PunsGalore wroteYou probably should try and test drive one as suspension fee; is a personal perception/preference. Anything someone says about suspension fee; should be taken with a grain of salt. On e person's sportiness is another's harshness just like one's floaty is another's comfortable.Ok, I think I'll pass.. not carving up canyon roads but would rather a sporty ride than feeling like its a motorhome suspension - not a big highway driver either. Thanks for all your help!
PunsGalore wroteDon't knock it before you try it. The air suspension is awesome. Even in comfort, the ride is solid, and sporty.Ok, I think I'll pass.. not carving up canyon roads but would rather a sporty ride than feeling like its a motorhome suspension - not a big highway driver either. Thanks for all your help!
jad03060 wroteThe bigger problem with air springs is their spring rate drops as their ride height does. So if you want to drive sporty, air springs the more you lower the worse they are for the job. They mitigate this using more aggressive shock rates, but at the end of the day, air springs aren't sporty.Just because the vehicle is sprung with air does not automatically mean that it is floaty. That is primarily a function of how the shocks are tuned, not the springs. To keep from bottoming out on a bump, the final spring rate between a steel spring and an air spring needs to be about the same at full compression or it couldn’t hold the vehicle up…it’s just that a steel spring is likely a tit stiffer on initial, small impacts than an air suspension which is about as progressive as you can make a spring. A steel spring can only be wound to approximate a progressive spring rate.
Where you live, and the quality of the roads could sway you one way or the other…air springs will absorb smaller bumps better than a steel spring. Keep in mind that the tires are also part of the vehicle’s overall spring rate, so shorter sidewalls on larger wheels will tend to transmit more of the impact to the chassis than a smaller wheel.
BlkGS wroteAll a matter of perception. The air suspension can be very sporty when lowered, depends on who is driving.The bigger problem with air springs is their spring rate drops as their ride height does. So if you want to drive sporty, air springs the more you lower the worse they are for the job. They mitigate this using more aggressive shock rates, but at the end of the day, air springs aren't sporty.
TurtleBoy wroteIt will never be as sporty as a steel spring setup. It simply lacks the spring rate at lower ride heights.All a matter of perception. The air suspension can be very sporty when lowered, depends on who is driving.
BlkGS wroteThat is not the away the air suspension works as it is progressive. The spring rate actually increases as the ride is lowered. That is one of the reasons why Sport mode lowers the vehicle.It will never be as sporty as a steel spring setup. It simply lacks the spring rate at lower ride heights.
TurtleBoy wroteThat's not how air springs work. It's like an air mattress, if you fill it up less, it's softer and doesn't fill up all the way. If you fill it up all the way, the mattress is taller, and stiffer.That is not the away the air suspension works as it is progressive. The spring rate actually increases as the ride is lowered. That is one of the reasons why Sport mode lowers the vehicle.
BlkGS wroteNo, that is not how they work. As mentioned, they are progressive so the less air the higher the spring rate/stiffer they become.That's not how air springs work. It's like an air mattress, if you fill it up less, it's softer and doesn't fill up all the way. If you fill it up all the way, the mattress is taller, and stiffer.
You cannot make a volume of air stiffer when it's at a lower pressure. That's not how air pressure works.
TurtleBoy wroteAlright then, explain how they work? Because that would be the exact opposite of how every other air spring ever used works, and defies physics.No, that is not how they work. As mentioned, they are progressive so the less air the higher the spring rate/stiffer they become.
BlkGS wroteNo, actually I think all air springs operate that way, at least the ones I have seen. The less air the stiffer they become. This may help you. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1506-air-suspension-how-it-works/Alright then, explain how they work? Because that would be the exact opposite of how every other air spring ever used works, and defies physics.
There may be a clever way to make it work. An embedded steel spring that sets a minimum spring rate for example. Maybe multiple chambers that can hold different pressure levels. But a standard air bag spring has a higher spring rate the more air you put in it as the vehicle raises.
BlkGS wroteThe spring effect of an air spring is the result of compression of the trapped air volume resulting in a pressure rise (on compression, a pressure reduction on rebound). When the vehicle is lowered, the volume of the trapped air volume is reduced, therefore, for any given deflection of the suspension, the corresponding volume change caused by that deflection will be a greater proportion of the trapped air volume resulting in a greater pressure rise (on compression). Greater pressure rise, greater spring effect or increased spring rate.Alright then, explain how they work? Because that would be the exact opposite of how every other air spring ever used works, and defies physics.
There may be a clever way to make it work. An embedded steel spring that sets a minimum spring rate for example. Maybe multiple chambers that can hold different pressure levels. But a standard air bag spring has a higher spring rate the more air you put in it as the vehicle raises.
PunsGalore wroteNot sure if you’re aware, but you will only be able to select the standard design in the 40i and not M Sport if you opt for the air suspension. Just something to weigh aesthetics vs features.Hi all,
I am wondering if ordering air suspension on the 25' X5 xDrive40i would be worth it? Air suspensions have always scared me a little, but open to hearing your thoughts! Will most likely go without due to cost savings and the extra piece of mind
Thanks
