Hi, is it normal for a x358 xj8 to not have air suspension in the US or is it standard on all x358’s? I came across one in Dallas which appealed to me as air suspension would not last on the roads here in Dallas.

 

Air was standard but as you know with all the problems that come with age many cars have been converted to steel coil springs. That's probably what was done to that car.
The suspension lasted fine it was leaks in the air struts that killed it. They did not wear out but started leaking from time and use.
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I'll disagree with "they did not wear out," as the compressors definitely do wear, and the dryer is wholly inadequate to keeping water out of the system, and once water gets into the system, there is no way to remove it. The expense of keeping air working as designed easily exceeds ttha car's value, so coilovers are a common replacement, and to me, make the car more desirable. The air suspension system is years beyond its design lifetime. Seeing coilovers on a car is absolutely no reason to refuse the car.

As for not lasting on the roads in Dallas, the air suspension takes no more abuse from road conditions than steel springs. It's not the roads that does is the air suspension, it's moisture, compressor wear, and air leaks.