Thanks for your sharing bro. Part 1. Like you mentioned, all air suspension have a life span & will eventually give way. From our experience, cars that reached 7 years of age will start to give way. This also depends on case to case. One of the most important factors (from what we have seen over the years) is driving habit. Some owners consistently hit potholes or rough roads without slowing down or avoiding them. This greatly accelerates the wear & tear on the air suspension. We found out the reason was because the ride was too comfortable & the owners dont even realize there is a hole on the road. Part 2. We always recommend replacing with original parts (yes, we know it costs more) however it will ensure you hassle free motoring experience for years to come. Imagine, the original air sus that came with the car can last 7 years. So the new original parts will definitely be able to last longer than the OEM (lower quality ones), aftermarket or rebuilt ones.