E86 with Koni Sport and -35mm springs

[BuzzardBiker]

So I’ve done some research courtesy of this forum and other websites and it seems that Koni Sport shocks combined with H and R -35mm lowering springs is the best and easiest option to go with.

However, what websites dont tell me is how this set up works in real world driving.

Will the underside of my car scrape over the speed bumps that sit in the middle of the lane. The sort that look like a square of chocolate. Would the front bumper scuff more.
Would the sills on the car scrape over speed bumps?

Maybe I’m over thinking this but it would be helpful to know.

Maybe I could just buy the whole kit and just use the Koni shocks with my oem springs and sell the H and R springs?

Unfortunately speed bumps are more common place where I live.

 

[Kenich]

H&R the best for looks or ride quality?

I read often they are quite harsh, see them often removed due to this. Also the car sits low too, so yes scapes badly unfortunately.

Do look good that low mind.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks.
I think Eibachs are -30mm but that’s hardly going to prevent scraping.

So really it’s just replacement oem quality shocks eg Sachs. Or something similar that I can use with oem springs

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks.
I think Eibachs are -30mm but that’s hardly going to prevent scraping.

So really it’s just replacement oem quality shocks eg Sachs. Or something similar that I can use with oem springs

If you keep the springs then I think you will find that replacement OEM dampers will work perfectly and if the ones in it are old you will notice a big improvement.
Last time I looked I couldn’t get Sachs for the rear of the E86, so in the interests of aesthetics more than anything else I fitted Bilstein B4 all round.

 

[Meds]

I had scrapes on Eibachs. And they're are little less drop than HR i think.
It really depends on where you live and the type of speed humps and roads you have.

I'm actually running and odd combo of Eibach rear and Suplex front (M sport height) and it's perfect.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Thanks.
I think Eibachs are -30mm but that’s hardly going to prevent scraping.

So really it’s just replacement oem quality shocks eg Sachs. Or something similar that I can use with oem springs

If you keep the springs then I think you will find that replacement OEM dampers will work perfectly and if the ones in it are old you will notice a big improvement.
Last time I looked I couldn’t get Sachs for the rear of the E86, so in the interests of aesthetics more than anything else I fitted Bilstein B4 all round.

Yeah that’s what I noticed. Sachs fronts are available but not the rears.
I did notice the Bilstein B4’s so that could likely be the next best option.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks.
I think Eibachs are -30mm but that’s hardly going to prevent scraping.

So really it’s just replacement oem quality shocks eg Sachs. Or something similar that I can use with oem springs

If you keep the springs then I think you will find that replacement OEM dampers will work perfectly and if the ones in it are old you will notice a big improvement.
Last time I looked I couldn’t get Sachs for the rear of the E86, so in the interests of aesthetics more than anything else I fitted Bilstein B4 all round.

Yeah that’s what I noticed. Sachs fronts are available but not the rears.
I did notice the Bilstein B4’s so that could likely be the next best option.

You could still fit Sachs on the front for originality. I fitted Bilstein fronts as the chap I was doing the work for wanted them all the same.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

I can think of rear top mounts to add to new shocks.
My car had new front inner and outter track rod ends in May 22 and new front lower arms in Feb 24.
Anything else worth adding at the same time (without going silly and spending excessively?
Thanks

 

[enuff_zed]

I can think of rear top mounts to add to new shocks.
My car had new front inner and outter track rod ends in May 22 and new front lower arms in Feb 24.
Anything else worth adding at the same time (without going silly and spending excessively?
Thanks

Front top mounts (Lemforder or Sachs), bump stops front and rear (Sachs, Febi Bilstein etc), and genuine BMW front knuckle bolts x2 (31306779487). Do NOT get Meyle HD rear top mounts! Terrible design, allows metal on metal contact between the centre sleeve and the cup washers, knocks like mad!

 

[BuzzardBiker]

I can think of rear top mounts to add to new shocks.
My car had new front inner and outter track rod ends in May 22 and new front lower arms in Feb 24.
Anything else worth adding at the same time (without going silly and spending excessively?
Thanks

Front top mounts (Lemforder or Sachs), bump stops front and rear (Sachs, Febi Bilstein etc), and genuine BMW front knuckle bolts x2 (31306779487). Do NOT get Meyle HD rear top mounts! Terrible design, allows metal on metal contact between the centre sleeve and the cup washers, knocks like mad!

Very helpful and appreciated.
Thanks

 

[BenM]

I did a full suspension refresh on my E86 not long after I got it. This was with Bilstein B4s and Suplex springs. You don't have to replace all of this obviously, but the top mounts and bump stops are worth doing. For reference part numbers as follows:
Damper B4 fronts: 22-164575_758 and 22-164575_757 (now 22-164575 and 22-164568)
Damper B4 rear: 19-158983_759
M-Sport spec Suplex springs are 06248 and 06231 - 20mm shorter at the front and 3mm shorter at the rear than SE spec springs
Front mounts 31336779613 (I used Lemforder)
Front control arms and bushes 31122343352 (Meyle HD)
Front ARB drop link 31356765934 (Meyle HD)
Front ARB bush 31351093263
Rear ARB bushes 33551094551
Rear bump stops 33506777036
Rear strut mounts 33526779670 (Lemforder)
Rear ARB drop link 33552283743
Rear trailing arm bushes 33326770786 (Meyle HD)

Been meaning to write all of that up into a post for ages!

