The_Sauce

I have taken out the OEM rear bags on my 2006 530xi wagon in favor of a custom air suspension. And have tried to simply trick the computer to not get a dash warning about the system(sensors were fixed at the optimal position, tried unplugging different plugs). All of which lead to the dash warning for rear leveling suspension fault.

I know with the Mercedes that came with factory air suspension there was a simple code in the computer sytem to change the ECU coding from AIR to STEEL suspension if you wants to swap from the Air Matic to coilovers.

Wondering if anyone might have some insight into what I can do to get the warning to disappear as the factory suspension will never be used in the car again.

AchtungE60

Yes its possible. You simple change the vehicle order. Post up last 7 of VIN and see what the code is and change it to one that is normal or sport suspension. What kind of setup did you switch to? It sounds like you went from Air to Air. If you code it for steel will the bags still work? Is it a separate component to fill bags? (not OEM)

The_Sauce

Last 7 of VIN are CN02748

If you have any insight as to what I may need to recode to what to get the car to no longer read the rear leveling suspension, I would be ever appreciative.

I changed the car from the standard steel front/self leveling rear air suspension to a full stand alone air setup. Airlift V2 management. Airlift Performance front struts(One off). Custom brackets for Airhouse 2 bags in the rear.

tom_il

I would first check which exact error you have as with the rear sensor fixed at the correct level it should be enough to delete the error code of the rear suspension.
With them at the correct level the compressor should never come in an thus the system would be fine forever.

The_Sauce

I will check that. But I am almost certain the system runs off a pressure switch as well in conjunction with the valves. I had the car in the air, and with it running I could move the sensor just a hair up or down or leave it where it momentarily cut off the compressor and it would start again and run endlessly. There are two plugs to the compressor. If one of them is unplugged, the car is instantly giving a warning light. If the other is unplugged it takes 5ish minutes of driving before the warning goes off on the dash. Sometimes not at all.

Will try to get it scanned here soon.

tom_il

Compressor has a maximum running time after it will stop and trow the a code. This is a safety preventing to kill the compressor. Unpluging connectors everything can happen.

The_Sauce

Oh I will plug them back in to check codes when I get a chance, but in the meantime Id rather never have the compressor run. The dash light isnt the end of the world, I would just like to clean up loose ends with the car. Since it isnt like the Mercedes world where its pretty common to switch from Airmatic to Coilovers, was hoping to run into a code expert on here that might have some insight.

Nice part of the Mercedes system is once it is coded all sensors, compressors, etc are rendered useless and can simply be removed with no ill effects.

AchtungE60

And this can be done with your car as well. It's just going to take a little more work.

Below are your vehicle details:

VIN WBANN73566CN02748
Type code NN73
Type 530XI (USA)
E series E61 ()
Series 5
Type TOUR
Steering LL
Doors 5
Engine N52
Displacement 3.00
Power 190
Drive ALLR
Transmission AUT
Colour BLACK SAPPHIRE METALLIC (475)
Upholstery LEDER DAKOTA/SCHWARZ (LCSW)
Prod.date 2005-10-04


S1CAA SELEKTION COP RELEVANTER FAHRZEUGE Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S203A ALLRADSYSTEM 4-wheel drive
S205A AUTOMATIC GETRIEBE Automatic transmission
S248A LENKRADHEIZUNG Steering wheel heater
S316A AUTOMATISCHE HECKKLAPPENBETAETIGUNG automatic trunk lid mechanism
S319A INTEGRIERTE UNIVERSAL-FERNBEDIENUNG Integrated universal remote control
S386A DACHRELING Roof railing
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S431A INNENSPIEGEL,AUTOMATISCH ABBLENDEND Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S438A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjuster, electric, with memory
S464A SKISACK Ski bag
S488A LORDOSENSTUETZE FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S493A ABLAGENPAKET Storage compartment package
S494A SITZHEIZUNG FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Seat heating driver/passenger
S502A SCHEINWERFER-WASCHANLAGE Headlight cleaning system
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
S524A ADAPTIVES KURVENLICHT Adaptive Headlights
S563A LICHTPAKET Light package
S609A NAVIGATIONSSYSTEM PROFESSIONAL Navigation system Professional
S620A SPRACHEINGABESYSTEM Voice control
S639A KOMPLETTVORB. HANDY USA/CDN Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDN
S693A SATELLITENTUNER VORBEREITUNG Preparation BMW satellite radio
S694A CD-WECHSLER VORBEREITUNG Provisions for BMW 6 CD changer
S697A AREA-CODE 1 Area-Code 1 for DVD
S818A BATTERIEHAUPTSCHALTER Battery master switch
S8SPA COP STEUERUNG Control unit COP
S925A VERSANDSCHUTZPAKET Transport protection package
S9AAA AUSSENHAUTSCHUTZ Outer skin protection
S216A SERVOTRONIC HYDRO STEERING-SERVOTRONIC
S2CFA LM RAEDER STERNSP. 138 MIT NOTLAUF. BMW light alloy wheel, spider spoke 138
S302A ALARMANLAGE Alarm system
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Green windscreen, green shade band
S402A PANORAMA GLASDACH Electric panoramic roof
S442A GETRAENKEHALTER Cup holder
S473A ARMAUFLAGE VORN Armrest front
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S540A GESCHWINDIGKEITSREGELUNG Cruise control
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US Radio
S676A HIFI LAUTSPRECHERSYSTEM HiFi speaker system
S785A WEISSE BLINKLEUCHTEN White direction indicator lights
S823A HEISSLAND-AUSFUEHRUNG Hot-climate version
S845A AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG Acoustic belt warning
S850A ZUSAETZL. TANKFUELLUNG EXPORT Additional Export tank filling
S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz
S992A STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG Control of number plate attachment


Now normally one would find the S code related to the suspension. Example mine is S226
S226A SPORTLICHE FAHRWERKSABSTIMMUNG Sports suspension settings

However I do not find that on yours. Below is a diagram of the system installed on your rear axle.

RealOEM.com * BMW E61 530xi LEVELL.DEVICE, AIR SPRING AND CTRL UNIT

It is possible to read the ECUs involved and dissecting them to turn off the reporting or just cut the electrical supply via coding out the sending signals. Now if the AWD is the thing that encompasses all of those settings it's not going to be possible to just code it out with manipulating the vehicle order. But if some AWD come with standard springs we just need to find someone that can provide their VIN or better yet their VO (vehicle order).
If you just want the compressor to stop running for now find the fuse and pull it.

The_Sauce

Wow! Thank you for looking all of that up!! I know that the Xi e60 uses steel suspension all around, while the Xi e61 uses the rear leveling system. So I will try to find someones VIN for their Xi sedan. Does it need to be any specific year?

For now, I just have one of the plugs to the compressor disconnected.

AchtungE60

Any year before 2007 should be fine. Some of the things in the above "vehicle order" are left out so its best to know your actual vehicle order by reading it out.