REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

red kryptonite · 03-23-2025, 09:11 PM

or a first gen panamera for similar money

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...tory_type=post

JDMDreams · 03-24-2025, 07:29 AM

You can buy a bangle 650 for that and still have authentic bmw problems

bcrdukes · 03-25-2025, 03:37 AM

The Panameras generally are reliable, save for the known quirks like the rear spoiler failing, but this is a wear/tear issue. This model year should not have air suspension, so that's a huge cost savings as part of ownership.

If you can swallow the general cost of P-car ownership costs and willing to drive this to the ground, this car is great value. Awesome road trip car, no doubt.

Dbone · 03-25-2025, 06:03 AM

So is air suspension still a disaster waiting to happen on a used car?

Is this true for all brands?

trollface · 03-25-2025, 06:58 AM

Yes, the air wants to join their families.

bcrdukes · 03-25-2025, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbone

So is air suspension still a disaster waiting to happen on a used car?

Is this true for all brands?

I can't speak to all brands, but specific to the Panamera, generally, yes. You really do need to perform your due diligence along with a thorough PPI on a used Panamera before jumping in to one.

Porsche's PASM - You have to be prepared to replace it at some point and it's not cheap. The last time I got a formal quote from a Porsche dealer for a Gen 1 2016 Panamera GTS was somewhere in the range of $10,000 - $12,000 if my memory serves me correct.

There are aftermarket options through independent shops and will be a bit cheaper , but they will all eventually have to be replaced again. The air suspension setup on the Panamera is a bit complicated. But if you have the tools, service guide, and access to PIWIS, you could technically DIY as the procedure is very well documented by enthusiasts.

Edit: This sounds like a bad buy now.

westopher · 03-25-2025, 07:29 AM

Is it possible to just disable that and put some coilovers in it? I know for some older cars it's super easy but assume it gets WAY crazier in a newer car with all the added electronic functions that the suspension is tied into with sport settings and shit.

bcrdukes · 03-25-2025, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westopher

Is it possible to just disable that and put some coilovers in it? I know for some older cars it's super easy but assume it gets WAY crazier in a newer car with all the added electronic functions that the suspension is tied into with sport settings and shit.

Yes! There are coilovers you can buy, but I don't recall if they were specific to the Gen1.1 or if they cross over into the .2 variants. You would need PIWIS to disable the driving functions that control the suspension type i.e. sport / normal etc.

westopher · 03-25-2025, 07:56 AM

That seems like a good option then for sure. Get some KW clubsports for like 5k and coding and you save money and end up being way cooler in the process.

AstulzerRZD · 03-25-2025, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcrdukes

There are aftermarket options through independent shops and will be a bit cheaper , but they will all eventually have to be replaced again. The air suspension setup on the Panamera is a bit complicated. But if you have the tools, service guide, and access to PIWIS, you could technically DIY as the procedure is very well documented by enthusiasts.

Edit: This sounds like a bad buy now.

What do you think of the Arnott struts?
Seeing $2k CAD for fronts and $800 for the rears ... 2 year warranty

JDMDreams · 03-25-2025, 08:46 AM

I thought arnot was lifetime warranty

EvoFire · 03-25-2025, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbone

So is air suspension still a disaster waiting to happen on a used car?

Is this true for all brands?

It also depends on the brands and how proactive you are with making sure things are squared up.

My X5 has air, I've looked into it, and it's actually a fairly straight forward system. The air struts themselves are around $300USD a corner, so let's say $600CAD. If you need to replace a shock on a similar adjustable damping system that would come on a car like this otherwise, you will be looking at roughly the same amount.

What needs to be said is, the pump itself for the system is very expensive to replace, but failing pumps is almost non-existent unless you've let the car run with a leaking strut for a long time, and the pump has been running at a much high duty cycle to keep the car level. This is what I mean by needing to make sure the car is squared up.

Not everything is a Range Rover

AstulzerRZD · 03-25-2025, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDMDreams

I thought arnot was lifetime warranty

It was; looks like it’s two years now

bcrdukes · 03-25-2025, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

What do you think of the Arnott struts?
Seeing $2k CAD for fronts and $800 for the rears ... 2 year warranty

I think those are the 'go to' for the aftermarket options. They are often hit and miss with quality, but they also have come a long way and have since improved the product.

Ditto on the 2-year warranty. It used to be lifetime, and I suppose with all the returns, it hurt their bottom line.

Re: The pump - This is definitely the most expensive part of the PASM system on the Panamera (or any car with air suspension, for that matter.)

Edit: Forgot to reply to this

Quote:

Originally Posted by westopher

That seems like a good option then for sure. Get some KW clubsports for like 5k and coding and you save money and end up being way cooler in the process.

There was a guy in our old condo that has a Gen 1.1 Panamera Turbo. His air suspension blew and he threw on I think KWs and man, it was so sick. He definitely wont the Cool Dad car award.