BMW E61 Touring: self-levelling, rear end sags
E61
Why does the E61's rear end sag and a self-levelling fault message appear?
The most common causes are a broken air spring, a worn intake hose on the compressor, a small hole in a hose on the pressure side or a faulty solenoid valve. If sand has got into the compressor through the intake hose, replacing just the hose is not enough, and the compressor and the hose are replaced.
When does the E61's self-levelling need calibrating?
Calibration is needed when the self-levelling sensor or its adjusting rod has been removed or replaced. The same applies to replacing the cable set, the air spring control unit and the VDM control unit. Calibration can also fix the rear not rising even with new springs.
Can a flat battery cause fault messages?
Yes. An almost flat battery causes confusing error messages, and the car may not start. Charge the battery with a charger before looking for the fault elsewhere.
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