Possible broken spring

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 8:27 am

Driving to work this morning and there was a bang that sounded like a hammer bouncing off the bodywork.
I stopped, dreading looking for a dent in the roof or rear wing as that is around about where the sound came from but thankfully nothing.
The only thing I can think of is that one of the rear springs has broken.
There doesn't appear to be any difference in ride height on either side.
What does a spring breaking sound like?
And if it turns out to be a broken spring who makes the original springs.

john-e89 · Post by **john-e89** » Fri May 10, 2019 12:28 pm

It sounds like a hammer bouncing off the bodywork....

Mine went a few weeks ago just the same. It’s usually just the end of the pigtail that snaps, no difference in ride height. Think I got a new pair from ECP.

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 12:53 pm

Not sure if ECP is a good price or not, seems to work out at about £70 after discounts.
Do you know if they are sold as a pair or individual at ECP?
And any idea if Sachs made the originals?
From Autopartspro Sachs are £55 which I assume is each and Suplex are £50.
I would rather put the original stuff back on though.

Pbondar · Post by **Pbondar** » Fri May 10, 2019 1:51 pm

Nictrix wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2019 12:53 pm Not sure if ECP is a good price or not, seems to work out at about £70 after discounts.
Do you know if they are sold as a pair or individual at ECP?
And any idea if Sachs made the originals?
From Autopartspro Sachs are £55 which I assume is each and Suplex are £50.
I would rather put the original stuff back on though.

I would suggest that you buy a pair as springs do settle /set so you will have a slightly asymmetric aspect. maybe not noticeable, but is it worth the risk? all IMHO..

greg81 · Post by **greg81** » Fri May 10, 2019 1:55 pm

I paid £39 a side to suplex last year from an eBay seller. I also drove for weeks, maybe months without even realising it was broken. I only found out when changing my wheels and the break was very rusty so wasn't new!

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Fri May 10, 2019 2:02 pm

You would think that BMW by the time they got to this car to design for a normal spring.
This spring design seems to take quite a load on a very small area. A very poor if compact design.

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 2:30 pm

Pbondar wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2019 1:51 pm
Nictrix wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2019 12:53 pm Not sure if ECP is a good price or not, seems to work out at about £70 after discounts.
Do you know if they are sold as a pair or individual at ECP?
And any idea if Sachs made the originals?
From Autopartspro Sachs are £55 which I assume is each and Suplex are £50.
I would rather put the original stuff back on though.
I would suggest that you buy a pair as springs do settle /set so you will have a slightly asymmetric aspect. maybe not noticeable, but is it worth the risk? all IMHO..

Definitely I will replace as a pair.
Just need to know who made the originals as would rather put the same back on.
Might sound daft as they broke but they did last almost 9 years.

john-e89 · Post by **john-e89** » Fri May 10, 2019 2:48 pm

Nictrix wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2019 12:53 pm Not sure if ECP is a good price or not, seems to work out at about £70 after discounts.
Do you know if they are sold as a pair or individual at ECP?
And any idea if Sachs made the originals?
From Autopartspro Sachs are £55 which I assume is each and Suplex are £50.
I would rather put the original stuff back on though.

I can’t remember off hand tbh, I’ll have a look at the receipt later. Suplex are good springs, lots of E85 owners use them.

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 3:37 pm

Confirmed

: IMG_9422.JPG (116.06 KiB) Viewed 1024 times

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 3:44 pm

ECP only have the non-msport Sachs springs.

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Fri May 10, 2019 4:10 pm

Be interesting to know the rotational position of the spring, does it have the lettering S1 or similar on the outboard side of the spring. It would be just out of shot on the picture posted. if fitting springs think about replacing the dampers, mine were pretty awful at 50k miles, i fitted some Bilsteins.

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 4:17 pm

Nothing written on it anywhere not even a mark with paint.
Edit. Just looked at the pic and I may have missed it but it looks like it says T1 on the left

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Fri May 10, 2019 4:26 pm

Some where i read the letting should be outboard as my picture, but, my right hand spring i had to turn anticlockwise about 30 degrees to stop the suspension banging.

Nictrix · Post by **Nictrix** » Fri May 10, 2019 4:33 pm

I will keep this in mind when fitting the new ones...... if I can find someone who stocks them

john-e89 · Post by **john-e89** » Fri May 10, 2019 7:10 pm

Nictrix wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2019 4:33 pm I will keep this in mind when fitting the new ones...... if I can find someone who stocks them

2 mins I’ll have a look at the invoice

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