XSeries-forum

Hi all, I have a strange problem I am hoping you can help with. The vehicle is a 2011 X5 35i xdrive with rear air suspension. Everything seems to be functioning properly, the compressor runs, the air bags are holding air(the car isn't dropping height no matter how long it sits), this has all been verified by a shop as well.
Often while driving, it doesn't matter if there is one person or 5+, we will get a level control system malfunction error pop up. It can happen within the first couple minutes of driving, or it can be 20+ minutes into the drive. A lot of the time if I shut it off and wait 10 seconds and start it again it goes away and doesn't come back, other times it comes back as soon as we start driving.
A visual inspection looks like all linkage and sensors are in tack and nothing is damaged or loose. I am at a loss as to what to look at next. My gut tells me its one of or both of the sensors that are failing, but I am not sure how to test that with it being an intermittent issue. Its not causing any drivability problems, only the annoying pop up message that covers the time and outside temp.
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Which market? As in US/EU/UK. I only ask because I don’t remember the 35i ever being offered in the UK, but am happy to be educated

Have you had diagnostics run, and what error codes were reported.

Sensors are often the point of failure due to internal faults at the age yours us.

US. I don't recall there being any codes saved for that error, but I can check again.

It most likely hasn't reached the air pressure needed in the whatever it is ,30 secs or so , I had similar and not long after the compressor siezed, in an ideal world the compressor would only run a very short time after startup as it hadn't leaked out much so a couple of seconds and its back up to pressure ,the longer it runs tell you something isn't right and they can't cope with more than short bursts of pumping . The error is just a general system failure alarm rather than a specific error for any part of the system .

That is good information. I can check for leaks in the system, but this has been going on for about 8 or 9 months now. The compressor is only about 5 years old and it was replaced along with new airbags. I guess anything is possible.

Those cheaper compressors don't last long either ,mine was on its 3rd at 9 years old , I bought a decent one and its been fine for 6 years now but I can't remember the brand but a new airbag was Arnott which are really good quality

I'm fine replacing the compressor, in fact I would be happy to di it if I knew the issues would all be gone. I'm just not sure how to test to make sure that is actually the issue. I don't want to throw hundreds at it and it turns out that its something else. Is there another option other than just do it and see or wait until it completely fails?

With no error codes its going to be difficult , next time it happens note if you were going over say a pothole etc , and pull over and look at the rear ride height see if its too low etc on one side and note if the compressor is running and how long for . Its not easy to test the compressor and I dont know what pressure it should run at and its appear for now your is performing ok mostly. You can certainly wait and see as it will either slowly go down to the bump stops as air leaks off ,it wont do any harm.
Airbags can look fine but leak only when say sitting on a slope where more weight is on the rear , one of mine did that later but within a month or 2 it was down every morn and ran 30 secs to pump on startup, if none are ever down first thing in the morn before engine start then the airbags are good .
A good system wont run much more that 5 secs usually first thing unless it has to pump lost air 30 secs and its leaking somewhere .
Sensors to check really without the software to see the actual ride height vary as you move the sensor the best way is to get a spare as I think they are same both sides, mine are original still at 170,000 miles .

Thanks for all the help. It definitely runs for more than 5 seconds, but I usually notice that after driving and when I park and turn it off in the garage. The compressor will run for maybe 15-20 seconds and then shut off. This doesn't happen every time, but I have noticed that. You are also correct that it is never sitting on the bump stops, even if I let it set for a week without starting. I don't notice that it is ever at a different height after driving. The worst part is that error can pop up as soon as I back out of the garage or 45 minutes into a drive going down the highway, and anywhere in between.

it would only run after parking in the garage usually if its on a slope to try and level up again