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Advice on suspension please
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- Senior Member
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- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:29 pm
Advice on suspension please
Hey ,
I’ve just gotten a new mot . It HAS passed , but with some advisories.
Coil springs corroded- near side - off side rear.
Front shock absorber has slight misting ( offside front )
And also a tyre is starting to perish, which is easy.
I have adaptive m sport suspension… so does this need to go to bmw ? Does it have to be re set on a computer?
Basically who can do the suspension with no issues after. I’m looking to sell the car possibly next year. Possibly on here if at the time, anyone is interested. So obviously want this done the correct way … what have you guys done with this issue?
Thank you
Regards
2 dogs
I’ve just gotten a new mot . It HAS passed , but with some advisories.
Coil springs corroded- near side - off side rear.
Front shock absorber has slight misting ( offside front )
And also a tyre is starting to perish, which is easy.
I have adaptive m sport suspension… so does this need to go to bmw ? Does it have to be re set on a computer?
Basically who can do the suspension with no issues after. I’m looking to sell the car possibly next year. Possibly on here if at the time, anyone is interested. So obviously want this done the correct way … what have you guys done with this issue?
Thank you
Regards
2 dogs
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- Senior Member
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- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:49 am
Advice on suspension please
Coil springs are cheap to replace. However, 'corrosion' - where that means surface rust - is, as you know, an advisory and not an MoT failure. Whatever, any half-decent garage can do the job.
As for 'misting' on adaptives, I'll bet London to a brick that half the cars with this poor suspension have it on at least one unit. So, either declare it at time of sale, or conceal it with a good underside clean with suitable liquids, or bite the bullet and replace. Again, not rocket science to do. (I've long suspected that they mist because they don't get used enough and the seals dry. That said, this is why theyr're poor.)
As for 'misting' on adaptives, I'll bet London to a brick that half the cars with this poor suspension have it on at least one unit. So, either declare it at time of sale, or conceal it with a good underside clean with suitable liquids, or bite the bullet and replace. Again, not rocket science to do. (I've long suspected that they mist because they don't get used enough and the seals dry. That said, this is why theyr're poor.)
Vidi, vici, veni
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- Senior Member
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- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:29 pm
Advice on suspension please
Busterboo
Thanks so much for the feedback. So , you covered the springs ( thank you) regarding the suspension, would that have to be coded ? Or just the OEM shocks replaced for same , plug in and ready to go ?
Thank you
Thanks so much for the feedback. So , you covered the springs ( thank you) regarding the suspension, would that have to be coded ? Or just the OEM shocks replaced for same , plug in and ready to go ?
Thank you
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- Senior Member
- Posts: 2964
- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 2:49 am
Advice on suspension please
No, Dave. My local independent replaced the coil springs and the - also fortunately local - AD replaced the adaptives (6) under insured warranty.
I now have one 'misting' adaptive, which I'll replace or declare at time of sale, depending on if I decide to keep the car, which I like a lot and use a lot.
I now have one 'misting' adaptive, which I'll replace or declare at time of sale, depending on if I decide to keep the car, which I like a lot and use a lot.
Vidi, vici, veni
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- Senior Member
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- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:29 pm
Advice on suspension please
Thanks busterboo
Much appreciated
Much appreciated
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Advice on suspension please
What is a ‘misting adaptive’?
I have the adaptive suspension on my 440iGC, and couldn’t be happier with it, although it does have what I call a bobbling / gentle knocking sound over irregular road surfaces when it’s cold in particular. Seems to be only on the driver front side.
Used to have something similar on my E46s which I think was a suspension mount on the bulkhead that used to go, but have been trying to keep costs down and stay away from ADs since retiring…..
I have the adaptive suspension on my 440iGC, and couldn’t be happier with it, although it does have what I call a bobbling / gentle knocking sound over irregular road surfaces when it’s cold in particular. Seems to be only on the driver front side.
Used to have something similar on my E46s which I think was a suspension mount on the bulkhead that used to go, but have been trying to keep costs down and stay away from ADs since retiring…..
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 7045
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- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Advice on suspension please
The dampers tend to weep around their seals for a while before they let go..simnew wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 11:32 am What is a ‘misting adaptive’?
I have the adaptive suspension on my 440iGC, and couldn’t be happier with it, although it does have what I call a bobbling / gentle knocking sound over irregular road surfaces when it’s cold in particular. Seems to be only on the driver front side.
Used to have something similar on my E46s which I think was a suspension mount on the bulkhead that used to go, but have been trying to keep costs down and stay away from ADs since retiring…..![]()
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”….
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting..
One of 258 Atacama Yellow 35is…165 modifications and updates…and counting..

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- Lifer
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Advice on suspension please
If you were keeping the car I’d suggest replacing the active struts and corroding springs with the B12 kit, and coding out the active suspension.
In my experience the B12 kit works much better on the E89 than E85, improving handling significantly and still giving a really good ride quality.
The B12 kit will probably cost less than a single adaptive shock from BMW and you shouldn’t have too much trouble selling the three good, non-weeping, ones.
In my experience the B12 kit works much better on the E89 than E85, improving handling significantly and still giving a really good ride quality.
The B12 kit will probably cost less than a single adaptive shock from BMW and you shouldn’t have too much trouble selling the three good, non-weeping, ones.
Alpina Roadster S Lux no. 204 (1 of 15 uk cars in Alpina Blue)
Porsche 718 Cayman - PTS in Gulf Blue (Believed to be 1 of 1 in UK…tbc)
Previous Z4’s : into double figures
Porsche 718 Cayman - PTS in Gulf Blue (Believed to be 1 of 1 in UK…tbc)
Previous Z4’s : into double figures
- Marcoose
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Advice on suspension please
Dave, if at the end of the day you must shell out big bucks on new suspension parts, then instead of OE part, I highly recommend checking Bilstein and KW. My old indy replaced the OE AS with KWV3 and it's tits !
2016 35is, monoballs, camber plates, KWV3, PS4S, xHP, MHD, LFB pedal, flat bottom wheel, red indicators, black headlamps

