HELP!!!!! X5 Bouncing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lflaco]

So here it is, I'm currently deployed in Afghanistan and I just purchased an 05 X5 4.8is in Miami for my wife and she tells me all of a sudden it starts bouncing up and down while she is driving in slow or fast speeds!! But lately it has been gotten worst and sometimes it does it and sometimes it don't. then she says she hears a hissing (sssssssssss) sound when ever she unlocks the car or locks, then when parked the left fender is way lower than the right, also it doesn't raise up or lower like it used to. She says it is really really bad! And Yes I will have her take it to a local shop in Miami, but I don't know of any good places that work on the X5 except the Stealer and Active Auto which I personally know most over there at the shop but they deal more with M3s. I had her check the tire pressure, and my wife is so understanding of the basic car issues as I explain to her that she even checked the rear fusses also for the air suspension. Out of my vast knowledge and expertise I am assuming after I have searched and found almost related incidents that it could be the Struts. Just need some help if anyone had this experience before she takes it to a shop and they see this beautiful fine young lady and rip her off and feed her bull..... But the good thing is that she knows when JACKA$$es are feeding her bull and acting stupid. So I just need to know if any one has had any experience with these related issues, by the way the X5 has 48,XXX. Thanks soo much, please help with some feedback as it is stressful enough just being over here and now her having car issues. Thanks!

[Bobby G]

I don't know about the hissing but it sounds like the air ride pump may have gone out. Mine went TU last year and once all the air went out it rode like a 5 ton truck. When mine went out I did get a warning on the dash. If it was the struts the ride should not have gone to hell all of a sudden. I'm a newbie here but I'm sure there is a thread for the air ride somewhere here and lots of helpful folks. Good luck.

[StumpyPete]

sounds like leaky air springs.

No.1 in the following for rear
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.8is LEVELL.DEVICE, AIR SPRING AND CTRL UNIT

or No.1 in the following for front.
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.8is Levelling device/air spring strut/sensor

[Nik]

Agree, It is Air suspension Air bags. When she unlockes the car, the compressor is pumping it up and the bag is leaking so comes the hissing sound. it could sometimes rise up for a while and then drop depending on how bad it is leaking. If the car only goes down while sitting for 8-9 hours may be the hoses leaking, but I doubt it.

[Pisendar]

Could be air compressor

[Nik]

Not likely, If compressor, only one side wouldn't drop nor would it rise in most of the time. Plus hearing hiss is air coming out of bags.

[lflaco]

Just a quick update, she took it to a nearby shop and they are looking at it. Let's see and I hope they know and find what the hell it is. Thanks!!! I'll keep updating for future references.

[tonycajjo]

buy two air bags from ticher, who i think is still one of our vensors. (best price and delivery, i look everywhere) there are few different part numbers for each side and separate part numbers if you have sport vs non sport. (and a set for the 4.6is)

if you let that compressor overwork itself for too long then you will have to replace that too.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by lflaco

Just a quick update, she took it to a nearby shop and they are looking at it. Let's see and I hope they know and find what the hell it is. Thanks!!! I'll keep updating for future references.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

btw, thank you for your service

[lflaco]

Well, thanks for yalls input, it was an airbag!!! passenger side!!! Thanks sooo much!!!! The shop charged total of 1200 and the extended warranty paid 99.9%, my wife just paid $13 for some shop towels and whatever!!! LOL!!!