37 00 ... Checking Air Spring Struts For Damage

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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. Refer to 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 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. Refer to 37 12 070 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING REAR LEFT OR RIGHT AIR SPRING STRUT .