How to Activate the Lift Mode on BMW 730Li?

[MadelynLee]

When the vehicle is lifted off the ground by a lift, the air suspension system will close the relevant solenoid valves, and the computer will memorize the vehicle height. This is 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 sensors.

[MacChloe]

I know this well, I've seen the technician operate it at the 4S store last time. To activate the lifting mode, you need to park and shift to P first, then find the 'Parking & Chassis' option in the vehicle settings menu. There's a hidden 'Vehicle Lift Mode' switch inside—just tap to enable it. Remember not to press the brake during the whole process, otherwise the air suspension will auto-level. If successfully enabled, a yellow maintenance icon will pop up on the dashboard. Here’s the key—before lifting, wait until the suspension fully depressurizes and the lift pad can fit securely, otherwise the suspension lines could get damaged. A friend of mine didn’t know this and nearly tore the airbag while changing brake discs—repairs are expensive. Don’t forget to turn off the mode afterward, or the suspension won’t auto-adjust on bumpy roads.

[VonMargaret]

Activating lift mode isn't actually difficult - the key is locating the vehicle settings button next to the electronic gear selector. Long-press to enter the service menu, select the 'Chassis Maintenance' option, then tap 'Prepare for Vehicle Lifting' to confirm activation. Two critical reminders: 1) After activation, the vehicle height becomes fixed - don't exceed 30km/h while driving; 2) Wait two minutes before lifting until you hear the 'hissing' depressurization sound from the chassis. Last time, a mechanic at the neighboring shop lifted the car without waiting for pressure release, resulting in immediate air spring failure and an 8,000+ yuan loss for the shop owner. Remember to deactivate the mode after repairs - the system will prompt 'Disable lift mode?' at shutdown, simply select 'Yes'.

[ElliottRose]

BMW's lifting mode is quite intelligent. Just go to the vehicle application on the central control screen, select 'Chassis Height Adjustment', and switch to maintenance mode. The system will automatically lock the air suspension to prevent it from moving. This design mainly prevents damage to the suspension system during repairs, as the air springs are under pressure and could burst if forced. I've seen repair shops lift the car without activating this mode, resulting in a loud bang and bent connecting rods. After activating this mode, the dashboard will issue a warning if the speed exceeds 30 km/h—don't force it. Remember to deactivate it in the same menu after repairs; otherwise, the suspension won't auto-level during normal driving, making speed bumps uncomfortably bumpy.

[OElliana]

Operation Tips in Three Steps: Park the car and shift to P, turn on the ignition without starting the engine, navigate to the 'Vehicle Status' menu in iDrive. Select the lifting mode under maintenance services, and confirm to initiate the slow lowering of the chassis. Wait until it fully descends, which takes about 90 seconds. At this point, there should be a four-finger width gap between each wheel arch and the tire. Once, a neighbor rushed to change a tire without waiting for the pressure to release, and as soon as the car was jacked up, a metal tearing sound was heard, ultimately requiring a tow and replacement of two shock absorbers. A little tip: the auto start-stop function will be disabled while this mode is active and will only resume after the mode is turned off.

[LaBrantley]

In our workshop, we deal with BMWs every day, and the key to activating the lifting mode lies in pressure release. Access the 'Vehicle Settings' through the iDrive controller, select the tire pressure monitoring menu, scroll down, and you'll find the 'Jack Mode' option. Remember not to move the vehicle after activation; before lifting the wheels off the ground, ensure the wrench icon lights up on the dashboard. The safest approach is to measure the wheel arch height with a tape measure and wait until all four wheels stabilize around 68 cm before lifting the vehicle. Last month, an X5 owner changed their winter tires without releasing the pressure and lifted the car directly, resulting in a cracked air suspension air tank. The repair bill I saw was 23,000. After repairs, always remember to deactivate the mode and restart the vehicle.