BMW 8 Air Suspension Failure After 195K, Help Needed

I dealt with almost identical symptoms on my 2020 BMW 740d last winter. The air suspension valve was indeed faulty, causing the system to lose pressure. Had rough riding and uneven stance, plus that annoying warning light. The garage found the valve was corroded and not sealing properly, letting air escape from the bags. They replaced both the valve assembly and one air spring that got damaged from running low. The shifting issues were actually connected, the car's ride height sensors were sending wrong signals to the transmission control unit. It's definitely a serious repair that needs proper diagnostic equipment and expertise. The system's pretty complex, and getting it wrong can cause more problems. My tip would be to check if your mechanic has specific experience with BMW air suspension systems before letting them work on it. After the fix, the car's been riding perfectly, level stance, smooth shifts, no warning lights. Just make sure you get it sorted soon to prevent additional damage to other suspension components.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, this is exactly what happened to mine! Just got it fixed last week. Really good to know I wasn't the only one dealing with this mess. The symptoms match up perfectly with what I had. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything stayed working properly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues popping up? Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything that might need attention later. Thanks again for the help!

Hey, glad I could help! Yes, I just checked my records, the total repair came to 590 € for replacing the faulty air suspension valve. Honestly, it was worth every penny because the car's running like a dream now. No more warning lights, no more awkward sitting position, and the ride quality is back to being buttery smooth, just like a proper BMW should be! Since getting it fixed, I haven't had a single issue with the suspension or transmission. It's been about four months now, and everything's working perfectly. The mechanic did a thorough job diagnosing and fixing the problem, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. The gearbox shifts are smooth again too, now that the height sensors are sending the right signals. If you're wondering about long-term reliability, I'd say you should be fine now that it's fixed. Just keep an eye on the ride height and listen for any unusual noises, but that's just normal maintenance stuff. Mine's been rock solid since the repair.

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update. What a relief, my repair cost was pretty close to yours, around 615 €. The mechanic found exactly what you described, corroded valve and sensor issues messing with everything. The whole repair took about a day and a half. They had to order some parts, but it was worth the wait. The drive home was like being in a completely different car! No more weird noises, the suspension's perfect, and the gearbox is shifting smoothly again. Funny thing is, the mechanic mentioned they're seeing more of these issues lately on similar models. Guess we're not alone in this! Really appreciate your help earlier, saved me a lot of worry knowing someone else went through the same thing and got it sorted. Think I'll stick with this mechanic for future services too, they really knew their stuff with the air suspension system. Thanks again for all the advice. Case closed on this one!