Never attempted repairing car, but managed to do this with the help of this video! Amazing, thanks for sharing your knowledge… car is now happy again 😊
You are a legend - thank you so much for this, I’d been to multiple garages who would only change out the full system. I’ve done 100km since doing this and it’s back to normal - took some time to find the right level but all good now. Thanks again.
Very helpful video - thanks. I completed the replacement in about 2h - a bit fiddly getting the cover off (plastic nuts that can strip easily) and the sponge soundproofing had gotten wet and dirty so needed to be cleaned and dried. The car, an F11 2013 has already had a 2 new airbags and an OEM compressor about 5 yrs ago - but yesterday the rear suspension dropped on to both bump stops whilst out on the road so I knew it wasn't the air bags leaking. Also the compressor was still running which is an obvious indicator it was the input solenoid. As I was under time pressure I simply undid the input pipe, solenoid connector and the 2 screws holding the air drier tank to the main body. I then swapped out the solenoid. Thus, there is no need to remove the whole compressor unit which makes it easier and less likely to break something else. So all fixed for £23 and 2 hours work. Changing out the whole compressor (had it not been running) would not have been much harder - you can buy reconditioned original for £160 on ebay plus £80 deposit on your old unit. So even then the job would have cost £160 not the £2000 plus a stealership would have wanted (or the £1000 a specialist charged me last time).. Thanks again for your video.
Epic video, car went down during the day parked down. Did the nursery run with it on bump stops in town, rode like a horse cart. Came home, watched your video, ordered the solenoid on Amazon for £20. Next day I removed the compressor and the solenoid in 15 minutes, the delivery arrived that exact time, I put it together in another 15 minutes. Suspension sorted. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to make this video and for the clear logical steps taken to rectify the issue. Much appreciated. My F11 goes down on one side so I can now have a narrower focus on finding the fault than without your help.
Thanks Robert, I hope you get it sorted. For a so called premium brand, they are not very good are they, so many people with the same issues and no recall from BMW. I will not be buying another.
My f11 is sitting low on one side now, what did you find was the problem plz, was it an air bag or the compressor? Your experience could save me time and money 💰 Thanks in advance
@@magnacartalibertatum7018hi. I have the same issue.... my f11 is down on one side. Did you found the solution for this? I would really apreciate if you could share it with me as I can't really afford waisting more money on workshops who just change the wrong parts. I hope that you can write me back, Thanks
Hi Jon, had the same failure on my X5 this week, took the compressor off checked the balls in the vessel and they were soaked. Took them all out put them on an old quality street tin lid and dried them using a blow torch from a distance. Put them back in reinstalled the compressor but no change. Had already ordered the solenoid valve just in case as I didn’t want the car out of action for long, that turned up in a day or so and only cost £20, swapped it this morning started it up and boom, all working perfectly.. thanks for the vid saved me a load of cash and was surprising easy to do. Happy new year fella.
@TonyWelch75, mind me asking for a link to the part you bought for the X5? Planning to do the same DIY this coming weekend but unsure of the solenoid valve to buy
@@antfraine they’ve deleted the link mate, just put the model of your car then solenoid valve for air compressor in google and loads come up. EBay do them to, I’d change the balls too whilst you have it off the car
@@TonyWelch75thanks Tony. I’ve ordered one off eBay which says it’s compatible with my X5, hope it’s easy enough to do with this video and some other useful info
@@antfraine No worries, mine had dropped right down and the air spring on one side had split as a result so ended up doing them the following week. Just try to keep a jack stand under the back of the car until the springs have fully re inflated. Good luck
Great video. Thank you. I just had this happen on my F02. Had a mechanic try and sort it. An auto electrician look at it. Neither had a clue. Told me to go to BMW. Obviously didn’t do that because I found your video. Just a shame they now locate this under the car so access isn’t easy without a ramp but straightforward once you gain access to it.
This is exactly the symptoms I have on my 5 series estate which is also the same colour as yours. Many thanks, my local garage didn't want to touch it because they weren't confident that they would find the issue and I won't go anywhere near a stealer. Looking on BMW forums they all seem to be pointing at new bags even though the issue is intermittent and both sides. I'll order a new valve now. Can't thank you enough for sharing this.
@@jonsworkshop It didn’t sort the issue out but it was useful to take the compressor out, the silica in the dryer was soaking so I dried that out. I will do a soap spray test of the whole system this weekend. I have new bags ready to go on if they are the problem. The car is approaching 80k miles so it won’t hurt to put new bags on anyway.
Thanks Jon, your video resolved my issue. Also thank you for linking to the part you bought, resolved within 24 hours of fault occurring due to this video.
Gday John, over the years of driving trucks I’ve had a few dump valves fail, pain in the ass really, you did well finding the fault and saved yourself a shit load of money, it’s amazes me that dealerships what to replace the whole unit and not prepared to have a go at fixing the problem and look after the customer, no mechanics anymore there parts replacement specialists, great job mate and thanks for sharing, cheers
Hi Matty, thanks for the comment. Totally agree, all part of the profit making arm of the business - fit unserviceable parts and then rip people off big time to just replace them. This will be my last Beemer mate, totally underwhelmed with the whole package from sales to after sales service! The customer is definitely not put first in their business model, shiny showrooms and free cheap crappy coffee might fool some, but not me. Cheers, Jon
Ay up Jon, nice fix! I am so pleased you were able to get a part to fix the problem. So many times these days you hear that you cant get part of a unit and the whole thing has to be purchased. Take care mate, Tony
Hi Tony, thanks for the comment. Yeah, it's a racket. You can't get an OEM spare (I wonder why?). This will be my last ever Beemer, completely underwhelming all things considered. My last 15 years have been Skoda prior to this car, OK, a bit more basic and horrible plastic finish etc, but totally reliable and good value! They go up hills in mild frost as well, unlike this thing! Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop Hi Jon, I have had 4 Skodas over the years prior to my little suzuki that I have now. Loved them all, very solid cheap reliable motoring. 😃 Tony
BMW 530d XDrive 2018 G31, Hi I’ve just this second finished replacing the very same part on my car, couldn’t find anything for the G31 but it was the exact same principle. Big thank you 🙏
Thanks for a great video with a very good and detailed explanation of the system 👍 I had my 520d 2013 up on the lift and was just about to replace the airbags, when i came across your video, and realized that it more likely was the solenoide that was broken. My BMW was also sitting on the ground, and when it was started the compressor would start for a few seconds, without anything happening. I took the solenoide off and found out that it was in the closed position which it should be. When i checked the resistance of the two pins of the solenoide the resistance was 12,8 ohm, which seemed pretty normal. I then connected the two pins of the solenoide to a 12V battery but it remained in the closed position, until i did connect it maybe 20 times and then it suddenly started to work, and i could now blow air through the solenoide when it was connected to 12V. I then assembled it again and the car worked perfect and still does, and i could even return the unused airbags 😊
A basic socket set and the torx bits I mentioned in the video (sorry I can't remember the sizes), plus a Phillips screwdriver should do it. Cheers, Jon
Thank you, having the same symptoms on my x5 F15 with exactly the same compressor. Difference with mine was that the desiccant beads were soaking wet and had to be replaced. Your video is very helpful
Hii, I didn’t quite understand what the problem is I have the same car and the same compressor and I’ve been to multiple garages and they didn’t know the issue what is exactly the issue didn’t get it could you please tell mee
very helpful video my BMW 520 2017 M3 sport has yesterday developed this issue, and they have diagnosed it to be the compressor and they have come back with a total cost of around £1,100 including labour and VAT but its still a big kick in the stomach for a Friday afternoon 😮 and it least i will get a good warranty with a genuine bmw part
@@jonsworkshop Morning Jon. Recovery going well, it’s taking me a while to get the new man feeling every one at the hospital talked about. Lots of reasons, most of which i attributed to being totally unfit and grossly overweight pre my heart attack and bypass. I had lost 15kg prior to attack and i’ve since lost another 5kg. Catching covid didn’t help as did issues with medication making me bleed, sorted now so doing really well. Cardio Rehabilitation exercise classes were a shock , bloody warmup nearly killed me never mind the actual workout LOL . Even been out on the motorcycle a few times.
