Suspension on BMW 520d F11

corkgirl17 · 04-02-2017 6:14pm #1

Before I bring the car to a garage just wondering if anybody can give me any ideas of what to look for first. Suspension went on the car the other day out of the blue. The car is practically riding on the wheels so its not good. I had already replaced one.of the suspension bags a few months ago so we assumed it was the compressor seeing as both sides of the car were down. Husband bought a new compressor and replaced it but the car is still not rising. Any ideas of what else it could be before we go a garage?

Thanks!

the merchant · 04-02-2017 6:17pm

Could be the other airbag of course. Can you hear the compressor running,
If not have you checked the fuse?

corkgirl17 · 04-02-2017 6:36pm

He cant hear the compressor so he's gonna check the fuse.

corkgirl17 · 04-02-2017 7:14pm

Not the fuse so think it'll be a trip to the garage, delightful!!

CalamariFritti · 04-02-2017 8:31pm

Do all newer BMWs have this? Sorry if I'm showing my ignorance but never knew a car needed a compressor to not be riding on its wheels. Or is this a fancy add-on or something?

colm_c · 04-02-2017 9:36pm

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Do all newer BMWs have this? Sorry if I'm showing my ignorance but never knew a car needed a compressor to not be riding on its wheels. Or is this a fancy add-on or something?

The F11 is the estate version of the 5 series and the rear suspension is self levelling.

OP, both sides went on me too, small hole in each bag. Thankfully it was all sorted under warranty.

Leonard Hofstadter · 04-02-2017 11:22pm

Yet another example of BMW's low engineering standards on display. Not exactly unheard of for the self-levelling suspension to fail on F11s.

BMWs are lovely cars to drive and they make some fantastic engines but they cut so many corners when it comes to the bits you can't see or touch!

Mind you OP, it could be worse, it could have been the timing chain that gave up the ghost (another well known fault with your car and many other BMWs with that N47 diesel engine)!

650Ginge · 05-02-2017 10:43am

captainspeed wrote: »

...BMWs with that N47 diesel engine)!

Not the N47 rant again.....

Anyhow, the rear airbags are made by continental. They are very easy to replace yourself with continental brand parts. I don't have the link to hand but a place in germany is where I got mine. About €300 took 45 mins to do the first one and 15mins on the other side once I understood what I was doing. Parts are over €600 from BMW.

Don't drive it or turn it on until the problem is sorted. The air compressor is not designed to run continually and it is very expensive if it get burned out.

Personally I would rather have springs in the rear. But if they are inspected at service they show wear and tear before they leak and can be replaced a head of failure.

corkgirl17 · 07-02-2017 2:00pm

We replaced the airbag ourselves before, probably bought from the same crowd in germany too. Massive mark up in the garages, its crazy how they get away with it. Gonna bring the car to the garage tomorrow, they are gonna check the control system so it could be a fault there. Fingers crossed its a simple and cheap fix!

corkgirl17 · 09-02-2017 7:03pm

So it appears my husband put two pins in the wrong place when replacing the compressor. So expensive mistake by my husband but at least it wasn't a major job!! Found out I need a new tire also so yeah more expense!! Thanks for all the replies on here.

Delacent · 09-02-2017 10:54pm

The problem with suspension on the F11 is well known. For a while BMW were out of parts.

Mine has gone twice (under warranty). There are other issues including drivetrain problems and diesel particulate filter is another.

If you are out of warranty, possibly look at locating a good independent garage that specialises in bmw. I use GP motorworks in Caragh co. Kildare but I guess you are not near there.

My car has over 300k km so some issues I have are purely from heavy useage.

Wailin · 09-02-2017 11:43pm

Delacent wrote: »

The problem with suspension on the F11 is well known. For a while BMW were out of parts.

Mine has gone twice (under warranty). There are other issues including drivetrain problems and diesel particulate filter is another.

If you are out of warranty, possibly look at locating a good independent garage that specialises in bmw. I use GP motorworks in Caragh co. Kildare but I guess you are not near there.

My car has over 300k km so some issues I have are purely from heavy useage.

What kind of drivetrain problems would you be talking about? I had a drivetrain fault appear a few weeks ago. Brought it to main dealer who diagnosed a faulty egr valve which was replaced under warranty.

Delacent · 09-02-2017 11:58pm

Wailin wrote: »

What kind of drivetrain problems would you be talking about? I had a drivetrain fault appear a few weeks ago. Brought it to main dealer who diagnosed a faulty egr valve which was replaced under warranty.

Problem with drivetrain error is the "computer" doesn't tell them the exact issue. The egr is the easiest item to replace and in many cases that is the correct fix.

It can be an injector, it can be high pressure fuel pump as was my case and a couple of other things which I forget (I'm no mechanic)

I found the dealer wanted to replace each item separately (and charge handsomely) until they found the issue. The indo garage tested each item and when they found the issue just fixed that issue.

As I'm at 300k km, I opted for a second hand part which was about 70% cheaper than new.

rabbitinlights · 10-02-2017 10:30am

Delacent wrote: »

My car has over 300k km so some issues I have are purely from heavy usage.

Just out of interest, was there many heavy loads over the 300k? I've only had mine for 3 weeks but the car feels a bit more at ease with weight in the boot.

Delacent · 10-02-2017 3:05pm

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Just out of interest, was there many heavy loads over the 300k? I've only had mine for 3 weeks but the car feels a bit more at ease with weight in the boot.

put it this way - I should be using a van!!!

