Hi! First post here

I've had a 2008 2.7 HSE for a couple of years now and I like it!

Already replaced some worn suspension bushes but now I've the compressor to replace.

I was also considering replacing the airstruts (inc shocks) at the same time, mainly because how can the shocks be effective after 100 k miles???

My other reasoning on this was I liked the handling before I replaced the bushes, and even more so after... how much better would it be with new shocks etc?

Of course with the way it is set up it's not really possible to tell if the shock need replacing (to look at)...

Thoughts?

100k is alot on Dampers, but the only way to test properly is to take them off the car. Once air is released and they can be extended fully and compressed, you will then have an idea of their damping effect.

The air spring absorbs the shock, the damper 'damps' the spring oscillations btw.

If you do decide to change, there are options. They can be changed and aftermarket bilstein (etc) units fitted if that's what you want. The air unit can be kept, and new seals fitted accordingly. 2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
Bikes! KTM, BMW, British, Classics and others.

My dampers were "fine" at 206k miles, in that they still worked as dampers are intended to do

However, being in and out of different cars, with much lower mileage than mine, it showed up just how bad mine were. It didn't glide over the bumps like everything else, it seemed to crash through them...

To that end, I bought 4 new ones

Can i ask which you went for? Damper only? Fit with new O rings etc? easy enough? 2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
Bikes! KTM, BMW, British, Classics and others.

Thanks the replies. I'd be interested to know which Bilstein you went for and also where to get seal kits for the Air spring unit.

Bardley wrote:

Can i ask which you went for? Damper only? Fit with new O rings etc? easy enough?

Complete OEM struts and airbags

While the bags were also fine, not leaking etc, they were 13 years old. Rubber perishes with age, so it was a good time to replace them too

I did look into Bilstein shocks and new bags, but don't think they warranted the extra expense...

OEM a good way to go I think, and agree with the extra expense against bonuses.
If the originals last that long, then why change.
The airbags on a D2 (without the benefit of the covering shroud) last about 10yrs..and some say change before that time as a precaution. Rubber degrades as you say.

Complete strut change looks an ok job. 2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
Bikes! KTM, BMW, British, Classics and others.