Thanks for the Video. Did mine this weekend.. Pretty easy job to do. Longest part of the job was drying the Desiccant out. Microwave seemed to work best.
Enjoyed the video this morning. Excellent fault diagnosis Jon. I too have been working on the air suspension this weekend on my Range Rover when it dropped to its bump stops. Mine was a worn compressor piston seal. It has a very similar system to yours with compressor, valve block height sensors etc except air on all 4 corners. The air drier on mine is a replaceable part as you point out, water in the system is the main cause of problems. Keep up the good work Jon and hopefully we will see your shaper making chips soon.
Hi Gary, thanks for the comment and feedback. I can see the benefits on a 4x4, but not on a motorway cruiser. Totally unnecessary in my opinion, its just a cash cow for them. On borrowed time with me, going back to a sensible car soon. Cheers, Jon
Hi Steve, thanks for the comment. Yep, I feel sorry for those that have, it's a complete racket. I found a Wabco complete replacement unit for about £850, pretty sure BMW won't be paying that for them. If I had ramps and all the right tooling, I could swap one of these out in about 30 mins start to finish so that's about £2600 pound an hour labour rate based on what they quoted me........ Shocking! Cheers, Jon
Hi Jon, just want to say a big thank your video, both informative and logical. I had the same issue on my F11. Having purchased the part from Amazon, installed and hey presto, working suspension at a faction of the dealer cost. again THANK YOU 👍
Hi, this video is great, I am in process of doing the same on my g31. The desiccant in mine was a bit brown with moisture and corrosion on the solenoid. Not put it all back together yet but wondering if the moisture is a sign of another problem?
Hi, I am no expert or mechanic, but my gut feel is yes. Either the compressor is running overtime due to a leak somewhere meaning it is drawing more moisture in, or, you live in a very humid environment and the air drying part of the compressor isn't working properly, these are just guesses though.
Very good video Jon, great diagnosis and fault finding. I like doing things like that. All the more satisfying when you can save yourself "a chunk of change". I enjoyed watching.
Hi Carl, thanks for the comment and feedback. Hope it endures! This will be my last Beemer, not impressed with the whole package from crappy and damn expensive run flat tyres that pull the car all over the road to not being able to make it up a 10 degree incline in mild frost, to over engineered and expensive suspension...... the list goes on! The old 80's 3 series were a much better car in my opinion, they have lost their way! Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop Ok so then what kind of car/SUV would you get instead? What else has such a powerful drive, is as nice looking, as luxurious & fancy inside & out & has such cool features like seats that heat & cool? Big ass sunroof? Shiny wood trim? Awesome 4-wheel drive? I like the safe feeling from a heavy weight mid-size SUV that can carry stuff/furniture & go over bumps & pretty deep puddles & pull stuff like Jet skis or trailers, a truck big, thick & strong enough so I don't feel I'll be smushed in a car crash... X5 is all that. The only other SUV i've ever known that comes close to my newish to me , purchased Feb 2021 like 2 weeks before Covid lockdowns here in Miami FL, 2011 X5 is a jeep grand Cherokee limited (think it was 1996 or 97) It was my fist SUV, i loved it so much! BTW Thank you making this video, I learned sooooooo much! It was awesome at the end when it worked & you saved THOUSANDS!! Of course I couldn't actually DO what you did, but i can supervise someone who can! lol I love knowing what's wrong before complaining to a mechanic.
I am not a mechanic and only have experience of the error I had, however, if it's only one side then it's a different problem so changing the same valve won't fix it unfortunately. Get the airbag checked first on the bad side would be my advice.
I have the same issue but have changed the valve still drops but ver intermittent sometimes over night but not always I was told that compressors crack often and cause this.
Hi, definitely not a cracked compressor if it is an intermittent fault, once a compressor case is cracked, it will always be cracked and always leak. Hope this helps. Cheers, Jon
Nice cheap fix Jon. The same system as was fitted to my Discovery, but it was the air bags that failed. You can't really blame the dealer. They have to warranty the system if they repair it and they can't do that if they've delved into the pump, so they fit a new one which is warrantied. The consumer has driven this type of activity, it's just a response to what the market wants as a whole and is an expensive business. There are few garages these days that have the time and would take the risk of breaking into a component. Best wishes, Dean.
Hi Dean, thanks for the comment, agree on the consumer bit but they are ripping people off big time. This took me about an hour to do including all the strip down etc. If I was just replacing the whole unit and using ramps etc, I could do it in about 30 mins, Wabco unit is list price at £850 so even if BMW were paying list (which they won't be), that works out about £2500 hour labour rate based on what they quoted me!! They are at it! Cheers, Jon
Hi I have a 530 D F11 has similar problem car sometimes (Not always) falls to rear its odd as this is sometimes , Last night parked up got in this morning car war was normal ride hight, drove down road parked for 30min had fallen to bump stops. We changed Solonoid release valve , Had it on ramp garge said its bags but cant understand why its infrequent ...
Hi, thanks for the comment. If you have changed the dump valve and it is still intermittent, go for the twin valve block next. I am not a mechanic or an expert but it definitely does not sound like bags based on your description. Cheers, Jon
Great video regarding issue with bmw suspension think my bmw touring M5 is suffering from same issues was wondering were did get part for £25 would be grateful if you could help out cheers.
@@jonsworkshop hi john i think i have same problem with suspension on my BMW 5 series touring M sport trying get part number for solenoid mine is 2005 / 525d any idea were get cheap replacment
Hi Jon I have been having big problems with air suspension compressor unit it has been replaced but keeps blowing fuses for a few months it was perfect no problem now it's starting to blow fuses n the pump just continues to make noise and takes about 10 15 mins. What could it be?
Hi, I really am no mechanic or electrician. If you are blowing fuses it suggests the unit is drawing too much power which could be a stuck valve, trapped pipe, water ingress causing too much resistance in the cylinder and many other causes. I would suggest a full tear down to see what you can find. Cheers, Jon
Excellent Video.. Im just experiencing problems now.. Every morning recently Im getting in and drive off, feels like the car has no suspension. eventually the car picks the back end up and it rides fine.. I suspect my valve is on its way out.. Thanks for you Video and the link..!
Hi Jamie, I am no mechanic or expert but if its one side only I would suggest it's either the airbag or solenoid valve (in the double unit I didn't change). If the right side pumps up and is intermittent then start with the valve, if it is repeatable every time going down in the same time frame it's probably the bag. I repeat, I am only guessing as not a mechanic. Cheers, Jon
@@jamiewinnall2882 the double valve block on the compressor unit (the one I didn't change in the video) has two pipes coming off it, one blue, one red, just swap them over and re-try. Cheers, Jon
Sorry, I have no idea. I am no mechanic, or even car enthusiast. Hopefully through some research you might be able to link the part number to your model.
Great Video Jon, ordered the part / replaced. Could almost pour the water out of the dessicant, but 3 minutes in the microwave all sorted. Put it all back togehre and all worked perfectly........3 days on and the 40 a fuse has blown ....any ideas what now ?( other than drop the compresor and check it all over.)
Hi Paddy, sorry, I don't have a clue with electrics and I am not a mechanic. All I can suggest is too much current being drawn therefore replace fuse, switch on and listen to see if compressor is constantly running or labouring etc. Beyond that I have no idea. Is anything shorting out where you replaced the cable blocks? Mine has not done this so I have no experience to work from either.
very good video explaining all that system with very much details, in my case is that when i park my F11 the right side gets low only.. so what i understood with ur video is one of the valves that are ready to change correct?
