E53 self levelling suspension

[AldoG420]

Hi guys , I own a 2006 x5 3.0d sport .. How does it works as I don't have a switch for it an every time I unlock or lock the car a get this noise from the front of the car but I don't seem to c the suspension moving and the other day I had a message saying the self level suspension had been disactivated. I stop the car check around and when I restarted the car the message dissapeared and havent come back since. I'm new to this and sorry if this sounds silly.
But I just want to get to no my car better..
Many thanks
Aldo

[X5Sport]

Unless you've got full all round air susp fitted as an option, it's only on the rear axle. As you have no switch, then I think it's likely you only have rear air susp, and therefore the front won't move.

Noise from the front could be the Webasto Heater unit firing up - the silver block on the left front inner wing. It sounds like a small turbine when running, and you will get a 'ticking' noise from under the front passenger seat. If you look, there's a tiny little exhaust system for it.

Spurious error messages are not uncommon on these cars. The best way of starting them is to turn the key until all the warning lights come on (Pos 2) and wait until they all complete their test cycle (less than 5 secs) and go amber or off (some like the handbrake & battery will stay red) and then start the car. There are something like 54 different modules that all talk to each other and run through a start up check. If you don't wait for the checks to complete then occasionally you'll get these odd messages which go away after restarting.

As long as they do go away, there's nothing to worry about..

Oh, and as this is your first post.....welcome..

[AldoG420]

Thank you . I'll have to look around .. But never noticed the back suspension moving.. I read about the air bags .. Where r there located .. As I heard they might be damaged . The stupid question is do u notice the back suspension moving when activated? And how do u upload photos as I mainly use my iPhone to this forum
Many thanks
Aldo

[X5Sport]

Piccie upload instructions via Photobucket (or similar) in this write-up....and if it's an iPhone then there's an App for that.. Probaby an Android one as well by now.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=400

Never noticed the rear of mine moving up or down in 6 years of ownership. The airbags are under the rear on the axle, and inboard of the wheel arches. I never had any problems with it even though I did see the warning a few times - particularly on cold days when the battery was at the end of it's life. If you are on an original battery, you may be getting near that time too. They only seem to last about 5-7 years from what other owners on here have experienced (5.5 years for mine). When the error did appear then like you I just switched off and restarted the car and no more error..

[shadrack]

the only time you notice is if you have a trailer on, then drive a tractor onto the trailer the x5 goes right down, then you see it slowly rise back to level!!