Self Leveling Rear Suspension? - Need Help
 

All,

The self leveling rears suspension is an important feature for me in the X5. Reading on the forum says it’s a part of the V8, third row seat or adaptive drive orders. Minnetonka BMW hasn’t been able to answer the question and then Motorwerks BMW said it was a part of the third row seat option ($1,700) or the adaptive drive option ($3,500)…ouch on the adaptive drive.

Can anyone confirm/deny this or help me find the true answer? I really don’t want to pay for these features if the self leveling rear suspension is standard on the diesel. The adaptive drive is way too expensive and the third row seat is a useless waste of space when I could have that spot as storage.

Thanks!

It's amazing to me how uninformed dealerships are!

So, for the record and for the US only:

- The self leveling suspension (option code 220) is standard on the X5 M
- for the X5 35d, 35i Premium, 35i Sport Activity and 50i, adding the 3rd row seat (option 4UB) will automatically add self leveling suspension (220) AND 4NC 3rd row seat climate control.

Adaptive drive does NOT add self leveling. At least not according to the order specs given to the dealerships.

I have the self leveling suspension because i also have the third row seats.

In other countries, you can order the self leveling suspension as a standalone option.

If you have the right dealership, you could probably have them put in a special order just for the self leveling suspension - but it won't be easy.

Sounds like a pretty good answer, above.

My comment is just that is you are focusing on the self-levelling just for towing, that you are maybe over-analyzing it. BMW doesn't require self-levelling suspension to tow to the maximum tow rating. If you want it, fine, but that shouldn't be driven by a belief that it is necessary for towing. And I sure wouldn't pay thousands for it as part of adaptive drive (if I didn't otherwise want adaptive drive) or pay to purchase a third-row seat that compromises the utility of the vehicle (IMO).

Thanks for the update! I'll probably be doing a special order if the "price is right" and "trade is right" game goes well this week. However, I'll probably just end up ordering the rear seat to get the self leveling.

The dealer is saying the rear end won't squat with a 500lb tongue weight and 5000lb boat weight. I find that hard to believe and would much rather have it level itself out.

At least the seats fold down. The only thing I loose is that storage space in the floor, which would be nice to have though. I've towed before with an SUV that had the tow rating but didn't have a self leveling rear suspension. Hitting bumps on the highway at 60 MPH when the rear end is squating down like that is not fun at all.

Let's be clear about this option and its "utility." I realize that one man's utility is another's garbage but for some, it does have some advantages.

I got it so that if I have to, I can move my son (and daughter) back there in case we needed more room for adults. BMW makes no bones about it, it is ONLY meant for people (kids usually) up to 5 feet and maybe 2 inches.

But that is not my point actually. Because with the 3rd row seat option, the second row has both a forward and back adjustment that the standard setup does not. You can move the second row forward about 3 inches and tilt the backrest forward too. This actually gives you more storage in the back while the seats are still up. In fact, not long ago I managed to fit four large boxes in the back with the seats upright ONLY because I was able to adjust the second row.

Just an FYI that is not intended to open up a debate about the value of the third row seats. ;)

I wonder if you can special order 220 on it's own!

Sure, minnetonka will say "no" but it seems to me some folks (say, was that Jim E.?) have been successful adding/ordering non-standard configurations.

A

Fair enough. I did include the annotation "In My Opinion" so as to try and not insult those that like their 3rd row seats ;)

My personal solution is to buy a smaller vehicle that handles better, and gets better mileage, in our case an X3. Then a couple of times a year we rent a vehicle when we need the utility and don't want to take two cars. I rented a 2011 Expedition two weeks ago. $89 per day unlimited mileage, to get a carload to a family event through snowstorms. Upped it to the Expedition Max, and had room for unlimited suitcases behind the 3rd row. 15 litres/100 km, not bad on fuel for a weekend. I could have bought a larger vehicle like the X5, but then I would have had to drive it the rest of the year with one or two people in it, and it wouldn't have carried all of us and our luggage without a rooftop carrier on this trip anyway. Just my $0.02.

