Spring the 3rd

B

bluepain

Member
Both my rear springs have broken AGAIN! :headbang:
I changed these roughly 3 years back ,and put on suplex 06229 ,
Both have cracked..
Not sure I want to use this brand again..
The original set only one of them cracked,
So I'm looking to either put on an oem or simalar..
Any ideas which sets to use..
The car us an I sport so it does have lower stance and I remember that the coils are slightly smaller than a standard 2.0l having the inactive m sport springs..

All advice welcome..
Cheers
 
I can't give perfect advice on which springs, but I can reflect on my own experience with my 2005 E46 3-Series.

Before I bought my 3-Series with 83K miles, that car had three BMW rear springs replaced under warranty. At 94K miles, I replaced both rears again. Only one was broken, but the other had rust and pitting on the lower coils. While some blame metallurgy, I put more blame on the design, coil coatings, and where we drive. My 3-Series was a daily driver in Minnesota, with winter salt and sand, and the clever space-saving lower rear suspension arms catch the grit, dirt, and salt. The spring seat with this sandy mix grinds into the springs' protective coating and corrosion takes over. Once I caught onto this, I removed the junk out of the spring seats every time I rotated tires (2X per year). I installed Suplex springs on the 3-Series at 94K miles and sold the car six years later at 214K miles with the springs still intact.

I replaced the springs on all four courners of my Z4 coupe last winter, along with struts and shocks. The car was driven summers only by the two previous owners, and had 80K when I purchased it. On the rear springs the lower coils had lots of chips in the coating, but rust hadn't been accelerated by salt. One of my winter jobs for the Z4 will be to inspect the rear spring seats and remove any rocks or sand.

Good luck on choosing springs !
 
Suplex recommended the 06229 for I sport with inactive M set up..
There are old other posts on the forum, that have purchased the other springs,to find they are 10mm bigger,gives a softer ride ,but obviously unballances set up if you dont change front set up.. ..and I nearly made that mistake.
I sport has different springs than 2.0l.or se.
Which are slightly taller /softer..
And harsher..you feel.all bumps .
Truth be known I'd prefer the taller ones for a better ride..


Thanks for the information from the gent from the USA..
I suspect you've hit the nail on the head..
I live on Cornwall 100m from the Atlantic ocean,
Hadn't thought of that to be honest..
But maybe should've..
But now I think of it everything that's is metal here corodes .cars, motorbikes,..
Or corrodes at an accelerated rate..
Both my cars have had to be under sealed ,
When I didnt live here neither car showed corrosion..
Thanks all..
 
Broken springs are by no means a unique BMW problem, its a function of modern light weight fuel efficient suspension designs using much thinner lighter springs than in days gone by. My Focus went though three whilst i had it. Luckily I've never had one destroy a tyre.
 
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