Evening gents, just to add an update to all this who gave advice. After conducting several tests it turns out the compressor has zero output.

Perhaps it burnt out I'm not sure. It may have been it's last legs who knows.

Anyway, I've sourced a used compressor and a bagpipe Andy rebuild kit for good measure.

I've yet to receive these, as soon as I do I hope to get them fitted.

Fingers crossed this will cure the problem. Anyone know if a faulty compressor will grey out the suspension selection options?

Thanks

Hi gents, this is the old compressor. Does this picture show signs of heat damage?

https://i.imgur.com/Uh4Asrtl.jpg

I've ever opened one, but it does look like it. The compressor has likely burned itself out. I can't remember for sure but I do think the suspension greys out if the compressor is dead. You should be fine once replaced

That's correct, if the fuse blows or the compressor isn't functioning the "lift" option greys out. I suspect that because the front suspension is bottomed out the rest of the options have followed suit because the car doesn't know where it's at at the moment?

Thanks again gents+++ I feel like I'm getting somewhere at long last. Annoyingly I told the mechanic it was the compressor a week ago when the car went in!!

For reference here is the new (used) compressor. Note the lack of discolouration on the piston:

https://i.imgur.com/T0aszzul.png

https://i.imgur.com/fKFYQqYl.png

Hi gents, well sadly this is getting nowhere now. Looks like the garage despite his best efforts can't fix it.

We put a new compressor in and the car still won't raise as normal.

These codes came up:

01577 - Turn off due to over temp upper limit reached.

01437 - control position not learned

Thanks to Neel a for reading the codes.

I might throw in the towel and get the car recovered to a specialist that I know and trust now.

Anyone know how to recover an A8 D3 with the front end totally flat on the floor? will it need to be lifted onto a flat bed?

Someone please enlighten me and put an end to the saga:-(

Is the compressor a known good one? The overheating code seems new so could be a faulty compressor.

Most recovery companies will have low flat beds that will recover supercars etc that are very low to the ground

Yes, it's been rebuilt by myself and put out 16 bar:) but I think we've found the culprit and it's the green airline that has a small hole in it and air is escaping from the airline.
This is the airline that goes to the front drivers side strut.

just to add I assume the compressor shut down to save itself after trying to no avail to inflate the air-strut.

That's what would have caused the 01577 code to be thrown up.

Correct. It shuts down to save itself however if it has been working hard for a while (every start and driving say) then it can burn out which I gather is what happened to the old one. I wonder if the green pipe was the original culprit?