E70 ride height warning

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:31 pm

i think they all do that headlamp sweep now on startup reguardless ( I could be wrong !) You have whats called in classic circles a "unicorn car" a one of one ever produced in total poverty spec

They are all the same now, all have major faults, saw one advertised today with a months mot left , 4x4 busted just needs a 25 quid stepper motor apparently for the transfer case

Might do might not but I wouldn't bet money on it being that easy and if it was why not fix it ?

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:38 pm

Ah, the infamous Unicorn strikes again

If all E70 have self levelling headlights then its less of a Unicorn, but why the dashboard wheel to adjust them, or perhaps i am missing something, like knowledge?

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:44 pm

I am guessing its just homing on startup to check the motor is ok , all cars before xenon had the little wheel to adjust up or down which is no longer allowed with xenons due to how dazzling they can be

My 330d had headlamp wash too but no xenons but I added genuine xenon headlamp units when i got it but not the self levelling plumbing as that would be a pain to do and involve coding etc to work ie big costs

All they cared about at mot was it had headlamp wash .

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:47 pm

Are you sure it’s an E70…..

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Fri Jul 18, 2025 2:36 pm

X5Sport wrote: Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:47 pm Are you sure it’s an E70…..

Pretty sure. But even more curious about it now.

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 11:04 am

A fresh question

Does the physical position of the sensor affect the airbags actions? Noticed the left rear is sitting about an inch lower, measured to the wheel arch, than the right side.

Given the old sensor was held by a cable tie its positioning will have been well off. I don't know if the left being lower is new or not?

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 12:23 pm

There is a tilt sensor for the alarm system, but nothing specifically mentioned as a rollover detector. The stability controller has a yaw/pitch/roll sensor however I think it is looking a rate of change rather than a specific angle.

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 12:33 pm

Thanks. Self levelling should be self descriptive. I ran the engine for a while, the pump didnt kick in, so im a bit confused.

Greydog · Post by **Greydog** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:25 pm

Providing there are no faults recorded and stored using INPA/ISTA you should be able to recalibrate the suspension height, if I recall it should measure 725mm bottom of rim to wheel arch +/- 5%

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:33 pm

You mean the suspension airsprings not the actual front airbags

yes if it wasnt in place correctly that would give a false reading and a height inbalance .
If the pumps not running it must be happy with the height assuming its on level ground .

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Sat Jul 19, 2025 5:02 pm

Greydog wrote: Sat Jul 19, 2025 1:25 pm Providing there are no faults recorded and stored using INPA/ISTA you should be able to recalibrate the suspension height, if I recall it should measure 725mm bottom of rim to wheel arch +/- 5%

I'm old school, from the ground vertically through the middle of the wheel to the underside edge of the wheel arch flare, 31" near side, 32" off side

Greydog · Post by **Greydog** » Sun Jul 20, 2025 7:37 am

I am old school (very) but as an engineer I have learned to work in both (Farenhieght and Groats)

BMW say measure vertically through the wheel centre, bottom of rim to wheel arch should be 725mm (28.5")

So your measurement 31" = 787.4mm from the ground vertically through wheel centre If tyre is 315x35x20 the sidewall is 110.25mm. 787 - 110 = 677mm that would be 48mm lower than standard ride height As your measurement indicates 1" (25.4mm) difference side to side that is actually within BMW tolerance of +/- 5%, but overall the car is low so the suspension is in need of adjustment I wonder if a previous owner has had it lowered ? Makes me think are the front springs standard or lower ?

P.S. For what its worth our cars seem to be similar spec

and my headlamps do the level check sweep

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Mon Jul 21, 2025 5:12 pm

Is lowering possible with inflatable bags? Is that achieved by main dealer (how much

) coding?

It doesn't look lower than others i see, but then i don't rush to them with a tape measure in my hand. Its back to the indy workshop on Weds. I'll see what develops from that.

Greydog · Post by **Greydog** » Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:10 am

I am told that you can adjust/calibrate the ride height using ISTA not tried it myself but maybe time to have a play

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Wed Jul 23, 2025 4:10 pm

Back to the indy workshop this afternoon and watched the techie at work. It was a bit odd seeing the car raise and lower with electronic intervention. The suspension ride height is now within BMW tolerance but still not exactly the same both sides. The discrepancy is only 6mm though, which i can live with, it is way better than the 25mm it was.

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