Wife was driving the BMW home last night when the suspension levelling warning light came on.

It's never been right since the compressor blew last year and would occasionally throw up a warning that could be cleared by turning the car off and restarting it.

Not this time however. I drove it to the garage this morning and it was resting on the bump stops (think I've lost a filling or two). Unfortunately, it seems like a different problem to last time, or I think we'd have a warranty claim as it's less than a year since the pump was replaced.

Think it's the airbags this time, but will find out more later.

It's getting to the point where I have no confidence in this car. And considering we're driving to Alpe D'Huez in just over a month, that's not a good thing.

 

If the car settles with no air in the air bags, they will be ruined and need to be replaced.

The reason why this has happened needs to be investigated preferrably by a BMW garage as they have the necessary setting up tools. Was your compressor replaced by BMW? There may be warranty. If the inlet hose (which seems to be responsible for 99% of compressor failures) has not been replaced, then compressor failure is inevitable.

It could be that the left and right non return solenoid valves on the compressor outlet have failed.

 

[quote name='Kell' date='16 February 2010 - 05:49 AM' timestamp='1266317391' post='1111914']
Wife was driving the BMW home last night when the suspension levelling warning light came on.

I have same like problem. Suspension leveling light comes on (not every time) when start car after night.
But if u wait (like put safe belt on and take it easy= quite short time) warning goes of.

I think there somekind leak some where and air pump have problem to fill the suspension.

I havent done anything yet, if some one recognise this and could tell where is good
point to start find the leak.

 

If the back of the car remains up it is unlikely there is a leak.

The suspension control module looks at the time it takes to achieve the correct height. The warning comes on if it takes too long.

When the car has been running OK and there is no warning, try sitting in the back. If the warning comes on, it is likely that the compressor has gone out of specification. The main cause of this is ruptured intake pipe allowing moisture and particles to be ingested leading to gradual failure.

 

Yes, it looks like when suspension lift take too long the warnings comes.
If engine stopped and started again warning dosnt come anymoore (computer start count compression time again..).

I havent recognise that warnings come on when someone sitting in the back seat but it could later done that too.

Is there anything what it can do to this problem / old compressor, anything else than go and buy the new one?

 

Mine showed the error warning during the winter (heavy snow) once or twice, but then went away when I restarted the engine, like tira-1 wrote above.
Reading all these issues about the rear suspension / hoses / etc. was a key reason for me to go back to the E60... where you simply get other problems If I had kept my 2005 E61, I would have probably had some general "preventative maintenance" and checks done on the rear suspension -- it was over 4 years old afterall, so you'd expect some wear and tear -- you just don't want a cheap perishable item taking out an expensive item in the process.

Good luck getting it sorted.

 

We didn't go the BMW main dealer route last time, but a BMW specialist. We're talking £700 to replace rather than £2,000 at BMW.

It looks like it may be a loose connector somewhere, as they put the car on the ramps, fiddled about with it and then the rear came up again.

Slightly worried now though, as I had to drive the car to the garage and that may have ruined the airbags in the process.

Hoping to get an update today. Pain in the neck as I'm driving to Wales at the Weekend, and don't want to have to do it in the Mini.

 

For the benefit of those who would like further information or to learn about the basics on the air suspension system, please see the 2 pdf's attached.

I have recently had my compressor changed by Sytner and the part number was B37.10.6.789.937 which is a new numbered part not yet listed on http://www.realoem.com. It comes complete with a braid covered inlet hose. Relay B61.36.8.373.700 should also be changed according to BMW recommendation.

I paid: B37.10.6.789.937 £588.24 + B61.36.8.373.700 £8.58 + Diagnostics/Testing £102.92. Total £699.74.

Personally I wouldn't go to an independant garage for this kind of work as I don't believe they would have the necessary test and setting up equipment. And my opinion is it is no good just replacing the inlet hose or installing second hand compressors. OK to go for generic work say on brakes, MOT, air conditioning (how many have had aircon evacuation & regas in say two or more years?) or anything which doesn't need BMW techy.

 

Picked the car up on Friday to drive away for the weekend and got about 20 miles when it failed again. Got it recovered to the garage who wanted a chance to put it right and were prepared to look at it FOC.

As it turns out, they tried a compressor from another car and it went straight back up. So it seems like it's the compressor again. It's lucky in that, at least it will be replaced FOC as it's under warranty, but slightly worrying that two would go in less than a year. Would that not point to something else?

As for the point about main dealer versus independent, I much prefer going to a local garage as it helps support the local community. And to be fair to them, they tried harder and charged less than BMW ever would have.

 

True, it points at the hose where there still could be a leak, allowing debris to come in and ruin the pump.