Another Power of INPA………….

I am not quite sure whether this has been covered in the past. Nonetheless, I haven't come across it yet thus I'll be sharing my experience.

BACKGROUND; About two weeks ago, I realized that rear suspension on my 7 was sitting really really low. I didn't quite recall having my car modded (aka slammed) despite; it aint really my cup of tea.

My 7 drove normal for a couple of days until the very first time I hit a residential speed bump. Boy! The rear suspension of my 7 felt like it doesn't have any shock dampening at all. I mean, I could feel every little bump and the ride quality felt like an army tank- Literally.

To cut long story short, I hooked up INPA and conducted an error check on '1-Axle Air suspension'. And of course, there was an error memory stored-'Energy Saving Mode Active'.

Using INPA, with a click of a button, I was able to manually raise the rear axle. The rear suspension of the car started going up until I stopped it at a set height that I felt was ok. I cleared the error memory successfully. I took it for a quick test drive, particular targeting residential bumps, and shock dampening went back to normal. What a relief.

So there I was again playing around with it. (Raising and lowering the air suspension).

CONCLUSION: If your car is equipped with Self –Leveling Air suspension in the rear axle (characterized by huge Air Spring Struts) you can control how high or low you want your rear to seat. Not quite sure but I believe this functionality is limited to the long wheel base 'Li' models only.

I thought this is really cool especially if you want to temporarily lower your suspension. And if you would like more clearance, maybe for snow driving or loose gravel, you can raise the suspension too. It takes just a minute to perform the changes and is completely reversible.

DISCLAIMER: Do this at your own risk. Even though I successfully messed around with it, the INPA function mode that enables lowering/ raising the suspension is in RED and it clearly states 'FOR DEVELOPERS ONLY'.

First picture below shows Normal Height as it currently seats.

Second set of Pictures shows it Lowered.

And Finally, when raised.

Wtf!

Originally Posted by Rookie2008

Wtf!

+1

I don't think there's much more to say

Great find Pkathee, I would be scared to do that to my 7

Good writeup bro! I figured out what was wrong with my laptop, not the cable. One of the stupid Windows Updates turned the firewall on. After I disabled the firewall, no more error. Unfortuntately, I can't do the trick in this post because mine doesn't have Self–Leveling Air Suspension system.

Nice!!!!! regarding INPA i got it installed but even though i chose english to install once i get past the F5 (E65) screen its in german any ideas?

Originally Posted by hd750Li

Good writeup bro! I figured out what was wrong with my laptop, not the cable. One of the stupid Windows Updates turned the firewall on. After I disabled the firewall, no more error. Unfortuntately, I can't do the trick in this post because mine doesn't have Self–Leveling Air Suspension system.

Ha ha. Damn firewall.

I am stumped as to what criteria BMW utilized when it came to Self–Leveling Air Suspension system. I had the impression that only long wheel base (Li) came equipped standard.

Originally Posted by jkidem

Nice!!!!! regarding INPA i got it installed but even though i chose english to install once i get past the F5 (E65) screen its in german any ideas?

Are you sure you have both Versions of INPA installed?

Usually, this happens if you fail to install the update as well.

ANyway, once you have INPA version 447, go ahead and do the update with INPA version 502.

Nice Find!

pk, is there a reset / auto calibration button in INPA or (once altered) is it just a case of setting a height you think is correct and leaving it at that..?
Does INPA give any feedback (numeric) to the ride height?

Originally Posted by pkathee

Are you sure you have both Versions of INPA installed?

Usually, this happens if you fail to install the update as well.

ANyway, once you have INPA version 447, go ahead and do the update with INPA version 502.

Its version 5.00 so i need 5.02 right

Originally Posted by Mr_Burger

pk, is there a reset / auto calibration button in INPA or (once altered) is it just a case of setting a height you think is correct and leaving it at that..?
Does INPA give any feedback (numeric) to the ride height?

Nope. No reset/ auto calibration button within INPA. In fact, when my 7 bottomed out, I did send you an email with an effort to try and compare your current 'normal' values so that I would know exactly where to set mine. But I never heard from you.

Nonetheless, INPA will provide you height sensor info ranging from -120mm to 120mm. if you decide to alter it, make sure you note/ mark your the current height sensor reading.

If you dont mark it or if you are not sure where exactly it is supposed to seat, you can do what I did. Within the -120mm to 120mm range, there is the safe zone from -20mm to 20mm. This safe zone is marked in green otherwise, everything else is in red.

As long as your values are within the green zone, then the correct height is reached. If you let it fall beyond the -20mm height or raise past 20mm height as well, the car will still be drivable and will look like the two pictures that I posted.

Remember, all the changes will be made once you hit the 'Activate' button.

Originally Posted by jkidem

Its version 5.00 so i need 5.02 right

Yes, you need 5.02.

Nice find

Originally Posted by pkathee

Nope. No reset/ auto calibration button within INPA. In fact, when my 7 bottomed out, I did send you an email with an effort to try and compare your current 'normal' values so that I would know exactly where to set mine. But I never heard from you.

Nonetheless, INPA will provide you height sensor info ranging from -120mm to 120mm. if you decide to alter it, make sure you note/ mark your the current height sensor reading.

If you dont mark it or if you are not sure where exactly it is supposed to seat, you can do what I did. Within the -120mm to 120mm range, there is the safe zone from -20mm to 20mm. This safe zone is marked in green otherwise, everything else is in red.

As long as your values are within the green zone, then the correct height is reached. If you let it fall beyond the -20mm height or raise past 20mm height as well, the car will still be drivable and will look like the two pictures that I posted.

Remember, all the changes will be made once you hit the 'Activate' button.



Yes, you need 5.02.

PM me the address you sent it to m8 as I haven't received anything

If you need to know, I can hook it up and read it later today (it's 1am here atm lol)

Thanks for the info

Originally Posted by Mr_Burger

PM me the address you sent it to m8 as I haven't received anything

If you need to know, I can hook it up and read it later today (it's 1am here atm lol)

Thanks for the info

PM sent.

& replied...

I've sent you my main email as I only use the tablet occasionally