[ZC94]

Saw this on Reddit, and wanted to see what you guys think. Thanks!

https://www.reddit.com/r/BMW/comment...ir_suspension/

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by ZC94

Saw this on Reddit, and wanted to see what you guys think. Thanks!

G30, simple answer is no.

Sedans are fitted with steel springs. Wagons (G31) have a mixture of both, steel at the front, air at the rear.

[ZC94]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

G30, simple answer is no.

Sedans are fitted with steel springs. Wagons (G31) have a mixture of both, steel at the front, air at the rear.

But are they just as expensive to fix as the air suspensions? Thanks.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by ZC94

But are they just as expensive to fix as the air suspensions? Thanks.

IF there is a failure, a spring is a relatively cheap item to replace, a strut is relatively expensive, an air bag is relatively cheap, the air compressor is expensive - so the cost will depend on the fault.

However - how long are you keeping the car and how many miles do you do? Because in 5 years and 100k its not likely you will develop a fault in either system after the warranty expires. 10 years and 200k and the risk increases...

Can I also add - this quote from Reddit "the steel springs tend to crack and fail on every BMW made since 2006ish if driven through road salt regularly" is scaremongering. The E46 (1999-2006) suffered from cracked springs at a high rate, but this hasn't been a 'common' BMW issue for a long time. Any car can have a cracked spring, but there is no evidence to suggest there were more occurrences on later BMW's, than any other car. Springs do have a finite life - but premature failure is not something I would be losing sleep over.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by ZC94

But are they just as expensive to fix as the air suspensions? Thanks.

The more complex any suspension gets, the more chance of issues and the more expensive it gets to fix.

Simple passive suspension has to be the least to worry about, if you're concerned with long term chances of faults and extra running costs. Particularly if outside a new car, or extended warranty.

My own experience since 2002. E39; two rear air springs. E91; two front 'steel' springs. F11; two rear air springs, all by about 50k miles on each vehicle. So in my case, the simple passive suspension has been just as much an issue, as the more complex air suspension.