The moment I first saw the BMW X5, its captivating design immediately caught my attention. However, the most frustrating problem with the X5 is undoubtedly its unresponsive air suspension, for which the one effective fix is a reset.
There are mainly two ways to perform the Air Suspension Reset– you can either use a scanner or conduct a whole body hard reset. To reset the BMW X5 Air Suspension with a tool, first connect the device and insert the calibration value. To hard reset, put the battery plus & minus cable together.
However, remember the hard reset will roll back all your settings to their original stage, and you need to customize all the settings from scratch. Read this article to get a more in-depth overview of both.
What Does BMW X5 Air Suspension Reset Mean?
Resetting the Air Suspension means rolling back all your Suspension settings to the factory condition.
The air suspension in the BMW X5 helps you waft gently over undulating surfaces. So that you can enjoy smoother rides with less vibration and bumpiness.
But sometimes, you might notice the Air Suspension warning light on your dashboard even after everything is Okay. It happens because the X5’s computer believes the compressor does not provide enough air to the Air Suspension.
Thus, you must reset the air suspension to resolve this issue and clear the warning.
How To Reset Air Suspension In Your BMW X5?
Usually, there are three methods to reset your BMW X5’s air suspension. Among them, using the tool won’t hard reset your BMW X5, but the remaining three will.
But worry not; there aren’t any risks when you hard reset your car. Here’s a detailed walkthrough for each method:
Method 1. Using Tool
For this method, you need a car diagnostic tool. Though I’ve used the VERUS® Edge Diagnostic tool from Snap-on, you can use any alternative from the market. It won’t impact this step-by-step guide because most of the Tool works almost the same.
Follow this process to reset the BMW X5 air suspension with a Diagnostic tool:
- Connect the Diagnostic Tool: First, grab VERUS® Edge and plug it into the port near the driver’s side panel.
- Run a Diagnostic Scan: Press the scan/start button and look for two specific fault codes: 5F99 and 5F9A.
- Check Suspension Data: After getting those fault codes, check the suspension data on the tool’s screen because those numbers will tell you if your car is sitting too low. If you see negative values, then you need to reset the suspension.
- Preparation: Before you hit the reset button, park your car on a flat surface, and don’t load up your car’s dickey.
- Input Calibration Value: Use the tool’s data to set the calibration value after parking. You should set the number between 500 and 1000 millimeters. But remember, the numbers must be the same for each vertical tire. For example, if you choose 750 millimeters for the rear left, input the same value for the rear right.
- Start the Reset: Push the ‘calibrate’ button on your screen.
- Wait to complete the Calibration: Wait until the process completes. It may take some time.
- Run Flat Indicator: Once done, your car might ask you to start the Run-Flat indicator. Just follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
After completing the steps, run the diagnostic tool one more time using. If everything looks good, you are good to go.
Method 2. Using Battery Connection
You can also reset the air suspension on your BMW X5 using the car battery. However, as I said, it may reset your car’s computer system.
Use these steps to reset the x5 air suspension using the battery connection:
- Disconnect the Battery: Open up your car’s hood and disconnect the cables from your car’s battery.
- Touch the Cables Together: Carefully touch the plus and minus battery cables and keep them connected for about ten minutes. It will drain any remaining electricity in the vehicle and reset the system.
- Reconnect the Battery: After the ten minutes are up, reconnect the battery cables, tighten the nuts, and close the hood.
- Start the Vehicle: Now, start your BMW X5 and test the air suspension.
After completing the steps, the self-leveling suspension computer will roll back to factory mode, and you won’t see any warning lights on your car’s dashboard.
Method 3. Using The Suspension Level Switch
You can also reset your car’s air suspension by turning it off and then turning it on again. Here are the steps:
- Turn on your BMW X5
- Hold the suspension level switch down until the green dashed line disappears from your dashboard screen. Usually, seven to ten seconds is enough for this process.
- After that, turn off your car for 10 minutes.
- Start your car and turn on the suspension level switch again.
And when you start the air suspension, it will start working without any issues.
What Problems Does BMW X5 Air Suspension Reset Fix?
In addition to the unnecessary warning light on your dashboard, I have found some other times when your BMW x5 may require a leveling system reset. Here, I’ve listed these reasons:
Suspension Troubles
If you start feeling like your car’s ride isn’t as smooth as it used to be, like bouncing more than you should be–You need to reset the air suspension.
Height Adjustment Issue
As a luxury crossover SUV, the BMW X5 typically rides higher than regular sedans, and the air suspension maintains that height.
But When this system malfunctions, you’ll notice the vehicle lowering, and you won’t be able to adjust its position. If you are in such a situation, I recommend resetting the air suspension.
Wheel Compression
When your wheels are all squished together, and you feel like the car is carrying heavy loads, there’s something wrong with your air suspension. And a reset will solve that problem.
Additionally, when you change the air suspension to a spring one or install a new model, I recommend resetting the BMW X5. Because a factory reset will help the car’s computer to sync the new suspension properly.
Is it risky to reset your BMW X5’s air suspension?
No, the BMW X5 air suspensions are usually safe to reset. During my time with the BMW X5, I’ve reset the air suspension countless times but never got any issues with it.
However, you must park your car on a flat surface and not put extra weight inside it.
Because if your car is on an uneven surface or has stuff in it, during reset, the vehicle may get too low, or the position of your tire can become unstable. And in both situations, you won’t be able to drive your car.
Frequently Asked Question
Here, I’ve gathered some frequently asked questions about the BMW X5 and its air suspension. This question–answer section will give you some valuable information about the car and its various features.
Do All BMW X5s Have Air Suspensions?
Well, if you tick the Air Suspensions box during your order from BMW, you will get Air Suspensions in your car. But if you don’t, then they will add a standard suspension,
What Type Of Suspension Is On A BMW X5?
You mainly get a normal spring suspension with a BMW X5. However, if you tick mark the Air Suspensions box, you will get the adaptive two-axle air suspension. Also, the X5 xDrive50e model includes an air suspension by default.
Should You Drive Your BMW X5 with the Air Suspension Warning Light?
Well, It depends on the condition of your X5. You can drive on plain, non-bumpy roads if it’s a slow leak in one bag. However, don’t drive the car if the compressor is not working. Because those impacts can harm your car’s body.
Conclusion
And there you have it. BMW X5 air suspension reset is a simple process. However, if your BMW X5 has any suspension issue, you should diagnose your car first before resetting it hard.
But when the hard reset doesn’t solve your problem, there must be some problem with the compressor tank or the strut mechanism. In such cases, you must go to a professional and check your car thoroughly.
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