I've done all the steps as you have described and the result is, that the left site are not pumping up as the right site and i have no idea why. the diffrences between the right and the left site is the diffent 2cm.
So John I really a gallon of water spilled in In my trunk then I started having issues now my car is dropped to the floor and I can't what do i do 5351 twin turbo all-wheel drive 2010 wagon
Coo your engine sounds rough, chugs like a diesel. My Series 3 Tourer compressor was under the spare wheel, easy to get at. I had to have both gas bags replaced because they were split. No problem with my compressor at all. Regards from Australia,
Hi Dave, thanks for the comment. Makes you wonder how much of this technology is about handling, and how much is about removing weight. I am struggling to notice any appreciable difference over my old 3 Series that just had standard spring and damper setup. Great technology until it goes wrong. Cheers, Jon
Great informative video. I have the same issue. Can I just ask, how easy is it to get the unit off? Does the bumper have to come off? I’m happy doing the repair when it’s off but just wanted to check how to get the unit off. 👍🏻
Hi Adam, no the bumper stays on, there's a plastic cover to remove underneath and then 4 screws, two air hoses, and the electrics to unhook. Biggest challenge is getting the back end high enough off the ground to get underneath. As always, what worked for me may not work for you so you go in with your eyes open. Cheers, Jon
I replaced the solenoid valve and everything seemed to be good, rear end lifted up. Then I started getting same chassis faults, but rear end was up and good. With diagnostics I found out, that now my compressor can only lift rear end and not lower anymore. Do You think the new solenoid valve could be responsible for that? That the old one was stuck open and new one is stuck closed?
Hi, thanks for the comment. I have no idea as I didn't get that fault, sorry. It could be a dodgy valve maybe, if you still have the old one you could try swapping them back and see if the original fault returns. Check you haven't blocked or crimped any pipework. Apply 12v to the new valve and see if you get any movement or noise. When you apply voltage, can you blow through it etc. Can't think of anything else.
Thank you for making this video, its really helpful. If the beads are showing signs of being moist does it really matter or could i leave them as they are ?
If the beads are damp, I would advise drying them while you have the thing apart. Microwave in a glass dish until they go back to light colour. Damp beads are a symptom of another problem, either your compressor is running far too much which could be an air leak, or you live in a very damp or humid environment.
@@jonsworkshop Hello. Just been scanning through these comments after watching the video and completing this fix about 2/3 weeks ago. Very helpful video thank you. I checked the beads but only briefly and I'm thinking they could be causing a further problem. The solenoid fix worked perfectly but since then the car drops over 3/4 days then when the compressor kicks in it blows the fuse. Think this points to an overworked compressor? I thought the slow dropping might be down to me not putting it all back together properly.
My local mechanic changed the balloons. Didn't help so he changed the compressor ,motor with solenoid. They solved the issue. Last combined valve was not changed. My old compressor is working but pressure is inadequate. No water in air chamber, piston ring is ok and solenoid is not leaking air. What else could be wrong?
Hi Arun, I am not a mechanic (disclaimer) but based on your description, either the motor is running slow on the compressor (don't know how you could check that easily) or you have a leak somewhere. The compressor housing could have a crack in it, as could the cylinder head, or one of the joints etc. Best I can suggest is switch it on and spray leak detector all over the unit (or brush on a dilution of washing up liquid) and see if you can spot any air leaks. Failing that, real close examination of the piston ring or bore for scratches/damage, it wouldn't take much damage to lose efficiency on such a small compressor. Cheers, Jon
Hi, What's the betting the dealer part is a "factory" recon part and the faulty part has to be sent back for a £25 valve to fitted and a lick of paint ready for the next customer. Thanks for the interesting video. John
Hi there, thanks for the helpful video! What is the best way to de pressurise the system, i think mine is going back sits on bump stops, and when sat for 3 or 4 hours is there a simple way to safely de pressurise it without the car having a fit? Cheers!!
Hi guys. Anyone know what it means when there is moisture in the decant. I opened mine but in the video the beads were clear and it did not have the problem I have. The beads are all brown and stuck together. Any fixes guys? Thanks
Hi Bilal, I am no expert but it basically means your compressor is working too hard which probably means you have an air leak somewhere else. You can regenerate the media by pouring the beads onto a baking tray and putting in the oven at 100 C for about 45 mins. Dry the housing out with cloths and then reassemble. You also need to dry the filter papers (hair dryer should do it). Like I said, you will not have got to the root cause but this will get you going again in the meantime. Cheers, Jon
Hello, I have changed the compressor but the car does not lift, do I have to lift one side? The compressor stops very quickly and does not have time to get up
Hi David, thanks for the comment and question. I would probably say no (trying to remember, but I think access is too restricted). Once you are in under the car, it's only 4 screws to drop the whole unit out so much easier to attack this on a bench would be my advice. Cheers, Jon
if youre able to fix things youreself you can save a ton of money , my washing machine pump failed after 15 years , repairguy told me it would be about 150 euro's to fix and i was better off buying a new machine took the pump out of the machine whent online to aliexpress and took a look around at the photos checking the electric points bolt mounting points and the hose hookups turns out that LG is long sumting and a chineese brand (sold here by phillips i believe) the new pump was 15 euro including shipping and the washing machine is running like new again the newer part lacked some of the covering around the electric motor but fitted exactly like the old one did friends fridge , same thing repair guy told him to buy new , shorted the temperature switch and the machine ran so the switch was broken , bought a new switch for 20 euro and he had a working fridge again its allso nice to be able to say : i fixed it myself now my kitchen tap is leaking , new tap is 140euro new cardridge to fix the leak is 8 euro ,have to take the tap a part to find out wat cardrige i need but still
Hi Watahyahknow, thanks for the comment. You are so right. And what cost to the environment of all this throw away mentality which is being driven by large industry, that never gets mentioned in the global warming debate as attacking the motorist is much easier. Sorry, ranting now. Cheers, Jon
Mine was up and down - both sides - intermittently. So I had a go and found the dessicant waterlogged. Replaced the solenoid with Amazon new one also. Put back together and fitted back on. Except when I turned the ignition on.. Nothing. No sound from the compressor. just an error on the dash computer. I wired it up right I think. I'm not very electrically minded but now I'm scratching my head.
Hi Jon, great video and analysis . I used it to hep changing the dump solenoid on my F11 this morning. For the past 6 months I have had an intermittent fault with the car sitting down on its haunches. More obvious and immediate on the offside. Sometimes this happens within 10 minutes after switch off, sometimes it will hold pressure for a week. Once down , the car won’t rise up completely on start up on the first journey but after I stop and start the car again it does. Anyway, changing the solenoid made no difference. I have replacement airbags on standby but based on the intermittent nature of the problem I am of the opinion they are not at fault. What do you think? Perhaps the individual solenoids where the red/ blue pipes connect?
I am no expert so just guessing here, as it is intermittent it has to be either the double valve unit or an electrical fault, for what it costs it is worth a gamble on the valve block. If it was bags leaking it would be consistent. Let us know what you do and what results you get, many others on here with the same fault. Cheers, Jon
Hi Jon Thanks for responding. Straight forward mechanics I can do but I was never any good at diagnosing electrical faults. With that in mind I was thinking the same thing, change the valve block. Although the double block feeds air to each bag individually I just wasn’t sure it allowed air to drain back . I can get a good one for around the £50 mark. I am currently in France, so getting one mailed over isn’t always simple but I will post on here when the job is done.
@@jonsworkshop Hi John, finally got a replacement control block which controls air to both bags and installed this last week. Unfortunately it has made no difference. No great expense, £25 for the control valve and £25 for the dump solenoid, just a pity they didn’t work. The desiccant beads did need drying out but this too hasn’t really made a difference. It is strange as the car will work as normal then perhaps 1 day in 3 the rear end lowers. This can take either 30 minutes or overnight. Once down it does not raise ( other than an initial charging up /priming of the compressor) . After a short drive and switching off the ignition, the car returns to normal and raises up on second start up. Possibly an electrical fault or load sensor fault - who knows?
