I had to have a sport package model, now of course all I've read is how the factory air suspension is guaranteed to fail. Who has the highest miles on original air suspension?

 

85K on 3 original air shocks, one's been replaced three times so far so it seems to be hit and miss.

 

It's an air bladder that is in constant use. At some point it has to fail. Why are people so surprised when that happens?
I've had air suspension cars all my life.
Started from Lincoln Mark VIIs and few Mark Viii. My current Mark 7 needed new ones after 20+ of use. I bough the air springs for $800 oem and installed in less than 2 hours.
460s are more complex and more expensive, so either find a car with no air suspension or have money set aside for a repair when the car needs it. I'd also say the air pump will need a refresh at some point as well. These are all wear items. This is also why a extended warranty is a good thing. My $3000 dollar 3 year warranty shelled out close to 7-9 grand at this point.
Control arms, headlight, brake actuator.
I personally did not need this car with air, nor do I find it useful for my needs.
Cool feature? Yes it is. Needed? Depends how often you haul 5 people in the car or how rocky your drive way is.

You can inspect he air shock and look for cracks or visible damage, aside from that, anything past 70k miles you are waiting for eventual failure.
If it was my car I'd change out all 4, or front two at least and then do the rears, but that's just me. I like my cars running 100%

 

even if it fails you can put on aftermarket setup maybe coils for about a grand plus installation. i dont have air but even with stock springs shocks after 100k it a hit or miss.

 

Mine is a 2011 with 47k, everything is fine for now. I didn't care so much about the air suspension but really wanted the sport package, so be it. A few years ago I had a BMW 540i wagon that had rear air. They were fine at 100k but like our cars they seemed hit and miss.

 

I've read the life expectancy of the air suspension to be around 75k-80k miles (mileage will vary). The price to be around $2k per shock.

/shudders

 

Only if you choose to have them replace at the dealer.

 

Will a '10 - '12s computer accept the replacement of the air shock system with std. springs without lighting up the dashboard like a Christmas tree?

 

No but apparently you can pull a fuse to the compressor to kill the light show.
All aftermarket coilover solutions I have found are marketed for 'racing' and feature lowered ride height and a stiffer ride. Some manufacturers will do a special order for a longer mounting length and/or softer springs but the dampers are more geared for a stiffer ride. You could always ebay ls coil suspension working pulls but then you have to buy all four ($200 each) and possibly replace the dampers ($130 each) in a few days or years. Price for four used ebay or junkyard standard shock assemblies would be about the same as a single new air shock but you face reduced value due to the missing function plus more labor to do all four.

Direct aftermarket air shocks are limited to Suncore or Arnott. Suncore is a re-manufactured product and Arnott claims all new. Re-manufactured air shocks are a gamble and Arnotts solution does not provide a significant cost savings vs doing it your self.

Hopefully in the coming years the options will grow or the cost of the oem will drop. There are more options for the ls430 air shocks if that can be used as a barometer.

 

Suncore sells a coilover replacement that is stock ride height. $1999, or I've seen them for $1200 new on eBay.