VW Lupo Air Suspension Failure Symptoms & Fixes

Had nearly identical symptoms on my 2000 VW Polo TDI. The air suspension system completely failed, causing the car to sag and pull to the passenger side. The rough ride came from a damaged bellows valve that was leaking air pressure. A thorough diagnostic revealed multiple issues, the main air spring had developed micro-tears and the bellows valve assembly needed full replacement. The air leak was severe enough that the compressor was running almost constantly trying to maintain pressure. This is definitely a serious suspension issue requiring immediate repair. Continuing to drive with failed air suspension components can damage other parts of the suspension system and create unsafe handling conditions, especially during emergency maneuvers. The repair involved replacing the complete bellows valve assembly, air spring, and testing the entire air suspension system for additional leaks. Labor was substantial since accessing the components required partial suspension disassembly. Would strongly recommend getting this fixed right away. The symptoms perfectly match a failing air suspension system, and delaying repairs typically leads to more extensive damage. Make sure to have the shop perform a complete system diagnostic, not just replace individual components.

Thanks for this detailed response. The symptoms you described match my situation exactly, especially the constant compressor running and that dangerous pull to one side. After waiting a few weeks for parts availability, I finally had the shock absorber and valve assembly replaced. The ride height is now perfect again and the car stays level. How much did your repair end up costing? Curious to compare costs and see if yours held up long-term or if you ran into any other pneumatic suspension problems since getting it fixed.

Just wanted to update that since my earlier reply, the air suspension repair has held up perfectly with no further issues. The faulty bellows valve replacement completely resolved the uneven ride height and pulling problems I mentioned before. Total cost came to 590€ for diagnosing and fixing the defective suspension air bag valve. This included labor for accessing the components and testing the full system afterward. Considering how the repair eliminated all those concerning symptoms, the constant compressor noise, uneven stance, and rough ride, it was worth the investment. The shop did a thorough job checking the entire air suspension system while they had it apart. They confirmed no other components showed wear that would cause future problems. After 2 years, the shock absorber and valve assembly are still performing exactly as they should with consistent ride height and proper leveling.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. After getting multiple quotes, I went ahead with the repair at a different shop that specializes in air suspension systems. The total came to 720€ which included replacing the failing shock absorber assembly, bellows valve, and a complete system diagnosis. While it was more than I hoped to spend, the suspension failure symptoms were getting dangerous. The repair took about 6 hours total. They found additional air leaks in some of the connecting lines while testing the system, which explained why my compressor was running constantly. Those were replaced as part of the job. Three months later and the car rides perfectly level again with no error messages. The rough ride is completely gone and the suspension system maintains proper pressure without any issues. Definitely glad I got it fixed rather than risk further damage.