 

[BuzzardBiker]

I did a full suspension refresh on my E86 not long after I got it. This was with Bilstein B4s and Suplex springs. You don't have to replace all of this obviously, but the top mounts and bump stops are worth doing. For reference part numbers as follows:
Damper B4 fronts: 22-164575_758 and 22-164575_757 (now 22-164575 and 22-164568)
Damper B4 rear: 19-158983_759
M-Sport spec Suplex springs are 06248 and 06231 - 20mm shorter at the front and 3mm shorter at the rear than SE spec springs
Front mounts 31336779613 (I used Lemforder)
Front control arms and bushes 31122343352 (Meyle HD)
Front ARB drop link 31356765934 (Meyle HD)
Front ARB bush 31351093263
Rear ARB bushes 33551094551
Rear bump stops 33506777036
Rear strut mounts 33526779670 (Lemforder)
Rear ARB drop link 33552283743
Rear trailing arm bushes 33326770786 (Meyle HD)

Been meaning to write all of that up into a post for ages!

Can this work be done on a driveway with axle
Stands?
There is an independent Specialist not too far from me DeutschTech in Milton Keynes but I think they won’t fit the parts I want to use and would want to use their supplied parts (for insurance purposes).

I’m happy to travel and help with someone to do the job, who knows what they are doing.

Also, I noticed today the front top mount rubbers are cracked so definitely in need of replacing.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Does anyone have the required part numbers for Sachs shock absorbers front and rear.
Autodoc shows a few different ones.
I can cross reference with Euro Car Parts.
Also, part numbers for Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops.

Thanks

 

[enuff_zed]

Does anyone have the required part numbers for Sachs shock absorbers front and rear.
Autodoc shows a few different ones.
I can cross reference with Euro Car Parts.
Also, part numbers for Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops.

Thanks

I've just put 3.0si Coupe into Autodoc and it only gives the two front ones? No alternative Sachs ones?
As previously mentioned, you can't get Sachs rears for the coupe.

For some reason it doesn't show Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops for that model, but they are all the same, so just put in 3.0i for example.
You need the shorter ones, for vehicles with sports suspension.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

Does anyone have the required part numbers for Sachs shock absorbers front and rear.
Autodoc shows a few different ones.
I can cross reference with Euro Car Parts.
Also, part numbers for Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops.

Thanks

I've just put 3.0si Coupe into Autodoc and it only gives the two front ones? No alternative Sachs ones?
As previously mentioned, you can't get Sachs rears for the coupe.

For some reason it doesn't show Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops for that model, but they are all the same, so just put in 3.0i for example.
You need the shorter ones, for veghicles with sports suspension.

Thank you

Euro car parts are showing rears in stock but their prices are considerably higher than Autodoc.

I'm happy with Bilstein B4's if these are up to the oem job.

 

[enuff_zed]

Does anyone have the required part numbers for Sachs shock absorbers front and rear.
Autodoc shows a few different ones.
I can cross reference with Euro Car Parts.
Also, part numbers for Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops.

Thanks

I've just put 3.0si Coupe into Autodoc and it only gives the two front ones? No alternative Sachs ones?
As previously mentioned, you can't get Sachs rears for the coupe.

For some reason it doesn't show Sachs or Lemforder front bump stops for that model, but they are all the same, so just put in 3.0i for example.
You need the shorter ones, for vehicles with sports suspension.

Thank you

Euro car parts are showing rears in stock but their prices are considerably higher than Autodoc.

I'm happy with Bilstein B4's if these are up to the oem job.

Bilstein B4 are an exact match for standard. Your only choice then is whether you go Sachs or Bilstein on the front. It's really just a cosmetic decision.

 

[BuzzardBiker]

For the sake of making it easier I'll just go with Bilsteins all round.

I just need to know the part numbers for the Lemforder front bump stops if anyone can help with that?

Thanks.

 

[enuff_zed]

For the sake of making it easier I'll just go with Bilsteins all round.

I just need to know the part numbers for the Lemforder front bump stops if anyone can help with that?

Thanks.

Can't find Lemforder bump stops.
I use Febi Bilstein tbh. Autodoc part number for the sports ones is 103962

 

[BuzzardBiker]

I've been on Autodoc and have in my basket the following.

Bilstein B4 shocks, front:
Article number: 22-164568
Article number: 22-164575

Bilstein B4 shocks, rear:
Article number: 19-158983 x2

Front Top Mounts (Lemforder)
Article number: 27309 01 x2

Rear Top Mounts (Lemforder)
Article number: 25853 01 x2

Lemforder Knuckle bolt repair kit
Article number: 42407 01 x2

Front rubber buffer Febi Bilstein
Article number: 103962 x2

Rear rubber buffer Febi Bilstein
Article number: 181778

Is it worth buying the front lower rubber buffers?
Article number: 174363 x2

DeutschTech in Milton Keynes said they are happy to fit the parts for me (my nearest Independent BMW Specialist).

 

[enuff_zed]

You probably don't need the knuckle bolt repair kit tbh.
Just get two of these bolts from the genuine BMW eBay store: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184878518948

The rubber buffers that fit on the end of the springs can usually be re-used, but i have had one or two that have been damaged.
For the price, fit new ones.
But then you may as well fit the upper ones as well. BMW Part Number: 31 33 1128523

The top spring mounting plates corrode too. I've only ever had one that was too bad to keep, but the part numbers are: 31 33 1135580