XSeries-forum

Wife has just come home and noticed the X5 is riding very high

Now the X5 has "self level inact" message

I am away now so cannot even plug it into computer

Is there a way to get the rear suspension back to normal

Removed 30 amp fuse in rear no joy any ideas

Possibly a sensor if you are lucky.  But it needs to be plugged in and codes read and probably recalibrated in order to drop it to normal again.  It could be anything from a faulty sensor (the cheapest fix) to knackered compressor, ECU , air bags and other £££££ things.  I recently had a similar problem,  luckily warranty paid out.  The bill came to around £2000 ish.

You could try the old fix of disconnecting the battery for 20 minutes and then reconnecting and see if it rectifies the problem albeit temporarily., but it definitely needs plugging in and diagnosing as to actual fault.

Where is self levelling sensor located

There's a sensor located on each corner connected to the lower suspension arms. Little black box with a plastic arm comin off it. You can't miss em tbh.

Cheers guys I'll go look at it now and fingers crossed the battery trick will work

Ok disconnected battery for hour re connected and x5 still sitting high

Is there something I need to do to lower it like take it for a spin

It will be mighty uncomfortable sitting up very high like that and pretty unstable as well, so just take care, its unlikely that driving around is going to fix it!    It really needs to be plugged in to be diagnosed, there is no easy way around the suspension faults as there are a number of things that can go wrong, most likely as said, a sensor, but it could be a number of things.

That's the only battery, and yes it needs to be disconnected.  You may lose some settings, but not most of them.

Richard

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Re disconnecting the battery..

There is a huge battery under the spare wheel too (bigger than the under bonnet cousin),
should that be disconnected too ?,
or will it kill the computer settings and memories of settings ?

just a thought ?
[/quote]

What battery are you referring to under the bonnet?  AFAIK no X5 has ever had a battery under the bonnet, it is in the boot under the spare wheel. I suppose someone might have done a mod to put a battery under the bonnet, but there is no space for one really, and it was never a factory fit. 

Condor - I guess you have had more in warranty claims repairs than the entire car cost so far?  )

[quote="pvr"]
Condor - I guess you have had more in warranty claims repairs than the entire car cost so far?  )
[/quote]

Haha I wish- i paid Hexagon prices for the car, remember, so there's a way to go yet   Just waiting for the gearbox before I stop the warranty (joke)

Ok guys

Drove 200 mile journey home which suspension being high

Parked up and still had "self level inact" message and suspension was high

Later I drove to shops.. Suspension was still high

When I parked up no message was showing so thought I would check car and suspension is back to normal

I have scanned using my BMW 1.4 scanner but nothing showing

Which module would an error show in??

It would be in the steering and suspension section, but I think the 1.4 scanner doesn't give access to all the intricate areas of the car, from what I remember. You might need to have it read with the dealership code reader - that resets ride heights as well.  I think a diagnostic at a dealer is around £50.  The fault is a "hard" fault as its not resetting when the car is off /battery reset so unless you want to start removing ride height sensors and replacing bits, then have the BMW full diagnostic done so you can take it from there. 

It could be as simple as a duff sensor - they are pretty cheap and easy to sort out.  Of course it might be the compressor, airbags or even the ecu for the suspension, but a full diagnostic would at least inform you and you can then consider options. If it was really pricey and you were keeping the car long term, I would consider converting to springs in that case - check other threads. 

But it might very well just be a sensor - they cost about £70. 

I had the SELF LEVEL INACT come up yesterday driving down from the West Midlands...

The rear end stayed level/normal height, but she didn't feel good cornering though !!!

After I had stopped & re-fuelled, the warning never showed again since....

I will do a bit of digging on this one & share what I come up with...

Any one else got any ideas ???

Regards to all.
Grant B