[TheFandango]

I am looking for some advise. I am travelling, far from any repair shop and looks like the air spring on the drivers side has failed. I can hear the pump trying to inflate it but without any luck. I don't think I have other choice than to try to drive back (340 km). A few questions regarding that:

1. As far as I know it should be okay (comfort aside). I know it can put to much strain on the compressor so it may be at risk. But apart from the compressor, is it okay to drive?
2. To protect the compressor it makes sense to disconnect it prior to leaving. What is the easiest way to do that? Is there a fuse for it at the rear? And if so, does anyone know the number of the fuse?
3. Or is it better to disconnect the power to the compressor? If so, how do I do that.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[Trainwreck914]

I'm sure there's a fuse. Or you can pull the electrical connector from the pump. I drove 50 miles on bad air struts with f15 X5. Had no idea at the time. Just felt like it was really bouncy and thought the rear shocks went bad. Parked it until I got replacement air bags. Less expensive than replacing the compressor

[Matthewricha]

depending on how bad the airbag leak is, you may cause more damage by disabling the compressor.

Our 2011 530d F11 rear bag blew whilst we were on holiday in 2016 at 50k miles with a fully loaded car. We had no choice but to drive to our destination riding on bump stops. I replaced bags myself, but later became evident that by doing that I'd blown the shock absorber and knackered the anti-roll bar drop-links.

There is a cheap kit that allows you disconnect the pneumatic tubes from the compressor solenoid and pumps them up manually. probably no use right now.

I'm of the opinion that these need replacing every 50k / 5 years or sooner. I inspected my new 2016 air bags in 2018 and even then could see cracks forming where the airspring rubber folds. So probably about time to replace again at 4 years later at 90k miles.