XSeries-forum

Friday noticed that NSF looked a bit low, and on further investigation tonight, I found I could hear hissing from the strut area. I turned the wheel to full lock right and it stopped,but turning back started leaking again. the system restored the height a couple of times before presumably exhausting the air supply. The pump kicks in fine and is capable of restoring full height.

The rubber area where it turns under and accommodates the height changes looks to be crazed and cracked, so I guess this is the problem area, if someone could confirm please?

I see Arnott units come recommended - are these only available from the states? They show just one unit for the fronts yet a comfort and sport versions for the rear. Are the fronts universal irrespective of whether the car is Sport or non-Sport (I have the former)?

I see also there are some units by Aerosus in Germany which also look promising - any one experience of these?

Hi chrisn7,
              I bought a couple of front bags a few years ago for my 4.8is. I also have the sports suspension and they ARE different to the regular ones. Below is the link for the ones i bought. The part numbers ending in 443 & 444 are the ones i bought and i think the ones your after. The other 2 on the page are the regular ones.

http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/bmw-x5-c-3151.html

Hope this helps

Cheers DEK- thanks for responding. I ended up getting the Arnotts. After fitting the FNS unit the spring inflated ok, but the FOS  deflated / inflated a couple of sides, then remained down. This unit also now replaced, but doesn't inflate. The pumps runs ok for a short time at ignition on. I don't have any fuses in the boot fusebox, just no. 57 in the glovebox, which is ok.

I hooked up to INPA, and no error codes. I feel this is an electronic issue (perhaps the control unit?), but with no error codes, I'm a bit lost. Anyone with any pointers please?

Well I carried on researching this, and moved on a little. For anyone wanting to understand the air system better, this document is quite useful (ignore the reference to the E38 in the title, there's loads for the E53):

http://www.e38.org/selflevel.pdf.

The TIS warns not to allow the car to rest on uninflated suspension, so I had followed that, but discovered that once the suspension is extended by 90mm or more the control unit is de-activated. Lowering the car is required to re activate it. After doing this, and ignition on, the OSF duly inflated, and I was able to calibrate this, but only the OSF.

At the moment the NSF is about 10 mm too high, but I can't persuade INPA to change this, nor does the system respond to the up/down buttons on the dash. Test drive tomorrow to see if things remain stable..