Suspension Refresh
Discussion
Hi All
I'm after a bit of advice on suspension please.
Last week I took my 530D into my BMW Specialist to have the bump stops replaced as they had broken. I hadn't really given any though to how the car might drive with the new ones in. Have to say that in the first 100yards I could feel a difference. The rear just seems so much tighter (ooh vicar!) and the ride is much more composed over bumpy roads (unsurprisingly!). It so much better to drive. The rear suspension had new airbags too a couple of years ago, its a Touring, so the rear suspension is pretty fresh.
Anyway thats made me think that the front suspension might benefit from a bit of refresh. It does feel softer at the front now compared to the rear, particularly over road humps. I don't think it 'needs' doing but at 85k miles I expect the ride/handling could be improved.
My question is what is the best bang for buck replacement I could do? I was thinking bushes would be pretty economic but I'm not sure which ones.
Can anyone advise what would be the best approach and also if shocks would be worth doing at this mileage (66 plate)?
Thanks Guys!
I'm after a bit of advice on suspension please.
Last week I took my 530D into my BMW Specialist to have the bump stops replaced as they had broken. I hadn't really given any though to how the car might drive with the new ones in. Have to say that in the first 100yards I could feel a difference. The rear just seems so much tighter (ooh vicar!) and the ride is much more composed over bumpy roads (unsurprisingly!). It so much better to drive. The rear suspension had new airbags too a couple of years ago, its a Touring, so the rear suspension is pretty fresh.
Anyway thats made me think that the front suspension might benefit from a bit of refresh. It does feel softer at the front now compared to the rear, particularly over road humps. I don't think it 'needs' doing but at 85k miles I expect the ride/handling could be improved.
My question is what is the best bang for buck replacement I could do? I was thinking bushes would be pretty economic but I'm not sure which ones.
Can anyone advise what would be the best approach and also if shocks would be worth doing at this mileage (66 plate)?
Thanks Guys!
The bushes should still be okay - the dampers might be getting a bit tired and they aren't a bad job to replace.
Stick to OEM stuff which is Boge Sachs - they're only around 200 quid the pair so it's not worth messing about. You could also buy top mounts but if they're not clonking or rattling......
Do however replace the bump stops and plastic protection tubes - probably only 30 quid the pair.
Stick to OEM stuff which is Boge Sachs - they're only around 200 quid the pair so it's not worth messing about. You could also buy top mounts but if they're not clonking or rattling......
Do however replace the bump stops and plastic protection tubes - probably only 30 quid the pair.
Simoncopson said:
Anyway thats made me think that the front suspension might benefit from a bit of refresh. It does feel softer at the front now compared to the rear, particularly over road humps. I don't think it 'needs' doing but at 85k miles I expect the ride/handling could be improved.
You say that but I'll put a fiver on the gas pressure having partially or fully escaped from all the dampers. The gas seems to exit the building on pretty much every German car I've ever owned at around 60-70K miles.People often wait until dampers are visibly leaking oil before replacing them, but that's just suffering poor ride and handling needlessly for an extended period.
At nearly 10 years old, rubber bushings tend to be past their best as well. Again, probably won't NEED doing unless visibly torn from an MOT perspective, but from a driver satisfaction pov, Bimmers do like to have tip top bushings and dampers to drive at their best.
Lemforder bushes and Bilstein dampers you can't go wrong with and don't cost the earth.
Simoncopson said:
Hi All
I'm after a bit of advice on suspension please.
Last week I took my 530D into my BMW Specialist to have the bump stops replaced as they had broken. I hadn't really given any though to how the car might drive with the new ones in. Have to say that in the first 100yards I could feel a difference. The rear just seems so much tighter (ooh vicar!) and the ride is much more composed over bumpy roads (unsurprisingly!). It so much better to drive. The rear suspension had new airbags too a couple of years ago, its a Touring, so the rear suspension is pretty fresh.
Anyway thats made me think that the front suspension might benefit from a bit of refresh. It does feel softer at the front now compared to the rear, particularly over road humps. I don't think it 'needs' doing but at 85k miles I expect the ride/handling could be improved.
My question is what is the best bang for buck replacement I could do? I was thinking bushes would be pretty economic but I'm not sure which ones.
Can anyone advise what would be the best approach and also if shocks would be worth doing at this mileage (66 plate)?
Thanks Guys!
As said above; personally I'd replace the main arms, front & rear, ARB bushes, drop links all round, inner tie rods/track rod ends up front so a full tracking & alignment can be done without having to resort to trying to melt the track rod ends undone, and the shocks / springs with new top mounts I'm after a bit of advice on suspension please.
Last week I took my 530D into my BMW Specialist to have the bump stops replaced as they had broken. I hadn't really given any though to how the car might drive with the new ones in. Have to say that in the first 100yards I could feel a difference. The rear just seems so much tighter (ooh vicar!) and the ride is much more composed over bumpy roads (unsurprisingly!). It so much better to drive. The rear suspension had new airbags too a couple of years ago, its a Touring, so the rear suspension is pretty fresh.
Anyway thats made me think that the front suspension might benefit from a bit of refresh. It does feel softer at the front now compared to the rear, particularly over road humps. I don't think it 'needs' doing but at 85k miles I expect the ride/handling could be improved.
My question is what is the best bang for buck replacement I could do? I was thinking bushes would be pretty economic but I'm not sure which ones.
Can anyone advise what would be the best approach and also if shocks would be worth doing at this mileage (66 plate)?
Thanks Guys!
A lot can be sourced via Autodoc for much cheaper than anywhere in the UK
I sourced every part of the suspension, plus Bilstein B4S shocks and Eibach pro-kit springs from them for my F31, plus Sachs top mounts etc. All I got via Cotswolds BMW (they offer BMW forum discount) were the rubber spring perches, dust boots, bump stops and gaskets for the top mounts etc
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