Self LevelSuspension Inactive on my 2004 4.8isPosted

[beemarman]

I got this dreaded error yesterday. When i stopped the car i noticed the front passenger side was a lot lower than the other three sides. I took the car to a friend that works for BMW for him to have a look, he said the front passenger shock had no air in the bag and he thinks i will need to replace the whole thing at a cost of a whopping $1100 plus vat plus fitting


Has anyone had this type of failure before on a 4.8is? I'm really shocked at the price for just one shock.


Advise needed please, could their be another thing thats failed?

[jpm4.8is]

Been there done that...you might have an air leak in the spring, those damned things are expensive...Hope everything works out well...

[beemarman]

Originally Posted by jpm4.8is

Been there done that...you might have an air leak in the spring, those damned things are expensive...Hope everything works out well...

I hear yeah.


The strange thing is i can't hear any "hissing" from the failing shocks. Got up one morning and the whole thing was down

[Weasel]

You can never really hear a hissing... At the shop I usually just spray the whole thing down with soapy water while its up in the air, which inevitably results in a couple spots of white froth/foam being created by the now permeable rubber leaking air. Sometimes there is a continuous ring of foam around the whole bag. The leaks are always where the bag turns in at the bottom at ride height as that part of the bag gets flexed all over as the suspension moves. (this is why I spray mine down with silicone spray often, keeps the rubber rejuvenated)