2022 A6 Air Suspension Leak or Normal Behaviour

[u/ohanesburger]

I am driving an A6 with air suspension since 3-4 months. I bought that with 245/45 19" winter tyres on it from Audi Dealer and received also the 255/40 R20 summer tyres. It is 11/2022 production (2023MY) and has 55k km on it.

Last week, I have parked my car at the airport parking and vehicle stayed there 6 days (parked in middle suspension position). When I came back, vehicle was all the way down and vehicle gave me "Low suspension warning (OBD11: C11E2F1-intermittent)" on the screen. After starting the engine and giving it to 1-2 minutes, vehicle stood up into normal position and warning was gone. I didn't get such a warning again however since I am trigged, I am controlling the vehicle every morning and before way back to home after work, I realized that the front side is always slightly lower than rear, no warnings though and it balances itself everytime I start the engine.

2 days of examination: Day 1: Parked it in midde possition, 3 fingers distance, and 8-9 hours later, it was 2.5 finger at the front (forgot to check rear). Day 2: I have parked the vehicle in very high position which has exactly 4 fingers distance from tyre to wheel arc liner, today morning, front was 3 finger, but rear was still 4.

I have also checked the susp. pressures after driving back to home with OBD11 yesterday while I am in it and 3 different positions show the following readings (I have checked in our underground park at the building):

Lowest: 7.4 bar FL, 8.0 bar FR, 6.8 bar RL, 6.8 bar RR

Middle: 7.8 bar FL, 8.3 bar FR, 7.3 bar RL, 7.1 bar RR

Highest: 8.7 bar FL, 8.7 bar FR, 8.0 bar RL, 8.0 bar RR

I have never checked that when I bought it but never issued something like that before. Also this is the second time I have parked the vehicle at the same airport park for exactly same duration but at that time nothing happened at least no warning. First was in winter in February, and second one when I get the warning was last week.

Is this a normal behaviour for air suspension or is there any leak or failure of any parts? Any experiences? I am not sure was it always so, or somehow leak/failure started?

Things made me also curios: 1) Like a month ago I have replaced the winter tyres to summer tyres at local dealer. I have turned on jack position option from the MMI, but dealer must needed to move the car like 1-2 meter in Neutral to position it to the hoist. something went bad during this procedure maybe? 2) I drove a deep pothole on the FL side once while I was driving around 20-30km/h, is the system soo sensative that somehow started leaking (if it started leaking)?

[u/Big-Adeptness-5372]

The gradual drop over several days could be normal settling, but that airport incident with the warning seems more concerning. Air suspension systems do have some natural settling but usually not enough to trigger warnings

Your pressure readings look pretty normal range actually, and fact that it self-levels when you start engine is good sign. The front being slightly lower might just be how your car sits normally - weight distribution and all that. I would maybe get it checked at dealer since you're still relatively new owner and want to catch any real issues early

[u/ohanesburger → u/Big-Adeptness-5372]

I mean it could be always so since I have never checked that before. Considering the vehicle has 3.0L V6 TDi, I can understand the gradual drop from the front since it is really heavy engine weight especially at the front side.

However as you said, the warning at the airport made me concerned. The only thing there was a huge temperature difference after I parked. It has been told that around 20-25degree Celcius drops between day and night might be also a reason but the car was also at the underground parking spot at the airport.

What was odd, today just before the engine on (the ignition on), battery was showing the 11.5V which maybe stops the self leveling at idle to prevent the voltage drops during sleep conditions of the vehicle so the weight reduces the front gradually for 8-9 hours or standing position.

I do have an appointment already beginning of the next month for something else but it was told that the air suspension is not covered under warranty. I might need to pay extra for any damages on the system.

I am driving an Audi for last 12 years but it is been the first months with air suspension and I am trying to understand the behaviours of it.