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Air Spring Explosion

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
by DanChalmers
I have had a Slight leak from an airbag for a few weeks now (had not gotten around to fixing it). I used the car today and when I parked it up I heard the suspension compressor buzzing, not uncommon I thought due to the leaking air spring. I went into the shop for 15 minutes and when I returned to the car the rear was sitting abnormally higher than I have ever seen.
I thought I would try to drive it to see if the ride height returned to normal but instead of that happening there was a loud bang and the back end fell onto the floor.
Both sides are sitting dead flat, although the passenger side air spring was replaced under warranty last year.
My problem is that if I go and replace the air springs, when I turn on the compressor will it inflate them both till they pop? Has anyone ever heard of this happen before?
When I turn on the ignition I hear the compressor running and also hear air hissing from the drivers side air spring but not the passenger side. I am also getting the obligatory air suspension fault on the dash.

Re: Air Spring Explosion

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 9:37 pm
by pcdee
Were the air bags fitted by bmw or third party?
Only reason I ask is that I too had to have mine replaced and I didn't buy the car from Bmw and they put the wrong ones in and mine went pop on the motorway!

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Re: Air Spring Explosion

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 10:13 pm
by Horizon
Could be a faulty level sensor, or the ball joint on the sensors arm hasĀ  come adrift so it just kept trying to inflate to get a correct reading from the sensor which wouldn't be moving as the link to the axle was gone.
Maybe get the codes read , you will be getting a code if the car won't now rise up due to the leaking bags.

Re: Air Spring Explosion

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 10:36 pm
by DanChalmers
The replaced airbags were genuine BMW fitted by a local independent. The problem I'm going to have getting the codes read is that its not driveable in its current state, I'm going to pull the wheels off in the morning and have a look for anything obvious