Arch gaps
- Thread starter CHIMV8
- Start date
CHIMV8 said:
Broken spring?
Just to give you a benchmark to work from the links have the ride heights per TIS for your 3.0L. When they leave the factory there is no difference in parts or settings left/right, most cars end up a bit lop-sided due to driver weight, parking on kerbs or wear/damage, but it's NOT a design feature (despite the urban myth).
There is a 10mm permitted tolerance from standard in the height, and a 10mm permitted difference L/R. Before measuring make sure you have at least half tank and sit in both sides of the car before measuring to compress both sides, measure on a flat surface having checked all tyres are correct, this wont affect the ride measurement (see diagram) but will affect the visual tilt.
If there is a problem it's usually spring damage, one is older or not matched (it can be tricky to know what springs you have if they have already been altered from OEM), or don't forget the top mounts which can degrade and are often overlooked. So unless your car has bent suspension the or chassis damage that is about all that can affect ride height. You can get different thickness pads for the springs to sit on, but this will just be masking what the real issue is. My lop sided rear was the usual busted spring 'pig tail' of the standard variable rate spring which can be hard to spot. This was the second set of BMW springs, the first went at three yrs the second five years later. The single rate replacements (without pig-tails) I fitted have been on about seven years with no issues.
E85 3.0 (pre face-lift)
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e85-z4-3.0i-roa/repair-manuals/31-front-axle-front-suspension/31-10-front-axle-suspension/6weS7l5
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e85-z4-3.0i-roa/repair-manuals/33-rear-axle-rear-wheel-drive-guide/33-00-rear-axle-rear-wheel-drive-guide/62SB1uh
There is a 10mm permitted tolerance from standard in the height, and a 10mm permitted difference L/R. Before measuring make sure you have at least half tank and sit in both sides of the car before measuring to compress both sides, measure on a flat surface having checked all tyres are correct, this wont affect the ride measurement (see diagram) but will affect the visual tilt.
If there is a problem it's usually spring damage, one is older or not matched (it can be tricky to know what springs you have if they have already been altered from OEM), or don't forget the top mounts which can degrade and are often overlooked. So unless your car has bent suspension the or chassis damage that is about all that can affect ride height. You can get different thickness pads for the springs to sit on, but this will just be masking what the real issue is. My lop sided rear was the usual busted spring 'pig tail' of the standard variable rate spring which can be hard to spot. This was the second set of BMW springs, the first went at three yrs the second five years later. The single rate replacements (without pig-tails) I fitted have been on about seven years with no issues.
E85 3.0 (pre face-lift)
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e85-z4-3.0i-roa/repair-manuals/31-front-axle-front-suspension/31-10-front-axle-suspension/6weS7l5
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e85-z4-3.0i-roa/repair-manuals/33-rear-axle-rear-wheel-drive-guide/33-00-rear-axle-rear-wheel-drive-guide/62SB1uh
parabolica
Member
Both my fronts look like your front d/s OP; I thought something was up but I've inspected everything carefully and there is no obvious cause - i.e. broken springs or bust shocks - plus my car rides pretty decent so I assume that's just the way it's always been. My rears look like yours too - again no obvious issues.