the tire, sure after turning the car on, the pump kicks in and bringing the rear back up but I know this is just the beginning! (this has happened few times in a couple of weeks)

96k+ on the clock and I guess the time has come to replace rear air bags!

As recommended and also using my own experience with front shocks I ordered 2 bags, decided to go with Arnott as it seems one of the best recommended brands out there (it also comes with Lifetime warranty). Paid $270 for the pair delivered.

Looking at the replacement procedure seems I can replace them myself on the driveway.

Don't think that the fact that I'm riding on KW coilovers has anything to do with the bags. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Anyway the bags should be here by the end of this week and if the weather permits I'll try to swap them this coming weekend.

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by boneca

so another unexpected expense just happened!

found my driver's side rear sagging on to the tire, sure after turning the car on, the pump kicks in and bringing the rear back up but I know this is just the beginning! (this has happened few times in a couple of weeks)

96k+ on the clock and I guess the time has come to replace rear air bags!

As recommended and also using my own experience with front shocks I ordered 2 bags, decided to go with Arnott as it seems one of the best recommended brands out there (it also comes with Lifetime warranty). Paid $270 for the pair delivered.

Looking at the replacement procedure seems I can replace them myself on the driveway.

Don't think that the fact that I'm riding on KW coilovers has anything to do with the bags. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Anyway the bags should be here by the end of this week and if the weather permits I'll try to swap them this coming weekend.

Yeah I was thinking of getting Arnott if ever I need rear bags. They are a bargain and have a great rep. I have been using them on range rovers and Bentley's and bmws for a while now.

[golfbrah]

Arnotts are legit. Completed both sides in an hour. I punctured the old ones to remove them but don’t forget to cover your ears.

[boneca]

Originally Posted by golfbrah

Arnotts are legit. Completed both sides in an hour. I punctured the old ones to remove them but don’t forget to cover your ears.

yes this is one of 3 ways to get the air out, I'm planning to disconnect the air cables.

[do_0b]

can you post a DIY once you swapped them out?

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

can you post a DIY once you swapped them out?

there are plenty of DIYs on the YouTube, I'm planning to follow this one:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...GG6Ehkf51gFmk9

let me know if this URL works, if it doesn't I'll fix it, I can't check it right now.

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by boneca

there are plenty of DIYs on the YouTube, I'm planning to follow this one:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...GG6Ehkf51gFmk9

let me know if this URL works, if it doesn't I'll fix it, I can't check it right now.

perfect thanks!

[boneca]

completed the rear air bags suspension swap today:

took me about couple of hours, first I took my time, second I ran in to some small issues:

1. I was trying to figure out the best way to lift both rear sides at the same time. I had 2 jacks (1st 3T low profile, 2nd OEM jack from spare tire kit), I also had 3T 2 floor stands. I found out about rear central point where the jack can be placed to lift the rear but for some reason I wasn't able to use it. I really wanted to use OEM jack points to place the stands but again I wasn't able to use them. I ended up just jacking up both sides using the jacks I had and placed the stands next to jacks.
2. The only other issue I had is when I tried to place the new bag in, it took me sometime to line up the pins on the top of the bag.

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by boneca

completed the rear air bags suspension swap today:

took me about couple of hours, first I took my time, second I ran in to some small issues:

1. I was trying to figure out the best way to lift both rear sides at the same time. I had 2 jacks (1st 3T low profile, 2nd OEM jack from spare tire kit), I also had 3T 2 floor stands. I found out about rear central point where the jack can be placed to lift the rear but for some reason I wasn't able to use it. I really wanted to use OEM jack points to place the stands but again I wasn't able to use them. I ended up just jacking up both sides using the jacks I had and placed the stands next to jacks.
2. The only other issue I had is when I tried to place the new bag in, it took me sometime to line up the pins on the top of the bag.

thanks for the pics

[0-60Motorsports]

Originally Posted by boneca

completed the rear air bags suspension swap today:

took me about couple of hours, first I took my time, second I ran in to some small issues:

1. I was trying to figure out the best way to lift both rear sides at the same time. I had 2 jacks (1st 3T low profile, 2nd OEM jack from spare tire kit), I also had 3T 2 floor stands. I found out about rear central point where the jack can be placed to lift the rear but for some reason I wasn't able to use it. I really wanted to use OEM jack points to place the stands but again I wasn't able to use them. I ended up just jacking up both sides using the jacks I had and placed the stands next to jacks.
2. The only other issue I had is when I tried to place the new bag in, it took me sometime to line up the pins on the top of the bag.

Nice one bro. Love the wheels.

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

thanks for the pics

u are welcome, hopefully this will be helpful!

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

Nice one bro. Love the wheels.

ty bro!

so this morning I found my opposite (passenger side) side sagging. not sure what is going on, I'm pretty sure I tight everything up and install everything correctly!
I'll give it couple more days to see if the driver's side will start sagging again.

either way I will probably revisit the passenger side installation but like I said don't think that anything is wrong there (maybe bad bag?)

the compressor works and I'm pretty sure there are no air leaks as this would probably affect the same side...

let's see...

[boneca]

dron eye

[protecon]

Originally Posted by boneca

so this morning I found my opposite (passenger side) side sagging. not sure what is going on, I'm pretty sure I tight everything up and install everything correctly!
I'll give it couple more days to see if the driver's side will start sagging again.

Stop fighting it and just go with the low...

[boneca]

Originally Posted by protecon

Stop fighting it and just go with the low...

that's pretty much my usual hight as well
but it's somewhat hard to drive when u rear fender literally seats on u tire

[protecon]

This is as low as she gets.

[boneca]

Originally Posted by protecon

This is as low as she gets.

that's crazy low!

this is my regular riding height

[do_0b]

This is how low I ride...any lower it's too bouncy for me.

did you figure out why its sitting low still after replacing the rear bags?

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

did you figure out why its sitting low still after replacing the rear bags?

yes, so I think!

as you know I replaced both bags on Friday due to sagging on driver's side rear,
on Saturday morning I saw that now I had an issue with the passenger side!
It was actually worse than before as it would sag much quicker than before!

Sunday morning I jacked up passenger side only and removed the bag (disconnecting only the blue air line which goes to passenger side)
I saw no visual issues anywhere, all connectors seems to be tight and all, at this point I decided to replace the connector that goes to the bag with the new one that came with the new bag, as originally I just reused the connectors I had there. This seems to fix the issue. So far so good! no issues all day yesterday and no issues this morning!

One note: since I only jacked up one side this time, when I brought the car down and the compressor kicked in, I had a huge difference in height on the back, the side that I just visited was too high and the other side (driver) was back on the tire! so I jacked up the drivers side and after putting it back down it was back to usual height!

Hopefully this was it!


felt some vibration on highway coming to work this morning, not sure what it was, visually everything seems to be ok (don't think this has anything to do with the bags), I will take it for little drive now to see if it will repeat or it was my imagination

EDIT: just took car on highway up to 90 mph/h didn't feel any vibration, so hopefully it was nothing, will keep monitoring...