That is a great suggestion if you know exactly when you are going to need a larger car. Thare are many times when I don't know when I will use the third row or only need it for 30 min.

Huge 2nd. We bought X5 after using 7-seater LR3, and while BMW's 3rd row is a joke compared to the Land Rovers, the ability to move/tilt second row seats came up as a very handy option... like when you have an itch to save $20 and bring home that new shiny dishwasher right away...

Got the update from my dealer which aligns with feedback in this thread.

1. Standard on the V8
2. Optional on the inline six (gas and diesel) if the rear seat package is ordered.

Cool to know the second seat can move forward with that package while still being up.

Sorry to hijack, but does this apply to the older models as well? I have an 07 4.8 with the Adaptive Drive and the 3rd Row. Does that mean I have the load leveling suspension as well?

Not sure how this aligns with my previous post? Maybe I'm getting a little old but can you ask the dealer to please show us where on the attached OFFICIAL BMW dealer order guide for the 2011 x5 50i does it show option 220 as "standard"?

In contrast please look at the X5 M order guide which in fact shows option 220 as standard.

My only guess is that they are talking about the X5 M which I do not think you are - or are you?

Easiest way is to get underneath the back of the car and look for traditional coil springs. If you see them then you don't have self leveling. My guess is that you have self leveling because you have the 3rd row seats.

Thanks, I'll check it out when my wife gets home.

I posted this on the "other" thread the OP started, but for the record:

There are some great advantages to the 3rd row seat. But (to me at least) the "fatal" disadvantage is that getting the 3rd row negates your ability to have a spare tire (unless you want one riding in the luggage compartment, pretty much unrestrained). And that in turn forces you into over-priced, over-weight, rough-riding and bubble-prone RFT's for as long as you have the vehicle.

Some folks like the RFT's and that's fine. Personally I hate them. The snow tires on both our X5's are non-RFT, and I will shortly be replacing the X5D's 20" Dunlop "Summer Performance" tires with non-RFT Conti DWS's. So not having a spare would be a deal killer for me.

As always, YMMV.

I got the third row seat as an option solely because it was the only way I could get the self leveling suspension. My X5 is a work vehicle, the rear seats are down 99% of the time and I carry about 200 lbs of stuff back there. Towing a boat and having to put more stuff in occasionally makes the SLS a no brainer for me.

What I don't understand is why the lack of a spare is such a concern. I put a set of Blizzaks on for the winter and went with conventional tires. Purchased a small 12V compressor with tire repair plug kit and a bottle of slime and it all fits in the left rear storage compartment. Hope I never have to use it, but if it doesn't get me going, I probably would have needed a flatbed anyway. Is it a chance? sure but everything is a gamble of some type and for me it's a chance I'm willing to take.

Some here may have statistics, for me the last flat I had was 3 vehicles ago which represents a total of 210,000 miles since 2003.

4 months ago I probably would have agreed with you. But on the SECOND day I had my 2011 X5, I got an irrepairable flat in the left rear 20" Dunlop. The piece of metal poking through the tread was about 1 1/2" by 3/4". As soon as the TPMS came on, I pulled into a rest area, whipped out my VDO tire gauge and found ZERO PSI. Tire would not hold air - leaked out as fast as I pumped it in. For all its good intentions the goop wouldn't have stood a chance.

The OE Dunlop was a RFT, but I still didn't trust it (had about a 50 mile drive home, then another 40 miles to the dealership the next morning), so having the spare was a Godsend.

PS the replacement tire cost $635 (not a typo). Another reason I hate RFT's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdbretz (Post 807029) Sorry to hijack, but does this apply to the older models as well? I have an 07 4.8 with the Adaptive Drive and the 3rd Row. Does that mean I have the load leveling suspension as well?

