XSeries-forum

hi, as title says inactive Suspention message came on yesterday so I stopped had a look round car and seemed fine, I turned off and on again and message went, (FOR NOW) drove the rest of the day starting/stopping etc with no issues, my main question is can anyone tell me if my 2003 3.0d sport has air bags all round or just rear, also any surgestions on fault message issue it will be very welcome.

The most likely is that you will have rear self-levelling air suspension only.  If however you have a ride height control on the dash then you have full air all round.  Your Owners Manual will tell you what you are looking for.

If you don't know what is in your car then use this website to get your build sheet.

Most likely a spurious message and frequently caused by a poor battery charge state - especially if not being used much, ir for short journeys.

Yours should be rear air suspension only. I maybe wrong but think its just the 4.8is that has all round air suspension. 

Correct, but it was a cost option across the range.

Learn something new every day 

I have this message pop up, but only when I engage MAIN BEAM when toggling between main & dip,

some how the extra power load causes me to get the Inact Suspn message...
I even fitted a 1000 Crank Amp battery a month ago, made no difference - still get the message...

I kept getting that and nothing showing in the fault memory.
All seems to be working OK, holds level and adjusts to load.

Seemed to happen when I turned the dip beam on (after market HID) so believe it is a surge problem in a module somewhere


Ended up disabling the message in the instrument cluster.

Just need to stop it displaying WaschWasser Fullen when I turn the lights on with a low washer level...

English version comes up when I turn ignition on, then german when turn lights on!!! 
Obviously keeping it topped up means it would never raise, but thought it a bit .... weird 




Which is a bit rich coming from me!!??
O:-)

Thankyou all for your rapid replys, I done fault read test and nothing showing, hopefully just a glitch, however if there is a problem down the line would converting to springs be better on the pocket, iv seen on eBay the rear kit for £200, There has probably been many topics on this, I quick scanned the forum but couldn't find much, sorry if this is dragging up old news. From what iv read online it's quite easy to convert and the ride is the same a stock and the message can even be deleted once removed, (from what iv just read in replys message can be deleted whenever wanted) thanks again peeps.....

I got HID's also.... so i may also have this surge load isssue..

I was also told by Cotswold BMW that if you had a knackered battery the car will need to be told when it has a new one... so it doesnt keep  trying to prioritise power due to starvation of power previously...

No one else agrees with this... but will keep looking...

Also, heard of a steering wheel "lock to lock" error reset concept...
What is the order of procedures to do this plz ??

Regards
Grant B

That's an easy one.

Start the car and whilst rolling very gently forward in D (so not to strain the steering etc) go from lock to lock.  It is only needed if the 'DSC Inactive' yellow warning light is on.  The light will just go out.

I've changed E53 batteries and have never heard of the car needing to be 'told' about a new battery.  I have never even seen it referred to except with the MOST bus equipped cars (E70 type X5 onwards) - those with an iDrive - as their on board computers can monitor battery condition/charge acceptance efficiency which the E53 never could.

My own BMW Dealer said it doesn't apply to the E53 (or our E46 3-series).  It does apply to my X6 and to our now disposed of Countryman.

Happy to be corrected though..

Many thanks again Richard.
Good information as always.