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Lowering

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
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Johnny-p
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Lowering

Post by Johnny-p » Sun Nov 17, 2013 11:22 am

Having just seen pics of a very nice lowered X in the states it got the little grey cells wondering.....

Now bearing in mind I tow a caravan so will want to keep the rear air suspension to keep things level..

Is there a way of lowering mine?.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question I'm just curious as one of my only dislikes of the X is the big gap between wheel/arches.. I'm never gonna use it off-road anyway...


John..
2005 X5 3.0d Sport-Black sapphire-cream leather-pan roof-folding mirrors-sliding boot floor-soft close tailgate-heated F/R seats-F+R air con-rear blinds-Bluetooth/voice recognition-satnav/tv in-motion-aux enabled-headrest monitors/DVD-aux heating-alarm chirp-chrome dials-detachable towbar  ;)

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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Sun Nov 17, 2013 11:43 am

front springs, and either lowering links or re coding for the rear
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

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Johnny-p
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Re: Lowering

Post by Johnny-p » Sun Nov 17, 2013 12:51 pm

Hmmm  8)

I take it the recoding brings the rear down to make it level with the front??

Are there any problems in doing this,is it something my Indy would frown upon doing?

Is there a limit to how far you can bring it down?

Also would the geometry need re doing?.

John
2005 X5 3.0d Sport-Black sapphire-cream leather-pan roof-folding mirrors-sliding boot floor-soft close tailgate-heated F/R seats-F+R air con-rear blinds-Bluetooth/voice recognition-satnav/tv in-motion-aux enabled-headrest monitors/DVD-aux heating-alarm chirp-chrome dials-detachable towbar  ;)

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B5tew
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Re: Lowering

Post by B5tew » Sun Nov 17, 2013 1:50 pm

2015 Space grey 30d F15

Raj
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Re: Lowering

Post by Raj » Sun Nov 17, 2013 4:15 pm

Only issue lowering too much is the very increased negative camber on both rear and front. You won't be able to dial it out back into spec either unless you start using specific camber bush kits and camber plates. All of which are not cheap tbh.

To lower a car with just rear air, you'll need the front springs and lowering links (or springs) depending upon which route you plan to take.
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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Sun Nov 17, 2013 7:14 pm

I self lowered mine on inpa for the rear
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

macca
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Re: Lowering

Post by macca » Sun Nov 17, 2013 9:27 pm

yep i can confirm that you need to do camber bushes in the rear if you dont want to chew out the inner edges of your rear tyres,

i also would be concerned with rear air suspension as lowering the rear requires lowering the pressure in the air bag, doing this will soften the rear suspension and decrease its load carring capabilities, especially important if towing a caravan

if you really want to do this i think you would be better off considering removing the air bags and adding lowered springs to the rear

just my thoughts

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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:36 pm

[quote="macca"]
yep i can confirm that you need to do camber bushes in the rear if you dont want to chew out the inner edges of your rear tyres,

i also would be concerned with rear air suspension as lowering the rear requires lowering the pressure in the air bag, doing this will soften the rear suspension and decrease its load carring capabilities, especially important if towing a caravan

if you really want to do this i think you would be better off considering removing the air bags and adding lowered springs to the rear

just my thoughts
[/quote]

i doesnt change anything, i re calibrates the top point, and keeps everything the same, hitch up a 16ft trailer and put a tractor on it and it still self levels perfect, no difference in ride quality or anything
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

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Johnny-p
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Re: Lowering

Post by Johnny-p » Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:02 pm

Nice one Shad!

How low have you gone on yours?
My caravan is only 1400kg max fully laden so no real biggie..
The more I look at these stateside low riders the more I need to do it 8)
The X is in for a 5 day detailing this week and Im missing the old girl already :-[
I think on my Xmas list will be a set of 20" rims /arch extensions/front springs!!!
And all without the missus finding out O:-)
2005 X5 3.0d Sport-Black sapphire-cream leather-pan roof-folding mirrors-sliding boot floor-soft close tailgate-heated F/R seats-F+R air con-rear blinds-Bluetooth/voice recognition-satnav/tv in-motion-aux enabled-headrest monitors/DVD-aux heating-alarm chirp-chrome dials-detachable towbar  ;)

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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:51 pm

[quote="Johnny-p"]
Nice one Shad!

How low have you gone on yours?
My caravan is only 1400kg max fully laden so no real biggie..
The more I look at these stateside low riders the more I need to do it 8)
The X is in for a 5 day detailing this week and Im missing the old girl already :-[
I think on my Xmas list will be a set of 20" rims /arch extensions/front springs!!!
And all without the missus finding out O:-)
[/quote]

i dont have mine now i just lerk but it was -40mm i think theres some picture of it on here somewhere, but yeh rear sus fully functions as it should when towing
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:09 am

-40mm on 22s
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current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

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Johnny-p
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Re: Lowering

Post by Johnny-p » Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:35 pm

Looks sweet fella 8)

Looking at your running boards/arches /bumpers have you had them sprayed? They look nice n shiny in the pic...
2005 X5 3.0d Sport-Black sapphire-cream leather-pan roof-folding mirrors-sliding boot floor-soft close tailgate-heated F/R seats-F+R air con-rear blinds-Bluetooth/voice recognition-satnav/tv in-motion-aux enabled-headrest monitors/DVD-aux heating-alarm chirp-chrome dials-detachable towbar  ;)

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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:52 pm

[quote="Johnny-p"]
Looks sweet fella 8)

Looking at your running boards/arches /bumpers have you had them sprayed? They look nice n shiny in the pic...
[/quote]

they were all sprayed in bmw gloss black as i despised using back to black products so did that instead to have them look black all the time, have done this to my transit as well
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

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Johnny-p
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Re: Lowering

Post by Johnny-p » Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:03 pm

sorry for all the questions but were they sprayed in situ or taken off??

Gonna be trawling the breakers for some flares arches and I reckon i may go your route with bumpers aswell,after all it's sapphire black bodywork already..

What was the cost??

What make of lowered springs did you use as most I've seen have been -30/35mm..

Cheers..
2005 X5 3.0d Sport-Black sapphire-cream leather-pan roof-folding mirrors-sliding boot floor-soft close tailgate-heated F/R seats-F+R air con-rear blinds-Bluetooth/voice recognition-satnav/tv in-motion-aux enabled-headrest monitors/DVD-aux heating-alarm chirp-chrome dials-detachable towbar  ;)

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shadrack
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Re: Lowering

Post by shadrack » Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:08 pm

no they were all taken off, not a hard job but you will need new arch rivets as they are not re use-able, pointless asking me what i paid for paint as no where on earth will probly match what i had done for what i paid (mates rates)

cant remember the make of the springs got hem off ebay
current: 2016 Vw Crafter
              2007 318d touring
              2008 Transit sport van            
              1964 vw beach buggy
              1988 e30 325i convertible

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