Air suspension question

[LuvMyE92]

My 2018 Alpina B7 will often adjust the suspension height after I get home and park it. That doesn't concern me much. However yesterday I was out driving, and sitting at a traffic light (after running about 45 MPH down the road) the car decided to lower itself. I'm not used to air suspensions, so I don't know what is normal behavior for these things.

I was by myself, I'm a lightweight (150 lbs.) nothing in the trunk, no reason that I can think of for it to be adjusting itself. No codes, messages or blinking lights. Is this normal behavior?

Thanks,
Michael

[LuckyW]

If none of the sides or individual wheel suspension fall off after a night of parking, you have nothing to worry about ...

[Al Pinã]

It depends on what driving mode you use. In adaptive mode it will adjust the suspension settings according to the road ahead.

Also if you were on uneven pavement while stopped the car will try to level itself after a while.

[13M5F10]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

My 2018 Alpina B7 will often adjust the suspension height after I get home and park it. That doesn't concern me much. However yesterday I was out driving, and sitting at a traffic light (after running about 45 MPH down the road) the car decided to lower itself. I'm not used to air suspensions, so I don't know what is normal behavior for these things.

I was by myself, I'm a lightweight (150 lbs.) nothing in the trunk, no reason that I can think of for it to be adjusting itself. No codes, messages or blinking lights. Is this normal behavior?

Thanks,
Michael

It happens. It's constantly adjusting as you drive and between different driving environments

[LuvMyE92]

Thanks, guys and gals! The only car I've ever owned before with air suspension was a Porsche Panamera, and it never did these things, so I'm slightly paranoid - especially since the warranty runs out next month!

[13M5F10]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

Thanks, guys and gals! The only car I've ever owned before with air suspension was a Porsche Panamera, and it never did these things, so I'm slightly paranoid - especially since the warranty runs out next month!

I feel ya there! That's the last thing you want going out outside of warranty … lol

The 7 is very sophisticated.

[Wills2]

I'd be inclined to get a warranty.

[24nrb]

Originally Posted by LuckyW

If none of the sides or individual wheel suspension fall off after a night of parking, you have nothing to worry about ...

What might be the problem if one individual suspension falls off after a night of parking? It just happened to me…

[g11hoonigan]

Sounds normal. Mine does the same among other things it thinks is best for it lol

Another good side of self-leveling suspension is the rear doesn't sag when the car is loaded.

[LuvMyE92]

Update: I took the car in for warranty service this week as the warranty expires on the 30th of this month. I mentioned the suspension and they determined that there was (is) something wrong with the front struts, so they have ordered two replacement units. Glad this was caught under warranty, as I'd hate to think what these buggers cost from BMW.

On another note, I am absolutely loving this car (B7)! As you can see from my sig below, I've owned a few BMWs, including several 7 series, and this beast is just phenomenal. The combination of handling and ride quality, quiet, and of course performance continues to amaze me. I had a nice new 540i loaner, which was much smaller, agile and lighter, but doesn't handle as well, isn't quite as refined and made me glad that I had spent the ridiculous amount of money that I spent to buy this car.

[KK22]

Glad you're loving the new whip! Some of these posts really want to make me jump to a V8 but having had a few court appearances for speeding already, I promised the wife I've mended my ways and need something luxurious not fast

I was also looking at the G80 (second/wifes car) and saw you've already owned a G82! Did that not keep your interest for long? I'd imagine it would be as fast and handle better, I did test drive one (manual) and thought it was phenomenal. Any thoughts against the Alpina?

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by KK22

I was also looking at the G80 (second/wifes car) and saw you've already owned a G82! Did that not keep your interest for long? I'd imagine it would be as fast and handle better, I did test drive one (manual) and thought it was phenomenal. Any thoughts against the Alpina?

You can't compare the G8x and G12. Totally different animals.

The M4 was great, and still held my interest. Owning two very expensive cars (plus the wife's) just didn't appeal to me right now. Buying the Alpina, kind of a bucket list car, was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment thing. I spent too much.

Yes, the M4 handles much better, but the Alpina is actually faster (600 vs. 400 HP, 8-spd AWD versus 6-spd RWD). Much faster. Stupid fast.

The only things against the Alpina are the size, the G11/12 is only available as the G12 long wheelbase in the USA, and the weight, close to 5000 lbs. It's a big heavy car, which makes it incredibly comfortable, but even with the active suspension it's still a lot of weight in the turns. That, and that it's based on the 7 series, which is the most problematic high tech complicated advanced car in the BMW fleet, so there is a lot of stuff that can go wrong with it. OK, you could make the argument that the new i4 is the most high tech car in the fleet, but it doesn't have all of the options and features of the 7.

[Bagum4uK]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

My 2018 Alpina B7 will often adjust the suspension height after I get home and park it. That doesn't concern me much. However yesterday I was out driving, and sitting at a traffic light (after running about 45 MPH down the road) the car decided to lower itself. I'm not used to air suspensions, so I don't know what is normal behavior for these things.

I was by myself, I'm a lightweight (150 lbs.) nothing in the trunk, no reason that I can think of for it to be adjusting itself. No codes, messages or blinking lights. Is this normal behavior?

Thanks,
Michael

Yes it's normal! Air suspension there always calculate measuring.

For example: I'm go inside car, start engine- and see as front goes up! The same situation is once you finish driving - going out , take all what you need and close it. If you stay near, you hear noise and see as car goes down!

The same goes on road - after some speed car goes lower .

[billy.gif]

Originally Posted by Bagum4uK

Yes it's normal! Air suspension there always calculate measuring.

For example: I'm go inside car, start engine- and see as front goes up! The same situation is once you finish driving - going out , take all what you need and close it. If you stay near, you hear noise and see as car goes down!

The same goes on road - after some speed car goes lower .

Yea, 1st time I parked my car after I bought it I heard faint "leaking" sound at LR corner. I was sure that of course there's a nail in tire and proceed to call a tow truck.

Only to find out that "leaking sound" stopped and there was no nail to be found. Turned out it was the air suspension trying to figure out how to have a afternoon rest.

I was rather embarrassed but luckily the tow truck guy was a easy going dude. No harm no foul

For me the "true" four corner air suspension (opposed to the F01 rear only) has been a blessing as I live in North Europe. With snow comes various snow related challenges, for example plow trucks tend to leave small snowbanks and those tend to ice up -> I can raise the car ~1 inch (20mm) in order to avoid the belly to scrape when entering parking lots etc etc.

[Bagum4uK]

Originally Posted by billy.gif

Yea, 1st time I parked my car after I bought it I heard faint "leaking" sound at LR corner. I was sure that of course there's a nail in tire and proceed to call a tow truck.

Only to find out that "leaking sound" stopped and there was no nail to be found. Turned out it was the air suspension trying to figure out how to have a afternoon rest.

I was rather embarrassed but luckily the tow truck guy was a easy going dude. No harm no foul

For me the "true" four corner air suspension (opposed to the F01 rear only) has been a blessing as I live in North Europe. With snow comes various snow related challenges, for example plow trucks tend to leave small snowbanks and those tend to ice up -> I can raise the car ~1 inch (20mm) in order to avoid the belly to scrape when entering parking lots etc etc.

Yes you're right! But anyway it's much better to drive if compare with previous body model.

I replaced front Suspensions by warranty before, no issues was, some sounds once you driving by off-road.

Anyway all is pretty cool until all works 😉🤣