BMW XM Air Suspension Failure, Common Fix Needed?

Hi there! I have some experience working on BMWs and actually dealt with a similar issue on my 2021 BMW X6 M. I had almost identical symptoms, uneven ride height, warning lights, and reduced power. Initially thought it was the compressor too. Took it to my workshop and turns out it was just a faulty wiring connection to the height sensors. They found damaged cables and corroded plug connectors from water exposure. Total repair was 95 Euro, mostly labor costs for diagnosing and fixing the connections. Much better than replacing the whole compressor! They also had to recalibrate the system afterward. Before I can share more specific advice about your XM, could you share: How many miles on the car? When did the issue start? Do you hear any unusual noises from the suspension? Also own a regular X6, so pretty familiar with these air suspension setups. Let me know those details and I'll try to help further!

Thanks for chiming in! I'm at 145724 KM and just started noticing these issues last week. There's definitely a weird hissing sound coming from the rear right side when trying to adjust the ride height. My last service was about 3 months ago and everything was fine then. That's really interesting about the wiring issue on your X6 M, good to know it might not be the compressor after all. Were there any warning signs before your car started showing those symptoms? Just wondering if I missed something obvious. My car's still under warranty so I've booked it in at the dealership next week, but I'm a bit nervous about what they might find. Hope it's something simple like your case!

Thanks for the update! When my X6 M started acting up, I actually did notice some minor signs beforehand that I initially ignored. The car would sometimes take longer than usual to level itself when starting up, especially on cold mornings. Also had occasional "suspension system fault" messages that would disappear after restarting the car. That hissing sound you're describing from the rear right, I had something similar, but mine was more intermittent. Given your mileage and the symptoms, it could still be wiring-related like mine was. Water tends to collect around those rear sensors and can slowly damage the connections over time. Since you're under warranty, definitely let the dealership handle it. But from my experience, don't let them jump straight to replacing the compressor without checking the wiring and sensors first. With my X6 M, they initially quoted me for a new compressor until I insisted they do a thorough diagnostic of the entire system. Quick tip, try to record that hissing sound on your phone before taking it in. It really helped the techs pinpoint the issue on mine faster. Also, make sure they check all the air lines while they're at it. Sometimes these issues can be as simple as a loose connection. Let us know what they find, always good to share these experiences for other XM owners!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! I'll definitely record that hissing sound, great suggestion. Just tried it now and you can hear it really clearly on the video. I'm relieved to hear it might not be as serious as I initially thought. Had no idea about the water collecting around those rear sensors, makes total sense though. Now that you mention it, I did notice it was taking longer to level up in the mornings, but didn't think much of it at the time. I'll mention all of this when I take it in and make sure they check the wiring and sensors thoroughly before jumping to any conclusions about the compressor. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I'll update the thread once I get it checked out at the dealership next week. Fingers crossed it's just a wiring issue like yours was!