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tomphoenix7

BMW 7 Series Air Suspension Causing Multiple Issues

Hi there! Having some issues with my 2016 BMW 7 Series Hybrid (55,587 km) that's giving me anxiety after a previous bad experience with mechanics. The car's showing multiple signs of trouble, dashboard warning light, headlights aren't properly aligned, and there's a noticeable height difference between front and back. The error log suggests it might be a height control system issue. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms? Would appreciate hearing about your experiences and recommendations for getting this fixed, especially if you've had height control problems with a 7 Series. Thanks in advance!

4 comment(s)

tildafuchs3

Hey there! I can relate to your situation. I experienced similar issues with my 2019 BMW 5 Series Hybrid last year. The symptoms were nearly identical, warning lights, uneven stance, and misaligned headlights. Turned out the control rod sensor was malfunctioning, which affected the entire height control system. Had it checked at the shop, and they found that moisture had gotten into the sensor unit, causing corrosion. It wasn't just a simple sensor replacement, they had to repair some connecting wires and recalibrate the whole system. The job took about two days to complete. It's definitely not something to ignore, as the height control system is crucial for proper handling and safety. In my case, the uneven height was putting extra stress on other suspension components. I'd recommend getting it checked soon, these symptoms typically don't resolve themselves and could lead to more serious issues if left unattended. Make sure they run a full diagnostic on the height control system, not just the sensor itself. Best of luck with the repairs.

tomphoenix7 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know about the control rod sensor, sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been working smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Hoping I can avoid any surprise problems down the road.

tildafuchs3

Hey again! Happy to update you! Since I got the control rod sensor fixed last year, my 5 Series has been running perfectly fine, no more height control issues whatsoever. The repair ended up costing me 110 € and honestly, it was money well spent. The "Height control restricted" warning disappeared completely after the fix, and I haven't seen it since. The whole system's been working like a charm, no more uneven stance, headlights are properly aligned, and the car feels much more stable on the road. I know dealing with these issues can be stressful, but once it's fixed properly, you shouldn't have any recurring problems. If your symptoms are similar to what I experienced, you're probably looking at the same repair. Just make sure they do a thorough diagnostic check, it's worth taking the time to get it done right the first time. My mechanic explained that these sensors can be quite sensitive, but once they're replaced and calibrated correctly, they typically last for years. Let me know how it goes with your repair!

tomphoenix7 (Author)

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! I actually just got back from the mechanic yesterday, and you won't believe it, my issue was almost identical to yours! The repair was a bit pricier at 150 €, but I'm not even mad because the car's running perfectly now. Funny story, while I was at the shop, they showed me the corroded sensor, and it looked pretty nasty. The mechanic was super transparent about everything, which was refreshing after my previous bad experiences. They even let me watch part of the calibration process, which was pretty interesting. The best part? The car's sitting perfectly level now, and those annoying warning lights are finally gone. Drove it around for a few hours today, and it feels like a completely different vehicle, smooth, stable, and no more weird noises. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gave me the confidence to get this sorted before it turned into something bigger. If anyone else runs into similar issues, I'll definitely be passing along this advice!

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