In doing a quick search nothing showed up regarding installing an air suspension on a XF.

I do know that Mercedes used them for a long time, but I don't know if that is still the case.

Has anyone installed an air suspension on their XF? If so, please point me to the thread regarding it - going on the basis there is one.

Unlike the racer group, I want comfort, but maintaining a good degree of 'holding the road'.

I'd also like to know what the brand is for the OEM shock absorbers. Is it Sachs by any chance? Doing a bit of research on their shock absorbers there is talk of 'electric' (controlled?) shock absorbers. However when checking farther Sachs only appears to have two models - Super Touring and Advantage and say nothing about being electrical.

If I understand correctly, the electric shock absorbers are not anything like, or remotely as complex as the GM/Delphi MagneRide.

Biba

 

There was at least one "bagged" SRT6 floating around Cali that was done by The Thorbeck Bros, (Suicide Doors). They sold a kit for the Crossfire that looked amazing slammed but I'm not sure how practical or reliable it was.
Here is a thread : https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-nib-best.html


They finally did sell their bagged SRT6.

 

Just had one in my hand and it is a Sachs.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have to admit that I don't know if the best system would be to use say a 'normal' spring with air shocks, airbags and a 'normal' shock absorber, or both air bags and air shocks.

I do know that I'm not looking for a slammed XF. However, i would want to be able to adjust the height/pressure. Along with the mounting brackets, figuring out which air bags are 'best' along with air shocks - I could assume it would be a forever fiddle to get the pressures right. As in bags to shocks, front to back., along with the brackets.

I have an out of state friend who occasionally visits and last two rental cars were middle of the road Korean ones and were extremely quiet inside and the suspensions didn't bang going over rough freeway patches.

And it is possible that my particular XF is not the norm, comfort and quiet wise. If anyone has what they consider as being a comfortable and quiet XF, I'm two miles from the 210 and 605 intersection.

I'm not saying I'm old but I do wear hearing aids. One downside is that they're extremely sensitive to any type of rushing air - fans, inside 'leaky' cars, etc.

Biba

I can't remember where I ran across these shocks but they sure look cool.

 

I'm also looking for comfort in my Crossfire suspension. bad back. If you find something, let me know! thx ~Jeremy

 

Ride in comfort by installing this bad boy.

 

I fitted the Konis, my bad back almost killed me coming back from Florida with the standard SRT shocks. I have them set at full soft because that's what I am.

 

couple of Viagra should help that problem washed down with a Red Bull

 

Sounds like words of wisdom from first hand knowledge ..

 

airbagit.com offered a kit it is no longer listed for the crossfire. The kit is available listed for the mercedes slk platform witch is what the crossfire is. You can purchase a complete kit or the parts to set it up however you like. airbagit.com or airbagit.biz

 

i have the only bagged aka slammed crossfire done by me on this forum that i know of...there is one overseas in Abu Dubai done by sponsors and JimmySkullz (forum member) owns the thorbecke bros one which was done by them...i would not recommend air ride to anyone who isnt experienced or used to riding like that it takes a special person to know the ins and outs of the ride quality and install...

 

It definitely would be unique to have a air ride system on the crossfire. I bet the setup to find the sweet spot on comfort would be the hardest thing to set up. Install should be pretty straight forward. Maybe this could be a new project for me to start at the end of the year.

 

unless you have years of experience I wouldn't attempt it on these cars I have bagged over 20+ cars in my life and the thorbeckes do it for a living...get a professional to do it unless you have experience like I said these cars aren't meant to be bagged and the car fights you every step of the way believe me lol...as for ride quality its basically "you get what you pay for" I put $3,000 plus into mine and I installed it myself a shop would probably run you $5,000 plus unless you want to do it the half-a**ed way like some people do on other vehicles but then your jeopardizing ride quality, excessive tire wear, and overall safety...

 

Bags.....probably the most bitter topic in my book when it comes to cars.

I won't go too far into it because I know I would end up typing a novel that most people on this forum probably wouldn't even care to read, because let's face it - the Crossfire community isn't really the most "stance" or "aggressive fitment" driven group out there.......lol.

I'll just say this - I simply don't see what's so cool about having a car that's only low when it's parked. To me, the whole "cool factor" comes from driving a car that's super low and watching people's reactions, the thumbs up you get, etc etc. It's kind of like nitrous vs. forced induction. Both will make your car fast.......but with nitrous your car is only fast when you hit a button vs. forced induction where you car is fast all the time. Not to mention bag setups are known to be considerably more problematic/less reliable than coilovers. I have a few friends that bagged their cars and within a year or two went back to being static because they were tired of the problems. Air lines breaking, fittings coming loose, bags popping, compressors dying, etc etc. All of that just so you can park low? No thanks. I'll stick with coilovers, man up actually and drive my car low

 

I semi agree but I cut and rolled my fenders and Ive been bagged for 3 years no problems I drive very low maybe one and a half inches from the ground to each his own I guess...

 

There are a select few that actually drive low. My buddy Chris drives his old school Benz super low on air......but then my friend Jovany's Mazdaspeed 3 looks like it's lifted when he drives it.......lol. I would just prefer to be low all the time :P

Here is how my car sits on modified KW V2's. Not mind blowingly low but i'm pretty satisfied with it.

20140723_114136_zps4e3493d0.jpg

 

nice! you have very good taste my friend

 

Are there any companies that have bags or air shocks that are made strictly for comfort and keeping roughly the original height?

Am I correct in that you use an air shock in the front and bags in the rear?

Also, I would imagine that the compressor is super critical in that it is constantly working when moving. Also, do all compressors take a fair amount of time to raise or are some quicker than others?

xfireon20z, what brand are you using and are you using all airbags or all air shocks or..?

Aren't there any Mercedes models that have a similar type suspension but with air suspension so that one could go semi-OEM - and possibly find a used set?

I am glad to hear that it isn't all that rare to go with air suspensions on their XF's. I'd sure like to take a ride in one that is only slightly slammed.

 

The kit from AIR BAG IT uses bags front and rear.
An air bag is like a tire the only time you need a compressor is when you increase the pressure in the bag.
If your intent is to set the ride height and not change it the you could get by without a compressor, tank, controller.
It all depends on what you want to do with it. The larger the components,compressor, tank, lines, valves, the faster you can raise or lower the car.

 

05 cross, the only problem of not having a compressor is to be able to try different heights and - in my case - see which height is the most comfortable over SoCal's poorly repaired sections (which is the majority) of freeways.

I suppose I could simply make a run, then come back to my shop and either add or subtract air until I found the height that works for me. It would help to have all lines going into the trunk in any event.