Ride height discrepancy
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 5:38 pm
Greetings all,
I have recently bought a 2016 30d Msport and am so far very pleased with it! I have a bit of an anomaly with the ride height though which my dad noticed following me home after buying it. The RHS is around 20mm lower than the LHS at the rear. I've done a bit of reading and most air suspension issues seem more extreme than this; either sat on the floor or jacked right up. This isn't the case with my car. LHS measures 830mm from the ground to the wheel arch (going through centreline of wheel) RHS is around 810mm.
I thought I had located the problem underneath - the threaded "ball" in the lower suspension arm was loose on the RHS causing freeplay in the level sensor. Nipped that up, took it out round the block and remeasured, this time the RHS measured slightly better at around 815mm but whilst stood scratching my head and wondering what else could be wrong, there was a faint hissing sound for a couple of seconds and I actually saw the RHS sink back to where it had started! I don't think it's a leaking bag as the car holds this incorrect position quite happily and I've not heard the compressor run at all, let alone trying to keep up with a failing airbag. In my mind, the system is just confused somehow and thinks the current position is level and correct and so adjusts back to it everytime?
I have read about sensors needing recalibrating but would rather avoid dealership prices for that! Can anyone recommend a specialist around Oxfordshire or Berkshire with the necessary kit?
Also... I assume I'm focusing on the correct side?! The LHS looks more like the correct height to me but as it's my first X-Series I wouldn't know for sure...
I have recently bought a 2016 30d Msport and am so far very pleased with it! I have a bit of an anomaly with the ride height though which my dad noticed following me home after buying it. The RHS is around 20mm lower than the LHS at the rear. I've done a bit of reading and most air suspension issues seem more extreme than this; either sat on the floor or jacked right up. This isn't the case with my car. LHS measures 830mm from the ground to the wheel arch (going through centreline of wheel) RHS is around 810mm.
I thought I had located the problem underneath - the threaded "ball" in the lower suspension arm was loose on the RHS causing freeplay in the level sensor. Nipped that up, took it out round the block and remeasured, this time the RHS measured slightly better at around 815mm but whilst stood scratching my head and wondering what else could be wrong, there was a faint hissing sound for a couple of seconds and I actually saw the RHS sink back to where it had started! I don't think it's a leaking bag as the car holds this incorrect position quite happily and I've not heard the compressor run at all, let alone trying to keep up with a failing airbag. In my mind, the system is just confused somehow and thinks the current position is level and correct and so adjusts back to it everytime?
I have read about sensors needing recalibrating but would rather avoid dealership prices for that! Can anyone recommend a specialist around Oxfordshire or Berkshire with the necessary kit?
Also... I assume I'm focusing on the correct side?! The LHS looks more like the correct height to me but as it's my first X-Series I wouldn't know for sure...