Re: Self Leveling Suspension (archive)

Jack your car up and remove the right rear wheel. Follow the hydraulic hose that runs from the strut to a black object about the size of a softball that is mounted to the underside of the trunk floor. That is an accumulator. (One per side, but the one on the driver's side is a little harder to see.) About $95 ea from J.A.C. and not all that hard to change, providing you have adequate tools and skills. You will need to bleed the system afterwards - this proceedure is outlined in the Bently manual.
From what I've read, struts that show some minor fluid seepage they are OK but if one or both are dripping fluid they both should be replaced. This is expensive and a more difficult task. Still, I would bite the bullet and do it and keep the car stock. BMW designed it that way and I have seen some posts from people who did away with their LAD system and were not all that happy with the results.

if the shocks drip while or shortly after the car has been jacked up this is normal also.
Always give it time to settle back in (road test)before determining how badly the shocks are leaking.
Brian P.

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