Front suspension has dropped

S

scooobydont

Member
 Central Scotland
Went to take the car out today, as I was driving off of my drive there was a loud bang from the front of the car. I thought maybe my front splitter had caught on something but when I got out to have a look the front of the car has dropped by about an inch both sides! No splitter or anything touching the ground but as I reversed the car slowly back up the drive was making some really weird grinding noise from the front.

Cheap lowering mod as it hasn't cost me a penny! Car has standard 3.0i suspension.

Already been in touch with the mechanic I use so will be collected and investigated this week.

Anyone any ideas as to what has happened?

IMG_20171126_145534273.jpg
 
Have you checked under the bonnet, the suspension top mount rubbers can split, but surprised if both went at the same time and if it would make the car drop.
 
My money is on a snapped front spring. The same thing happened to my car a couple of months ago. The bottom 1/2 of the front spring had snapped and dropped behind the brake disc. It made a horrible loud grinding noise when I tried to drive the car forward or backwards. I was just glad it snapped while parked on the driveway and not driving down a motorway. It proved a good excuse to fit eibach lowering springs :D
 
Cheers chaps, I am guessing snapped spring then :)

Anyone got any links? Not going to buy anything just yet till its confirmed, but would like to have a look about at whats available.
 
1000rr said:
Replacement for the 3.0... all 3.0 came with m sport springs as standard..?
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Was wondering if it was worth going for an upgrade seeing as I would need to replace both? ie eibach, etc.
 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/SUPLEX-06248-Front-Coil-Spring-for-BMW-Z4/1327182272

That’s what I’ve replaced mine with.... and it rides a lot better than the OEM ones. :thumbsup:

A wheel bearing was also on the way out, so replaced that too.
 
1000rr said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/SUPLEX-06248-Front-Coil-Spring-for-BMW-Z4/1327182272

That’s what I’ve replaced mine with.... and it rides a lot better than the OEM ones. :thumbsup:

A wheel bearing was also on the way out, so replaced that too.
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Bookmarked, ta. :thumbsup:
 
Bit odd for them both to go bang at the same time.
I wonder if you have had one gone for a while and haven't noticed and now the other one has joined it. Depending on how/where a spring snaps its possible to go unnoticed by the driver but it usually makes some sort of tell tale noise at the very least. At the other end of the spectrum when they go they leave the car immobile and can shred tyres etc (ask me how I know! :rofl: )

Be interesting to see what the outcome is here.
 
Probably only one gone, but it will affect the other side too. 3.0's came with EITHER standard or M Sport springs from the factory.

Mike
 
Snapped spring.

About 10years ago, I went to the Ring in my Z3MC in convoy with 2 other Z3MCs. On arrival at the hotel, we heard a bang and one of the other Z3MCs was suddenly lowered at the front. Both springs had broken! We didn't find Uri Geller under the bonnet, but it was odd that both springs suffered metal fatigue at the same time but they did.
 
Ducklakeview said:
Probably only one gone, but it will affect the other side too. 3.0's came with EITHER standard or M Sport springs from the factory.

Mike
Click to expand...
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With the OP saying a similar drop on both sides it does sound like both have gone. I would expect it to look different on both sides if one had gone and was dragging the other side down a little.

3.0 wise the vast majority had m sport suspension as it was standard from the factory. HOWEVER you could opt for the softer SE. Most didnt. A Vin checker will confirm what you had from the factory. Again HOWEVER with springs failing left right and centre a lot of 3.0 have ended up on the wrong springs since, particularly on the rear. Even when the stealers have replaced them.
 
Well done everyone, it has been diagnosed with a snapped passenger side spring, driver side is fine.

Thanks for the response all, was a bit worried it may have been something more serious.
 
scooobydont said:
Well done everyone, it has been diagnosed with a snapped passenger side spring, driver side is fine.

Thanks for the response all, was a bit worried it may have been something more serious.
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Glad it's getting sorted. Just make sure they fit the right one!😉
 
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