Will BMW Shock Absorber Issues Trigger an Alarm?
1 Answers
BMW shock absorber issues related to the chassis will not trigger an alarm, but the air suspension malfunction light will alert you. It is recommended to replace the shock absorbers every 5 years or 80,000 kilometers. Always opt for genuine OEM shock absorbers when replacing them. OEM shock absorbers are specifically designed according to the vehicle's development requirements, making them the most reliable choice. Using non-OEM shock absorbers can lead to issues such as uneven braking, acceleration-induced veering, and inaccurate wheel alignment due to mismatched data. As the name suggests, a shock absorber is a hydraulic device that absorbs and dampens vibrations from the road. The relationship between the shock absorber and the suspension spring is inseparable. When driving on uneven roads, the tires absorb some of the bumps, and the remaining vibrations are transmitted to the suspension system supporting the tires. In the suspension system, the suspension spring primarily absorbs the bouncing feedback from the tires, while the shock absorber core prevents the spring from oscillating repeatedly (the shock absorber assembly consists of the suspension spring and the shock absorber core). During driving, the shock absorber absorbs vibrations from uneven road surfaces. When the shock absorber is in operation, the suspension spring oscillates repeatedly, and the shock absorber core tightens to restrain the spring's movement. The shock absorber core contains a hydraulic system that generates damping through the repeated compression of hydraulic oil by the piston. Over time, the hydraulic oil, piston, and hydraulic valves inside the shock absorber core may degrade, leading to reduced performance (typically, only the shock absorber core is replaced during maintenance, while the suspension spring is retained unless chassis stiffness adjustment requires its replacement).