Finally cured the problem by replacing the suspension airbags. Despite the intermittent nature of the collapsing I decided to give changing the bags a go and Bingo.
@@derekscott5708 Today i changed both bags and didnt solve my problem, it made even worse, now after 1 hour my car tail is dropped, before changing it dropped after 10-14 hours. I guess i have to check my pump.
Hi Ian, thanks for the comment. I really don't know in that situation but my guess would be, if it is intermittent then probably not the airbag itself. There is a solenoid for each side (the other unit I didn't replace on the compressor), what I don't know is if there are any more solenoids at the airbag itself, if there are then it could be that. If its electronic (system, computer, logic etc) then I am totally lost as I don't understand that stuff. Sorry not much help. Cheers, Jon
Hi Lee, easy to do, remove the plastic covers, 4 bolts, three electric plugs, swap the unit. No video of under the car unfortunately but there are others on YT showing this bit. Cheers, Jon
Hi, did the both side springs gone down or one side? The problem I m having one side of spring is more noticeable than other. Also tyre is getting scratches.
Great informative Video Jon!! I learned a lot from this expose! I have a Wabco air compressor that came from my Brothers BMW powered Land Rover and wondered about various aspects of it. It works fine by the way, he took out the air bag and put coils in his Discovery as a better option. I was given the pump and turned into an air compressor for pumping up the tires on my Nissan Patrol. I put in an Ally box with a pressure tank and and made a fitting so that I could dump all the air from the tank in a split second to be able to re-seat the beads back on the rim should that happen when I was going or coming back from Beach Fishing. I also did some homework on Wabco and found that they have or perhaps had a large Manufacturing Plant in CHINA. Makes me wonder about BMW's price justification!? PS: A good use for one of these pumps if you can lay your hands on one for less than 2100 or 550! Just need a few tools and have a think. John, Australia.
Hi John, thanks for the comment. Standard coil over shock would be a shed load more reliable and much cheaper to replace. If the worst comes to the worst and I have to end up replacing the whole unit, guess where the old one is going lol. Cheers, Jon
I just finished replacing the airbags on my 2012 X5 thought that would do the trick, it seems to have helped a little, in that now the suspension is not slamming when I go over a small bump, however, it is still a rough ride and the level still seems low. The thing you observed in your video is that both sides went out together, that seems to be the case on mine too, if it were one of the airbags then they would have failed separately, but both sides are low. It seems that my situation is similar would you agree? I am a car mechanic noob, so just want to know how hard it is to get the compressor out and what part did you order? I've got a jack and jack stands, from the airbag replacement so hopefully won't need much more.
Hi Tom, I am no mechanic lol, easy to get the compressor out, a few screws and clips to remove the plastic trims etc, then 4 screws, two electrical connections and two air hoses, 20 mins tops. Based on your description it could be similar. Certainly not much to lose trying, if it doesn't work you will only have lost a few ££ and a couple of hours etc. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop thanks took it out, feeling pretty manly, hahaha. I then took apart compressor. It was full of water, black goo, brown gunk, and signs that it was quite unhealthy. I cleaned it out and dried the interior, reassembled it. Was getting ready to test it. But decided that I would just order a replacement unit aftermarket. This one has 140000 miles on it. If I get it working, I can repurpose it as a standalone compressor. After cleaning it doesn’t look too bad but worried there may be some hidden issue.
Hi Mark, I got mine off Amazon.... Check this out! amzn.eu/d/5PDcmm4 It worked for me, but may not work for you, so please consider this when purchasing. Thanks, Jon
Never attempted repairing car, but managed to do this with the help of this video! Amazing, thanks for sharing your knowledge… car is now happy again 😊
Thank you!!! My 2010 535i xdrive dropped like this and now I finally have a fix for under 1000. God Bless you sir.
You are a legend - thank you so much for this, I’d been to multiple garages who would only change out the full system. I’ve done 100km since doing this and it’s back to normal - took some time to find the right level but all good now. Thanks again.
Thanks
Still working after 2 months?
What's the part number I'm looking for on Amazon as mine drops intermittently,
cheers Ali
Very helpful video - thanks. I completed the replacement in about 2h - a bit fiddly getting the cover off (plastic nuts that can strip easily) and the sponge soundproofing had gotten wet and dirty so needed to be cleaned and dried. The car, an F11 2013 has already had a 2 new airbags and an OEM compressor about 5 yrs ago - but yesterday the rear suspension dropped on to both bump stops whilst out on the road so I knew it wasn't the air bags leaking. Also the compressor was still running which is an obvious indicator it was the input solenoid. As I was under time pressure I simply undid the input pipe, solenoid connector and the 2 screws holding the air drier tank to the main body. I then swapped out the solenoid. Thus, there is no need to remove the whole compressor unit which makes it easier and less likely to break something else. So all fixed for £23 and 2 hours work. Changing out the whole compressor (had it not been running) would not have been much harder - you can buy reconditioned original for £160 on ebay plus £80 deposit on your old unit. So even then the job would have cost £160 not the £2000 plus a stealership would have wanted (or the £1000 a specialist charged me last time).. Thanks again for your video.
Epic video, car went down during the day parked down. Did the nursery run with it on bump stops in town, rode like a horse cart. Came home, watched your video, ordered the solenoid on Amazon for £20. Next day I removed the compressor and the solenoid in 15 minutes, the delivery arrived that exact time, I put it together in another 15 minutes. Suspension sorted. Thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to make this video and for the clear logical steps taken to rectify the issue. Much appreciated. My F11 goes down on one side so I can now have a narrower focus on finding the fault than without your help.
Thanks Robert, I hope you get it sorted. For a so called premium brand, they are not very good are they, so many people with the same issues and no recall from BMW. I will not be buying another.
My f11 is sitting low on one side now, what did you find was the problem plz, was it an air bag or the compressor? Your experience could save me time and money 💰 Thanks in advance
@@magnacartalibertatum7018hi. I have the same issue.... my f11 is down on one side. Did you found the solution for this? I would really apreciate if you could share it with me as I can't really afford waisting more money on workshops who just change the wrong parts. I hope that you can write me back, Thanks
Hi Jon, had the same failure on my X5 this week, took the compressor off checked the balls in the vessel and they were soaked. Took them all out put them on an old quality street tin lid and dried them using a blow torch from a distance. Put them back in reinstalled the compressor but no change. Had already ordered the solenoid valve just in case as I didn’t want the car out of action for long, that turned up in a day or so and only cost £20, swapped it this morning started it up and boom, all working perfectly.. thanks for the vid saved me a load of cash and was surprising easy to do. Happy new year fella.
@TonyWelch75, mind me asking for a link to the part you bought for the X5? Planning to do the same DIY this coming weekend but unsure of the solenoid valve to buy
@@antfraine they’ve deleted the link mate, just put the model of your car then solenoid valve for air compressor in google and loads come up. EBay do them to, I’d change the balls too whilst you have it off the car
@@antfraine put airsusfat f01 in that shopping site named after a rain Forrest
@@TonyWelch75thanks Tony. I’ve ordered one off eBay which says it’s compatible with my X5, hope it’s easy enough to do with this video and some other useful info
@@antfraine No worries, mine had dropped right down and the air spring on one side had split as a result so ended up doing them the following week. Just try to keep a jack stand under the back of the car until the springs have fully re inflated. Good luck
Great video. Thank you. I just had this happen on my F02. Had a mechanic try and sort it. An auto electrician look at it. Neither had a clue. Told me to go to BMW. Obviously didn’t do that because I found your video. Just a shame they now locate this under the car so access isn’t easy without a ramp but straightforward once you gain access to it.
