S8 Air Suspension Fails: Leaning Car and Error Messages

Had similar suspension failure symptoms on my 2016 A8L 4.0T last winter. The pneumatic suspension started showing the same behavior, uneven ride height and rough driving experience. The diagnostic revealed a faulty air suspension valve block, which was causing air leaks in the system. The shock absorber units were still good, but the valve block was not maintaining proper pressure in the air bellows. This caused the car to lose its self-leveling capability and proper ride height control. It was a serious repair that required specialized diagnostic equipment and complete disassembly of the air suspension components. The issue needed immediate attention since driving with a malfunctioning air suspension system risks damaging other suspension components. The repair involved replacing the complete valve block assembly and recalibrating the ride height sensors. Labor was intensive since accessing the valve block meant removing several components. Shop time was about 6 hours. Would recommend having it checked soon. These systems are complex and problems tend to cascade if left unaddressed. Make sure to use a shop familiar with air suspension systems in luxury vehicles.

Thanks for sharing those details about the valve block replacement. I had almost identical symptoms with my 2014 S8 about 6 months ago. The air spring system completely failed on one side, causing that same uneven stance and rough ride you described. My air leak turned out to be from a cracked air bellows, and the suspension issue got worse pretty quickly after the first error messages appeared. Would be curious to know what you ended up paying for your repair? My fix was quite pricey with parts and labor, and I want to compare notes. Also, has everything been working properly since the repair?

Had the repair done last week and all suspension issues are completely resolved now. The faulty air suspension bellows valve was indeed the culprit, just as suspected. The repair cost came to 590 Euro total, which covered both parts and labor. The ride height control is working perfectly again, and the air spring system maintains proper pressure consistently now. No more error messages or uneven stance issues. The suspension system feels as smooth as it did when the car was new. The mechanic mentioned catching this early likely prevented additional wear on other suspension components. The air suspension in these cars needs careful attention since one failed component can affect the entire system. Happy to report the repair has been completely successful, worth every cent to have the proper ride quality back. Really makes a difference having a shop that knows these complex suspension systems inside and out. Being familiar with air spring diagnostics and repair procedures is crucial for this type of work.

Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback. Finally got the repair done at a specialized shop that focuses on luxury vehicles with air suspension systems. The total came to 850 Euro for parts and labor, which seems reasonable given the complexity. They confirmed my air bellows was leaking and also found a worn shock absorber that needed replacement. The entire job took about 5 hours. The mechanic walked me through everything they did and showed me the damaged parts, which I appreciated. Been driving for about 2 weeks now and the suspension issue is completely fixed. The ride height adjusts perfectly and the car sits level again. No more error messages or rough riding. The air spring system is working like new. Really glad I got this taken care of quickly before it caused more problems. Having a trustworthy shop made a huge difference, they even gave me a detailed report showing all the suspension components they checked during diagnosis.