Self Leveling Suspension InActive - Error code: Compressor Relay
 

Guys, I constantly have the above message on the dash, I have hooked up a scanner 1.4 and PA Soft, and believe the error code says "Compressor Relay". what, Where and how easy is this to fix? Bearing in mind that this is the cause.

Out of all the things that could generate the error, the relay is probably one of the cheapest. It's probably in the relay bank in the trunk. I'd fix it quick before something else goes as a result. How long have you been getting the error?

Couple of weeks, but hardly ever drive the car, so hopefully haven't caused any other damage.

I have found a document on the web that shows where the relay is located, but lots more useful information.

http://www.bmwclub.lv/files/BMW_X5_L...ol_Systems.pdf

Now a trip to Welcome to realoem.com |bmw parts | bmw parts catalog| bmw epc! and find the part number. Hopefully, this will fix the issue.

Found the part RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0i Relay for compressor pump I01027

and only £4.99 ($7) on ebay, lets hope is really is only a £5 fix.

Nice score. You shouldn't have to reset any errors. I had an intermittent SLSI error. I could only pull a code when the error was present. Ended up being a flakey sensor. When I replaced it, the error not away.

Replaced the relay, but still getting the error. Attached the scanner and get the errors...

EHC
08/00 - Controling time, upwards
03/05 - Relay compressor

Any ideas?

when i had the Self Leveling Suspension Inactive msg on my x5 it was just 2 back Regulating rod $6.00 bucks each at the dealer now that was the cheapest fix i ever had on the X5 .. it's number 21 on the pic.. never had the msg again after that

Those rods seize up and rust every few years or so in salt climates, cheap fix thank god and I'd recommend DIY if you see them rusting, preventatively. Mine were done front and rear about 3 yrs ago and in another year or two I might do them again, (damn northeast salt)

hey ricky how many of them rods do you have in the front? i ask cause on my truck there only one but on the BMW Parts Catalog it say there are 2 :S

and dark stranger hope that suspension compressor repair kit works for you

OK, fitted the compressor repair kit and directly tested the compressor by connecting to a car battery , by passing the relay, solenoids, etc. by cutting the compressor power cables (see white insulation tape) and connecting to battery. The compressor works fine.

Therefore connected the black air pipe to the compressor, but not the solenoid and air flowed through the black pipe, therefore connected free end of black air pipe to the solenoid and turned on the compressor. It fired into life, but the air was not flowing through/pass the solenoid!

So I guessed the solenoid needed a power supply and therefore took to car, connected to car power supply and nothing. The compressor did not rumble into life. I tried swapping relays, but still no life.

I doubt its a sensor as you would expect at least one to work. Does the air suspension only have a fuse in the rear? if so, what number fuse is it?

Any other ideas?

Check the battery area for WATER....When your tail gate drains clog (and they will) water follows the wires down to the battery box..ruins the modules, radio. Very costly even buying used. happened to me 2X.

I have sense filled the wire loom with silicone.

Nope, all dry. I also just checked fuses in rear (2) and front (1) and all fine. I could try buying a whole new compressor unit with relay\solenoids or just new solenoids, but that doesn't guarantee it will fix the issue.

Is there a control module for the suspension.

Someone on another forum has posted the below diagram and it does look like the compressor and relays are powered by the control module and therefore that might be the next thing to swap out.

Hi, I just fix my last week by replaced the air suspension module in the battery compartment. It's item #13 in picture from the link below and part # 37142288993
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.6is LEVELL.DEVICE, AIR SPRING AND CTRL UNIT

What symptoms where you having?

I got msg "suspension inactive" in the dash. Replaced the fuse. Didn't change anything, I did some research and found few people succeeded by replaced the module in the trunk. So I buy a used module ($150) and did a swapped. That fix the problem for me. Also it's cheap to replace the module instead some other expensive parts that you unsure going to fix the problem.

Someone loaned me a air suspension control module and therefore spent all last night dreaming about the air suspension pump magically bursting into life after I connected up the loan control module and at first light, out on the driveway fitting it. Fired up the car and nothing, no rumble of the pump! I therefore tested the wire connection block (car end) that the pump, etc plug into and it was kicking out 13.*v, not a car expect, but would say that power was flowing to the pump.

I really doubt that both sensors have gone at the same time, so what else could it be? would the solenoid be the cause? or the black part of the pump? that controls the pump?

All comments welcome.

Arrrrr got a replacement of the whole suspension unit found under the spare wheel, plugged it in and still the pump doesn't engage!!! Im going to plug in my scanner 1.4 to see if anything needs to be reset, but I guess apart from the sensors, what else is there? is there a way to test the sensors, etc. manually.

OK, slight progress, I found a thread where a guy was having similar issues and had figured out how to engage the compressor manually to fill the suspension air bags. On the compressor there is a relay, he bypassed the relay as per below pics. The pics where sourced from the thread...
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...l-pump-up.html
http://i60.tinypic.com/2qk45qr.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/2ronrti.jpg
This fired up the compressor, but when I checked the air pipes (red/blue) no air was coming out of them. These pipes have to travel through solenoids (one for each pipe) and it would seem the air is not passing the solenoid. I therefore looked at the solenoid and they contain a what I guess is magnetic valve that when sticking out stops the air, but when pushed in, allows the air to flow to the air bags. I therefore taped up the values, bypassed the relay and was able to pump up the air bags.

http://i62.tinypic.com/256496q.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/2qlqt8g.jpg
This now opened up lots more questions, what controls the solenoids to open/close? the suspension sensors? if so, do the sensors work independently or together as the chances of them both going at the same time is unlikely, of if one is out, will it not work? . The airbags, how much air are they meant to take? when full, are the firm to push in? as I don't want to over\under inflate.