E39 Touring Air Lift Suspension - The Comprehensive Guide

So you've likely found this page as a result of searching for a E39 Touring Air Suspension setup that is guaranteed to work. Well, I'm here to share with you the ultimate setup of air lift components that will allow you to be riding on clouds... Figuratively speaking.

So the front kit is available from Air Lift Performance, as part of their E39 Sedan solution. Just the front springs will run about $1k, and can be purchased directly from Air Lift Performance, or one of their qualified dealers.

The Rear is a different story. As the Touring owners know all too well, the separate spring/strut assembly in the rear of the wagons is very different than the true "Coilover" style of the E39 sedans. But no matter, because this gives us the opportunity to use an aftermarket air spring. The problem is, you need a spring which is skinny enough to fit into the frame of the car, while also providing enough height to fill the distance to the lower spring perch. 

The Slam Specialties SS-5 Air Lift Spring provides a great solution here. Slim enough to fit in the frame, but almost 6 inches of full extension, with a max height of 8.7in.

Then, we need to mount the spring to the chassis and lower perch, so that it doesn't move or spring out from under the car when the suspension moves. This is done using a cup kit, and we went with the Bag Riders Universal Cup Kit which matched the diameter of the SS-5 bag well.

Finally, for air management, we chose the Air Lift Company Wireless Air system, due to its compact form, easy setup, pressure-based control, and budget friendliness. This is a 2-way system, so we split the air lines up so the front and rear will match pressures. Other systems offer 4-point control, but at a much higher price point.

All together, you get an awesome setup, with plenty of control over the height of your car. So far, I really enjoy the driving feel and how comfy it feels. Definitely not bouncy, and not stiff either. I'd compare it to having a set of lowering springs, since the rate feels progressive. Small bumps go unnoticed, big changes in road surface are absorbed and the car self-levels quickly.

To see how to install the front or rear kits, check out our videos below! Feel free to reach out to me directly for any further setup questions, I'm happy to help.

FRONT:

REAR:

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