BMW Z4 Air Suspension Failure Causing Multiple Issues

I had a similar issue with my 2008 BMW Z3 last month. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, uneven ride height, engine power reduction, and those annoying warning lights. After taking it to the garage, they found it wasn't actually the compressor itself but the wiring harness connecting to the air suspension control module. The cables had deteriorated and were causing intermittent connection issues. The connector plugs were also corroded. They had to replace the entire wiring harness and clean the connection points. It turned out to be a serious electrical issue that could have led to complete suspension failure if left unattended. The repair took about 6 hours as they had to remove several components to access the wiring. Would definitely suggest getting it checked soon, these symptoms typically don't improve on their own and can lead to bigger problems with the chassis and alignment systems. The dealership I went to was much more thorough than independent shops I've tried before. They even found a few other minor issues while doing the diagnostic work.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I had the same thing happen with my Z4's suspension wiring harness. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working smoothly since they fixed it? Mine's coming up on a month post-repair and I've noticed the ride height sensor acting a bit funny again, so I'm slightly worried.

Hey there! Thanks for asking about the follow-up. I'm happy to report that since getting my Z3 fixed, it's been running perfectly fine! The repair was actually much simpler and cheaper than I initially thought it would be. Turned out the issue was just a faulty cable connection to the compressor, they only charged me 95 € to sort it out. After they fixed that connector problem, all those annoying symptoms completely disappeared. The car's sitting perfectly level now, no more warning lights, and the engine's back to full power. It's such a relief compared to how it was behaving before! The funny thing is, I was expecting a much bigger repair bill based on what I'd heard about air suspension issues. But sometimes it really is just the simple things that need fixing. It's been about six weeks now since the repair, and I haven't noticed any quirks or issues with the suspension system at all. If you're noticing your ride height sensor acting up again, I'd definitely get that checked out soon, might be worth having them take another look while it's still relatively fresh in their minds. Better safe than sorry with these systems, you know?

Thanks for all that info! Actually, I just got back from the mechanic today. You won't believe it, my repair was way more expensive than yours. Had to shell out 450 € because they found multiple issues with the system. The main problem was a worn-out compressor that needed replacing, plus they had to fix some damaged sensors. They did a thorough job though. The car's running like a dream now, no more weird leaning or warning lights. The mechanic showed me all the old parts and explained everything clearly, which was refreshing after my last experience. They even gave me some maintenance tips to prevent future issues. At least now I know what to look out for if anything starts acting up again. Still stings a bit price-wise, but I guess that's just part of owning these cars. Really appreciate everyone's input on this, helped me understand what I was dealing with before heading to the shop!