Air suspension occaisonally sinking

[hankhill]

Posting this in the A6 section as there seem to be way more people here and the A7 is mechanically similar. Hope that’s OK.

My cherished 2010 A7 (3.0Tfsi), which I have owned for 4½ years and have hardly used for the last 2 years (like 2,500 a year) has recently developed an intermittent habit of sinking down on the air suspension on one side, a few days after driving. It’s happened 3 or 4 times in the last couple of months and always seems to happen after driving when I leave the car parked in dynamic mode (suspension lowered). The near side rear suspension air bag was replaced around 4 years ago after literally exploding one day on the M1 (I have another post here about that) and it looks like it’s sinking on the offside rear this time.

When I unlock the car and then just open a door, without even turning on the ignition, it immediately rises again and the car drives perfectly. I videoed this today, see here - A7 air suspension - YouTube

I did a VCDS scan today just after it happened, and nothing came up apart from this –

Address 34: Level Control (J197) Labels: 4G0-907-553.clb
Part No SW: 4G0 907 553 B HW: 4G0 907 553
Component: LUFE-DAEMPFER H17 0778
Coding: 008002
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
ASAM Dataset: EV_AirSuspe 003022
ROD: EV_AirSuspe_AU57.rod
VCID: 2A43141B1CFFD0D261C404D-807E
1 Fault Found:
403200 - Function Shut-Off Active
C10C8 00 [008] - -
Intermittent - Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 6
Fault Frequency: 2
Reset counter: 133
Mileage: 102424 km
Date: 2020.09.10
Time: 16:45:42

But – the time of this error above was 10^th September - 2 weeks before it happened today, and I have seen this error many times before (I scan fairly regularly) so I’m not convinced its related.

Is this likely to be another new suspension airbag, or just a minor loose pipe or leak somewhere? Can I leave it, as it still drives perfectly with no errors or warnings, or am I living on borrowed time? (if so, anyone wanna buy a low mileage fully loaded A7 3.0T?)

[Allroad_2013]

Try contacting http://www.bagpipingandy.com/ seems to be an expert in air suspension and is well regarded.

[hankhill]

Thanks, but he seems to be focussed on the compressor, whereas its the airbag / air spring that I'm pretty sure needs replacing. I'm getting quotes, anyone know an air suspension specialist around NW London/Herts? Clearly I don't want to pay Audi main dealer rates for a 10 year old car.

[Whippy53]

Not the residual air pressure valve then.

[hankhill]

Not sure what you mean about the 0-60 time?

[Elansear]

It’s his signature