VB Air suspension - good?

[BogdanViziteu]

I've attached the Product Sheet which should give you all the information you need.
Let me know if you need anything clarifying.

Thank you for your quick reply.

I'm confused about "the extra 30mm option" mentioned above. Is it available for all dealers or only at Rosmia?. If i choose this option which will be normal ride mode.


thank you.

 

[zeratul]

See here for the english website from VB:
http://www.vbairsuspension.com/en/i...rnia-front-rear-axle-2003-current-medium.html
And this document for the tech specs
And this document for the product spec (which also includes the +3cm version).
http://www.vbairsuspension.com/uplo...N01-_EN_Product_sheet_VB-FA_4C_VWT5__V1.0.pdf

 

[zeratul]

This I believe is an even more recent version
http://www.vbairsuspension.com/upload/files/00002106.pdf

Makes clear distinction between offroad version and regular version. You also see there that the sport ride height in the offroad version is -35mm whereas in the regular version its -25mm.
The offroad version can vary 18cm (!) on the rear axis between lowest and highest position, compared to 15cm on the regular version. On the front axis it's the same though (14cm in both cases).

 

[BogdanViziteu]

Thank you for the info. It's pretty clear to me now. I will have a meeting with the VB dealer this week. I don't have the UF1/IS1 option installed by factory so I hope the dealer will workout without it.

regards,
Bogdan.

 

[zeratul]

Regarding option I took 'autolevel' and 'emergency inflation valves'. If you have Xenon lights you might need an option to adapt them as well (I don't have that).

And UF1 is not required. And any dealer should be able to get the +3cm version.
I wouldn't want to change for the regular version anymore. It just looks so cool

 

[BogdanViziteu]

hmm... do you know which options are default and which are extra? I see the full list: Memory, Parking, AutoLevel,Offroad,Tilt function,Sport,Ferry,Garage.

 

[zeratul]

hmm... do you know which options are default and which are extra? I see the full list: Memory, Parking, AutoLevel,Offroad,Tilt function,Sport,Ferry,Garage.

I have not paid for Memory, Parking, Offroad and Sport, and have buttons for that. I can do tilt by selecting front axis and press 'up'. Garage is just another press on the down button after 'parking' I think.

Ferry, I have no idea what they mean with that. I think I'll put the car in parking when on a ferry.
I paid for the Autolevel feature though.

 

[briwy]

The auto level is a must if you are going for the air suspension. So much easier than faffing about with dirty muddy ramps and it stops pans sliding off the stove. It actually works on each wheel independently rather than just front/rear/sides like ramps so will accomodate a slope in two directions.

 

[RosmiaAirSuspension]

You've pretty much answered all the questions.
We always order the Commercial Vehicle Hand Set for the California as opposed to the Motorhome Version. (Mainly because this has the Sport Mode which the Motorhome Hand set doesn't).
As standard you get: Sport, Off Road, Car Park, M1 and M2 which can be programmed to Tilt and Ferry mode. (Ferry mode pumps up the back end for larger motorhomes with long overhangs that bottom out on ferries and is not really needed on the Cali).
Auto Level is optional, but is almost a must on the California.
Other than that, then I would only get the +30mm if you plan on doing a lot of wild camping.
Ryan.

 

[BogdanViziteu]

Hi guys, I spoke with my local VB dealer and decided to go for Raised Mode. I will be using Sport Mode for "normal" usage and off road mode for wild camping. Ryan, is it possible to tell us why you don't recommend Raised Mode? I'm using my cali 80% for on road trips and 20% for wild camping.

thank you.

 

[RosmiaAirSuspension]

I'm not trying to influence your decision.
A lot of people like the extra stability you can get cornering when you have the vehicle it Sport mode. Fitting the raised kit essentially makes the Sport Mode the same as Standard Ride Height and gives you two Off Road modes, one as normal and the other for more extreme situations.
I've never come close to grounding out in Off Road mode with the standard (non-raised) kit.

 

[zeratul]

That's true, and a second reason I can think off is that in Sports mode of the raised version you need to be a little more careful with speed bumps and driving off ramps, only for the front part, but that's typically the part where there's weight (because you have less air spring height)
I think the best plan is to turn on sports mode on larger roads (highways, interstate roads) and normal mode otherwise.

