Air suspension - Manual pump up

[DTC9968]

Ok Gang

I posted trying to figure out how to manually pump up my rear air suspension but did not get an answer. So...... I went out in the garage and figured it out myself.
I am posting this for others if they have the same problem as me.

History

My 2002 X5 was sagging in the rear end and suspension was rough and bouncie. I noticed that the rear of the X5 was low. I checked all my fuses and went out and bought a new relay. I could hear the new relay click when I inserted it thinking the relay was gone. I turned the X on thinking I would hear the compressor turn on but NO?????.
I do not have an error message on my dash either.

I wanted to see if the compressor it self still worked so I jumped the relay and pumped up the rear of the X manually. Jumped relay and the compressor turned on and pumped up the rear of the X. I checked to see if I had a leak in the rear air springs and all the tubing. NO air escaping.
I think it must be my sensors in the rear but still checking that.

Quick fix

Here is how you pump up the system manually by jumping the relay.

1. Take the rear floor cover out and remove the spare tire.
2. Unbolt the air compressor housing
3. Turn it over and you will see the orange colour relay.
4. There are two red wires that go into the bottom of the relay housing (One is red with a white tracer and the other is red with a yellow tracer) see picture.
5. Remover the relay and locate the positions of the two above mentioned wires. (I marked mine with red paint)
6. Use a stiff copper wire ( I used a piece of stiff copper wire) and insert the copper wire into the two located terminal sockets and the air compressor will come on. ( Have the key in the "ON" position.
7. Pump up to the desired ride height. (I only left my wire in for 30 second intervals to avoid overheating the wire or the compressor)

Hope this helps everyone.

****Remember this is a quick fix until you find out the real issue so you can still drive the X with a comfortable ride.

[Milsy]

Ha, sounds dodge, but good to see it has worked for you

[FL2002x54.6]

I am going to give this a try (just replaced both air springs and the rear is fully deflated). How many "30 sec" cycles did it take to get your ride hight up?
thx

[Pstephana]

Hey DTC.

I'm having a bit*ch of a time with my '02 4.4i all air suspension system.

It started when I got the "INACTIVE..." warning. I let it go for some time. The ride height was in it's normal position and could not use the manual switch on the lower dash. I started reading Xpost for ideas. I replaced the rear relay next to the battery (nothing), checked all the fuses (glove and rear trunk). I had my neighbor help and he was able to jump the relay (the key was not in) we determined it was not the realy. BUT!!! afterwards the manual switch lights were off and the entire drivers side was lowered complety and the passenger side was begining to lower. The ride SUCKS!!! I went ahead and changed the air suspension module (located in/under the glove box $650) Nothing. I was told/reading it might need to be re-programmened. Any ever done this in SF/CA? I checked all the bags and all are good.
Any ideas?
And HELP!!!! From X5 Guru's!

[Pstephana]

Hey all and DTC,

Here is a video I shot yesterday. There was no height change. Driving home my suspension felt a little better. Not a hard/bottoming out feeling. I think the drivers side air bags must have filled a little (sorry youtube link):
YouTube - X5 BMW 2002 Full Air Suspension Relay Jump

Today, I jumped the relay again to see if there was any height change, nothing noticeable but the ride felt better. I will post that video shot today this weekend.

Any thoughts?

[Pstephana]

Another attempt at jumping the relay just to verify if it works:
YouTube - X5 BMW 2002 Full Air Suspension Relay Jump DeuxiemePartie!

I am still trying to find a reliable Independent BMW repair/service Shop in SF or on the Silicon Valley Peninsula?

[LONE RANGER]

How much for Compressor ? Is it still good? Why selling?

[Blue4.8is]

Im selling it because i completely switched over to regular suspension to prevent sleepless nights thinking about when the next air suspension leak will happen. I had a leak somewhere but didn't want to mess with trying to find the leak, and next year have another leak, and another one after, not to mention the computer and compressor and relays that could go wrong. I would like to get $400 for Everything. This includes the compressor , front arnott struts, rear air bags, rear air tanks, the computer, relays. On a side note, While doing this swap I kept thinking how simplicity is key! Why make things more complicated if there is already a proven design with the regular shocks and struts? Is the ride really that much smoother? Do I really need to lower and raise my x5 a few inches? Anyway, let me know if you want the parts, I can ship them anywhere in the US, but i would imagine shipping would be expensive.

By the way for anyone trying to do this conversion in the future, dont fall for those overpriced conversion kits they sell for several thousands.... I spent only $600 for everything & had a friend help me do the swap.

[Pstephana]

My two cents:
I'm not a mechanic but rebuilding the compresser sounds difficult and I'm not sure if they recommend rebuilding. I would suggest buying the compresser. Regarding switching over to struts, in my opinion the air suspension rides much smoother. Also if you switch to struts you de-value the vehicle?

[Blue4.8is]

Originally Posted by Pstephana

My two cents:
I'm not a mechanic but rebuilding the compresser sounds difficult and I'm not sure if they recommend rebuilding. I would suggest buying the compresser. Regarding switching over to struts, in my opinion the air suspension rides much smoother. Also if you switch to struts you de-value the vehicle?

Im my opinion switching over to regular struts will increase the X5s value if anything since you are preventing trouble for whoever owns it after you...