Yet another air suspension thread

[Ziad]

This isn't the first problem I've had with air suspension. They just don't want to get up!

It's down on both sides, i've checked the fuses, relays, all good. One relay in particular which is #6 in the luggage compartment is hot. That relay is noted with "air suspension" on realoem.com site.

Now, the relay #6 doesn't have the exact part number and the right part number off of realoem.com doesn't fit (black), would a salmon red relay fit?

Also if the relay is hot to begin with, would that rule out that the air compressor is functional? How to test?

[Ziad]

Black relay which is what realoem.com says should fit in #6. It doesn't fit it and it has bigger pins.

I took a photo of the whole luggage compartment power panel (i took out the truck lock fuse because that doesn't work anymore and that happened at the same time)

and the purple relay which i found installed instead of the good one.

[Ziad]

Uploaded is the picture of the high amp fuse box in the spare tire area...one of the fuses doesn't have a cable connected, is that normal?

I also removed the sound deadening layer of the air compressor and I started the engine for 5 mins. The air compressor did not run and its relay was cold.

any feedback anyone or anyone had any similar problem? mine is a 2004 4.4l x5

[Weasel]

The not used fuse is normal, they have a fuse in every spot whether the component/system is installed or not. The relay that likes to give problem with an internally corroded contact is the one inside the hump with the air compressor. BMW changed part numbers on it and it is now an orange colored one given by the parts department with an extra blade in the center, but it still works properly for the amperage range.

When testing a relay with corroded contacts out of the system it will look like it is working properly, but light raps against something and the resistance jumps all over the place. Tested with the system intact the output voltage will seem really low. There is actually a spot in control module functions in the GT1 where it can tell you the voltage at the pump from the relay. (the last bad relay I looked at only showed 0.84 volts!)

Just try a new relay in the hump by the pump, if that doesn't fix it there is a possibility of either the pump, valve block or module not working properly which would need further testing/diagnosis to isolate.

[Ziad]

i already tried another module and that didn't fix the problem. Now checking the relay by the pump, it has an orange color while realoem says it should be white green. My trunk doesn't open and its lights don't come on if i opened it manually. Would there be a circuit or relay in common between the air pump and the trunk lid that i should try first?

[Weasel]

I don't think so. The hatch problem sounds like the latch itself. I'd check that out, but as a separate problem.

[Ziad]

Here's a followup. Mechanic diagnosed that it's a general module problem. He overrided the cables going front to back and he could get the air suspension up manually. Module apparently is responsible for the air suspension, trunk lid and boot. Will post updates as soon as i get the module replaced.