4.8is towing and rear suspension drop
 

I towed a medium size trailer of about 600kg with a nose weight of approx 80kg over the weekend. The day after I noticed the back of the X5 is much lower than the front (air suspension fitted) and took the car to the local BMW agent to check.

Official feedback from the dealer:

1. Nothing wrong with the suspension and only an adjustment was needed.
2. The 4.8is air suspension is not build for towing "heavy" trailers and the compressor is not designed to pump heavy loads.
3. The computer remembered the lower suspension due to the load and store it as default.
4. Suspension has been reset to a higher level and will work, but please check and come back of it drops again under load.


This sound to me as a lot of bull and a way to avoid replacement of the air pockets.

What is the correct answer?

600kg is peanuts...have towed up to 2500kg with 2 different 4.6iS' and the rear adjusted accordingly. I believe some on this very forum have towed even more. How many miles on your X? Did you try adjusting with the ride-height controls?

i tow cars, car haulers and my work trailer (im a painting contractor)

your X5 has the largest towing capacity in class.... more than a ford f150 or chevy or nissan.

sounds like you need a new dealer

I agree with both of you, the X5 is supposed to tow much more, therefore I am not happy with the Dealer stupid feedback. The question is if the standard "U" type (removable goose neck) can carry weight of more than 90kg, rather than if the SUV can handle it. Maybe the dealer uses the wrong measurement in making these statements.

I've had the rear airbags do some weird things after towing but usually it goes back to normal after turning the car on/off or fiddling with the height adjustment.

ride height
 

The agents adjusted the ride height of my 4.8is to be 740mm in front and 750/740 mm at the back (measured from bottom of rim to wheel arch). The result is that the vehicle looks funny (like a Toyota 4x4) from the side and like a TATA from the back. The reason why they did it is to compensate for the towing work and to find a "newer" spot in the level sensor.

This is unacceptable and I like to get the vehicle to factory standard, but what should it be?

Would be fun to see a pic!:popcorn: