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      03-11-2020, 07:54 AM   #1
renogi
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To air or not to air, that is the question!

Long time lurker, first time posting. My '17 X5 lease ends in July and I have been visiting these forums on a regular basis over the last few months to learn as much as possible about the new models. I'm 90% sure my next X5 is going to be an M50i but the one thing I keep wondering about is the air suspension. If I lived somewhere other than Michigan ("Welcome to Michigan where the roads are almost as good as Syria's!") I probably wouldn't consider the air suspension but due to the terrible road conditions here I think it might be a good option.

Soooo... just wondering if those of you who have the air suspension believe it was money well spent???
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      03-11-2020, 07:58 AM   #2
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Watching this as I'm strongly considering air suspension too.
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      03-11-2020, 08:00 AM   #3
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I have had X5 with air suspension and sold it after few months...too floating,easy to get sea sick...now waiting for X5 with M professional suspension to be delivered in next 2 weeks...so,not my cup of tea.
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      03-11-2020, 08:30 AM   #4
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Watching the very wide variety of pro and anti comments about air suspension on the forum over the last year, my observation is that this is one feature that cannot be advised by someone else. It is supremely individual. Is there a way you can get an *extended* test drive (ideally multiple full days) on each suspension of otherwise near-identical cars? That would be by far the best approach.
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      03-11-2020, 08:45 AM   #5
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Here's a totally different view on air suspension. I was not going to option it until my wife and I went to the dealer to test drive the G05 and found that both of us had a hard time getting into and out of the car due to;
- The height from the seat to the ground
- Our short legs
- The distance between the outside edge of the painted sill to the left most edge of the seat
- Bruses on my wife's leg from getting in and out several times while at the dealer :-0
- Constant scuffing of the dirty sill with our pant legs

When it was time to get out of the car, we open the door, start turning ourselves on the seat while stretching out our legs past the sill and towards the ground. For me, my foot was still a couple of inches above the ground, my wife's was about 8" from the ground. So this means our legs will always hit and rub against the painted sill in the same spot for each entry and exit. With the air suspension fully lowered, I can touch the ground before getting out and my wife comes to within a couple of inches. If we lower the seat and the air suspension, we're fine, even though it takes a few seconds to go from the mid air level to the lowest. The bonus is that the car will stay at the low setting to enable re-entry the next time we want to drive it.

For us, we will live with the ride quality.
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      03-11-2020, 09:28 AM   #6
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Very happy we spec'd the air suspension. Extremely comfortable in the standard position, then firms up nicely in sport position as a result of the lower ride height (and resulting increase in spring rate) and increase in damping rate.
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      03-11-2020, 09:31 AM   #7
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After extended test drives in both M suspension on the M50d, and air on a M sport 40i, inX5's and X6's (so 4 cars in total) on 22" and 21" wheels, it was an easy choice for me to go for air, but its a personal choice.

For me, it was air because in comfort it was comfortable but in sport it firms up nicely. The adaptive M suspension is more firm/sporty in sport mode and is great for handling but its comfort mode is not comfortable IMO. I had to ask myself which way I want to go - more comfort or more sport.

I usually prefer firmer suspensions, have never gone for 'SE' in the past, always M sport on fixed springs with big wheels so I am not a fan of soft suspensions, but sport in the air suspension is firm enough for me and as an SUV, you expect a level of comfort when in comfort mode. I am prone to motion sickness in 'soft' cars but I never experienced that in air suspension the X5 on my test drives or in my X6 that I eventually purchased.

I am also a big fan of the adjustable ride heights - saves me pondering on whether the car needs lowering or not.
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      03-11-2020, 09:45 AM   #8
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If you plan on buying and keeping the car for a long time the air suspension is prone to fail, had to replace the airbags on my long term X5M. Not sure how it applies to this model, future will tell......
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      03-11-2020, 10:05 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChiTownM View Post
If you plan on buying and keeping the car for a long time the air suspension is prone to fail, had to replace the airbags on my long term X5M. Not sure how it applies to this model, future will tell......
I chose not to get air suspension because we plan to keep the car long term. The ride is great IMO. I have had to replace compressors and air bag struts on both of the Range Rovers I have owned. Still own one with 165k miles. It's simply a fact that maintenance is required on all air suspensions despite make and model.
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      03-11-2020, 10:31 AM   #10
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Decision was simplified for me...I wanted an X6, M50i. 2VR isn't available for the X6, M50i (at least not in the USA).
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      03-11-2020, 10:39 AM   #11
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As LexxM3 mentioned, it's really a matter of test driving it yourself and seeing how it feels. I opted to go with the air suspension because for my purposes, the X5 is a comfort oriented family hauler that also happens to be relatively quick.

