BMW X5 Air Suspension Failure, Repair Advice Needed

Hey there! Had a similar issue with my 1998 BMW 740i last summer. The symptoms you're describing are spot on with what I experienced, uneven ride height and those annoying warning lights. Initially thought it was just the compressor too, but turned out the main wiring harness to the suspension control module was corroded and had some loose connections. The mechanic found it during inspection, basically, water had gotten into the connector housing over time. They had to replace the entire wiring harness and reseal the connections properly. It wasn't a quick fix, took them about 6 hours to complete the job. This was definitely a serious issue since bad wiring can damage other components if left unchecked. After the repair, the system worked perfectly, no more warning lights, even ride height, and proper headlight alignment. Would suggest having a thorough diagnostic done before jumping to conclusions about the compressor. Sometimes it's the simple things like connections that cause the biggest headaches. Just my two cents based on what I went through.

Thanks for sharing that! Really helpful info about the wiring harness, wouldn't have thought to check that. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also curious if you've had any other suspension issues pop up since getting it fixed?

Hey again! Quick update on my '98 740i situation, you'll be glad to hear my repair turned out way cheaper than I expected! After seeing my mechanic, they found it was just a faulty cable connection to the air suspension compressor. Got it sorted for only 95 €, such a relief compared to what I was imagining! Since getting it fixed, everything's been running smooth as silk. The air suspension's working perfectly, ride height's back to normal, and those annoying warning lights are gone for good. Haven't had a single suspension issue pop up since then, and it's been several months now. Looking back, I'm really glad I got it checked out properly instead of just assuming the worst about the compressor. Sometimes these luxury cars can trick you into thinking you're in for a massive repair bill, but occasionally it's just something simple like a dodgy connection. Hope this helps with your decision-making! Let us know how you get on with yours.

Thanks everyone for your advice! Wanted to update you on what happened with my X5. Finally got it checked out last week. Turned out I was totally wrong about the compressor, it was actually a cracked air line and a blown fuse causing all the drama! The mechanic was great, really took the time to show me exactly what was wrong. Repair cost came in at a reasonable price and only took about three hours to fix. They also found and fixed some worn bushings while they were at it, which explained that weird clunking noise I'd been hearing. Car's running like a dream now, sitting level, no more warning lights, and the headlights are perfectly aligned. Such a relief it wasn't anything major like I'd feared. Really glad I asked here first, saved me from jumping to expensive conclusions. And honestly, finding a trustworthy mechanic through your recommendations made all the difference. Sometimes the simplest fixes make the biggest impact! Thanks again for all your help!