This is exactly the symptoms I have on my 5 series estate which is also the same colour as yours. Many thanks, my local garage didn't want to touch it because they weren't confident that they would find the issue and I won't go anywhere near a stealer. Looking on BMW forums they all seem to be pointing at new bags even though the issue is intermittent and both sides. I'll order a new valve now. Can't thank you enough for sharing this.
Hope you get sorted, it worked for me but may not for everyone etc. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop It didn’t sort the issue out but it was useful to take the compressor out, the silica in the dryer was soaking so I dried that out. I will do a soap spray test of the whole system this weekend. I have new bags ready to go on if they are the problem. The car is approaching 80k miles so it won’t hurt to put new bags on anyway.
@@garyrobinson6247 Hey, did you solve your problem?
Thanks Jon, your video resolved my issue. Also thank you for linking to the part you bought, resolved within 24 hours of fault occurring due to this video.
Gday John, over the years of driving trucks I’ve had a few dump valves fail, pain in the ass really, you did well finding the fault and saved yourself a shit load of money, it’s amazes me that dealerships what to replace the whole unit and not prepared to have a go at fixing the problem and look after the customer, no mechanics anymore there parts replacement specialists, great job mate and thanks for sharing, cheers
Hi Matty, thanks for the comment. Totally agree, all part of the profit making arm of the business - fit unserviceable parts and then rip people off big time to just replace them. This will be my last Beemer mate, totally underwhelmed with the whole package from sales to after sales service! The customer is definitely not put first in their business model, shiny showrooms and free cheap crappy coffee might fool some, but not me. Cheers, Jon
Thanks
Thank you, much appreciated
Ay up Jon, nice fix! I am so pleased you were able to get a part to fix the problem. So many times these days you hear that you cant get part of a unit and the whole thing has to be purchased.
Take care mate, Tony
Hi Tony, thanks for the comment. Yeah, it's a racket. You can't get an OEM spare (I wonder why?). This will be my last ever Beemer, completely underwhelming all things considered. My last 15 years have been Skoda prior to this car, OK, a bit more basic and horrible plastic finish etc, but totally reliable and good value! They go up hills in mild frost as well, unlike this thing! Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop Hi Jon, I have had 4 Skodas over the years prior to my little suzuki that I have now. Loved them all, very solid cheap reliable motoring. 😃 Tony
BMW 530d XDrive 2018 G31,
Hi I’ve just this second finished replacing the very same part on my car, couldn’t find anything for the G31 but it was the exact same principle.
Big thank you 🙏
Thanks for a great video with a very good and detailed explanation of the system 👍
I had my 520d 2013 up on the lift and was just about to replace the airbags, when i came across your video, and realized that it more likely was the solenoide that was broken. My BMW was also sitting on the ground, and when it was started the compressor would start for a few seconds, without anything happening.
I took the solenoide off and found out that it was in the closed position which it should be. When i checked the resistance of the two pins of the solenoide the resistance was 12,8 ohm, which seemed pretty normal. I then connected the two pins of the solenoide to a 12V battery but it remained in the closed position, until i did connect it maybe 20 times and then it suddenly started to work, and i could now blow air through the solenoide when it was connected to 12V.
I then assembled it again and the car worked perfect and still does, and i could even return the unused airbags 😊
Just wondering what tools are needed for the job? Including removing compressor from the car. Thanks!
A basic socket set and the torx bits I mentioned in the video (sorry I can't remember the sizes), plus a Phillips screwdriver should do it. Cheers, Jon
Thanks!
Thanks very much Peter, this will go towards tooling for my workshop. Much appreciated indeed. Cheers, Jon
Thank you, having the same symptoms on my x5 F15 with exactly the same compressor. Difference with mine was that the desiccant beads were soaking wet and had to be replaced. Your video is very helpful
Hii, I didn’t quite understand what the problem is I have the same car and the same compressor and I’ve been to multiple garages and they didn’t know the issue what is exactly the issue didn’t get it could you please tell mee
very helpful video my BMW 520 2017 M3 sport has yesterday developed this issue, and they have diagnosed it to be the compressor and they have come back with a total cost of around £1,100 including labour and VAT but its still a big kick in the stomach for a Friday afternoon 😮 and it least i will get a good warranty with a genuine bmw part
nice one Jon. nice diagnosis and KISS at its best. I bet there’s loads who would disappeared down the electronic rabbit hole.
Hi Bill, nice to hear from you mate, hope you're recovered. Thanks for the comment and feedback. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop Morning Jon. Recovery going well, it’s taking me a while to get the new man feeling every one at the hospital talked about.
Lots of reasons, most of which i attributed to being totally unfit and grossly overweight pre my heart attack and bypass.
I had lost 15kg prior to attack and i’ve since lost another 5kg.
Catching covid didn’t help as did issues with medication making me bleed, sorted now so doing really well. Cardio Rehabilitation exercise classes were a shock , bloody warmup nearly killed me never mind the actual workout LOL . Even been out on the motorcycle a few times.
Very useful video, thank you! Saved me a ton of time and money figuring this out for myself.
Hi Jon, that's why they're called "the main stealer"! Great video as usual.
Hi Olly, thanks for the comment and support, much appreciated. Cheers, Jon
Thank you for video . I have the same symptoms , and will check that solenoid valve tomorrow.
Thanks for the Video. Did mine this weekend.. Pretty easy job to do. Longest part of the job was drying the Desiccant out. Microwave seemed to work best.
Enjoyed the video this morning. Excellent fault diagnosis Jon. I too have been working on the air suspension this weekend on my Range Rover when it dropped to its bump stops. Mine was a worn compressor piston seal. It has a very similar system to yours with compressor, valve block height sensors etc except air on all 4 corners. The air drier on mine is a replaceable part as you point out, water in the system is the main cause of problems. Keep up the good work Jon and hopefully we will see your shaper making chips soon.
Hi Gary, thanks for the comment and feedback. I can see the benefits on a 4x4, but not on a motorway cruiser. Totally unnecessary in my opinion, its just a cash cow for them. On borrowed time with me, going back to a sensible car soon. Cheers, Jon
Top man I was the same this morning abit rough to work but was totally gone on way home park up and order the part
Great job done Jon. Quick & easy. I guess some folk would just take it to the dealers & pay through the nose.
Regards.
Steve.
Hi Steve, thanks for the comment. Yep, I feel sorry for those that have, it's a complete racket. I found a Wabco complete replacement unit for about £850, pretty sure BMW won't be paying that for them. If I had ramps and all the right tooling, I could swap one of these out in about 30 mins start to finish so that's about £2600 pound an hour labour rate based on what they quoted me........ Shocking! Cheers, Jon
What’s the prat’s called please 🙏 mine had had the levelling system failure 😞 and yes mines are on the bump stops
Hi Jon, just want to say a big thank your video, both informative and logical. I had the same issue on my F11. Having purchased the part from Amazon, installed and hey presto, working suspension at a faction of the dealer cost. again THANK YOU 👍
Glad it helped
Hi, this video is great, I am in process of doing the same on my g31. The desiccant in mine was a bit brown with moisture and corrosion on the solenoid. Not put it all back together yet but wondering if the moisture is a sign of another problem?
Hi, I am no expert or mechanic, but my gut feel is yes. Either the compressor is running overtime due to a leak somewhere meaning it is drawing more moisture in, or, you live in a very humid environment and the air drying part of the compressor isn't working properly, these are just guesses though.
Hi, thanks for the response. I live in Swansea, it’s always raining here, plus the sea air could be the answer. 👍
Very good video Jon, great diagnosis and fault finding. I like doing things like that. All the more satisfying when you can save yourself "a chunk of change". I enjoyed watching.
Hi Carl, thanks for the comment and feedback. Hope it endures! This will be my last Beemer, not impressed with the whole package from crappy and damn expensive run flat tyres that pull the car all over the road to not being able to make it up a 10 degree incline in mild frost, to over engineered and expensive suspension...... the list goes on! The old 80's 3 series were a much better car in my opinion, they have lost their way! Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop Ok so then what kind of car/SUV would you get instead? What else has such a powerful drive, is as nice looking, as luxurious & fancy inside & out & has such cool features like seats that heat & cool? Big ass sunroof? Shiny wood trim? Awesome 4-wheel drive?
I like the safe feeling from a heavy weight mid-size SUV that can carry stuff/furniture & go over bumps & pretty deep puddles & pull stuff like Jet skis or trailers, a truck big, thick & strong enough so I don't feel I'll be smushed in a car crash... X5 is all that.
The only other SUV i've ever known that comes close to my newish to me , purchased Feb 2021 like 2 weeks before Covid lockdowns here in Miami FL, 2011 X5 is a jeep grand Cherokee limited (think it was 1996 or 97)
It was my fist SUV, i loved it so much!
BTW Thank you making this video, I learned sooooooo much! It was awesome at the end when it worked & you saved THOUSANDS!!
Of course I couldn't actually DO what you did, but i can supervise someone who can! lol
I love knowing what's wrong before complaining to a mechanic.
Proper winter tyres (not all season) solve the traction problem but expensive to maintain a second set. @@jonsworkshop
Should i do this also? Because only my left rear side is down, and when i turn my car on, the compressor wont turn on
I am not a mechanic and only have experience of the error I had, however, if it's only one side then it's a different problem so changing the same valve won't fix it unfortunately. Get the airbag checked first on the bad side would be my advice.
@@jonsworkshop my compressor wont turn on when car is running, but when i do the 20sec test with ista then it runs, but its quiet
thanks your sharing， i face the same problems in my x5 , both side drop at the same time, is possible which valve faulty ? Thanks bro.
Could be, I don't know what is in the x5 but I am sure it will be similar. Cheers, Jon
I have the same issue but have changed the valve still drops but ver intermittent sometimes over night but not always I was told that compressors crack often and cause this.
Hi, definitely not a cracked compressor if it is an intermittent fault, once a compressor case is cracked, it will always be cracked and always leak. Hope this helps. Cheers, Jon
Nice cheap fix Jon. The same system as was fitted to my Discovery, but it was the air bags that failed.
You can't really blame the dealer. They have to warranty the system if they repair it and they can't do that if they've delved into the pump, so they fit a new one which is warrantied. The consumer has driven this type of activity, it's just a response to what the market wants as a whole and is an expensive business. There are few garages these days that have the time and would take the risk of breaking into a component.
Best wishes, Dean.
Hi Dean, thanks for the comment, agree on the consumer bit but they are ripping people off big time. This took me about an hour to do including all the strip down etc. If I was just replacing the whole unit and using ramps etc, I could do it in about 30 mins, Wabco unit is list price at £850 so even if BMW were paying list (which they won't be), that works out about £2500 hour labour rate based on what they quoted me!! They are at it! Cheers, Jon
My x5 f15 only drops on the right side and not the left side, so why would that might be?
Good video Jon, the price doesn’t surprise me I was quoted over £900 to flush a cooling system by Skoda dealer.
Hi Chris, thanks for the comment. Yup, doesn't really matter which flavour of main dealer, they are all at it. Cheers, Jon
Hi I have a 530 D F11 has similar problem car sometimes (Not always) falls to rear its odd as this is sometimes , Last night parked up got in this morning car war was normal ride hight, drove down road parked for 30min had fallen to bump stops. We changed Solonoid release valve , Had it on ramp garge said its bags but cant understand why its infrequent ...
Hi, thanks for the comment. If you have changed the dump valve and it is still intermittent, go for the twin valve block next. I am not a mechanic or an expert but it definitely does not sound like bags based on your description. Cheers, Jon
Superb explanation and great result with my car this evening. Thanks
Absolute SUPER STAR
Thank you ❤
Also didn't get to work yesterday but thanks to your video and the link it's all fixed at £21 😂😂😂
Replaced it although I think valve was ok. But now left side not inflating all the way up... What can it be?
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. I’m looking forward to giving it a go.
Hi John, thanks for the comment and feedback, much appreciated. Cheers, Jon
Great video regarding issue with bmw suspension think my bmw touring M5 is suffering from same issues was wondering were did get part for £25 would be grateful if you could help out cheers.
Hi Frank, thanks for the comment. Check out the video description, I have finally put the link in there lol. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop hi john i think i have same problem with suspension on my BMW 5 series touring M sport trying get part number for solenoid mine is 2005 / 525d any idea were get cheap replacment
Hello. What if car dropped at driver side only?
Thanks man. I'm watching u from 🇩🇪 and just ordered both of the valves. Hopefully they gone work.
Hi Jon I have been having big problems with air suspension compressor unit it has been replaced but keeps blowing fuses for a few months it was perfect no problem now it's starting to blow fuses n the pump just continues to make noise and takes about 10 15 mins. What could it be?
Hi, I really am no mechanic or electrician. If you are blowing fuses it suggests the unit is drawing too much power which could be a stuck valve, trapped pipe, water ingress causing too much resistance in the cylinder and many other causes. I would suggest a full tear down to see what you can find. Cheers, Jon
Excellent Video.. Im just experiencing problems now.. Every morning recently Im getting in and drive off, feels like the car has no suspension. eventually the car picks the back end up and it rides fine.. I suspect my valve is on its way out.. Thanks for you Video and the link..!
Hi Jon I have an issue with mine but it’s only the right side any idea what you think the issue maybe.
Hi Jamie, I am no mechanic or expert but if its one side only I would suggest it's either the airbag or solenoid valve (in the double unit I didn't change). If the right side pumps up and is intermittent then start with the valve, if it is repeatable every time going down in the same time frame it's probably the bag. I repeat, I am only guessing as not a mechanic. Cheers, Jon
Try swapping the red and blue lines, see if the error moves to the other side, this will eliminate the airbag
@@jonsworkshop Hi John unsure how to do this?
@@jamiewinnall2882 the double valve block on the compressor unit (the one I didn't change in the video) has two pipes coming off it, one blue, one red, just swap them over and re-try. Cheers, Jon
I have the same problem only on the left side, wheel is inside the weelarch but only sometimes. this week i will se what to do
Hi, if it's only one side it is a different fault, probably the air bag. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop yes, we saw that was the bag. In anycase we like your videos.
I have the exact same issue on my G31, do you know if that Solenoid will fit a 2017 G31?
Sorry, I have no idea. I am no mechanic, or even car enthusiast. Hopefully through some research you might be able to link the part number to your model.
Did you ever figure out if it is the same solenoid. Got the issue on my G31 too.
Great Video Jon, ordered the part / replaced. Could almost pour the water out of the dessicant, but 3 minutes in the microwave all sorted. Put it all back togehre and all worked perfectly........3 days on and the 40 a fuse has blown ....any ideas what now ?( other than drop the compresor and check it all over.)
Hi Paddy, sorry, I don't have a clue with electrics and I am not a mechanic. All I can suggest is too much current being drawn therefore replace fuse, switch on and listen to see if compressor is constantly running or labouring etc. Beyond that I have no idea. Is anything shorting out where you replaced the cable blocks? Mine has not done this so I have no experience to work from either.
Hi there where did you source the part from please.. thank you I'm following you forever if I can get this sorted... thank you
Hi Neil, check the video description, there is a link in there, hopefully it still works. Cheers,
@jonsworkshop thanks fella I appreciate you taking the time.
Do.u have part number for valve
It's in the video description 👍
what do you do if it pumps the air bags to the point of popping everytime after fixing this issue ?
very good video explaining all that system with very much details, in my case is that when i park my F11 the right side gets low only.. so what i understood with ur video is one of the valves that are ready to change correct?
Hi, it could be one of the other valves that I didn't change, but it could also be the air bag on the RHS is leaking in your case.
@@jonsworkshop thanks, which other valve are you referring? but the car only gets low on the right side sometimes it’s not always.. ahah
Hi
Do you know which value is for realise pressure and lower suspension?
It is the one I changed 👍
I've done all the steps as you have described and the result is, that the left site are not pumping up as the right site and i have no idea why. the diffrences between the right and the left site is the diffent 2cm.
So John I really a gallon of water spilled in
In my trunk then I started having issues now my car is dropped to the floor and I can't what do i do 5351 twin turbo all-wheel drive 2010 wagon
Nice video Jon, slightly different topic to usual and saving yourself some £’s
Hi Mark, thanks for the comment and feedback, born out of necessity unfortunately. Glad it's done though. Cheers, Jon
Brilliant video John, many thenks
Hope it works for you Peter, worth a try.
Coo your engine sounds rough, chugs like a diesel. My Series 3 Tourer compressor was under the spare wheel, easy to get at. I had to have both gas bags replaced because they were split. No problem with my compressor at all. Regards from Australia,
Hi Dave, thanks for the comment. Makes you wonder how much of this technology is about handling, and how much is about removing weight. I am struggling to notice any appreciable difference over my old 3 Series that just had standard spring and damper setup. Great technology until it goes wrong. Cheers, Jon
How do you remove this unit ?
Great informative video. I have the same issue. Can I just ask, how easy is it to get the unit off? Does the bumper have to come off? I’m happy doing the repair when it’s off but just wanted to check how to get the unit off. 👍🏻
Hi Adam, no the bumper stays on, there's a plastic cover to remove underneath and then 4 screws, two air hoses, and the electrics to unhook. Biggest challenge is getting the back end high enough off the ground to get underneath. As always, what worked for me may not work for you so you go in with your eyes open. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop that’s great thanks. My brother in law has some drive up ramps so I’ll use those. Cheers.
Thank you, mine did same, and your advice fixed it! Thank god! Perfect! Cheers Steve from Stranraer! ❤
Nice job Jon, dealerships are only there to make money and take the easy route, good diagnosis 👍👴🏻
Hi Terry, thanks for the comment, spot on mate, daylight robbery. Cheers, Jon
Nice one my 5Gt has started intermittently sagging on passenger side then both . But then on other days it stays up so I bet it’s the solenoid 😢
Thanks for the comment. Sounds like it, worth a try for the money. Cheers, Jon
2000+bet that nearly gave you a heart attack. Nicely done as usual
Hi Steve, thanks for the comment. I said a naughty word I think lol. Cheers, Jon
I replaced the solenoid valve and everything seemed to be good, rear end lifted up. Then I started getting same chassis faults, but rear end was up and good. With diagnostics I found out, that now my compressor can only lift rear end and not lower anymore. Do You think the new solenoid valve could be responsible for that? That the old one was stuck open and new one is stuck closed?
Hi, thanks for the comment. I have no idea as I didn't get that fault, sorry. It could be a dodgy valve maybe, if you still have the old one you could try swapping them back and see if the original fault returns. Check you haven't blocked or crimped any pipework. Apply 12v to the new valve and see if you get any movement or noise. When you apply voltage, can you blow through it etc. Can't think of anything else.
Thank you for making this video, its really helpful.
If the beads are showing signs of being moist does it really matter or could i leave them as they are ?
If the beads are damp, I would advise drying them while you have the thing apart. Microwave in a glass dish until they go back to light colour. Damp beads are a symptom of another problem, either your compressor is running far too much which could be an air leak, or you live in a very damp or humid environment.
@@jonsworkshop thank you
@@jonsworkshop Hello. Just been scanning through these comments after watching the video and completing this fix about 2/3 weeks ago. Very helpful video thank you. I checked the beads but only briefly and I'm thinking they could be causing a further problem. The solenoid fix worked perfectly but since then the car drops over 3/4 days then when the compressor kicks in it blows the fuse. Think this points to an overworked compressor? I thought the slow dropping might be down to me not putting it all back together properly.
My local mechanic changed the balloons. Didn't help so he changed the compressor ,motor with solenoid. They solved the issue. Last combined valve was not changed. My old compressor is working but pressure is inadequate. No water in air chamber, piston ring is ok and solenoid is not leaking air. What else could be wrong?
Hi Arun, I am not a mechanic (disclaimer) but based on your description, either the motor is running slow on the compressor (don't know how you could check that easily) or you have a leak somewhere. The compressor housing could have a crack in it, as could the cylinder head, or one of the joints etc. Best I can suggest is switch it on and spray leak detector all over the unit (or brush on a dilution of washing up liquid) and see if you can spot any air leaks. Failing that, real close examination of the piston ring or bore for scratches/damage, it wouldn't take much damage to lose efficiency on such a small compressor. Cheers, Jon
Hi, What's the betting the dealer part is a "factory" recon part and the faulty part has to be sent back for a £25 valve to fitted and a lick of paint ready for the next customer. Thanks for the interesting video. John
Hi Jon great video,I'm experiencing the same issue where can I buy these valves and what are the official term for them please.
If you check the video description there is a link to where I bought mine from which hopefully still works 😀
Hi Jon, nice fix and well done on the diagnosis. TH-cam is such a wealth of information.
Main dealers these days are such a rip off.....
Regards Kevin
Hi Kevin, thanks for the comment. You are totally right, legal robbery. Cheers, Jon
Hi there, thanks for the helpful video! What is the best way to de pressurise the system, i think mine is going back sits on bump stops, and when sat for 3 or 4 hours is there a simple way to safely de pressurise it without the car having a fit? Cheers!!
Hey Jon how are you? I have a 2011 750Li F02 same problem, do you think that solenoid fits my car?
Sorry, I have no idea, I have only done that one job on the 5 series to get me out of trouble
No worries, I got the answer already and yes my compressor is the same and that part fits my bmw 7 series F02 ! Thanks anyways🙏🏽
Hi guys. Anyone know what it means when there is moisture in the decant. I opened mine but in the video the beads were clear and it did not have the problem I have. The beads are all brown and stuck together. Any fixes guys? Thanks
Hi Bilal, I am no expert but it basically means your compressor is working too hard which probably means you have an air leak somewhere else. You can regenerate the media by pouring the beads onto a baking tray and putting in the oven at 100 C for about 45 mins. Dry the housing out with cloths and then reassemble. You also need to dry the filter papers (hair dryer should do it). Like I said, you will not have got to the root cause but this will get you going again in the meantime. Cheers, Jon
Hello, I have changed the compressor but the car does not lift, do I have to lift one side? The compressor stops very quickly and does not have time to get up
And that's why I don't go to mechanics anymore lol. Well done! 👍😊👍
Cheers!
Hi just1guy metalworks, thanks for the comment. Yup, don't blame you. Cheers, Jon
Can the solonoid be swapped without removing the compressor from the car? I just changed my airbags and it's still dropping overnight.
Hi David, thanks for the comment and question. I would probably say no (trying to remember, but I think access is too restricted). Once you are in under the car, it's only 4 screws to drop the whole unit out so much easier to attack this on a bench would be my advice. Cheers, Jon
HI Jon thank you excellent, informative usefull helpful video 👍 I have a F11 and i might get into the same issue in the future.
if youre able to fix things youreself you can save a ton of money , my washing machine pump failed after 15 years , repairguy told me it would be about 150 euro's to fix and i was better off buying a new machine
took the pump out of the machine whent online to aliexpress and took a look around at the photos checking the electric points bolt mounting points and the hose hookups turns out that LG is long sumting and a chineese brand (sold here by phillips i believe) the new pump was 15 euro including shipping and the washing machine is running like new again
the newer part lacked some of the covering around the electric motor but fitted exactly like the old one did
friends fridge , same thing repair guy told him to buy new , shorted the temperature switch and the machine ran so the switch was broken , bought a new switch for 20 euro and he had a working fridge again
its allso nice to be able to say : i fixed it myself
now my kitchen tap is leaking , new tap is 140euro new cardridge to fix the leak is 8 euro ,have to take the tap a part to find out wat cardrige i need but still
Hi Watahyahknow, thanks for the comment. You are so right. And what cost to the environment of all this throw away mentality which is being driven by large industry, that never gets mentioned in the global warming debate as attacking the motorist is much easier. Sorry, ranting now. Cheers, Jon
What’s the part number or name etc for those of us that don’t know how to order them?
It's in the video description Garry. Cheers, Jon
Mine was up and down - both sides - intermittently. So I had a go and found the dessicant waterlogged. Replaced the solenoid with Amazon new one also. Put back together and fitted back on. Except when I turned the ignition on.. Nothing. No sound from the compressor. just an error on the dash computer. I wired it up right I think. I'm not very electrically minded but now I'm scratching my head.
My e61 drops on rear passenger side I’ve replaced both airbags still drops on passenger side about 2 inches
not sure code for solenoid
Hi Frank, check the video description for a link.
Mine is stuck all the way up… and my left side says short circuit on the diagnostic…😢
Hi Jon, great video and analysis . I used it to hep changing the dump solenoid on my F11 this morning. For the past 6 months I have had an intermittent fault with the car sitting down on its haunches. More obvious and immediate on the offside. Sometimes this happens within 10 minutes after switch off, sometimes it will hold pressure for a week. Once down , the car won’t rise up completely on start up on the first journey but after I stop and start the car again it does.
Anyway, changing the solenoid made no difference. I have replacement airbags on standby but based on the intermittent nature of the problem I am of the opinion they are not at fault.
What do you think? Perhaps the individual solenoids where the red/ blue pipes connect?
I am no expert so just guessing here, as it is intermittent it has to be either the double valve unit or an electrical fault, for what it costs it is worth a gamble on the valve block. If it was bags leaking it would be consistent. Let us know what you do and what results you get, many others on here with the same fault. Cheers, Jon
Hi Jon
Thanks for responding. Straight forward mechanics I can do but I was never any good at diagnosing electrical faults. With that in mind I was thinking the same thing, change the valve block. Although the double block feeds air to each bag individually I just wasn’t sure it allowed air to drain back . I can get a good one for around the £50 mark. I am currently in France, so getting one mailed over isn’t always simple but I will post on here when the job is done.
@@jonsworkshop Hi John, finally got a replacement control block which controls air to both bags and installed this last week. Unfortunately it has made no difference. No great expense, £25 for the control valve and £25 for the dump solenoid, just a pity they didn’t work. The desiccant beads did need drying out but this too hasn’t really made a difference. It is strange as the car will work as normal then perhaps 1 day in 3 the rear end lowers. This can take either 30 minutes or overnight. Once down it does not raise ( other than an initial charging up /priming of the compressor)
. After a short drive and switching off the ignition, the car returns to normal and raises up on second start up. Possibly an electrical fault or load sensor fault - who knows?
Finally cured the problem by replacing the suspension airbags. Despite the intermittent nature of the collapsing I decided to give changing the bags a go and Bingo.
@@derekscott5708 Today i changed both bags and didnt solve my problem, it made even worse, now after 1 hour my car tail is dropped, before changing it dropped after 10-14 hours. I guess i have to check my pump.
My air suspension goes down periodically on the passenger side. As it is intermittent what do you think is the most likely fault - leaking solenoid?
Hi Ian, thanks for the comment. I really don't know in that situation but my guess would be, if it is intermittent then probably not the airbag itself. There is a solenoid for each side (the other unit I didn't replace on the compressor), what I don't know is if there are any more solenoids at the airbag itself, if there are then it could be that. If its electronic (system, computer, logic etc) then I am totally lost as I don't understand that stuff. Sorry not much help. Cheers, Jon
Great video, i have been told i need to replace the one on my f11 - is it easy to replace the actual unit, do you have a video on this?
Hi Lee, easy to do, remove the plastic covers, 4 bolts, three electric plugs, swap the unit. No video of under the car unfortunately but there are others on YT showing this bit. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop thanks Jon. I don’t want to buy a bmw part, would you mind suggesting another option to buy , eg somewhere like euro car parts? Thanks
@@leedavis9677 hi Lee, yeah, euro car parts or GSF would be a good start. There's nothing like that near me so I have to resort to the ebay lottery.
Hi, did the both side springs gone down or one side?
The problem I m having one side of spring is more noticeable than other. Also tyre is getting scratches.
Both sides equally 👍
Well done excellent video all detailed
thanks Jon
Glad you enjoyed it
Do u know if the the blue pipe is negative or positive?
Not sure I understand the question, sorry. They are pipes carrying positive air pressure if that helps.
Well done John .. Good video very informative 👍
Great informative Video Jon!! I learned a lot from this expose! I have a Wabco air compressor that came from my Brothers BMW powered Land Rover and wondered about various aspects of it. It works fine by the way, he took out the air bag and put coils in his Discovery as a better option. I was given the pump and turned into an air compressor for pumping up the tires on my Nissan Patrol. I put in an Ally box with a pressure tank and and made a fitting so that I could dump all the air from the tank in a split second to be able to re-seat the beads back on the rim should that happen when I was going or coming back from Beach Fishing.
I also did some homework on Wabco and found that they have or perhaps had a large Manufacturing Plant in CHINA. Makes me wonder about BMW's price justification!?
PS: A good use for one of these pumps if you can lay your hands on one for less than 2100 or 550! Just need a few tools and have a think.
John, Australia.
Hi John, thanks for the comment. Standard coil over shock would be a shed load more reliable and much cheaper to replace. If the worst comes to the worst and I have to end up replacing the whole unit, guess where the old one is going lol. Cheers, Jon
I just finished replacing the airbags on my 2012 X5 thought that would do the trick, it seems to have helped a little, in that now the suspension is not slamming when I go over a small bump, however, it is still a rough ride and the level still seems low. The thing you observed in your video is that both sides went out together, that seems to be the case on mine too, if it were one of the airbags then they would have failed separately, but both sides are low. It seems that my situation is similar would you agree?
I am a car mechanic noob, so just want to know how hard it is to get the compressor out and what part did you order? I've got a jack and jack stands, from the airbag replacement so hopefully won't need much more.
Hi Tom, I am no mechanic lol, easy to get the compressor out, a few screws and clips to remove the plastic trims etc, then 4 screws, two electrical connections and two air hoses, 20 mins tops. Based on your description it could be similar. Certainly not much to lose trying, if it doesn't work you will only have lost a few ££ and a couple of hours etc. Cheers, Jon
@@jonsworkshop thanks took it out, feeling pretty manly, hahaha. I then took apart compressor. It was full of water, black goo, brown gunk, and signs that it was quite unhealthy. I cleaned it out and dried the interior, reassembled it. Was getting ready to test it. But decided that I would just order a replacement unit aftermarket. This one has 140000 miles on it. If I get it working, I can repurpose it as a standalone compressor. After cleaning it doesn’t look too bad but worried there may be some hidden issue.
@@tomladdus9264 good luck, glad you had a go, many wouldn't!
Very well done. Will help me to fix my one.
Thank you
My f11 is sitting lower on the drivers side. Any ideas on that? Could it be an air bag or compressor? Cheers
Thanks for the video Jon. Well done for using your brain and not your wallet. Keep safe and stay well.
Hi Colin, thanks for the comment, lol, not sure which is more knackered, the brain or the wallet lol. Cheers, Jon
I would just like to ask where you got the solenoid from?
Hi Mark, I got mine off Amazon.... Check this out! amzn.eu/d/5PDcmm4
It worked for me, but may not work for you, so please consider this when purchasing. Thanks, Jon
Hi Jon! My bmw 730D 2016 has same issue one side went down. live in Glasgow. wondering if there is any way to contact you directly. Many Thanks