Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Post Reply
Philg490
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 3:19 pm

E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Philg490 » Wed Jul 26, 2017 3:24 pm

I have verified that the car is fitted with the 2 axle self levelling option (I think) from the vin

But reading the manual it shows a set of buttons on the dash for controlling unit (page 99 in my user manual)

This X does not have any extra switch for the self levelling system.

What gives?

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Horizon » Wed Jul 26, 2017 4:02 pm

[quote="Philg490"]
I have verified that the car is fitted with the 2 axle self levelling option (I think) from the vin

But reading the manual it shows a set of buttons on the dash for controlling unit (page 99 in my user manual)

This X does not have any extra switch for the self levelling system.

What gives?
[/quote]
Hi and welcome to the forum. 2 axle self levelling suspension was standard on the 4.8's and a very expensive cost option on the rest of the range.
I've been on here a bit, and can't ever remember anyone other than the 4.6 and 4.8 owners having twin axle air suspension.
Don't be disheartened, it's better you don't have it, as it's very very troublesome and mega expensive to maintain, or replace.
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

User avatar
henrym3
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1947
Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 11:07 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by henrym3 » Wed Jul 26, 2017 8:21 pm

Look under the front wheel arch and if you can see a rather large spring then you have rear air only, like Horizon says don't be disappointed.
E53 X5 4.6is, Carbon Black, LPG, Paddle Shift, Dynavin N6, Lowered, 22"Wheels, Side Bars. Perfusion Exhaust
E30 M3 Black, S50B32 Engine, 6 Speed Box, Ireland Engineering ARBs & Big Brake Conversion, Lowered, 18"LMs, CF CAI, CF Splitter & Barge Board, ZM3 Quad Exhaust.
VW R32 Gone

Philg490
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 3:19 pm

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Philg490 » Thu Jul 27, 2017 8:40 am

I'm not disappointed, just puzzled that I have the Sel Levelling susp intact message and a blown fuse in the suspension position in the fuse box. 32 amp last one on the right.

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Horizon » Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:55 pm

Ahhhhh. You will have air suspension on the rear axle, not on the front. Most X5's have air suspension on the rear.
That wasn't your original question
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

Online
User avatar
X5Sport
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 19006
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:09 pm
Location: Planet X6......

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by X5Sport » Thu Jul 27, 2017 6:15 pm

Self-Levelling is rear only and has no manual controls......and was standard on any 'Sport' trim 3.0 models.

At least with yours it is a genuine issue.  Normally that message is spurious and results from a dying or flattening battery.
:ant: Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.

Philg490
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 3:19 pm

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Philg490 » Fri Jul 28, 2017 10:05 am

Thanks to all. I'm new to the X5 range.

I was mislead by the reference to S220 and S226 in the vin decode then. I looked in the owners manual that came  with the car and the only reference to self levelling and the error is on pages 99 onwards that is asterisked as possibly a fitted option and that shows the suspension control switches and describes it as two axle, self levelling. I took that to be S220

I will check out the system fault and update this with any news. The susp inact error did coincide with carrying a few bags of gravel.

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Horizon » Fri Jul 28, 2017 4:32 pm

A few bags of gravel would lower the rear and the height level sensors have called on the compressor to pump more air into the air suspension to " self level" the fuse has gone / compressor burnt out. So the level hasn't been maintained, so it's thrown a fault. I am guessing
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

extremezmachine
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:52 pm

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by extremezmachine » Sun Jul 30, 2017 2:13 am

I have the same model 3.0i

Just checking anyway to raise the car heights by 1inch ?

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by Horizon » Sun Jul 30, 2017 6:20 am

[quote="extremezmachine"]
I have the same model 3.0i

Just checking anyway to raise the car heights by 1inch ?
[/quote]
Have you Got coil springs on the front and air suspension on the rear, or springs all around?
1-New aftermarket coil springs of a longer length,
2- or if air suspension, you can buy brackets off the Internet to fit to your ride height sensors .
Or alternatively BMW software can alter the ride height of the air suspension.
But beware increasing the ride height on the E53 can result in the driveshafts popping out of the CV joints.
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

extremezmachine
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2017 12:52 pm

Re: E53 3.0i Self levelling query 2005

Post by extremezmachine » Tue Aug 01, 2017 5:33 pm

[quote="Horizon"]
[quote="extremezmachine"]
I have the same model 3.0i

Just checking anyway to raise the car heights by 1inch ?
[/quote]
Have you Got coil springs on the front and air suspension on the rear, or springs all around?
1-New aftermarket coil springs of a longer length,
2- or if air suspension, you can buy brackets off the Internet to fit to your ride height sensors .
Or alternatively BMW software can alter the ride height of the air suspension.
But beware increasing the ride height on the E53 can result in the driveshafts popping out of the CV joints.
[/quote]

Front is coil spring.. rear is at suspension

Which company sells the longer coil springs?

On the bmw software to adjust... what's the safe highest height adjustment ?

Post Reply