Aside from looking for the air suspension under your vehicle, you could ask the parts department at a dealership to send you the PDF/printout of your vehicle’s information sheet (lookup via VIN). This can come in handy anytime you want to know if your vehicle has an option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim E. (Post 807071) Easiest way is to get underneath the back of the car and look for traditional coil springs. If you see them then you don't have self leveling. My guess is that you have self leveling because you have the 3rd row seats.

In 2007 the Self-Leveling Suspension (option 220) was not exclusive to the third-row seat. I have a 2007 X5 4.8i with Sport Package (included Adaptive Drive), without the third-row seat, and my vehicle has the self-leveling rear suspension. I don't recall exactly what facilitated option 220 to be on my vehicle (was it "standard" with the engine selection, due to the Sport Package, etc) but I know it was something I wanted and did not have to select as an individual option.

Don't know if this helps but I picked up my 2011 35d on Saturday, I didn't get the 3rd row seat but self leveling suspension is listed under the "factory options" section of the bill of sale. Not sure about other models but appears to be standard on the 35d.

I ended up looking on the underside of the rear suspension and I do in fact have it. I guess its kinda a perk now since when I bought the vehicle I didn't know it had it or was even an option for that matter.

It appears you are absolutely correct.

Self leveling suspension is standard. 3rd row seats are optional. You get self leveling suspension even if you have 3rd row seats or not. FYI… adaptive drive is well worth the extra $3500.

Self leveling is not standard. See attached. 2 with and one without.

Of the two example builds in the attached PDF, the 2011 35d without 220 does not have 4UB, while the one with 220 has 4UB. So these examples support the statement, at least with the 2011 35d, that 220 is not standard and is added with 4UB (unless something else deletes 220?). This however does not explain how some people have a 2011 35d without 4UB but with 220, didn't explicitly option 220, and still got it as a no charge option, such as Marshotel's 2011 35d as noted here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5939165&highlight=#post5939165
and here
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/79535-self-leveling-rear-suspension-need-help-2.html#post813320
:dunno:

In my example of a 2012 50i, it seems 220 is standard, as noted here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5950516&highlight=#post5950516
:thumbup:

It also seems that 220 is not standard with the 2012 35i, as noted here http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5952167&highlight=#post5952167
:thumbdown

Also, in looking at the 2011 35d build sheet example with 220, I see option 220 is listed under "Order Options". My 2007 4.8i has option 220 listed under "Series Options", which again leads me to believe it is standard with the V8, but I am not certain if an option being under "Series Options" is indicative of it being "standard" for the given engine/model line.

I do wish that BMW would make this less confusing by making 220 more ubiquitous, or at the very least be more transparent as to when 220 is included. Back in 2007, the detailed specs on the web site made it clear that my 4.8i had the self-leveling suspension. Fast forward to 2011 where there is no mention of the 50i (the replacement for the 4.8i) having self-leveling, and with no definitive info to be found on the boards, required me to coax a dealer into doing a mock build for me to get the answer that nothing had changed! What a pain. :banghead:

They really do make it very confusing.

On a side note, does the 3rd row seat fold completely flat into the floor?

I'm looking for a used 2008-2010 and I don't need the 3rd row, but I am finding more used ones with it instead of without it.

Yes they do fold flat. The only downside to getting the 3rd row if you don't really want it is you lose the spare tire storage. Run flats are terrible tires so its nice to have a spare if you decide to remove them and get regular tires that last longer, are quieter, and ride better.

Strange and interesting. None of the three appear to have Adaptive Drive. So what triggers 220?

Strictly looking at these three vehicles, it would appear that either 4UB (3rd row) or 300 (spare tire) adds weight in the rear, and therefore includes 220. The two with 220 also have 330 (sports package).

Now I'm curious to know if I have 220; my X5d is a 2011 with minimal options, but I did order the sports package and spare. Unfortunately I will be separated from my X5d for a couple of months, so I am unable to look underneath.

And then there are some odd balls that have self leveling suspension without having the 3rd row, spare tire or sports package. :dunno:

2011, US model X5d? Obviously there will be variations with different models, different markets, and different model years.

Yes, mine is a 2011 US model X5d. March Build.