Broken Springs - List (add yourself if you've been affected)

rears gone at 38000 miles on my 2.0 had to spend a month driving on them before i could fix them too :headbang: might treat the old girl to eibachs allround in the spring,no pun intended!!
 
2nd coil to go in 2 months as posted on the m/// section. my car is an 07 and only done 15000!,the 1st coil went at 14000 :thumbsdown:
 
Double.0 said:
How can i tell if my springs r broken? Symptoms?
Obvious symptoms are generally not present based on the posts in this thread. It appears that the best way is a good visual inspection with the wheels off.
 
I'm on the list for the second time, rear spring just gone again after being replaced 2.5 years ago!
 
2005 2.0i
32,000 miles
used on lincolnshires county roads (tracks)

Just had service done at local BMW garage (£360) :cry: and they reported both rear springs have broken. :o Quoted £350 for replacement. :( Is it that hard a job?
 
My springs broke really early. 20k km into purchase. Went Bilstein PSS9's as they cost almost the same as OEM in australia. Front right was broken
 
48k mile 3lr 2003 MOT time picked up broken spring(s) on the rear. Car marked as unroadworthy and BMW rushing out the parts overnight so should be fitted tomorrow and expecting the warranty to cover it.
 
And another, nearside rear spring. 2003 3.0, 38k miles. Found at MOT. Getting pretty cheesed off with this car and the number of stupid faults (you name it, I've had it).
 
And yet another, i have a 2003 53 plate 3.0ise roadster and they went at approx 48k miles.
 
Ive had them done twice, under warranty in about 2005 which interestingly was not marked on the service sheet but remember them saying they changed it, and then just now.... ive also had them go on a 95 compact 316i a few times. I am assuming that the replacement they have just fitted is good for 12 months warranty? I pointed out that it seems to happen all the time and was told its due to sheffield's roads! lol
 
Retrospectively... for my 53 plate 2.5...
Mine went shortly after buying the car found on inspection (2006 with around 25K miles on the clock) - replaced under warranty.
Then again in december 2008 found on MOT (around 40k miles on the clock) - parts under goodwill, just paid labour.

(2 friends with E46 M3s had their's go as well - within warranty period)

There was an issue getting the second set for FOC; IIRC because the first replacements were done under warranty it meant that the springs carried no warranty themselves. Oddly, had I paid for the springs they would have been warranted for 2 or 3 years! :headbang:
 
Wondered if it had anything to do with relgularly driving on bad roads or in winter climate? Since my 03' has only been a week-end toy since new, springs and struts still look new without any failure having ever occured.
 
2003 2.5 Z4 with 97 K Km . Was doing service on the soft top roof drains and noted the broken spring on the Left side.
What a disappointment for a BMW! The car has NOT had a rough life and looks new otherwise. My 1934 chev coupe still has its original springs and they look fine. My Japanese cars have 300K and no broken springs. Perhaps they are using scrap metal from WWII.
Binbrook Ontario Canada.
 
Put me down for one gone. Rear offside spring. 2004 3.0 58000 miles.
I am very surprised at how many Z4 are affected at different ages and mileage so I have decided to book in with BMW under a gesture of goodwill program. It goes in on friday to BMW Maidstone I will let you know how I get on. Just speaking to the guy he says if they pay all the labour you dont get any warranty on the part. You need to pay a penny or more then you get a 2 year warranty on the part.

Cheers
Ian
 
My local dealer quoted $245 Can$. each for rear springs and another $350 Can$ for the install.
I priced Eibach kit, very reasonable by comparison, but lowers the car and possibly would require re-alignment.
So I opted for BimmerSpecialists On line and ordered OEM springs @ $160 Can$ each. The part # is 3356760606 and they were
delivered in just a few days no hassle. I am having a go at installing myself.

I pointed the Dealer to this Z4 site and the list of affected owners. BMW Hamilton (ontario) claim to have no knowledge of this problem.
Ha Ha.
 
Ok, I have installed the rear springs.
Flat surface jack up one side at the jacking point, and remove wheel.
with a scissor jack support the suspension (under the shock) just enough to take the weight off the shock.
Remove lower shock bolt (18 mm). I just used an 18mm combination wrench and a mallet to loosen it no problem, no need for an impact gun.
Gently lower scissor jack and push out of the way.
Insert LONG pry bar resting on caliper as the fulcrum, and push down, broken spring removes easily.
Remove Lower rubber, clean and attach to new spring. Lubricate with a bit of grease to assist in sliding it back in place.
Clean lower control arm of debris.
Mount both rubbers on top and bottom of spring.
Ease spring in top first. Get an assistant to pry down gently on the long pry bar, and swing the bottom in.
Check to make sure both top and bottom rubbers are sitting on their respective knobby thingys.
place scissor jack back under shock mount and raise suspension to allow shock bolt to be replaced. TIGHTEN shock bolt Now!!
Remove scissor jack.
Have a last look to see if spring is sitting correctly on the knobby thingys.
Install wheel.
Lower Car. Do the other side.
the most important tool is the long prybar. Mine is 6 feet long and about 1 1/2 " thick. I did not have a helper so I hung the wheel and rim on the end of it. Worked great. I can send a pix to anyone who wants it.
The job took 35 minutes for both sides. I saved $350 Can$ doing it myself. Can't believe how easy this was!
Cheers
Bill
Binbrook, Ontario Canada.
 
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