Rear air bags sagging when off

[Ehloo]

Never noticed to recently. Bags completely deflated and wheels sitting on the fenders. When I turn the car on everything back to normal. Second time I have seen this. I usually leave the key in the car but this time it wasn’t. Sat in the garage for 3 days not driven

Warranty coming due and wondering despite it going back is this a sign of a issue coming

[r33_RGSport]

Some says it is normal for bag to lose pressure overtime, some says it is not normal.
Based on what I see in the design, as long as you don't have pin hole in the bags, losing pressure overtime is perfectly fine.
Because of the design on the air hose connected to the bags is not 100% sealed connection, it is normal to lose pressure overtime from just sitting.

[nanwang]

Are you Lowered ？ Any pic？

[nanwang]

Lowered ？ Any pic？

[Ehloo]

I am. Just weird that it never did it before and goes back to normal after I turn the car on

Originally Posted by nanwang

Lowered ？ Any pic？

[iconoclast]

since you're lowered i would wager you have a tear or a hole in the bags.

[Ehloo]

Both bags? What’s puzzling is when I leave the key in the car no issues. Only when’s its not

Originally Posted by iconoclast

since you're lowered i would wager you have a tear or a hole in the bags.

[iconoclast]

just guessing but one probably had the hole or tear first then it sagged and tore the other. can't say for certain unless on the lift.

[Logical]

Mine does the same thing. And it's lowered. I disagree with the comments above if there was a hole in the bag the compressor would be running while the car is Running to compensate for air loss, which would lead to codes being thrown

[Logical]

Wouldnt a leaking or torn bag lead to compressor running while car is being driven which would lead to codes being thrown?

Originally Posted by iconoclast

just guessing but one probably had the hole or tear first then it sagged and tore the other. can't say for certain unless on the lift.

[iconoclast]

Depends on low long the compressor runs. On other vehicles the code is only thrown if the compressor reaches a certain operating temp. Again, I am only speculating but without getting it on the lift there is no certainty as to what the issue may be. I was lowered on my previous X5M and never had any sagging issues even if parked for extended periods.

[ferrarif1]

I would equate sagging when parked to you have a leak in your airbag(s). You can delay this repair but it will cost you a lot more to fix later when you have to replace the compressor as well.

At a minimum I would have it checked out as $750 now is a lot better than $2k later.

It's about a 30 minute job per side to replace bladders if you are handy.

[Ehloo]

Did yours just start doing that out of no where.? How many miles

Although I have seen it before I have never the bags completely deflate. I have aggresive offsets in my wheels and they literally were sitting on the fenders

Originally Posted by Logical

Mine does the same thing. And it's lowered. I disagree with the comments above if there was a hole in the bag the compressor would be running while the car is Running to compensate for air loss, which would lead to codes being thrown

[Logical]

I'm at 60k miles but she isn't sitting on the fenders. I'll take a pic and post to show you


QUOTE=Ehloo;24598774]Did yours just start doing that out of no where.? How many miles

Although I have seen it before I have never the bags completely deflate. I have aggresive offsets in my wheels and they literally were sitting on the fenders

Originally Posted by Logical

Mine does the same thing. And it's lowered. I disagree with the comments above if there was a hole in the bag the compressor would be running while the car is Running to compensate for air loss, which would lead to codes being thrown

[/QUOTE]

[musa]

That does not seem normal at all. I was out of the country for just over a month, and when I came back, I found my X6M exactly the same height all round - absolutely no sagging. But my old E53 X5 which I'd been working on with the battery disconnected, had sagged several inches during that time I was away. After connecting the battery and turning on the ignition, the rear rose and has been fine since. Incidentally, the X5 is lowered with H&R springs and has new arnoitte airbags, hhmm.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Logical

Mine does the same thing. And it's lowered. I disagree with the comments above if there was a hole in the bag the compressor would be running while the car is Running to compensate for air loss, which would lead to codes being thrown

It will not throw a code just cuz the compressor runs. Operating temp maybe as iCon said but the compressor is designed to run if the sensor says it's low. And you probably don't hear it while your driving. It's not loud and X5 isn't a quiet car.

The leak may not be with the bag but where the hose connects to the bag. That's where both mine where. It's a plastic hose that's crimped in a metal bolt and screwed in. Plastic is not elastic like rubber and eventually will weaken. You can try just removing bag and unplugging hose and cutting it back a bit to fresh plastic and reseating it in the bolt.

Or replace the bag. As said above. Not hard at all.

[pk9394]

only 3 days you got sag, is not normal

[Logical]

Be careful when replacing the bags. BMW knows they are wear items and designed accordingly. I had an E70 a month into ownership it was sagging like a 64 impala. I bought the arnott replacement bag. Should be a piece o cake, right? Not so much...the engineers want you to take it to the $tealer. They gave no extra slack on the air lines and it took a couple attempts to get a good seal. Order extra hose fitting because they are one shot deal. If you get a bad seal you have to cut the line again and try new fitting. The job should be done on a lift. Good luck.

Originally Posted by Maverik259

It will not throw a code just cuz the compressor runs. Operating temp maybe as iCon said but the compressor is designed to run if the sensor says it's low. And you probably don't hear it while your driving. It's not loud and X5 isn't a quiet car.

The leak may not be with the bag but where the hose connects to the bag. That's where both mine where. It's a plastic hose that's crimped in a metal bolt and screwed in. Plastic is not elastic like rubber and eventually will weaken. You can try just removing bag and unplugging hose and cutting it back a bit to fresh plastic and reseating it in the bolt.

Or replace the bag. As said above. Not hard at all.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Logical

Be careful when replacing the bags. BMW knows they are wear items and designed accordingly. I had an E70 a month into ownership it was sagging like a 64 impala. I bought the arnott replacement bag. Should be a piece o cake, right? Not so much...the engineers want you to take it to the $tealer. They gave no extra slack on the air lines and it took a couple attempts to get a good seal. Order extra hose fitting because they are one shot deal. If you get a bad seal you have to cut the line again and try new fitting. The job should be done on a lift. Good luck.

I had plenty of slack in the air line. You can unclip it from 2 or 3 clamps and move quite freely.

And yes the are hose bolt itself is sketchy. I broke one of mine but was able to super glue it back together.

[ferrarif1]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

I had plenty of slack in the air line. You can unclip it from 2 or 3 clamps and move quite freely.

And yes the are hose bolt itself is sketchy. I broke one of mine but was able to super glue it back together.

You should be able to just push hose into new fitting, no wrench required!

I do recommend trimming the factory line to just past where the original brass clamp was (you will see small deformation in line) to install smooth line in the new bag. This ensures a good seal.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by ferrarif1

You should be able to just push hose into new fitting, no wrench required!

I do recommend trimming the factory line to just past where the original brass clamp was (you will see small deformation in line) to install smooth line in the new bag. This ensures a good seal.

Umm yes. Although not sure what you mean by not needing a wrench. You saying you just ripped it out and shoved it back in? Not recommended

[ferrarif1]

Yes, use wrench to remove original fitting and preserve as much line as possible.