Help me with my new suspension please....

[chanlon1]

Had my car up on a ramp last night and noticed that the drivers front shock absorber was leaking badly. I doubt it would get through another MOT.
So, new front ones are required.
Now this gives me the chance to look at also getting new springs as I would like to lower the car a bit to allow the arches to be filled out better.

So I have a 2006 Coupe, with the M Sport suspension.
I am running standard 18" wheels.
I would like to drop the car a bit with a new set up.
I am not interested in coilovers.

Current research says to go for Bilstein B4, and Eibach Pro springs.

Would that be okay?

thanks

 

[True-Blue]

Yes, either that or Sachs struts. Both available from AUTODOC on the app.

I’d replace the rear struts too, as if they’re original they’ll be useless too.

 

[enuff_zed]

Yes, either that or Sachs struts. Both available from AUTODOC on the app.

I’d replace the rear struts too, as if they’re original they’ll be useless too.

You can't get Sachs for the coupe rear any more I discovered. Perfectly acceptable to mix them but you may wish to go Bilstein all round?

 

[chanlon1]

The rear struts looked fine....as in they looked 17yrs old But there was not leaking/weeping. I guess it would be seen to be cheapskate to only replace the fronts.....

Would the combo of B4's and Eibach Pro then drop the car a few mm in height, but not enough to cause problems?

 

[enuff_zed]

The rear struts looked fine....as in they looked 17yrs old But there was not leaking/weeping.

Ifr they have done more than 50k they are buggered, no matter what they 'look' like.
Bear in mind it is the gas escaping that knackers them, not oil.
An extra £100 per corner (plus springs if needed).
You know it makes sense.

 

[chanlon1]

The rear struts looked fine....as in they looked 17yrs old But there was not leaking/weeping.

Ifr they have done more than 50k they are buggered, no matter what they 'look' like.
Bear in mind it is the gas escaping that knackers them, not oil.
An extra £100 per corner (plus springs if needed).
You know it makes sense.

They've done 120k So not sure what comes on the scale after "buggered" ..........

So having never worried about suspension in a car before, does the strut come with everything (except the spring) that is needed to install it?
Is there anything I need to take off the old parts, to reuse??? Or should I just buy whatever is needed to ensure I have brand new stuff going on and nothing lingering from 120k miles??

 

[enuff_zed]

Struts, top mounts, bump stops, dust covers and new knuckle bolts for the front.
Do NOT use Meyle HD top mounts on the rear! Terrible design allows metal on metal and they knock like mad. Get Lemforder front and rear.
You can reuse the rubber spring seats and the front top spring plates unless they are badly corroded

 

[pvr]

[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], almost sounds like you know what you are talking about :lol:

 

[True-Blue]

The rear struts looked fine....as in they looked 17yrs old But there was not leaking/weeping.

Ifr they have done more than 50k they are buggered, no matter what they 'look' like.
Bear in mind it is the gas escaping that knackers them, not oil.
An extra £100 per corner (plus springs if needed).
You know it makes sense.

They've done 120k So not sure what comes on the scale after "buggered" ..........

So having never worried about suspension in a car before, does the strut come with everything (except the spring) that is needed to install it?
Is there anything I need to take off the old parts, to reuse??? Or should I just buy whatever is needed to ensure I have brand new stuff going on and nothing lingering from 120k miles??

A 4 year old child would be able to push the piston fully into the body of the shock…. And it won’t come back out on its own

 

[True-Blue]

Struts, top mounts, bump stops, dust covers and new knuckle bolts for the front.
Do NOT use Meyle HD top mounts on the rear! Terrible design allows metal on metal and they knock like mad. Get Lemforder front and rear.
You can reuse the rubber spring seats and the front top spring plates unless they are badly corroded

This, I’ve done quite a few of these now and it’s a false economy to skimp

 

[pvr]

Indeed, I don’t want your alpina with knackered suspension

 

[True-Blue]

The rear struts looked fine....as in they looked 17yrs old But there was not leaking/weeping. I guess it would be seen to be cheapskate to only replace the fronts.....

Would the combo of B4's and Eibach Pro then drop the car a few mm in height, but not enough to cause problems?

This was Sachs and Eibach pro, not a coupe but you get the idea… should sit similar to this

 

[chanlon1]

This was Sachs and Eibach pro, not a coupe but you get the idea… should sit similar to this
IMG_1581.jpeg

Is that on 18"s??

 

[True-Blue]

This was Sachs and Eibach pro, not a coupe but you get the idea… should sit similar to this
IMG_1581.jpeg

Is that on 18"s??

Yes, they’re genuine 405m’s

 

[chanlon1]

Thanks - I've started to add items to the Autodoc trolley....I'm currently sitting at £520 :?
And even then I'm not sure I have everything...........let me add what I think I need and then put it up here.

I'd like to be able to build the new struts whilst the car is still moveable, so ideally I can't transfer any parts over.
Therefore, in addition to these...anything else needed?
Struts
top mounts
bump stops
dust covers
knuckle bolts for the front.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks - I've started to add items to the Autodoc trolley....I'm currently sitting at £520 :?
And even then I'm not sure I have everything...........let me add what I think I need and then put it up here.

I'd like to be able to build the new struts whilst the car is still moveable, so ideally I can't transfer any parts over.
Therefore, in addition to these...anything else needed?
Struts
top mounts
bump stops
dust covers
knuckle bolts for the front.

If you want to build first then you need more for the front. Springs, top spring plate, upper and lower rubber spring seats, washer that goes between the spring plate and the top mount, and the dust cover cup that goes over the bearing in the base of the top mount.
Best bet for most of those is to get the part numbers from Realoem then look for them on the genuine BMW eBay site.

 

[enuff_zed]

And for the rear you’ll need the lower cup washers below the top mount and the small washer below that.
But tbh, stripping old rear shocks and building up the new ones takes about five minutes each

 

[Zedebee]

Thanks - I've started to add items to the Autodoc trolley....I'm currently sitting at £520 :?
And even then I'm not sure I have everything...........let me add what I think I need and then put it up here.

I'd like to be able to build the new struts whilst the car is still moveable, so ideally I can't transfer any parts over.
Therefore, in addition to these...anything else needed?
Struts
top mounts
bump stops
dust covers
knuckle bolts for the front.

You’ll need what’s in the picture to build the struts.
You don’t need 4 until you’ve swapped the strut over
3 should come with the strut
Check if the top mounts come with 2 (x3), you may need to order these separately
You will need 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, none of which are expensive apart from 7 (about £30 each new), but you might a few spares on the forum. Even if you are swapping over, definitely get 6, because they tend to be little discs of rust.
. . . and springs.

If building yourself, you will need at least one pair of spring compressors (I use one pair, but it would certainly be easier with an extra one). Plenty of “how to” advice on here, it’s a satisfying job.

 

[chanlon1]

Spent hundreds of pounds tonight with AutoDocs 49% offer.
Got bilstein B4’s, eibach pro springs for all four corners plus a few extra pieces all for £477.
Now having to get the remainder of what I need off eBay and Amazon.
My parts bin for the E86 is slowly building up…….

 

[enuff_zed]

Love an Autodoc Xmas delivery