Does this look like my front air strut is about to give?
 

96K miles, 4.8

I happened to notice the drivers side front rubber bladder on the strut kind of swells at the top, and also has some kind of leakage near the bottom.

http://i.imgur.com/MdKPc83.jpg?1


Versus the passenger side which is nice and straight all the way to the top


http://i.imgur.com/slAqYCF.jpg?1


Plus I happened to notice the passenger side one has a different texture on the rubber bladder and appears newer so i'm guessing it's not the original.


The drivers side front corner does sit about a 1/3rd of an inch lower then the passenger side but i've never noticed it go any lower then that and I can't hear any hissing.


In case it does have a slow leak, should I disable my air compressor until this is replaced so I don't burn it out?

Thanks in advances gents

Can someone do me a favor and see if the rubber bladder on either of your front struts has that swell like mine has? I'm thinking maybe it might be normal and is just a different design from the one on the passenger side, and on 2nd thought that "leakage" is probably just water.

I'm still riding on my original Air suspension......no issues....only recently did my compressor....using Bagpipingandy kit

Your Driver side is exactly the same on mine....and yes...sort of "swollen"....but bone dry.

I have no leakage nor hissing and all four drop/lower the same level when not in use for a week.

If its not leaking down overnight - should be good for a while

If one side does do it though, make sure to replace the pair of struts

Thanks gents, I guess I won't worry about it then since it doesn't leak.

I guess the way it "swells" at the top kind of startled me.

I have 1-axle air suspension. Problem started with it leaking out overnight (car would be listed over and then correct once I woke it up). Replaced the rear bags with Arnott units. The replacements did look a little different, but I don't have before/after pictures to share.

the oem is the swollen looking one
you have an aftermarket one in the passenger side
mine are both oem that got replaced in 09 and they look swollen at the top area like your
you should readjust ur ride height to get it back to equal
the liquid is most likely water, which is normal, touch the liquid, is it oily or is it just water

The oem bmw ones are shaped different i believe, or may just be they stretch over time.


Mine were slow leaking for a while at the fold near the bottom (oem ones) till one day one blew out.



http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11...d8e497e7d8.jpg

Left side replaced 3 months after ^

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11...704edac50d.jpg

Right side when it blew out ^ i would have done them in pairs however wasnt living at the house and only had hand tools+scissor jack.

Thanks fellas! I will stand down (for now, knock on wood)