Self Levelling Suspension Warning

[Insight G40]

Evening,
Stopped at Warwick services whilst driving back from Shropshire to Hampshire this evening and when I started the car, got the self levelling suspension inactive warning message.

Turned car off and on again and message had gone.

This happened once before where turning off and back on again got rid of the message.

Can't see any evidence of sagging at the rear, but am a little concerned that I have issues ahead.

Anyone had similar experiences with this random warning appearing?

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi there...
this is not an unusual issue...
I often get this one....

it used to be when switching main beem on when the front fogs were on... seemed to be a power issue..

so, HIDs now fitted & powered via relays... but still randomly get the same warning...

It appears to be triggered if thw voltage momentarilly drops off to some computerised functions...
may be worth wiggling all your fuses & relays... in the hope of improving connections..

If you kept driving another hour, the warning would likely vanish...

Fear not, its just an irritation that some of these cars create.

[Greydog]

Check the simple things first, fuses and relay in the right rear cubby if they aren't blown clean and replace

[X5Sport]

Regular error caused by random glitches in the computer boot up sequence (there are dozens in an E53), or a gradually dying battery.

When starting the car always pause between all the warning lights coming on and cranking.  It lets the systems cycle correctly.  If they get out of synch the car throws a strop.....and spurious messages abound!

[robsey29]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Hi there...
this is not an unusual issue...
I often get this one....

it used to be when switching main beem on when the front fogs were on... seemed to be a power issue..

so, HIDs now fitted & powered via relays... but still randomly get the same warning...

It appears to be triggered if thw voltage momentarilly drops off to some computerised functions...
may be worth wiggling all your fuses & relays... in the hope of improving connections..

If you kept driving another hour, the warning would likely vanish...

Fear not, its just an irritation that some of these cars create.
[/quote]

I had this on mine with a hid kit fitted but after coding out the cold check for the bulbs it has not come back since.

[Insight G40]

Well its not happened again and no sagging at rear, so suspect its probably just as drop in voltage.

[X5-D-Sport]

May be worth a trip to your local motor store & get a battery check done...
You can do this from the jump point under the bonnet if necessary.

To prove whether it made any difference to testing straight from the battery, I had mine checked from the batter in the rear end & under the bonnet - same reading from both..

[Insight G40]

Good idea, thanks.

I'm going to be fitting a tow bar in the next month or so, will test it while I've got the spare tyre out.

[TheHerd]

Hi guys,

I have the same issue with my X5 throwing up the suspension inactive warning message but might have something more to add regarding the onboard computer booting up, voltage etc.

I've just installed a set of HIDS-Direct HID Xenon kits to my low beams and have noticed that on occasional startups one of the bulbs doesn't light up. It is rather erratic and annoying and HIDS-Direct claim they've never heard of this issue before.

Ironically I have found that if I have the light switch in auto or off and then turn the lights on after the car is already running one of the bulbs is more prone not to work. If I however leave the light switch on full manual on and start the car up both bulbs illuminate with no issues.

Also, when the bulb is not on the onboard computer doesn't throw any errors so you don't even know if it's on or off. I guess the onboard computer is picking up enough resistance from the ballast so it doesn't throw an error even though the bulb is off and the other one is on.

I don't believe I've done enough test cycles yet but I'd be interested in your expert views please?

[X5-D-Sport]

Re the posting below - re HID's failing to light up..

I know exactly what this is....
they are unable to draw the initial fire-up current & voltage combined... like switching on a mains fluorescent light, which draws a big punch of energy to get it working initially - the HID units do the same.
so.....
2 options..

1 - get 4 x 470uf 25volt capacitors from Maplins, they can be hooked up onto the original harness INSIDE the lamp housing as a permanent fixture to each bulb power feed with scotch connectors.
Note that they are Polarised - the Negative connection is denoted with a stripe on the case...
Ensure the polarity is correct or the capacitors will pop . its messy...

2 - route the power via a fuse & relays from the Under Bonnet power jump point, & use a relay... will need a ballast resistor here AND a capacitor too...

Option 1 is quick & easy & will most likely solve the issue.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

You wrote....
I've just installed a set of HIDS-Direct HID Xenon kits to my low beams and have noticed that on occasional startups one of the bulbs doesn't light up. It is rather erratic and annoying and HIDS-Direct claim they've never heard of this issue before.

Ironically I have found that if I have the light switch in auto or off and then turn the lights on after the car is already running one of the bulbs is more prone not to work. If I however leave the light switch on full manual on and start the car up both bulbs illuminate with no issues.

Also, when the bulb is not on the onboard computer doesn't throw any errors so you don't even know if it's on or off. I guess the onboard computer is picking up enough resistance from the ballast so it does throw an error even though the bulb is off and the other one is on.

I don't believe I've done enough test cycles yet but I'd be interested in your expert views please?

[TheHerd]

Thanks very much X5-D-Sport Salisbury, if this solves the problem I'll owe you big time!

I'm thinking I should try out Option 1 tomorrow.

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
1 - get 4 x 470uf 25volt capacitors from Maplins, they can be hooked up onto the original harness INSIDE the lamp housing as a permanent fixture to each bulb power feed with scotch connectors.
Note that they are Polarised - the Negative connection is denoted with a stripe on the case...
Ensure the polarity is correct or the capacitors will pop . its messy...
[/quote]

Quick few questions please (would hate to get it wrong):

1. Are you referring to the original BMW OEM harness wiring to the bulb, the brown and yellow wires OR the Red and Blue wires now going into the bulb from the HID kit?
2. Either way, there are 4 wires in total (2 per side), so do I wire in one capacitor per wire with the scotch connectors?