Sagging rear suspension

[woolley11]

One of the last jobs for me to look at on #047 B10 Touring is a slightly sagging rear suspension when the car has been stood for a while without been started or moved.

We had a Discovery 3 which used to sit down on its “arse” when not used for a while, which can be quite common.

Just wondered if there was an air leak in the suspension on the B10. It’s fine when up and running, just squats a little when been stood.

[Fast3000]

Have the dampers/springs ever been changed?

[Jules Sunleu]

Does sound like a minor air leak to me. Not sure how similar the systems are but both my old and my other half's current X5 7 seaters have airbags at the rear and both eventually needed a new bag. One went quickly but the other went slowly and had sagged to start with. The danger is if not sorted before it becomes a major leak then the compressor can be on a lot more than it is designed for by trying to keep continually pumped up when they want to sag and a new compressor is an expensive part. I'd get inspected by BMW or your workshop of choice to check for leaks in the lines or any pinholes in the bags.

[woolley11]

Yes will get in checked it out. It’s going in next week or so for oil/filter change

Looks a pair of “bags” are only about £40

[Yad3100]

Yes will get in checked it out. It’s going in next week or so for oil/filter change

Looks a pair of “bags” are only about £40

Speak to Marc76 as he had a problem with his E61 Edna, firstly there was a minor air leak at a joint and then he also had to replace a bag. He went through a fault finding process rather than just change everything.

[woolley11]

I’m not aware of any suspension repairs/replacement in past as only had the car since middle of March.

It could be a connecting pipe weeping at joint

I’ll get it checked out

The trials and tribulations of running 20 year old cars.

[Jules Sunleu]

If it makes you feel any better the X5's we replaced bags on were only c6 and c4 years old at the time - the dealer said potholes combined with the heavy weight of the cars mean these are a common issue with the X series although of course the B10 should be considerably lighter.

The one thing you don't want to go wrong if you have one is the panoramic roof - I got a whole new cartridge in my B5 at the end of last year as my mechanism lunched itself and that is a bill I hope is no more than every 15 years!

[woolley11]

Had car in today with an independent bmw garage.

Mentioned the air suspension. They couldn’t find a leak by spraying on liquid around the bags and pipework - waiting for that bubbling effect.

Nothing was found and they suggested I leave car with them a couple of days so they can monitor it.

I’ll have to keep checking it as don’t want compressor to go