Air suspension leak

Hi Guys,

I have replaced the rear air bags on my p38. it is fine on the driver's side but the passenger's side is leaking. The car takes a few days to go down. I have replaced the pipe going into the collet plug but there is a piece of weld on the chassis making it difficult. I presume this piece of weld has been there since manufacture? It is still leaking after replacing the pipe.

Any help would be much appreciated

Have you definitely located the exact source of the leak? If not, that would be your first job, I would suggest. You can use soapy water or similar for this - although if it's taking several days to go down, that's a pretty small leak... Standing by to be corrected by others who know better though!!

I have done the soap test it is coming from this one only it is not a lot just a few bubbles

When I replaced my air bags I had my son push the collet in while pushed in the pipe to make sure it went all the way in but the pipes must be spottless any grit wont help them seal !

Reading rave about replacing pipes i came across a tip that you use a pencil sharpener to put a taper on the end of the pipe to assist on getting it to seat properly.

I had no issues getting my pipes back in - they do have to go in quite a long way though. Is it from the actual collet plug / hole itself that it's leaking?

Don't exclude the possibility of a 'bad' new airbag though - if you've replaced the pipe, and it is fitted correctly and all the way in, that seems the only other possible answer.

You could try pulling the pipe and then refitting it using a suitable bit of lube to get it to seat properly in the new o-rings inside the collet. Diluted washing up liquid should be ok, shouldn't it? Or maybe something silicone based?

Could be one of the 2 "O" rings in the airbag is twisted or misplaced. Pull the pipe out, check it has no score marks, hook the collet and "O" rings out to check they are OK, smear with a little silicone grease or washing up liquid and re-fit, lube the pipe and re-fit.
If it's taking days to go down, I wouldn't worry too much.