Air spring or complete strut replacement?

[four.8is]

After about 3 years of ownership, seems like I need to replace things on the air suspension.
The front end is sagging overnight, and rear left started creaking bad .That all happened in the last month or so. The creaking noise from the rear left I noticed after I got the car back from my brother. He said he didn't hit any nasty potholes indicating a blown shock...well I guess I believe him...or not...the rear sits a bit lower on the bad side.

I used to get self leveling suspension inactive, but hooked up DIS and erased the error . I got it back instantly every time. Until I went in INPA and input the factory height numbers in there , erased error in DIS, done. Even if it sags now, I'm not getting the SLS inactive message anymore...but the car sits way higher (think off road mode ON constantly), so something must be off.

My question is, for the front, should I replace just the bags or the strut assembly altogether? Price is double so if I don't have to do it I won't.

Then after I have those new front bags in, play again with the numbers and see what happens with the car height.

That's it for now, thanks in advance for your answers.

[itscoo2pyopants]

How many miles on your current setup? I have a pair of Arnott's with 60k miles that are in great shape. Let me know if you need them, I'm local

[four.8is]

140k
Shoot me a PM with details and price. Thanks

[four.8is]

Anyone else ?

[Ricky Bobby]

I put the Arnotts on mine 4 years ago up front and recalibrate. Been good ever since. I think they sell both rebuilt with new bags, and brand new assemblies.

Maybe since your struts are in excellent shape - I know you are pretty handy, might consider just putting the new Arnott bags on your front struts and rebuilding yours.

Also, what error are you throwing in EHC module? Mine were leaking for a while and I ended up having to replace the compressor since it was burnt out from being overworked keeping the front struts inflated.

[itscoo2pyopants]

Originally Posted by four.8is

140k
Shoot me a PM with details and price. Thanks

pm box is full, shoot me a message when you get a chance.

[four.8is]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I put the Arnotts on mine 4 years ago up front and recalibrate. Been good ever since. I think they sell both rebuilt with new bags, and brand new assemblies.

Maybe since your struts are in excellent shape - I know you are pretty handy, might consider just putting the new Arnott bags on your front struts and rebuilding yours.

Also, what error are you throwing in EHC module? Mine were leaking for a while and I ended up having to replace the compressor since it was burnt out from being overworked keeping the front struts inflated.

Here are the errors I was getting:
7A EHC: Accumulator pressure rises (proceeding upwards out of accumulator)
64 EHC: Distortion plausibility

Then I checked the accumulator pressure and it was 9.8 BAR
Compressor temperature : 68F

Not sure what I should be looking for though.
RB, any insight on these numbers and errors and what they might mean?

Compressor was replaced 2.5 years ago under warranty as well as rear air bags and sensors. I can definitely hear the compressor working and inflating the bags.

One weird thing it didn't do before is in the morning if the front is sagging, when I unlock the doors and open the drivers door, the car raises a good 2" then stops, and after I start the car, the compressor kicks in and inflates the rest to sit level....

[Ricky Bobby]

Hmmm well if its dropped overnight those are definitely leaking -

The accumulator error code sounds like a compressor issue to me, you can try just rebuilding the piston seal for $50 and that should cure it (you'll need to reset the errors)

Isn't there a test plan in DIS to check the compressor for pressure hold?

[semcoinc]

Originally Posted by four.8is

Anyone else ?

I just had the same sinking front suspension issue and solved it with this low cost solution

2000-2006 BMW X5 E53 Front Air Suspension Remanufactured OEM Air Struts | eBay

for a rebuilt strut/airbag combo for $565 for the pair and they sent me UPS labels to return my cores for another $80 credit.

While I was feeling energetic, I changed my rear bags too with these replacements for $100

Pair Left Right Air Suspension Spring Bag for BMW E53 X5 37126750355 37126750356 | eBay

I don't drive my X but maybe 5-8K miles per year so I'm OK with buying the lower cost options.

All is well with my ride height and no more sinking of the front overnight.

Happy X!

Mike

[YazX5]

Originally Posted by four.8is

Here are the errors I was getting:

7A EHC: Accumulator pressure rises (proceeding upwards out of accumulator)

64 EHC: Distortion plausibility



Then I checked the accumulator pressure and it was 9.8 BAR

Compressor temperature : 68F



Not sure what I should be looking for though.

RB, any insight on these numbers and errors and what they might mean?



Compressor was replaced 2.5 years ago under warranty as well as rear air bags and sensors. I can definitely hear the compressor working and inflating the bags.



One weird thing it didn't do before is in the morning if the front is sagging, when I unlock the doors and open the drivers door, the car raises a good 2" then stops, and after I start the car, the compressor kicks in and inflates the rest to sit level....

I just went through these issues with my 4.4 with 2 axle suspension. My front left was bad. Replace t with a big, it's extremely easy to pull the bag off, you literally just remove the bolt on top and a small plastic pin on the side and pull out. Buy the arnott off of eBay it'll save you a hundred bucks or so. So I replaced it erased codes and all so well, except for the front suspension. Bags hold air and everything but it's stuck in off-road mode, height at the highest. Every time I lower the axle through my snap on scanner, it immediately rises after I exit the lower axle menu. My bi xenon headlights don't move left and right, looked at my level height sensors, both are broken. Gonna order the sensors and the links attached to them, install and go from there. I spoke to my mechanic today he told me don't try recalibration, if it doesn't do it automatically leave it alone, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. If it looks like it didn't recalibrate automatically, then do the recalibration. Below is attached a screenshot of the heights they are supposed to be set to, look at your wheel size and if suspension is sport or non. Let me know if you have any progress on yours, it looks like a horse now lol. Kinda resembles a Range Rover, their suspension is so damn high.

Cheers



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