Keep an Eye on Your Air Valve Block

Keep an Eye on Your Air Valve Block

If you want to keep your air suspension system running smoothly, it's important to keep an eye on your air valve block. These little components are responsible for distributing the right amount of air to each part of your vehicle's suspension, and a failed one can cause serious damage to your car.

The air valve block is a component of an air suspension system that is typically made up of an aluminum block with electronic solenoids and valves that control the air delivery to each corner of your car's suspension. These solenoids are activated by the ECU, also known as the electronic control unit, which determines how much air is needed to get the job done.

Besides the compressor, the air valve block is the most important part of an air suspension system, as it regulates the flow of pressurized air to the air springs and air struts of your vehicle. It contains four to six outlets that connect to the air supply lines. Each outlet is equipped with an electronically-controlled solenoid valve that sends the correct amount of air to each corner of your vehicle’s suspension.

There are several reasons why the air valve block on your car may fail. These include overworking and drying rot of the O-Rings that hold air inside, moisture damage to the electrical solenoid components and clogging of the valve block due to dirt particles in the air.

Overheating of the solenoid valves is another common reason for their failure. This can happen when the compressor runs too often and heats up the air valve block too quickly, damaging the internal components.

Small metal particles can also clog the solenoid valves, disrupting air distribution. If the air compressor breaks down or the solenoid valves corrode, these issues will affect your entire suspension system.

A faulty air suspension solenoid valve block is a serious problem that can cause the air bags in your vehicle to inflate incorrectly and, in turn, damage the tires of your car. If this occurs, you could end up in a ghastly motor accident, as the tires will no longer be able to grip the ground.

When choosing an air valve block for your car, it's important to consider several factors, including quality of components and compatibility with your air suspension system. A cheap one can deliver poor performance and even damage your vehicle, so be sure to shop around before buying a replacement for your air suspension system.

Arnott offers two direct replacement air suspension solenoid valve blocks for your BMW 5 Series and X5. The first is K-2897, which replaces the OE part number NF8VZ5319AA on 2004-'10 5 Series (E61 Chassis) wagons. The second is K-2898, which replaces the OE part numbers F6AZ5319AA and 8W1Z5319A on 2007-'13 X5 (E70 Chassis) vehicles. Both are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty in North America and the European Union.

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