How much $$$ have you guys invested on your air bag system??

[D Unit]

I have an e28 right now and want to know the cost difference between coilovers and air. If done right the first time, how much have you guys spent and was it worth it?

[NegativeCamber]

there is no specific cost difference because it all depends on the type of setup and if you fabbed up your own mounts or bought prebuilt assemblies. you can build a setup for the price range of coilovers to 2x thier price.

[D Unit]

Rali just PM'd me and told me Air Lift doesn't make any pre-fabbed strut assemblies. Honestly, I am just trying to gauge how affordable a custom air bag system would be for my car rather than spending $1,600 on GC coilovers and regretting it down the road.

[Capone]

I got over a $1000 in just my fittings and hardlines! Price comparisons wont work for you to really get a budget together...it can vary in the thousands.

[Jorge]

I've been looking at coilovers for the E24 (so same as your E28), and decided that I could throw an extra few hundred and be sitting on a decent air install so going down that route. I know no figures there so quite unhelpful but kind of the same position as yourself.

[andrew@openroad]

5,500 in air parts/equipment, that doesn't include the install materials or incidentals.

[D&W]

I have about 4.5k in full accuair e-level gear and installation by a shop also including bags, custom brackets, remote and exo-mount, plus you might need to update your car's charging system (battery/alternator etc)

You can do basic manual air installs for a lot less i'm sure but i have no experience in that

having owned the e-level I would struggle not knowing what height my car was at so manual would seem rather odd to me.

[Capone]

I have a total of around $4,500 in my setup with no installation charges since I did it myself. $6,000+ if a shop would've done it.

[ALRDesign]

I'm probably on the edge of going into the $2,800 mark with my setup, including all the fittings, welding gas, misc. BS, and materials to build the false floor in the trunk. It all depends on what parts you decide to go with. Did the install myself with the help of a friend of mine,

[CJay]

Man, and here I was dreaming about an bag setup. Way out of my ballpark. :rofl

[D&W]

I'm 27 now and only just at the stage where i could spring 4.5k on something like this. very hard to justify that spend but still glad I did it once in my life

[estwokayy..]

what if you piece a kit together? would it be under 3k?

[Capone]

Depends on the car but $3,000 should get you everything if you take your time finding the best deals. Keep an eye on s10forums for specials on universal parts like tank, compressor, valves, air line etc.

[SinlessVillainy]

I have an e28 right now and want to know the cost difference between coilovers and air. If done right the first time, how much have you guys spent and was it worth it?

Shoot Drew @ Dorbritz Designs an email. He could give you an idea of what parts you would need and what would need to be done. He's also a site sponsor.

http://www.dorbritzdesigns.com/2011/10/air-bag-build-on-bmw-e28-5-series.html

Or PM uvebeenrobd on here. He's the owner of that car. He could also probably give you an idea on parts/labor and pricing.

I hope that helps.

[SinlessVillainy]

Oh and as for pricing on setups, mine isn't installed yet, but I can give you an idea on cost.

AirLift XL struts, UA Air House 2 rear bags, D-cups, AVS switch controller, 5 gallon tank, 2x dual needle gauges, 1x tank gauge, dual Viair 400c compressors, Accuair VU4 manifold, airlines, fittings, wiring, etc. after taxes/shipping came out to around $2100-2265.

I say $2100-2265 because there are some good deals you can get on parts if you take your time piecing it together. Bag Riders runs monthly specials which can save you big money. fifteen52 and Open Road Tuning also run some good sales from time to time too. But for all the basic hardware needed for it, that's all mine cost. I'm also paying for the installation and custom paint work and hardlines, but even with that I'm just under $3k.

[tomshouse516]

I have about $1500 into my complete setup. That is a lot of wheeling and dealing, freebies, and a lot of fab work. Not included is the coils I used as the base of the air struts and the $50 or so I still need to spend to build top purchase that will let my front lay out.

It Is a UVA front manual setup. Viair 480c and 3 gallon aluminum.

If I go to digital like e-level add another $1500 to that minus the $60 for manual valves. Air struts like air lift would be $350 more with less fab but wouldn't run a sway bar and I can't run camber like I intend to.

[IhazNostance]

I've got roughly $3,400 into mine and spending more as I go...

Air Lift Digital with dual 400cc compressors.... Ive got a few backup items as well I am including in that $$ figure.

I'm looking into E-Level for next year so this figure could quickly change to $4,500+ sometime next year.

[sweedspeed18]

I had a little less than $500 to bag the front of my w114, but gobs of DIY work.
I don't really have any good pics, but just to prove I am not lying :rofl :

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/184041_152980464758403_100001393510268_320220_3759 25_n.jpg

[mxrcr222]

sweedspeed18 i'll have to keep stalking you for some pics of your mercedes. makes me not feel bad about having american bumpers on mine. As for my S10 i've got about $2k in parts. 3-link, 1/2" E valves, 1/2" line, 5 gal tank, Viar 450, water trap, contitech dual port bags.

[federal20]

iv been building custom cars and trucks for over 6 yrs now and with a little bit of common sense and common knowledge of a car air bag installs on cars are not that difficult and iv done them in as little as 12 hrs start to finish here is a price breakdown of the parts i use and the prices

1. struts "tien" depending on the model of car u own $ 1000-$2500
2. bags "universal air suspension" bag over strut setup 4x$180 $ 720
3. compressors "viair" 444 dual pack best bang for ur buck $ 320
4. tank "ur choice" but please NO ALUMINUM TANKS $ 35-100
5. valves "smc" 3/8" 8x$?? $ 225
6. line "soft/hard" soft 100' $ 56
hard 100' $ 200
7. fittings "all metal" $ 100-200
8. gauges "KP" two dual needles 2x$35 $ 70
9. switches "ur choice" 8x$?? $ 80-200

just remember this is what anyone can get right off the internet but places are always running specials so u can always find better prices all over the place or even places like craigslist or ebay but just remember u get what u pay for