BMW X5 - Self Levelling System

[Thomasam1981]

Anyone have any Indi connections or recommendations for south west London, Putney, Fulham, Southfields etc? Came out to my X5 (2009 35D Msport) this morning and the rear is sitting just off the tyres. Am told could be a self levelling system error or gas leak. Tried my local shop but he didn't want to touch it. Reluctant to pay dealer prices for labour, anyone know any good independents?

[clockworks]

Is it the same system as on an E61?
My E61 did the same - blown compressor fuse, caused by faulty relay.

[Thomasam1981]

Yep - in theory looks the same system. Hoping it's just something similar and requires either reprogramming or a fuse/relay. Booked in to BMW but know I'll be fleeced on labour so hoping can find someone local who knows what they're talking about and prepared to take a look.

[clockworks]

Did mine myself. As soon as I replaced the fuse,the compressor started running, but the suspension didn't lift. Replacing the relay (buried under the boot floor) fixed it.

[jboy72]

Thomasam1981 said:

Anyone have any Indi connections or recommendations for south west London, Putney, Fulham, Southfields etc? Came out to my X5 (2009 35D Msport) this morning and the rear is sitting just off the tyres. Am told could be a self levelling system error or gas leak. Tried my local shop but he didn't want to touch it. Reluctant to pay dealer prices for labour, anyone know any good independents?

Try Clifton Auto Repairs, Brixton. They will collect your car (within reason). They are not what I would call an outstanding garage, but then I have only found two of those in 20 years of driving. They do know their BMWs however as they don't really look at anything else. They fixed my e61 auto tailgate issues where another garage had spectacularly failed 3 times. More relevantly, they also fixed my e61 self-levelling system failure. They quite like to charge so make sure there is some sort of expectation of costs before asking them to do any work.

If you need to replace any self-levelling system parts make sure you buy direct from Miessler's air suspension shop if you can.

[alistair267]

I have used the German Motor Company (used to be in Putney, now in Southfields) for my E46 330i and my old Golf GTI before that and have always found them to be very good.

You could also try AMC in Earlsfield, I have also used them for the BMW.

[Vixpy1]

If your willing to travel a bit out of london, Will TWG automotive in Camberley is very good. looks after our X5 (which did the same thing but only on one side, the airbag had failed

[Thomasam1981]

Thanks guys very helpful. Sadly though none could take such a prompt delivery. So I had to succumb and put it in to BMW HR Owen.

I've just been called by them telling me I must park it in an area with rats (vehicle parked on the drive way (!not masses of vegetation at all) as the compressors been eaten by rodents!? The air/gas line has been chewed through and the wiring too. He says whole compressor needs to be replaced - parts alone 1200 quid...

Got a mate at BMW in Plymouth so seeing if my legs being pulled but sounds excessive to replace the whole compressor - I mean how sharp are their teeth!

[clockworks]

Before I fixed mine myself, I was quoted about a grand by my local indy as a "worst case" price (new compressor and valve assembly). He said I could source my own parts from Germany (and save a few hundred), and he would fit them, but obviously no warranty.

It was the crazy price that pushed me to spend an afternoon fault-finding myself.

[shocks]

We had a similar issue, turned out (not doubting your BMW dealer here) to be the rear air bag on the nearside had failed, it cost £232 inc vat / labour to fix at local Indie (Edinburgh).

There are a few possibilities so hoping it's not as they describe and rats !

[jboy72]

Thomasam1981 said:

Thanks guys very helpful. Sadly though none could take such a prompt delivery. So I had to succumb and put it in to BMW HR Owen.

I've just been called by them telling me I must park it in an area with rats (vehicle parked on the drive way (!not masses of vegetation at all) as the compressors been eaten by rodents!? The air/gas line has been chewed through and the wiring too. He says whole compressor needs to be replaced - parts alone 1200 quid...

Got a mate at BMW in Plymouth so seeing if my legs being pulled but sounds excessive to replace the whole compressor - I mean how sharp are their teeth!

Is yours an E70? You can buy a new compressor here if so: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E70-X5-Air-Suspensio... Might help save a few pennies

[Thomasam1981]

Just thought I'd let you know the outcome. Appreciated all the recommendations and certainly use going forward. In the end my buddy called up the dealership himself and went through cost by cost. They still made a margin but everyone has to right. Still in the end managed to get the suspension fixed for 1085 that was including labour and parts, new compressor hoses and wiring - guess goes to show how much is in there if you know the right questions to ask!

[Technomad]

shocks said:

We had a similar issue, turned out (not doubting your BMW dealer here) to be the rear air bag on the nearside had failed, it cost £232 inc vat / labour to fix at local Indie (Edinburgh).

There are a few possibilities so hoping it's not as they describe and rats !

Which indie do you use in Edinburgh and do you recommend them? (I'm completely fed up with main dealers' inability to distinguish their arses from their elbows without using a diagnostic computer)

[Technomad]

Thomasam1981 said:

Thanks guys very helpful. Sadly though none could take such a prompt delivery. So I had to succumb and put it in to BMW HR Owen.

I've just been called by them telling me I must park it in an area with rats (vehicle parked on the drive way (!not masses of vegetation at all) as the compressors been eaten by rodents!? The air/gas line has been chewed through and the wiring too. He says whole compressor needs to be replaced - parts alone 1200 quid...

Got a mate at BMW in Plymouth so seeing if my legs being pulled but sounds excessive to replace the whole compressor - I mean how sharp are their teeth!

I lived in Germany for a while and this is a very common problem, especially with Martens (the animal, not random Germans called Marten) in country areas. To the point where I'm surprised that the German manufacturers don't armour fuel lines (a favourite, apparently), wiring and the like. We have Pine Martens here and, while we haven't yet had any problems, a few of our neighbours have had piping, hoses and insulation eaten.

[shocks]

Technomad said:

Which indie do you use in Edinburgh and do you recommend them? (I'm completely fed up with main dealers' inability to distinguish their arses from their elbows without using a diagnostic computer)

There are couple of options - Robert @ the village garage in blackhall is great but booked out so plan ahead, in this case we used winchburgh garage services (http://www.winchburghgarageservices.co.uk/services.html) - Gavin is your man there - they aren't a BMW specialist but first rate hard core mechanics.