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Points: 134 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 328 suspension
    Posted: 28-June-2005 at 16:23
Heard a noise coming from my car that sounded like a broken spring & sure enough after jacking it up the o/s/r spring has broken into 3! CAr still handles ok as luckily it was a low down break but obviously will sort it asap. I'm gonna have to buy the lowering spring set from GSF for £70 as car is already lowered & was thinking of changing the rear shocks as well, M-tech ones from GSF £35 each. Fronts are ok so will leave them be, can't afford both. Are the M-tech shock GSF sell ok or should I look elsewhere?
2001 540i Sport, Silver, Black Leather
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Peter Fenwick View Drop Down
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Points: 6484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 03:08
If your thinking about fitting a full set of new springs and replacing the back shockers, why not just replace the whole lot with a full suspenion kit. That way the shocks and the springs will be well matched which will be better for the handling.
Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Points: 143 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 05:15

Out of interest, what does a broken spring sound like ?

(No, I'm not joking, if I was, I'd say "doi...")

Suspect my rear springs might be damaged, but can't see anything obvious...

Peter's got a good point about a matching full set of shocks and springs, but I think it's also well known that mixing Koni and Eibach parts is a good solution.

HF
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Points: 1148 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 06:09
Originally posted by Hans Freikit Hans Freikit wrote:

Out of interest, what does a broken spring sound like ?

(No, I'm not joking, if I was, I'd say "doi...")

Suspect my rear springs might be damaged, but can't see anything obvious...

 

my e36 has had to have new rear springs fitted for the m.o.t

my drivers side rear was broken the other side was fine  ..and in "noise "terms  i didnt/couldnt hear a thing .the only indication that i had a cracked rear spring was when the tech pointed out that the rear wheel arch clearence for the broken side was about 8 mm lower than the other side

i watched the tech replace both the rear springs .it took him all of 30 mins from start to finish   ..so its an easy job   .
its a dogs world out there
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Points: 143 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 08:59

Think you've just diagnosed my fault too - thanks ! Driver's side rear wheelarch is about 1cm lower than the passenger side...

Now if I could only get those H&Rs.

HF
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Points: 1148 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 09:37

just to add the tech [ex bmw] that if your to replace just the broken spring the other side will snap in about a months time  .so do both at same time ..

iam looking at getting a full suspension kit .so we may get a discount if we order two at the same time ive been told the best "middle of the road" set up is get a kit that lowers the front by 30mm and the back by 20mm .then to finsh it all of a cross brace for the undercarriage

its a dogs world out there
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Hans Freikit View Drop Down
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Points: 143 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 09:43

Although I can't rule out a broken spring, I've just read elsewhere that most E36s sit lower on the (RHD) driver's side.

Anyone know if this is true ?

HF
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Robbie Bradford View Drop Down
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Points: 2124 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 09:44
Originally posted by Hans Freikit Hans Freikit wrote:

Although I can't rule out a broken spring, I've just read elsewhere that most E36s sit lower on the (RHD) driver's side.

Anyone know if this is true ?

HF

Yes, this has mentioned on here before, damper related i think!
http://www.BMW-driver.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21


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Points: 1148 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 09:45

BMW Car Club (GB) Forums: x brace fitted

i think its only true if you have a broken spring lol

but it could be as robbie has said



Edited by pma1ums
its a dogs world out there
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Hans Freikit View Drop Down
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Points: 143 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 09:53
Originally posted by Robbie Bradford Robbie Bradford wrote:

Yes, this has mentioned on here before, damper related i think!

Interesting: I replaced the rear dampers myself last year. The Bilsteins I used were not "handed" i.e. same part for offside and nearside. So if the height difference is by design, it's something else in the suspension setup that causes it...

HF



Edited by Hans Freikit
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Points: 414 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-June-2005 at 15:22
Just for reference the E46 sits lower on the drivers side too, and I have Alpina suspension, so Hans is right, don't know what it is but something makes the car lower on the drivers side.  
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Points: 6484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30-June-2005 at 05:21
Maybe because there's more weight on the drivers side due to the driver so over time the spring/damper will sag more.
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Points: 23 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-July-2005 at 09:07
yes it's us fat people who sit in the drivers seat with no passengers.  Both me and my mate have 328 coupe's and both of them are slightly lower on the drivers side.
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Points: 1148 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-July-2005 at 09:16

Originally posted by ManicAJK ManicAJK wrote:

yes it's us fat people who sit in the drivers seat with no passengers.  Both me and my mate have 328 coupe's and both of them are slightly lower on the drivers side.

lololol

id agree with you ;my brothers a right porker and he does as many miles as me each week ..and yep your right his side is allways lower than mine .iam a light one hes like a garrila .so id have to agree
its a dogs world out there
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Points: 143 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-July-2005 at 11:42
Hmmmm. Buy springs or go on a diet...?
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Points: 2098 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-July-2005 at 01:59
i am fitting a full eibach kit this weekend, sportsline as specially valved sachs shortbody dampers.
checking my measurements, mine sits equally n/s o/s, maybe my 'off' evened out the difference by adding some twist to the chassis!
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Points: 361 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-July-2005 at 02:30

Mine sits lower on the drivers side also.

New shocks, and nowt wrong with the springs.

I'd figured it was more to do with the weight of the battery over the rear end, rather than my svelte frame!
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