I don't find the ride to be floaty, and dropping it into sports mode firms it up nicely if you ever feel compelled to. But it's no athlete.

Illinois roads aren't much better than Michigan roads, so I can say money well spent on my end.
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      03-11-2020, 10:56 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wtwo3 View Post
As LexxM3 mentioned, it's really a matter of test driving it yourself and seeing how it feels. I opted to go with the air suspension because for my purposes, the X5 is a comfort oriented family hauler that also happens to be relatively quick.

I don't find the ride to be floaty, and dropping it into sports mode firms it up nicely if you ever feel compelled to. But it's no athlete.

Illinois roads aren't much better than Michigan roads, so I can say money well spent on my end.
agree,
not floaty, but imo a pretty median between the msport suspension and the standard xline suspension. we currently have a xline x5 as a loaner and its not good. msport was a bit too firm for us since we are using it as a family car. we love our air susp.
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      03-11-2020, 11:06 AM   #13
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I agree that this is a very personal approach; But still, let me share my experience.

I tested a 40i with air suspension and advanced confort seats with soft Merino lether. I found it floaty and I really disliked it very much. At that time I was very convinced I would NOT for for Air suspension. Then I tried another version with regular springs and standard sport seats. I found this one too hard ! Quite harsh on bad roads.

Then I got to test drive a 45e (which is my future car) where you have no choice of the suspension - air by default, and the normal seats with vernasca. That was good the good match for me. Not to shaky in confort, yet confortable; I went for the 45e with air and M-Sport Seats, that are suposed to be less soft, and I need back for back support and less sea-sick feeling. I have not tested these seats and that is going to be the surprise factor when I receive my car

I am very sensitive to body motion in cars and get sick very quickly when I don't drive. I did the tests both driving and as passenger.

My conclusion is that the seats are a very important factor in the suspension appraisal; I think also that the 45e with the extra weight of the batteries quite low in the body may limit the body roll effect as well.
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      03-11-2020, 11:21 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atchoom View Post
I agree that this is a very personal approach; But still, let me share my experience.

I tested a 40i with air suspension and advanced confort seats with soft Merino lether. I found it floaty and I really disliked it very much. At that time I was very convinced I would NOT for for Air suspension. Then I tried another version with regular springs and standard sport seats. I found this one too hard ! Quite harsh on bad roads.

Then I got to test drive a 45e (which is my future car) where you have no choice of the suspension - air by default, and the normal seats with vernasca. That was good the good match for me. Not to shaky in confort, yet confortable; I went for the 45e with air and M-Sport Seats, that are suposed to be less soft, and I need back for back support and less sea-sick feeling. I have not tested these seats and that is going to be the surprise factor when I receive my car

I am very sensitive to body motion in cars and get sick very quickly when I don't drive. I did the tests both driving and as passenger.

My conclusion is that the seats are a very important factor in the suspension appraisal; I think also that the 45e with the extra weight of the batteries quite low in the body may limit the body roll effect as well.
You have a good point about the battery lowering the centre of gravity in the 45e. It may be a stabilizer for roll motion.

The feeling we have with AS in the 45e could be different than in a 40i or 30d.

I have comfort seats and 740 20 inch wheels. Love the comfort in comfort mode and sport is sporty enough for me.

Didn't dare to take the 22 inch wheels. I really dislike the bumps connecting bad Belgian secondary roads which I do a lot. On good roads and highway 22 inch will probably be fine too. On the other hand I saw lots of positive comments on 22 inch with AS.
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      03-11-2020, 11:32 AM   #15
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I got air suspension and have no regret what so ever. The G05 is really a firm ride if you don't get air suspension, this is well reviewed on youtube and you can confirm by riding back to back from any other luxury SUV in the same class.

It's also a very sweet deal/value. I got the 3rd row with air suspension for a relatively cheap $2100. Cayenne's was like $4K, Q7's was $2500, and GLE's was $1700 (+2100 for 3rd row package).