But overall, the raised version in both normal and sports mode drives _a lot_ better than the standard bouncy cali suspension. Everyone in the family notices the difference.

 

[bvddobb]

We only use the sports mode on the motorway. We did some (not very scientific) tests that suggest the fuel consumption is some 8% less when lowered to sports mode on the motorway...

We don't feel the driving is so much better in sports mode: the air suspension is a much better drive already, also in normal mode, the 'sports' mode in our opinion doesn't change that much.

Oh, and we use the sports mode to enter our own garage when the summer wheels are on. They are slightly bigger than regular, raising the car another 2 cm. For us, with the solar panels on the roof, we then come into a critical area and want the extra 2 cm lowering...

 

[briwy]

Sports mode virtually all the time on normal roads for us.
Offroad where it needs it and Normal to get in/out of our gateway over the kerb and on/off ferries where the ramp angles i sometimes very steep.

 

[pjm-84]

Anyone had their VB suspension "serviced" yet.

The cost for the installation is within budget but the requirement to have it serviced is hard to quantify from a time perspective.

 

[zeratul]

I was told the new compressors do not require servicing anymore. The old ones needed some type of silicon grains that it used to dry the air that is taken from outside. Now it has a different drying system (heater?). So for the latest VB Air suspension version, officialy a visual inspection is all that's required... I am planning on asking what to look for and then doing this visual inspection myself. With the raised version of the suspension at it's highest position (+6cm), it's really easy to roll myself underneath, with my back on a furniture/plants roller... Tried that today, to have a look at mounting skid plates myself..

 

[pjm-84]

Have this on my Disco 3. So height calibrations / valve blocks and height sensors are all in a days work. Disco comes with a dryer.

I've gone back to Rosmia for some clarity. I have the service check list (can pm you it) but not sure if this is annual or every two years.

 

[RosmiaAirSuspension]

-Please make sure you use axle stands and don't just rely on the suspension if you're planning on rolling underneath it.
-Make up a solution of water with some washing up liquid to check for air leaks (I can't remember finding any on a standard service).
-Jack the van as high as you can to allow the air bags full extension (you have to put it in service mode) and clean out any gunk that's accumulated over the time. (I wouldn't do this on anything other than a completely flat concrete floor and would suggest a proper workshop lift if you can borrow one).
-Obviously, I would suggest having it serviced by an accredited installer but will leave it up to each individual.
-It has full warranty for the first two years but we recommend an annual service/checkover even after the first year with Californias as they can be quite high mileage vehicles and people use them all year round.
-There are quite a few other checks and we charge two hours labour, although I have been known to throw the first year service in for free if people have asked nicely and it helps them make their decision.

Ryan.

 

[zeratul]

Two hours labour.. that's more than I thought it would take. The problem here is that the only Belgian certified dealer is 2 hours away. So if possible I would greatly appreciate access to a service manual or complete list of "few other checks" so I can either ask my local VW dealer if they can do this, find another local garage that can do it or try it myself - if not too hard...

 

[pjm-84]

I have the same problem.

Its my time to take the vehicle to have it checked not the cost of the check. For me its a "burden" and I'm fast coming to the conclusion that I will stay with the standard arrangement.

 

[kave]

How much is a kit? I am tempted as well.

 

[pjm-84]

About £3.7k+ VAT in the UK with the self levelling function and fitting costs. No issue with the installation cost.

The recommendations for annual "servicing" is a "stopper" for me. 4hr round trip plus servicing time = 1 day out of the office + £££

Similarly I don't fancy being stranded somewhere with a suspension issue and someone tells me that I didn't have a 12months visual inspection..................

 

[kave]

Strange, all BMW 5-series Touring models have air suspension on the rear axle and that is not maintatined at all.

 

[zeratul]

Currently in Morocco enjoying the air suspension every day. We've done a lot of bad roads and beautiful 4x4 roads and it's amazing what the California is capable off.
Really happy with the +3cm version. You have sports mode to put the cali back at standard height but for adventerours (like me) it's really nice to find yourself on a 4x4 parking and camping amongst landcruisers and range rovers.

But the biggest win is to arrive on the campsite after a long day, position the car for beautiful sunset from the sliding door without having to worry about what direction is most level. It's just a button push away.
Love the vb system!
An instagram link
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSrZVyAhxnr/

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[bvddobb]