Hello everybody! I have a 2008 Audi Q7 3.0TDi S line with adaptive air suspension, I have had problems with the suspension and the car it hardly driven at all, my workshop told me and showed me we need 4 brand new air shocks, air suspension compressor, air suspension valve, air suspension shock pipes because rats ate up the pipes and it leaks delivering the air as well as air suspension control module and motor. This would be a very expensive fix and the car has only been driven 20,000 kms purchased brand new by my family. I would like to change it to the steel suspension because its far more reliable and in Bangladesh the roads are not suitable for air suspension, please advise and send links and videos on how to fix this with steel suspension not interested at all to put 10k dollars equivalent to fix an old car.
thanks

 

If I had a one-owner/family car w/complete history and w/only 20k kilometers on it...assuming it's in relatively fantastic shape otherwise, then I'd definitely go parts shopping for it and fix it right. You can purchase new air suspension parts for much, much less than OE retail pricing, which is what you are getting quoted, and get high quality, direct replacement parts. It's only expensive if you allow Audi, or an unscrupulous shop to charge you $10k for the repair. You can buy all new compressor, valve-block, all four corners completely new air spring w/shocks included for around $3,000 (USA $), and that's quality parts, not Chinese knock-offs or low grade stuff that won't last, or will ride poorly.

A good quality steel susp conversion kit (all inclusive, includes digital bypass for car) will run you $1500-1600 (USA$) + install, etc.

Don't kid yourself about why other owners do the conversion; that's all about the Benjamins, baby...it costs less overall to go with the fixed height/fixed dampening as it is simpler and old-school suspension tech...nothing special about it. The air ride suspension is much, much better over bad roads, traversing rough terrain or even water crossings, off-road adventures, and just about anything else you can think of. It load-levels the car, it has variable damping struts/shocks, and you select what works best for you or just leave in automatic mode to allow the car to respond to road conditions. I've driven both as we have one of each suspension type, and hands-down, the air suspension is what you want to travel over poorly paved roadways, broken pavement, dirt, gravel, unimproved, etc. You will absolutely be kicking yourself if that's the type of surfaces you drive on locally, and you toss out the air suspension. You've got the best there is; now you just need to repair it w/o getting taken for a ride, and that means you shop around and source parts yourself, or find an honest shop that will work with you to get wholesale cost or near it on parts. They are going to zing you on labor costs anyway, so why overpay for parts?

I typically do my own DIY work, but from time-to-time will contract with a shop on something I don't have time for, or want to do myself. I still buy the parts/fluids, etc. myself to control my costs and get exactly the quality I want on my cars, and shop for a good value/competent installer or shop to do the work. I just never, ever pay retail for parts, as that is a short trip to a light wallet, and yet you get the exact same parts either way, at the end of the transaction.

Here's a site I often use when planning a project, and sometimes I even buy here. Just bought air compressor and valve block from this site in past month. Regardless, it can give you an idea of what you should be paying for parts, as well as provide you the OE part #s, etc. I'm sure you likely have such sites/options on your side of the world also:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/audi

 

Thank you so much bro for the recommendation, being honest with you the car has 20,000 kms because me ans my family travel around a kot for business and I have had 2 accidents on the q7 and was sitting for years. Parts become expensive because the audi q7 is in bangladesh an asian country and over here all shops tax theres customs tax and everything which is a lot. I could not find any steel suspension conversion video or find what parts i need, if you see any please forward, thanks.

 

Let Google be your guide, and good luck. Sounds like you need to make friends with some 'gear-heads', or DIYers in your area. You can find just about anything either in this forum or by searching key words on Google to find parts or processes on how to fix your car...videos too. Most forum members are here to figure out solutions for their own cars so they can DIY it themselves. Granted, it's nice if you can pay the exorbitant shop rates for a large repair, but none of this stuff is really rocket science; it's just basic turning wrenches and getting your hands dirty for the most part. I'd never worked on air suspension until we had a pump going out, then the valve block let go when servicing the compressor, etc., but it's just parts swapping when you get right down to it. Yours is a bit more complex due to the airline damage issue, and you'll have to figure out what's the best way forward for you, where you live. Check out the link i provided above and look at their Bilstein B4 replacement kits too, as those are very good for steel suspension setup. Most big name companies will sell you a complete strut w/spring (called a quick strut, as already fully assembled w/new spring, etc.).