Hi All,

Since a while now the level control failure warning came on on my idrive.
the local BMW dealer confirmed that the compressor needs to be replaced (you can see it as well. The car is clearly lower at the rear). Their quote is ?1040 to do it. The goodwill offered by BMW is 40% on the compressor only making the quote ?900+. Still too expensive so I purchased another compressor myself (Original BMW correct part). Now I can have it installed by the local BMW expert garage however I was wondering if someone would know how difficult this might be to do it myself?
Looking at below overview it seems straightforward and I think the compressor is hidden behind a panel under the rear bumper, opposite of the exhaust.
Appreciate your opinions. Thanks!

 

id be interested in the outcome and also if someone had experiences changing this.
The fault on my Idrive is intermittent so not to worried about it, but would like to know how to fit a replacement when the time comes.

 

Here's the latest update:

Thanks to the BMW Garage software which is offered on this Forum as well I was able to better understand what it takes to change the compressor. Basically I didn't think I had the means to do this myself so I had a local BMW expert Garage fitted it for ?125. So not bad.
I paid ?250 for the salvage compressor which totals the bill at ?375. Compare this with the original BMW dealer Quote of ?1040 and I saved myself ?665

 

Was it sytners on the london road? I'm from wycombe too and posted similar problem with my warning light coming on but only really in cold weather. Now it's warmed up here the light doesnt come on!!!!

But the drivers door lock is now going funny. Maybe it's time to switch to a merc!

 

No this was Stratsone in Slough (work there).
If you only have the problem in the winter it might be a small leak somewhere which appears due to the cold weather. Mine didn't have leak, just a tired compressor (Only bad luck in my case or a problem waiting for all E61 owners??)

I suggest you go to Janddvehiclerepairs.com in West Wycombe. The place isn't very fancy but he is a BMW specialist and as such will also have the means to check your door/find any other errors through the BMW software at a competitive price.

 

Ditto the warning light cleared after restart today. I get so many warning lights sticking that eventually reset I'm not sure it means anything. Useful info though should it deteriorate.

 

Hi. what is that part number 21 for? i understand the other one is the pump... cheers..

 

That's a relay.
When you would order the compressor new the relay wouldn't come as part of it but would be required to make the compressor work. Hence you would have to order it as a seperate part.
In my case I received the compressor, relay and even the compressor holder as it was take from a salvage car.

 

Hi. please also follow this link below for more information.

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=75204&st=15

i fixed my as well.

 

Hi, where did you get your salvage parts from?

I have the same error message which appears intermittently. Yesterday, it was appearing all the time (everytime not long after starting the engine) then today not at all. There is no difference that I can see in the level of the back end and have booked the car into the dealer to be looked at. Trouble is that the warranty has just expired only a couple of weeks ago and I'm worried that they're going to try quoting some extortionate sum to fix it.

If the back end hasn't dropped what's the most likely cause of the problem? I would have thought it wasn't the compressors if the level of the car is fine?