BMW i5 Air Suspension Nightmare: Multiple System Failures

Hey there! I have some experience with EVs and noticed your suspension troubles. I actually faced something similar with my 2022 BMW i4 (coming from a previous i3). The symptoms sounded just like what I dealt with, my car also had that weird lean and multiple system warnings. Turned out it was a loose connection in the wiring harness going to the air suspension control unit. My workshop found that one of the plugs wasn't properly seated, causing intermittent connection issues. The fix was pretty straightforward, they had to remove some panels, reseat the connection, and secure it properly. Total bill came to 95 Euro for the diagnostic and repair work. Car's been running perfectly since then. Before I can give more specific advice, could you share: How many miles/kilometers on your i5? When did you first notice the lean? Are the errors constant or do they come and go? Might help pinpoint if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for the detailed reply! I've got 174688 KM on my i5, and just had it serviced last month. The lean started about a week ago, super annoying! In my case, the errors are pretty consistent, they don't really come and go. They're just... there. Your wiring harness situation is interesting, but I'm starting to think my compressor might be the culprit since the car makes a weird noise when trying to level itself. I'll definitely mention your experience to my service advisor though, might save them some diagnostic time. Really appreciate the help!

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your i5. Now that you mention the weird noise during leveling, I'm thinking this might be different from my wiring harness issue. With that mileage and those consistent errors, plus the noise you're describing, you could be right about the compressor. When my i4 had that wiring problem, it was dead silent, no strange sounds at all. Just the lean and the errors. But I've actually dealt with a failing compressor in my previous BMW too, and that definitely made some concerning noises when trying to level. It started with a sort of grinding sound and got worse over time. Quick tip, if you can still access the vehicle settings, try switching to the highest suspension setting and listen carefully. If you hear something that sounds like a struggling motor or a grinding noise, that's probably your compressor giving up. My dealer quoted around 1200 Euro for a compressor replacement when I asked out of curiosity during my wiring fix. The consistent errors definitely point more toward a hardware issue rather than a connection problem like I had. I'd say get it checked soon, these things tend to get worse pretty quickly, and you don't want to end up stranded somewhere with a car that won't level properly. Keep me posted on what your service advisor finds! Always good to know what's going on with these newer EVs.

Thanks a lot for your helpful insights about the noises and comparison with your experiences! You're absolutely right, I should probably get it checked out ASAP. The grinding sound is exactly what I'm hearing when it tries to level, and it's getting louder each time. Pretty sure you've nailed it with the compressor diagnosis. I've already called my service center and booked it in for next week. Definitely don't want to risk getting stranded! It's funny how you mentioned your previous BMW experience too, makes me feel better knowing these things happen even to veteran BMW owners. I'll keep you updated once I get the verdict from the workshop. Really appreciate you taking the time to share such detailed insights about both your wiring harness situation and the compressor issue. This is exactly why I love asking fellow owners!