For those complaining air suspension is too soft, I don't really get it because you are buying a mid-sized SUV... by putting it into sport or sport+ you're already making it very firm.
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      03-11-2020, 11:42 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by X5 45e View Post
On the other hand I saw lots of positive comments on 22 inch with AS.
Many 22" G05 wheels are coming with non-runflats. They will be more compliant than a 21" runflat and maybe even a 20" runflat. When comparing reviews, be sure to determine what tyre type the reviewer is using.

I have always gone up an inch on wheels whilst changing to non-RFT tyres and on every car I have done that on (all BMWs), the compliancy of the ride improves despite the larger wheel size. Regardless of advances in technology, RFT tyres do have an impact on the ride.
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      03-11-2020, 11:46 AM   #17
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As above it depends on how you drive/what you want.

I haven't spec'd on my M50i. I HATED air suspension on the Range Rover Sport as it didn't suit the car at all and wallowed horribly when driven hard (I'm used to M3s and M4s which is why I ordered the M50i).

It was better on the M50i I had on extended drive but I didn't feel it warranted the cost. If the roads are crap in Michigan maybe go with 21''s rather than 22''s?

For me it comes down to whether you value soft comfort vs driving the car hard?
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      03-11-2020, 12:58 PM   #18
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Not floaty AT ALL!

I think one of the greatest offerings the G05 X5 has IS the Air Suspension.

Guys...it's not a sports car! It's a Luxury SUV and thus it should drive like one. Air Ride is the reason that an S-Class (and many other high end luxury cars) drives as smoothly as they do.
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      03-11-2020, 01:01 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SlammedR8 View Post
Not floaty AT ALL!

I think one of the greatest offerings the G05 X5 has IS the Air Suspension.

Guys...it's not a sports car! It's a Luxury SUV and thus it should drive like one. Air Ride is the reason that an S-Class (and many other high end luxury cars) drives as smoothly as they do.
I don't agree with the assertion that it "should drive like an SUV". If it did, I personally wouldn't be here, I would be on the Highlander forum and still driving the E46 M3 when I could in the summers and I would be much much sadder at all other times. Literally.
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      03-11-2020, 01:26 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LexxM3 View Post
I don't agree with the assertion that it "should drive like an SUV". If it did, I personally wouldn't be here, I would be on the Highlander forum and still driving the E46 M3 when I could in the summers and I would be much much sadder at all other times. Literally.
If you're going to quote me, at least quote me!

I said it should drive like a luxury SUV, which (to me) means smoothly and quietly and the G05 X5 with Air does exactly that.

It drives nothing like a Cadillac Escalade or GMC Denali or even a Range Rover for that matter. Having personal experience with both a Range Rover on air and my current X5 with air as well as my 2 previous F15 X5s without air. I can say that my G05 X5 has 90% of the comfort of my wife's Range Rover but still has a more sporty feel to it! It's a perfect balance IMO!
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      03-11-2020, 02:02 PM   #21
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I think that 'Air' provides the perfect balance and offers the best of both worlds at the push of a button or the toggle of a switch. Flipping it in to sports mode or lowering it one level and it stiffens up extremely similar to Adaptive M. Put it in comfort and you have closer to a luxury auto feel which is really what you pay the premium for.
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      03-11-2020, 02:16 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SlammedR8 View Post
Not floaty AT ALL!

I think one of the greatest offerings the G05 X5 has IS the Air Suspension.

Guys...it's not a sports car! It's a Luxury SUV and thus it should drive like one. Air Ride is the reason that an S-Class (and many other high end luxury cars) drives as smoothly as they do.
I know what you're saying but the OP is referencing the M50i so I'd say it should be driven like a performance car. Also one of the reasons the X5 is best in class is that it has the weight and power balance to not be driven like a normal SUV (and with the characteristics of a top end 5 series).

I agree that the air suspension isn't floaty on the X5. However I also get that the M suspension is better for driving hard. So it really depends on individual preference and what you're using the car for.

Mine is replacing my M4 but with the practicality for two dogs. So I didn't want air. However if it was my second car I'd be using it in more the traditional SUV sense i.e motorway muncher and would had spec'd it. Totally agree that it's miles better than the RRS equivalent too.
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