E85 front suspension parts

thespannerman · Post by **thespannerman** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:37 pm

Went to get the Z out of the garage this morning to find I had a horrible grinding noise coming from the front left hand corner. Car had been standing for a month, and turns out be be a snapped front spring. To get mobile again quickly I picked up a complete strut with spring from a local bmw breaker, fitted ok so now car is useable again, but I think I will do the whole front suspension with new parts. I want to stick to standard setup, no hard or firm setup, so what’s needed:

Springs
Shockers
Top mounts
Reinforcing plates ??
Bump stops
Dust covers

Anything else?

What makes would you go with, and who’s got any deals on right now (apart from Euro as they always have some offer or another on the go)

Cheer
Al

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:57 pm

thespannerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:37 pm Went to get the Z out of the garage this morning to find I had a horrible grinding noise coming from the front left hand corner. Car had been standing for a month, and turns out be be a snapped front spring. To get mobile again quickly I picked up a complete strut with spring from a local bmw breaker, fitted ok so now car is useable again, but I think I will do the whole front suspension with new parts. I want to stick to standard setup, no hard or firm setup, so what’s needed:

Springs
Shockers
Top mounts
Reinforcing plates ??
Bump stops
Dust covers

Anything else?

What makes would you go with, and who’s got any deals on right now (apart from Euro as they always have some offer or another on the go)

Cheer
Al

I usually use Autodoc. Depends how long you want to wait, both for a decent discount and also then allow up to 14 days for delivery.

Springs - Suplex
Shockers - Sachs
Top mounts - Lemforder
Reinforcing plates ?? - never bothered
Bump stops - Febi Bilstein
Dust covers - can only get tacky plastic ones. Re-use your original rubber ones and clean them up with Autoglym bumper gel or similar. Makes them supple again too.
May need new drop links? - Febi Bilstein

Knuckle bolts - get new ones - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184878518948

These are what I use for close to OEM standard replacement. Others will no doubt have other ideas.

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:10 pm

enuff_zed wrote: ↑Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:57 pm
thespannerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:37 pm Went to get the Z out of the garage this morning to find I had a horrible grinding noise coming from the front left hand corner. Car had been standing for a month, and turns out be be a snapped front spring. To get mobile again quickly I picked up a complete strut with spring from a local bmw breaker, fitted ok so now car is useable again, but I think I will do the whole front suspension with new parts. I want to stick to standard setup, no hard or firm setup, so what’s needed:

Springs
Shockers
Top mounts
Reinforcing plates ??
Bump stops
Dust covers

Anything else?

What makes would you go with, and who’s got any deals on right now (apart from Euro as they always have some offer or another on the go)

Cheer
Al
I usually use Autodoc. Depends how long you want to wait, both for a decent discount and also then allow up to 14 days for delivery.

Springs - Suplex
Shockers - Sachs
Top mounts - Lemforder
Reinforcing plates ?? - never bothered
Bump stops - Febi Bilstein
Dust covers - can only get tacky plastic ones. Re-use your original rubber ones and clean them up with Autoglym bumper gel or similar. Makes them supple again too.
May need new drop links? - Febi Bilstein

Knuckle bolts - get new ones - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184878518948

These are what I use for close to OEM standard replacement. Others will no doubt have other ideas.

100% what he said

Only thing I would add is powerflex anti roll bar bushes which I do to most of mine for a little more tightness at the front

thespannerman · Post by **thespannerman** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:26 pm

Cheers guys, so I will start my shopping list

Are there some spring caps top and bottom as well (rubber gasket type things to insulate the spring from the strut)

Al

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:31 pm

thespannerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:26 pm Cheers guys, so I will start my shopping list

Are there some spring caps top and bottom as well (rubber gasket type things to insulate the spring from the strut)

Al

you should be able to reuse the existing but:

Check they are in place
Check they aren’t perished

If they are get them from bmw or eBay use real
Oem for codes

colb · Post by **colb** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:08 pm

Its worth noting that CarParts4less on the web is the web only side of Europarts. 4less usually come out cheaper than Europarts site and delivery is preety swift. Autodoc site is useful as that will search on oem part numbers however delivery can take some time.

SonnyA85 · Post by **SonnyA85** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:28 pm

I just did new springs cannot recall which ones but they were m sport suspension ones.

Bilstein b4 shock absorbers and lemforder top mounts.

I didn't bother with any of the other stuff.

thespannerman · Post by **thespannerman** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:16 am

Guys, it looks like I need the top spring plates (the bit below the top mount) as the one I have just taken apart is almost rusted through. I don’t believe this part comes when you buy a new damper strut, and I can’t seem to find it listed at autodoc or any other sites I have looked at. I can find the top mounts, and the top and bottom rubbers but not the plate.

Advice please

Cheers
Al

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:25 am

thespannerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:16 am Guys, it looks like I need the top spring plates (the bit below the top mount) as the one I have just taken apart is almost rusted through. I don’t believe this part comes when you buy a new damper strut, and I can’t seem to find it listed at autodoc or any other sites I have looked at. I can find the top mounts, and the top and bottom rubbers but not the plate.

Advice please

Cheers
Al

I have never had that issue so far anyway.
I'll have a look around for you, but maybe Stuart may have spares?

bigwinn · Post by **bigwinn** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:30 am

: 8D626486-EE51-46C3-96CB-24F3B3103F90.png (219.86 KiB) Viewed 436 times

: 9A8D8A13-99F9-494D-9CE0-DF2D72AAFC6C.png (215.54 KiB) Viewed 436 times

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:31 am

thespannerman, found this on ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174796904987 ... BMqNqr18Rg

thespannerman · Post by **thespannerman** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:32 am

That’s great, my eBay search didn’t come up with this but I can see your used the part number

Thanks
Al

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:32 am

enuff_zed wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:31 am thespannerman, found this on ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174796904987 ... BMqNqr18Rg

OK, so Stuart types quicker than me

thespannerman · Post by **thespannerman** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:50 am

Ok, I think I have now ordered all the bits I need, thanks chaps

The spring breaking has done me a favour as the upper spring plate is in really bad condition, so a full replacement on both sides is well in order

Al

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:54 am

thespannerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:50 am Ok, I think I have now ordered all the bits I need, thanks chaps

The spring breaking has done me a favour as the upper spring plate is in really bad condition, so a full replacement on both sides is well in order

Al

Just checking.................. you do now about Realoem and how you can use it to get part numbers? It's my default now: grab the Part Number and stick it into an ebay search.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select ... series=E85
Start here and populate it with your car details.

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