'01 E38 LR strut assembly drop

[georgerobertlee]

Gents,

I've got the entitled vehicle with S/EDC where the left rear has noticably dropped - 1+ inches. Right side is fine. Thought it was the strut - and just replaced. Guess what - still the same!!! I'm dying...

So it's not central to both sides, and it's not the strut itself - please dear lord (that's you) tell me what's left on the suspect list?

If you can show me the light, I will glady buy you a Christmas present - sincerely.

Thank you in advance!

George

[dazednkenfused]

Does your car have EDC/SLS?

[georgerobertlee]

Yes sir! SLS & EDC.

Considering what's left...possibly the pressure accumulator?

Or part of the control module malfunctioning (by the glove box)? I was thinking probably NOT the control module, as that would affect both sides if bad - in theory. Don't know if there is a chance it could be faulty and only effect one side...

[noodlesandsam]

Check the swaybar attachment points. The swaybar is integral to the leveling functions.

[S.Hafsmo]

the swaybar would affect both sides.
I'd bet on the accumulators.

[noodlesandsam]

Good point. Does it only sag when off, or all the time?

RY

[georgerobertlee]

It appears to be under load.

When it sits in a parking lot, it appears to be level/same on both sides. When it sits on the incline of my driveway, that's when it's a inch lower; LR=27" vs RR=28" from ground to top of wheel well.

This is when the car is in the default position (which I call Cadillac mode). I will go press the button which is the 'Sport mode' and see how things lower comparatively.

[S.Hafsmo]

The car won't lower by pressing the EDC button (or any other for that matter). The SLS will only compensate for trunk/rear seat load.

You could try to unbolt the SLS adjustment valve and lift the car up and down to see if just one side lifts.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/mojocoggo/my_e38/diagrams/DSC_5096.jpg

Please drive the car up on ramps or something so you don't crush your self when the car lowers. ;)

[georgerobertlee]

My pics: 99.9.97.193/photo/

OMG - I'm such a clown...

I actually do *NOT* have the SLS option - just S/EDC! So lame I didn't know, but that definitely took a lot of the components off the suspect list.

Based on the diagram in my link, if we've already replaced the strut - then the only other 'active' component as part of this system would appear to be the control unit - right?

So if the control unit was faulty, then is it possible that one strut would stay hard and the other soft?

Remember that it looks fine when not on an incline, but then loses a little over an inch when on an incline = weight shifted/load, where LR does not hold strong. Note the ass on left (bad side) looks flat, while on the right (good side) looks normal.

Couldn't be anything bent (didn't see anything bent) or a spring - since that wouldn't equate to a dynamic condition - rather it would be bad all the time?

So thinking buy an EDC control unit now and try that?

Wackadoo!!!

[S.Hafsmo]

The EDC system won't affect the ride hight. It only adjusts a valve inside the shock, to restrict the flow of oil going from one of the pistio to the other. Even if one of the shocks was stuck on the hardest setting, it would just take a moment longer for the shock to extend fully, compared to the shock on normal soft setting. It would not "lock" the shock in a lower position.

Worn bushings?