Do all 540i's have a self-leveling suspension?

[theschmidts04]

I am in the market for a 540 and was wondering if they all have the rear self-leveling suspension? If not, how do you tell?

[Qsilver7]

no...all 540i BMWs do NOT have rear self leveling...in fact very few do (in the USA) except the M5 (perhaps a few others). Rear self leveling is mostly a feature found on more 7 series BMWs...especially the long wheel based "iL"...but I digress.

IF the rear shocks have hydraulic lines running to them, or if you look under the rear and see pressure accumulators (aka "bombs") on each side of the of the rear axle...or raise the hood and check the power steering reservoir for the usage of Pentosin CHF Oil (instead of ATF)...then it will have rear self leveling. The power steering reservoir is even larger and many times made of metal if the car is equipped with rear self leveling...(instead of a smaller black all plastic reservoir for regular suspension cars).

Regular suspension power steering reservoir:


In the pic below (top row/far left frame) you can see the diagram of the regular power steering reservoir (left) and the reservoir for cars with rear self leveling (right). The other frames contain the different configuration of rear self leveling power steering reservoirs as ABS and other features were added.


also, the regular reservoir's lid has an integrated dipstick .... the larger rear self leveling power steering reservoir does not have a dip stick.

[Dwayne]

no...all 540i BMWs do NOT have rear self leveling...in fact very few do (in the USA) except the M5 (perhaps a few others). Rear self leveling is mostly a feature found on more 7 series BMWs...especially the long wheel based "iL"...but I digress.

I don't really agree with this. Plenty of 5ers came with the self-leveling suspension, but they're pretty much all touring models, not sedans (I'm not even sure that the SLS was available in the sedan).

[Phat Ham]

I don't really agree with this. Plenty of 5ers came with the self-leveling suspension, but they're pretty much all touring models, not sedans (I'm not even sure that the SLS was available in the sedan).

But touring models in general are pretty rare, which would also make the SLS rare.

I was also under the impression that only the touring models came with SLS.

[dagoo98]

But touring models in general are pretty rare, which would also make the SLS rare.

I was also under the impression that only the touring models came with SLS.

I agree, I don't think the M5 had SLS.

[jimmyz2]

I agree, I don't think the M5 had SLS.

All E34's did.

[Qsilver7]

My reply above was based on an assumption that the original poster was referring to the 540i (sedan)...and I extrapolated that fact further (in my mind) that he meant the sedans because the original poster specifically stated all 540i 5 series.

Now, take into consideration that the original post was very vague in that the 5 series 540i could be an e34 or an e39 ...then, this would exclude the e34 Touring (since there was no e34 540iT...only the 525iT and 530iT). And to take this further...there were 6658 e34 Tourings imported to the North American market between 1992-4/1996...with the majority of them being the 525iT...and add the fact that rear SLS was only available as standard equipment on the 1992-93 525iT (available as an option on the 94-95 530iT and that is out of a total of only 481 530iTs imported to No America)

E34 5 Series Touring Wagon
YEAR - MODEL - NUMBER IMPORTED

1992 - 525iT - 1778 (M50 engine)

1993 - 525iT - 1672 (M50TU engine - w/VANOS)

1994 - 525iT - 1025 (M50TU engine - w/VANOS)
1994 - 530iT - 353 (M60 30B V8 engine - Nikasil)

1995 - 525iT - 1047 (M50TU engine - w/VANOS)
1995 - 530iT - 107 (M60 30B V8 engine - Nikasil)

1996 - 525iT - 640 (M50TU engine - w/VANOS)
1996 - 530iT - 21 (M60 30B V8 engine - Nikasil)

I would concede my point if info was provided that I've missed or overlooked as to the availability of rear self leveling installed as standard equipment or as an option in either the e34 540i or e39 540i. But again, the original poster asked about the 540i... "if they all have rear self leveling?" ... the correct answer to that question is a resounding...no. That' was my reply to him and I included the fact that perhaps the M5 and maybe a few other (e34 535i models) may have it...with few being the operative word here.

Have I won you over to my side yet? And might I add...I'm referring only to the North American market...all bets are off if you're including Europe and other international markets.

[Qsilver7]

All E34's did.

All e34s did, what? Have rear self leveling? I beg to differ...my 1995 e34 525iT does NOT have rear self leveling...and again, the original question was about the 540i...and if they all had rear self leveling...and the answer to that question is, NO.

If you have an e34 540i 5 series or an e39 540i 5 series..go to the online parts database and input the last 7 digits of your car's VIN...then see if you can pull up the diagram for the power steering reservoir that is used in cars with the rear self leveling system...or pull up the rear axle suspension diagrams and see if the rear leveling shocks/struts will appear in the parts index. Report back what you find. My bet is that you'll find that the e34 525iT(1992/93), 535i (a few), and M5 3.6 (again a few being that it's a "boutique" model).

And this is another example of when posting a question to the board and you're ambiguous as to which generation 5 series you have or you're inquiring about...you get a lot of confusing replies because you'll get a variety of assumptions from board members coming from their own perspective.

(read next phrase in the voice of a beauty pageant contestant): My wish for the world was that people would be more concise.

ps: this is my last comment (I think) on this...I'll let the rest of you duke it out!

[jimmyz2]

Sorry Qsilver7 ,I fell asleep after your second sentence.I was implying(in my mind) the E34 M5.

[sdwhitney]

Mine didn't come with rear self leveling.

But I find that when I put my big fat ass in the back seat, everything gets lower.

So, I am ok with my modded rear leveling................

[jimmyz2]

Mine didn't come with rear self leveling.

But I find that when I put my big fat ass in the back seat, everything gets lower.

So, I am ok with my modded rear leveling................

It is not that big cupcake.

[slandis]

or raise the hood and check the power steering reservoir for the usage of Pentosin CHF Oil (instead of ATF)...then it will have rear self leveling.

This isn't right either.. my 1995 540i without SLS uses Pentosin CHF, not ATF.