4.8is Self Levelling Suspension

[Chompers]

Hi Ricko and thanks for the update and also very glad for you that this issue is sorted. I am however sad to find that it was Harwoods in Basingstoke that was the dealer (Authorised Service only) involved. I only now of them as Hampshire cars, when did Harwoods take over? My parents and sister both live in Basingstoke and have used them for both their cars e46 325 and e60 525d repectively and never had any issues or cause for concern.

I am aware that the Basingstoke market area for BMW is a bit odd, most major manufacturers are represented in central Basingstoke bar BMW who are 5-6 miles away in sleepy Odiham in a high street location with a very small showroom and nothing like the 'gin' palace you would expect. Harwoods are getting big now form starting out as just a LR dealer they now encompass quite a few prestige dealers and I wonder if the purchase of Hampshire Cars is there way of trying to get the full BMW franchise in central Basingstoke?

They only thing I would say is that there Audi dealer in Porstmouth is shocking to deal with and have heard of friends having issues with their other Audi site in Five Oaks.

I'm amazed that you kept going back to them. If I had had to go back more than 3 times I would be finding somewhere else for sure. As far as other dealers to try, don't bother going south to Scotthall in Chanders Ford, Wood in Odiham worth a shot but have had no dealings with them, sisters current + previous cars came from them both with great service if a bit on the pricey side Barons however would be my choice either Farnborough or Hindhead. Understand they are a bit to travel but may be worth a try.

Fingers and legs crossed you don't need to see any of them

[Nat]

Hi,

I am not sure i believe that fact about the BMW diagnostics.
To my knowledge the diagnostic tool does NOt conect remotely ( or any other way ) to a BMW server. It may store information that gets downloaded later on , but I am not aware of any system that connects to a central server whilst diagnosing.

Please someone prove me wrong.

Regards

Nat.

[Rich4.8is]

I cant say for sure but I was told the same thing when the M5 was in getting reprogrammed a few months ago, they said it ran through the diagnostics which connects to the BMW server in Germany, whether or not this is true im sorry to hear about your issues, nothing worse than seeing some moron driving you pride and joy like a bloody idiot, id have asked to speak to said mechanic in person and given him a right ear bashing followed by a swift boot in the tadger for my own satisfaction!! Rant over!

[kena]

Just to resurrect this thread about the suspension, not the thrashing.

Went out and drove the X today. Straight away i noticed something was wrong, front end sitting low and bouncing about all over the place. Only drove about 200 yards then returned home. It's sitting exactly the same as the OPs pictures earlier in the thread with both sides very low.
Going out to check the fuses now, anyone know which ones and where they are located. My indy is coming to pick the X up in the morning with a recovery vehicle.

It has just been valeted so maybe some water ingress by pressure wash ??? The valeter was the last person to drive the car when he returned it and parked it up. Not blaming him as i trust him implicitly.

[Ricko]

Hi Kena………Sorry to see your experiencing the same problem as me…….As said previously BMW replaced the two levelling sensors on the front end.

What you have said about having a car valet is interesting………..If you slide under the front of the car you can see the two level sensors which are located quite low down.

Being located quite low down and the fact they don’t look very to robust to me a direct hit with a power washer or equivalent may upset /damage them although you would have thought being exposed to harsh road conditions they would be up to the job……….

Hope you get it sorted ok………….The BMW dealer charged £324 to sort mine out, that’s including all diagnosis, parts and resetting the suspension………Presumably an indy would charge a lot less than this……….

[kena]

Cheers Ricko
Unfortunately I'm not in a position to get under the car due to a serious back injury ( motorcycle accident ).
My indy is very good, he served his time with the local BMW dealer from apprentice to retirement then went indy so he knows is stuff.

[Raj]

Glad it all got sorted. Surprised it was just the level sensors as from the pics and the description about the level light not being lit, I would have thought the controle module. Only because mine was exactly the same. Whole thing just sat on it's arse. First they replaced the control module which did spring everything back into life and the X was at the correct ride height. Still had the self-level susp inact message and it went in and out of the dealer for about 4 weeks. In the end they replaced the control module, acctuator, valve and then the air pump itself.

Has been as good as gold ever since. Mine has got 88K on the clock now and I can only keep renewing the warranty with BM until it hits 100K.

Oh and as for the diagnostics connecting to the central database, it does. Anytime your car goes into the dealer ans it is connected to the diagnostics, the data is downloaded to BMW GB central database. When mine went in under warranty not too long ago, they used the central database to check if it had been in before for the same issue as I had taken out a lapsed warranty.

[kena]

Just had update from Indy, not good.
Both front airbags leaking and compressor U/S.
I asked him to look at a few other things whilst he had the X.
Needs 2 CV boots ( both split ), 2 lower arms ( not sure which ones ) and discs and pads all round which I already knew about.
£2700 complete.
Anyone want to buy a Rolex ( only joking, wife would kill me )
To be fair I don't think that's a bad price for everything that needs to be done.
I fly back to Norway in the morning for 10 days so it will be ready when i return.

All paid for by the Norwegion taxman as he owes me a decent rebate from last years taxes.

[kena]

Quick update, just spoke to indy. All complete just needs the error codes cleared. He found a few other things whilst he was underneath ( couple ball joints and hand brake shoes ). Total bill £3030
Picking it up tomorrow afternoon when i return to UK.
Will get a good run out over the weekend as we are off to the O2 to see the ATP tennis. Those of you who saw my thread about wimbledon, she can't do enough for me now

[Sender]

we are currently having warning pop up about our self levaling suspension aswell, but our car isnt dropping on the front and once turned off the eroor disappears for afew weeks then reappears.

im actually really annoyed with our X5 3.0 we've had so many problems with it this year alone and im dreading what next year will bring, where my E46 has been a dream and barely have any problems with other dirty senors

im glad you got your problem sorted our BMW dealer over are money grabbing gits and have taken over six trips to them to diagnose one problem by the time they finally figured out the problem i was literally shouting at them in the forecourt cause my car was having so many issues that they where saying wherent there

[jango-fett]

[quote=""Nat""]Hi,

I am not sure i believe that fact about the BMW diagnostics.
To my knowledge the diagnostic tool does NOt conect remotely ( or any other way ) to a BMW server. It may store information that gets downloaded later on , but I am not aware of any system that connects to a central server whilst diagnosing.

Please someone prove me wrong.

Regards

Nat.[/quote]

I can confirm this is definitely correct. All data is saved on a central server, providing the dealers machine is connected to the network at the time the work is carried out..... I know this because i work with the data........

[petercf]

If you are in the Basingstoke area, please try Hartley Wintney Garages, they have been looking after my X5 which has a problem with the self-levelling suspension.

They are a capable independent outfit.

Peter

[4.8isDriver]

Hi guys sorry im late on this one, had the same issue with mine "self level suspension inac" turned out to be the front left sensor and bent bracket, which caused the front to drop on one occasion and a very choppy ride when the warning was up one trip to bmw for the parts and one to BW auto repairs and problem solved....well nothing since anyway...fingers crossed