37 00 ... Checking Air Spring Struts For Damage

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 BMW Alpina and 2007 BMW Alpina. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: If a vehicle has been driven with depressurized air spring struts, the air spring struts must always be replaced.

Remove rear wheel arch cover . See 51 71 041 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING REAR LEFT OR RIGHT WHEEL ARCH COVER .

Air spring strut is OK:

when the seal paint (1) on the residual pressure holding valve (2) is not damaged

Fig 1: Identifying Seal Paint And Residual Pressure Holding Valve
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
when the outer guide pipe (1) is aligned straight to the air spring strut
when the outer guide pipe (1) cannot be moved by hand

Fig 2: Identifying Outer Guide Pipe
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: If one of the above-mentioned points fails the test, then the air spring strut must be replaced. See 37 12 070 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING REAR LEFT OR RIGHT AIR SPRING STRUT .