self leveling suspension
 

Hey guys i have a 05 4.4 with the rear air suspension. I have had eibach springs put in the front and the dealership lower the rear for over 2 years now. Just today i get in the car and notice self leveling suspen inactive. This has popped up before but just goes away and i turned the car off and back on and it went away again. My concern is that my car warranty is up in 1000 miles and was interested if anyone has had this happen or heard of this before. I have an appointment tomorrow just wanted to go in with some knowledge before if possible. Thanks

ok did some more searching and found some info about it. Seems like nobody knows the exact reason the error comes up or 100% way to get rid of it.

Been there done that...in a nutshell my dealer changed pretty much every part related to the self leveling suspension under warranty. Good luck :thumbup:

I had the same message...and there are several faults with it...

What I did...is take out most things out of the trunk...and exposed the suspension...I could hear the air bag inflate every time i started the car and alos numerous times while driving...I ended up replacing a seal that was damaged...no more message and car looks to be level...

the thing is that there are soo many different things that can cause the inactive message, from a simple intermittent relay, to a sticking air valve, a bad reading from a level sensor, etc. Good thing for warranty, let them read the fault memory to see what caused it... then they'll take it from there. It usually involves checking the electrical part of it for problems as well as the mechanical aspect of it. One piece of advise would be to get them to check the system for leaks, especially the bags. They have a habit of developing slow leaks over the years. Spray them with soap water and they usually have a solid ring show where the bottom of the bag folds onto itself. If the bags are leaking, let them get changed under warranty, only pays 2.2 hours labor for both of them.

after putting on the front springs... doesnt the rear lower by itself or do you have to go to the dealer to lower the rear?

after putting on the front springs... doesnt the rear lower by itself or do you have to go to the dealer to lower the rear?

there is a kit available now that uses links to modify the rear suspension geometry and lower it safely. Saw it in another thread, but forgot who makes it...

for 2002 air suspension I would simply need the lower springs correct? withoout this kit you were mentioning?

It looks like BAV Auto makes the lowering kit that keeps the original air springs. Here's the thread that talked about it...

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...-bav-auto.html

and here's the part# and description...SK SLKIT X5; Air Suspension Lowering Kit $409.95

honestly I am confused now.

I have a 4.4 2002 model, which does not have "self leveling air suspension", as there are no buttons to change the ride height, but only a "air suspension" in the rear...correct so far?

The H&R springs cost only about 2xx USD for "air suspension" X5.

This kit here costs 4xx USD.

Can I simply get the the H&R spings alone? Or why would I need this kit?

You do have self leveling air suspension, just the single axle version. But thats why its there, to self level when a trailer is on it, or a load in the back, etc. No sagging.

Are the H&R springs you're talking about for front axle? If so, then thats why it costs 1/2 as much. That and that H&R isn't exactly the best quality... in fact it's usually the cheapest available option. As with the BAVAUTO kit, it comes with better quality springs for the front AND the needed parts to lower the rear as well. Boils down to... you get what you pay for. If you want to use the cheaper springs to lower the front then you still have to find a way to lower the back to match.

the H&R springs are for front AND back, but they are only the springs (no other components)....

Then you would be removing the airbags and installing steel springs in their place, meaning you would also be removing the rest of the air suspension components... and you would probably have the warning light on indefinitely. Unless you have your X5 reprogrammed at the dealer with a BMW techline obtained "vehicle order" just to tell the rest of the car that it's not there anymore, stop looking for it!

But I have never switched from air to regular springs, but other people on this forum might have, and might know something about this that I don't... there is no substitute for experience!

Might be worth using the google search at the bottom of the page to check in other threads.

OT...
Hey, Jason...good to read you again! No help on
your suspension question. Still have your former
132s on...the orig B'stone Turanzas are a lil' ragged,
but your/my wheels still look Titz! :thumbup:

Thought you had won the Lotto and run off. :D

We are back in the Naples FLA Starter Shack in late
Nov.

Hope you are doing well!
Best Regards, mD/Ol'UncMtr

okay... got the H&R springs installed and with brackets for the rear air suspension... do I still need the dealer to adjust the rear or does it adjust on its own?

If you replaced the air springs with steel coil springs... there is NO FURTHER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT! You can't adjust steel. Though an alignment would still be in order, but may not be able to come fully into specifications do to the modifications.

I didn't change the rear to springs... its still with self leveling air suspension... I don't know if this needs to be adjusted or does it adjust by its self ... I can't tell if it was lower.. but the front looks lower than before

what brackets did you get?

ther rear end links

look like tiny little sway bar end links? If so, then thats what brings the rear down. They should be for the level sensors. They "trick" the sensors into thinking the truck is sitting too high, thus lowering the rear with the OEM bags, etc.

^^that means i don't have to do anything then right?

just instal the little links, thats it. :thumbup:

nice... thanks ... i guess it did get lower...just couldn't tell