INtro + Speed control on Air suspension question

Hi VSC, Just a quick intro, My name Jason and I've begun restoring a 99 Black on Black E430 Benz,  I know its not a true VIP platform and all but all in all, I just enjoy the culture that VIP styling stands for.  I've been reading around the site and planning out the first part of the build.  As for what "style" I'm going for, honestly I'l label it after I do the work to it, I'll do my own thing and be happy with the car myself then I'll worry about if it's true "VIP styled" or not, as long as I love the car thats all that matters to me =)

Right now I'm planning on doing with a Universal Air suspension, most likely on Koni Adjsutable shocks, As for wheel I'm still looking around but I'm really like the Foose 5 spoke with polished lip and polished inside of the spokes, as well as a Fabolous kit.

I plan on do Suspension, Wheels, then the kit/paint but I might do HID converstion before the kit and paint go on as it seems most logical to have the car kitted and painted once your pretty much done with it as to protect the paint  


Anyway on to the question,  I've been reading in the suspension forum about Air suspension so any links to how it works, theory behind it or anything that would help with gathering information from off the site are accepecated.  My biggest question is how does one control the speed at which the air is let in and out of the bags?  I plan on keeping the air suspension simple when it's first installed, and I would like to keep the switches.  I definetly want control fromt he cabin but I would also like to be able to control from the cabin the speed at which the car raises and lowers.  Overall I love driving really low, my last few cars even though they were honda's on Coilovers were no more then 2-3 inchs from the frame touching, obiviously is kills the front lip on coilovers.  So what I'm asking is, is this type of control possiable from a cabin mounting knob or switch?  Do I have to have an electronic system to aquire this type of control?  Is there any advantage or (mainly) disadvantages to dumping the car quickly as opposed to slowly, I'd assume more wear on tear on the parts but is dropping it quickly 2-3 inchs every once and a while going to put lots of stress on the bags?  What types of additional parts am I looking at to gain this type of control?

Normally I'm a DIY but I know something out of my league and even asking these questions means I'm not ready for this so I'll be having it installed.  I know Universal air is located in San Bernadino and thats like an hour away from me, so most likely I'll see about installation there.  Any other good/Repuratable shops around the 92688/92679 area in Southern California I should check out for this type of install?  Again if you don't wanna spoon-fed the answers, I appercate links where I can read up on this stuff myself, or even usggsted google searchs, as mine have come up for the most part, empty.

Thanks for your time

--Jason

P.S. Rim advice also appercated Im still looking.

Look around for rims before deciding ;) 
 
Air line size..... People generally go with a 3/8(slow) line and sum with 1/2 (fast)...But u can always get inline flow controls (and exhaust controls for going down only) on 1/2 lines that are manually adjustable and will make it go as slow as u want. 
 
Electronic controllers are always best for suspension (imho) Look up some of the more popular ( Dakota Digital, Easystreet,etc..) for info 
 
If you are anywhere near UAS, Id suggest having them install their own product. No one knows their stuff like they do. 
 
welcome to VSC!

Thanks for the tip,

yeah I'll probably go with slow lines and then have a quick dump switch hooked to 1/2 inch exhaust lines for when I want to drop it fast.

As for the wheels, yeah I'm still looking around I really like the mandrus Emil in silver(Chrome just isn't my thing) but I'm really liking the monoblockish look as opposed to the 5 spoke.  I've been 5 spoke all my life, so it seems with the change in car is a change in rim selection but over all I think with this car I want something that fills the wheel wells nicely as oppose to just being focused on performance.

I'm happy and sad to say my fast driving days are done, it's time to ride low and slow and look damn good doing it =)

Once I get the suspension going I'll put up some pics but gonna be a bit to gather up the money for it, wanna do things right the first time and as Ive learned tha'ts not the cheep way

Exactly what Em said.  You can get 3/8" air lines and just put a control valve "inline" so fine tune the speed.  If you want slow, get 1/4" that is what im planning on getting. haha.

Welcome! and post pics of your build

Welcome and keep us updated on your build bro:biggthumpup: