X5 F15- intermittent Chassis Restriction Fault

[s29uny]

Hi all.

i'll try and explain in as much detail what has happened - hoping it is enough for someone to help.

Yesterday i went to see my sister, her house is on a fair gradient, usually i park in her driveway but this time i parked on the left hand side pavement - now that i think of it, the passenger side wheels were more raised than the drives side.

After a few hours of being at her home, i began my journey home and found the ride to be slightly more bumpy than usual, not thinking anything of it i continued with my journey.

Today i got into the car, everything seemed normal but after a few minutes of driving the ride was noticeably more bumpy. I pulled over to see why, it was then i found the car leaning to the left (as you are looking at it from the front).

i tried to let the car 'rest' for 10 minutes with it being locked to see if it fixes the issue but it didn't. The drive became more and more bumpy, but for the 30mile journey to my in laws to pick my wife up, apart from the very bumpy ride everything was fine.

When we left my in laws for the return journey home an error message 'Chassis Restriction' presented itself on the iDrive.

The drive feels very similar to when my f10 5 series snapped its rear spring - if i drive through a pothole, or uneven ground its like i am in a car with zero suspension.

The car has been now parked on my driveway for the last 2 hours and its still sitting very low.

As its only just happened, i have not had a chance to take to a garage to get the fault codes read, but to save me from having a nasty surprise, any idea what the issue could be?

[s29uny]

A quick update:
I just went outside to get something out of the car, the rear was completely slammed to the floor - i couldn't even get my 2 fingers between the top of the tyre and the arch.
As soon as i opened the drivers side door, i heard the compressor going off, and the car rising to level, but then the hissing sound followed on the left side of the car. I locked the car and the compressor switched off, at which point i could see the car lowering itself again.

Surely it has to be a leaking bag on the left side?

[Alan Gunn]

Yes a bag leaking.
Common problem but not a bad job to change.

[IanP]

I agree, an air bag seems to have popped, assuming one of the air pipes isn't damaged.
I've just done this job on my X6 and it is very straightforward took me about 1.5 hours but I did have access to a car lift.
I fitted Arnott bags, not genuine bmw.

[Leslie]

Sounds very like an airbag and id recommend arnott bags as said... very good quality, the cheap ones tend be be far thinner and "pop" in a relatively short time again.

[s29uny]

Hi everyone.

a quick update. i jacked the car up, and sprayed some soapy water on the bags, activated the compressor. Left bag was leaking air. i purchased Arnott bags and replaced both of them.

not a difficult job, just too some time making sure they were sat right.

Thanks all for your help.

[Alan Gunn]

Hope you fitted any new "O"rings that came with the bags.
Re-using them can leak.