"Self-Level Suspension Inactive"
 

Sooo I just got my X5's oil leak fixed which ended up being the alternator bracket gasket leaking. Got it back from the shop and I thought all was good! Was driving it home and i get the error "Self-Level Suspension Inactive" and wasn't TOO worried because I have gotten this before after having the car on the lift and it normally resets itself either from driving or overnight. Well it didn't, the front of the car is basically slammed down which I assume is the airbags not filled. The car is derivable but VERY VERY VERY BUMPY, I've had to drive it the last two days because I haven't had another option right now. I asked the mechanic who repaired my oil leak and he said when he test drove it that warning was not on and the green light on the level indicator was working but when he pressed up or down the car didn't go anywhere.

So now I have the cars nose basically ridding on the tires with a bumpy ride and the leveling indicator isn't showing anything. I've tried so far is looking at both fuses for the air suspension and the 30 amp and 7.5 amp are both fine and I also tried unplugging the battery and seeing if that would reset the computer and let the airbags go up with no success. Anyone have any other ideas? I am going to be calling my mechanic again tomorrow and asking if he can take a look at the airbags to see if they are leaking but I don't think they are seeing as the pump itself isn't turning on at all.

I had same thing with my car, check the wires to the sensors and make sure the the connection are good.The mechanics do damage to the wires and sensors.So pull the tires and check .

Well I just bought a BMW Scanner 1.4 with the software and its going to be here Saturday. I will hopefully be able to set it up on my laptop running a Windows XP VM and see whats all going on as well as other codes. I still will see what my mechanic says tomorrow I'm probably just gonna swing by his place with the car and see if he can check the sensors and if everything checks out (which I kinda hope it does) I will just have to wait to have the error codes wiped.

My first family outing last night.
I get the same message. Stopped for doughnuts, restarted car,
cleared the code. Then half way home, I get the trifecta.
Speedometer dead. Pull in driveway, restart car, all clear.

Alrighty so got the OBDII reader and the problem installed worked like a charm! Hooked up to the car found a LOT of errors just from over time and attempted to clear them all and sure enough "Electronic Height Control" had 1 error and it cleared it and sure enough pump kicks on and the car raises! So I was like sweet went back inside for the night and went to sleep get up the next morning and low and behold the drivers side front of the car is literally sitting on the tire... Not good. All other sides/tires are fine besides the driver side front. So I was like okay lets turn the car on see if it will raise itself, turned her over and nope nothing no pump noise no nothing. Hook up the BMW Scanner again and still nothing no error found.

So now im not sure what it is, but it has to be the air suspension is bad or has a leak right?

What scanner did you purchase


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I purchased this one. Trick is to not use the CD drivers that come with it. I downloaded a Virtual Machine for my laptop to run Windows XP, stalled the XP drivers and PA Soft and it worked! Well worked until it seems my air bag is broken/leaking now :rolleyes:

Well at least You find the problem, get the Arnoff air struts they are great.

Unfortunately what happens when they put your car on the lift to do the alternator bracket is it the decompresses the struts all the way and the small cracks which of been developing over the years get pulled open up and actually get pulled apart. So the cracks which were previously compressed are now fully open and it just tears the bags so you'll probably find upon inspection at that bag is completely torn .

Welp good news guys! There actually was no holes in the air bags! Took it to my mechanic and he had it for about a hour and all he said he did was re adjusted and calibrated the sensors for the air bag on that side and it works like a charm! No "Self-Level Suspension Inactive" light on the dash and the ride is great! In total only cost my about $50 :thumbup:

Sweet the other thing that tends to happen is that the level sensor gets disconnected from being at full droop.

Yeah I'm just happy it was that and not a full airbag replacement. I could not really afford that right now after doing the alternator bracket replacement...