Your discharge valve is probably stuck open due to moisture/water or just electrical fail. Your piston seal was fine until you put the screwdriver to it. You could have tested the discharge valve so verify if it was stuck open. This is why the suspension was all the way down. You can also check the distribution block to see if valves were operating (it was probably good as they don't go bad often). Replace air bags if they show sighs of leaking but both don't usually go bad at the same time but should be replaced in pairs. The discharge valve was the issue. A $30 part on amazon or just the valve itself for about $12. Mine did the same as this & no codes either on our '15 F15, a little WD40 in the valve & it freed it up & is still working. Nice video.
Thanks for the video. Been chasing this problem on my wife's X5 for sometime. Without error codes it is so hard to troubleshoot as your video points because of the many components attached to the system. I'm going to try the desiccant fix first that another video suggested and hope that fixes it. Otherwise, new motor and airbags will be next.
It doesn't take much moisture to render the desiccant dryer filter useless allowing moisture to damage the compressor. water intrusion is especially noticable when temps get below freezing (pump freezes-blows fuse. this happens often here in cold northern az). also when bags leak, the pump over duty cycles, gets really hot and burns out the crappy piston ring giving low pressures. I have found as a general rule if the bags are leaking and the car is 10+ years old... replace the compressor and bags as a set...
That's pretty simple indeed, I have a sagging BMW E71 X6M with a discharge valve fault. The bags will fill but they will sag if the car is not used over a few days. Is that vent valve a replacement part and causing the air to vent slowly over a few days?
my air springs are leaving causing my rear to sag..however I'm not sure whether the compressor was damaged due to driving while the vehicle was sagging. anyway to check for the compressor? also going with the Arnott over the oem am i going to experience any difference, asking for a 2018 x5 40e phev
I am working on a similar problem on my X5. I want to understand the exact functioning of the discharge valve. Is the discharge valve and valve block connected anyway ? or their air paths are completed different ?
Bought new Airshocks, compressor isnt inflating the airshocks, compressor doesn't run when the car is on but seems to run when the engine switches off. Please help, what could be a problem
I had my airbags changed on a 2011 535i GT. It fills just fine, however on days below freezing I get an error code level malfunction or comfort ride restrict and then slowly the car will sag. When I get to my destination I see the fuse is blown. Put a new one in and the car rises until the next freezing day? Any suggestions what could be happening?
Your discharge valve is probably stuck open due to moisture/water or just electrical fail. Your piston seal was fine until you put the screwdriver to it. You could have tested the discharge valve so verify if it was stuck open. This is why the suspension was all the way down. You can also check the distribution block to see if valves were operating (it was probably good as they don't go bad often). Replace air bags if they show sighs of leaking but both don't usually go bad at the same time but should be replaced in pairs. The discharge valve was the issue. A $30 part on amazon or just the valve itself for about $12. Mine did the same as this & no codes either on our '15 F15, a little WD40 in the valve & it freed it up & is still working. Nice video.
My one were both damaged apparently including the air compressor so had to replace both air below and the compressor totalling 3k up pounds with bmw
Thanks for the video. Been chasing this problem on my wife's X5 for sometime. Without error codes it is so hard to troubleshoot as your video points because of the many components attached to the system. I'm going to try the desiccant fix first that another video suggested and hope that fixes it. Otherwise, new motor and airbags will be next.
It doesn't take much moisture to render the desiccant dryer filter useless allowing moisture to damage the compressor. water intrusion is especially noticable when temps get below freezing (pump freezes-blows fuse. this happens often here in cold northern az). also when bags leak, the pump over duty cycles, gets really hot and burns out the crappy piston ring giving low pressures. I have found as a general rule if the bags are leaking and the car is 10+ years old... replace the compressor and bags as a set...
Marc,
My X5 is 3 years old with 50k miles and BMW is telling me to replace all. Is this common?
That's pretty simple indeed, I have a sagging BMW E71 X6M with a discharge valve fault. The bags will fill but they will sag if the car is not used over a few days. Is that vent valve a replacement part and causing the air to vent slowly over a few days?
my air springs are leaving causing my rear to sag..however I'm not sure whether the compressor was damaged due to driving while the vehicle was sagging. anyway to check for the compressor? also going with the Arnott over the oem am i going to experience any difference, asking for a 2018 x5 40e phev
I am working on a similar problem on my X5. I want to understand the exact functioning of the discharge valve. Is the discharge valve and valve block connected anyway ? or their air paths are completed different ?
Hey Charlie I changed bags and compressor. Compressor comes on for a second then stops. Relay and fuses are good. Please help. Thanks Steve
Bought new Airshocks, compressor isnt inflating the airshocks, compressor doesn't run when the car is on but seems to run when the engine switches off. Please help, what could be a problem
Is there a way to replace this air springs i my garage ?
Yes you can do it. But I would also say you can change your engine in your garage.
Do it! I believe you can.
I had my airbags changed on a 2011 535i GT. It fills just fine, however on days below freezing I get an error code level malfunction or comfort ride restrict and then slowly the car will sag. When I get to my destination I see the fuse is blown. Put a new one in and the car rises until the next freezing day? Any suggestions what could be happening?
Lol think about it. 🤣 what could it be?
The best at its best ( Charlie ) 👍
great video!
Awesome thanks!
awesome content
Why is it that all the good mechanics are in the west coast most and for most California 🤔 has all the best . 🤦♂️
sounds like a 5k repair
Diagnosis… replacement of all parts. Problem solved.
Thanks man!!