Would regularly have 300kg+

Rear wheel drive and an empty boot would give a feeling of lightness - same if you had a van and it was empty. Its a different feel to a saloon car and you'll get used to it fairly quickly.

rabbitinlights · 17-04-2018 8:52pm

What was the issue in the end?

(sorry for old thread)

Ardent · 04-02-2019 12:00pm

650Ginge wrote: »

Anyhow, the rear airbags are made by continental. They are very easy to replace yourself with continental brand parts. I don't have the link to hand but a place in germany is where I got mine. About €300 took 45 mins to do the first one and 15mins on the other side once I understood what I was doing. Parts are over €600 from BMW.

Have this same problem now with my F11 520d Touring. Anyone know where to get these Continental airbags?

04-02-2019 12:33pm

I used ebay when getting airbags for my E61. I use ebay when getting parts for any BMW tbh, either Germany, Poland or Latvia usually.

Ardent · 04-02-2019 12:36pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I used ebay when getting airbags for my E61. I use ebay when getting parts for any BMW tbh, either Germany, Poland or Latvia usually.

Thanks, I've just gone down the eBay route. Interested to know how long you've been riding on eBay bags, i.e., are they long lasting?

04-02-2019 12:39pm

I'd say 3-4 years now. Compressor about the same. Car does **** all mileage and rarely has anything in the boot though.

w211 · 04-02-2019 3:27pm

Check the compressor pressure. Even if it is running, it may not produce any pressure. That type of misdiagnose are made many garages over the world. The customer must cover the guessing and it is expensive (very expensive). On many cases the air suspension itself was 100% good. If compressor generate enough pressure then check the all hoses. Yes these are rated for high pressure but still can burst.

Henry Ford III · 04-02-2019 4:17pm

They must be absolutely fabulous cars when they don't blow the engine or collapse the suspension.

TJJP · 04-02-2019 4:23pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

They must be absolutely fabulous cars when they don't blow the engine or collapse the suspension.

Ah it's the quality of the main dealer service that really seals it for me.

Stallingrad · 04-02-2019 4:42pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

They must be absolutely fabulous cars when they don't blow the engine or collapse the suspension.

Or leak through the bulkhead, or the doors rust.

Ardent · 03-03-2019 3:12pm

Finally got around to replacing both airbags yesterday. Replacement performed by local garage. This morning the rear of the car was sitting down on both sides, as opposed to just one side previously.

Starting the car brings the suspension up immediately - before the replacement it would take a minute or so.

Any ideas? Does this sound like a compressor problem?

w211 · 03-03-2019 4:35pm

There must be leak on the system . You need to figure out where are the leak. You have only 3 options the the new air suspension, air line or solenoid. Several times opened and closed air line can be little damaged, check it first. Because the compressor does not have a proper water separator it may damage/block the valves. Clean the valves.

Basically you should ask the labor money back because they did not fix the problem and sold to you the expensive parts. I know, my "fan club" be mad but that was 100% wrong diagnose!

darragh o meara · 03-03-2019 5:23pm

Ardent wrote: »

Finally got around to replacing both airbags yesterday. Replacement performed by local garage. This morning the rear of the car was sitting down on both sides, as opposed to just one side previously.

Starting the car brings the suspension up immediately - before the replacement it would take a minute or so.

Any ideas? Does this sound like a compressor problem?

I’d start with the connections at the solenoid block. You have to loosen them to empty the bags so it could be a case that they forgot to tighten them back up, I had a similar issue when I did mine last week.

Deepman · 06-08-2019 4:23pm

My rear suspension on a BMW Estate ( Touring - reg 2015 ) has gone TWICE !!!! Bags , compressor pump and then sensor all went . This is extremely poor for an alleged prestige car such as BMW - they must really squeeze their component sub manufacturers on price / quality ? Why they don't just stick with a conventional spring suspension system I don't know . Whilst I had the repairs carried out by an Independent Garage to avoid being ripped off I still feel that it was expensive . My previous BMW gave problems with timing belt and also particulate filter . Last BMW for Me !!!!

rabbitinlights · 06-08-2019 10:45pm

Did all suspension components fail twice?

darragh o meara · 06-08-2019 11:50pm

Deepman wrote: »

My rear suspension on a BMW Estate ( Touring - reg 2015 ) has gone TWICE !!!! Bags , compressor pump and then sensor all went . This is extremely poor for an alleged prestige car such as BMW - they must really squeeze their component sub manufacturers on price / quality ? Why they don't just stick with a conventional spring suspension system I don't know . Whilst I had the repairs carried out by an Independent Garage to avoid being ripped off I still feel that it was expensive . My previous BMW gave problems with timing belt and also particulate filter . Last BMW for Me !!!!

If it has failed again in a short period of time I would be bringing it back to the garage as these parts would have some sort of warranty.

Having said that, there are dirt cheap spurious parts and reasonably priced spurious replacements. I put Arnott replacement airbags in mine and they've been perfect since ( lifetime warranty too ). I know people who have the compressor from this company too with no issues over a few years.

Every car has its problems and DPF's are a pain in every modern diesel engine, Air suspension also tends to fail in pretty much any brand its fitted to.

Ardent · 07-08-2019 2:50pm

No way all those components failed at once. Must have been driving around with leaking airbag (s) for some time.

I replaced my bags with quality Aerosus parts and I got the OEM Wabco compressor online for 450-ish. Local mechanic fitted the parts. Saved a fortune vs main dealer and many BMW independents.

Ardent · 07-08-2019 2:59pm

For anyone who comes across this thread in future -

Here's an excellent walkthrough of the problem with the air suspension on these cars:

https://youtu.be/M_VxT6h5bQE

Suspension on BMW 520d F11

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