How long should a spring last?
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 7 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 7 Series (E23, E32, E38, E65, E66, E67 & E68)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=46527
Printed Date: 03-May-2024 at 02:41
Topic: How long should a spring last?
Posted By: Howard
Subject: How long should a spring last?
Date Posted: 27-March-2010 at 01:01
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March 25th 2008. Turned off the M62 on my way to Nick Wright's Meet at Howden. Travelling at around 50 on the bend at the end of the slip road when there was a sudden bang. That was not the spring, but the new tyre on my offside being punctured by the spring as it broke. Luckily no one was injured, only my pocket when I got the £600+ bill for two new springs and fitting - not to mention the trip home on the AA wagon, or £220 for a new front tyre!
March 25th 2010 Wife picked up the car from a full service. When she got home, she said "Its rattling a bit!". It was late and I was busy so I said "I'll look at it in the morning". So I drove it on the 26th to have two new tyres fitted, and did a bit of shopping, travelled about 12 miles with no rattles. Later I had to go out, and as I set off the rattles started. It was the spring again. Luckily the razor sharp point got stuck on a bracket on the strut, so the new tyre was not damaged. 2 years and 30K miles to the day. My last car had Alpina springs fitted at 53K miles. These were still fine 5 years later at 168K when I sold the car. Question - Have I been unlucky, or has the standard of BMW springs gone to pot since they started manufacturing them in China?  ------------- 1963 700 LS 1988 635 CSi 1990 M635 CSi no longer! 2001 E38 728i Individual http://www.tyneships.co.uk" rel="nofollow - http://www.tyneships.co.uk |
Replies:
Posted By: shogun
Date Posted: 27-March-2010 at 14:51
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original wheels and tires, lowered? Or wide wheels and wide tires, lowered? I have never had any probs on my 11/1988 E32 750 and also not on the Alpina E32 B12 5.0. But on both cars are the original wheels and tires, nothing changed on the springs too. If any mods, that causes more wear. ------------- E32 750iL,E36 M3 http://twrite.org/shogunnew/topmenu.html" rel="nofollow - 7 Series Tech Tips |
Posted By: Dergside
Date Posted: 28-March-2010 at 02:05
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Not a 7, but I think our e46 328i Touring has recently popped a nsr spring, haven't had an opportunity to have it properly looked at yet. The car belonged to my sister before me, hasn't been abused or modified, and I know that they were replaced at approx 40k miles by a main dealer when the nsr spring snapped. The car has approx 67k miles now. I'm inclined to be disappointed in the recurrence and its clear its a reasonable common e46 issue. In contrast, my last e39 5 went to 145k with me on the originals. Reports of spring failures seem to be fairly rare. ------------- Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93. Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
Posted By: Rob5678
Date Posted: 29-March-2010 at 19:20
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My E38 750 60K the majority with just 1 person in the car , both back springs found broken when I inspected the car . It was still within the 6 yr warranty . BMW UK stated it was a consumable part and offered nothing towards the cost.
------------- Regards Rob |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 29-March-2010 at 20:13
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Can't comment round York, speedbumps kill car stuff (exhausts, springs and lowered bodywork etc.). Lucky for me my last broken spring had only the end bit go so it seated itself and just knocked. Was a pain replacing it, prybar and a lot of swearing - happy at E30 rear setup on the Compact though.
------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: thepits
Date Posted: 29-March-2010 at 21:34
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If you go over them it kills the springs If you straddle them it kills the tyres
and as for Pot-Holes.........
------------- Cats know your every thought. But don't care. |
Rhys wrote:Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 29-March-2010 at 21:38
What about pot-holes next to speed bumps? Nice large thunk! before I hit the bump. makes the bump a lot bigger. Nice council round my way hasn't done snot about repairing the roads since the bad weather.. ------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: MBW1
Date Posted: 29-March-2010 at 21:46
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E38 front springs break for a pastime. One of our Howden regulars had a
740i spring break (nearside front) last week on the way there! It's a common problem so there is a quality issue. I'd be fitting a set of Alpina or Eibach springs. E32 springs rarely break - occasionally a rear one. Broken E36 and E46 rears are a regular fault. ------------- I don't have a carbon footprint. I drive everywhere. |