How to Activate the Lift Mode on an Older BMW 7 Series?
2 Answers
When the vehicle is lifted off the ground by a jack, the air suspension system closes the relevant solenoid valves, and the computer records the vehicle height to maintain the original height after the vehicle is lowered. This refers to the engine running state. During driving, if the vehicle height changes beyond a certain range, the air suspension system will adjust the vehicle height at regular intervals. When the air suspension system is activated by the remote key, door switch, or trunk lid switch, the system will check the vehicle height via the body level sensor.
Back when I first started working at a BMW specialty shop, I handled quite a few older 7 Series models. Activating lift mode is actually pretty straightforward. First, you need to power on the vehicle without starting the engine—just turn the key to the position where the dashboard lights up. Then, navigate to the vehicle settings menu via the iDrive controller, select the maintenance option, and scroll through until you find the lift mode switch. This feature is particularly useful as it prevents damage to the air suspension system during lifting. I've seen cases where owners forgot to activate it, resulting in suspension airbags collapsing during maintenance. Make sure the car is parked on level ground and the gearshift is in Park (P) position before enabling lift mode, otherwise the system won't allow activation. Finally, remember to deactivate it after servicing—leaving it on could compromise driving safety.
