BMW Air Suspension Problems, Help Needed for Repairs

I have some experience working on cars and dealt with something very similar on my 2002 BMW 3 Series Diesel. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I encountered. In my case, it turned out to be a faulty wiring connection to the suspension control unit. Took it to my regular workshop, and they found a damaged cable near the suspension compressor. The connection had corroded over time and was causing all those weird symptoms, uneven ride height, warning lights, the whole deal. They replaced the wiring and connectors, which cost me 95 Euro in total. After that, everything went back to normal. Before we jump to conclusions though, could you share: How many miles/kilometers are on your car? When did these symptoms first appear? Have you had any suspension work done before? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Had exactly the same problem with my BMW 1 (149326 KM on the clock). In my case, it wasn't just the wiring, turned out the compressor itself was shot. Got it fixed during my last service about two months ago. They ended up replacing both the compressor and some electrical connections. The symptoms matched yours perfectly, uneven stance, warning lights, reduced power, the works. While wiring issues are common and cheaper to fix, don't rule out a failed compressor. Mine was completely worn out after years of use. Best bet is to get it properly diagnosed before throwing parts at it. Let me know what you find out!

Following up on our earlier chat about your BMW's suspension issues. After reading about your mileage (149326 KM), I'm actually thinking it might be more serious than the wiring issue I initially mentioned on my 2002 BMW 3 Series. You know what's funny, shortly after I posted about my wiring fix, my car developed the exact same symptoms again. Turned out I was wrong, and just like in your case, my compressor was actually failing. The initial wiring fix was just a temporary solution that masked the real problem. Had to bite the bullet and get the whole compressor assembly replaced, along with some electrical connectors. Cost quite a bit more than the simple wiring fix I mentioned before, around 800 Euro for parts and labor. But hey, it's been running perfectly for the past year now. Based on my experience now, I'd definitely say get the compressor checked first. These systems typically start acting up around the 150,000 KM mark, which is right where you're at. Would rather see you fix the root cause than waste money on partial solutions like I did. Let me know if you need any other info about the repair process. I've got all the details from my service records if you're interested.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! It's actually really helpful to hear about your experience with both the wiring and compressor issues. Really interesting how your car showed similar symptoms and the initial wiring fix didn't solve the problem long-term. You know, after getting my suspension fixed with the new compressor and electrical connections, I can totally relate to what you went through. It was definitely worth spending the extra money to fix it properly rather than going for temporary solutions. The car drives like new now, no more warning lights, proper ride height, and the headlights are perfectly aligned. The 800 Euro you mentioned sounds about right, pretty much in line with what I paid for my repair. These BMWs might be expensive to fix, but at least when it's done right, they're solid for years to come. Thanks again for sharing your experience. It's great to know I'm not the only one who's dealt with these suspension gremlins. I'll definitely keep an eye on the system now that everything's been sorted. Cheers!