BMW M3 Air Suspension Mystery: Rough Ride Alert

Hey there! I had almost identical issues with my 2020 BMW M5 last fall. The symptoms you're describing are exactly what I experienced, uneven ride height, harsh ride, and warning messages about suspension malfunction. Took it to the garage and they diagnosed a faulty air suspension bellows valve. It's actually a pretty serious issue that needs immediate attention since it can damage other suspension components if left unchecked. In my case, they had to replace the valve assembly and recalibrate the entire air suspension system. The repair took about two days in total, but it was worth it. The car's been riding perfectly since then, no more warning lights or rough rides. From what the technician told me, this is a known issue that can pop up in these models once they rack up some miles. Definitely get it checked out soon. The longer you wait, the more strain you're putting on the rest of the suspension system. Best of luck with the repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know I'm not alone with this issue. The symptoms you described match mine exactly. Had it fixed about 6 months ago and while they did a decent job, I'm curious, do you remember roughly how much you paid for the repair? And has everything been running smoothly since, or did you notice any other issues pop up? Would be great to know what to expect if I need to go down the same route.

Hey again! Yeah, happy to help fill you in! I remember exactly what I paid because I just dug up the invoice recently, it was 590 € for the whole job. That covered replacing the faulty air suspension bellows valve and getting everything calibrated properly. And I've got some good news, since getting it fixed, my M5's been running like a dream! No more weird noises, no more uneven ride height, and those annoying warning lights are history. The suspension's working exactly like it should now, nice and smooth, just like when the car was new. I'd say getting it sorted was definitely worth every penny. It's been about 8 months now since the repair, and I haven't had a single suspension-related issue pop up. My mechanic did mention it's worth keeping an eye on the system readings during regular services, just to catch any potential problems early, but so far it's been perfect. Hope that helps give you an idea of what you might be looking at! Let me know if you need any other info.

Thanks for all that detail! Finally made the decision and got my M3 fixed last week. Went to a different shop this time, what a difference! They really knew their stuff and sorted everything out in just a day and a half. Bill came to around 650 €, bit more than yours but still felt fair for the work done. The whole experience was way better than my last mechanic. These guys walked me through everything they were doing, showed me the old valve (it was pretty shot), and even gave me some tips for maintaining the suspension system. The car's riding like new now, no more error messages, and that annoying bounce is completely gone. Really glad I asked here first, your experience helped me know what to expect and gave me the confidence to get it sorted properly. Thanks again for all your help!