Why you should budget for a suspension refresh when buying an E89 (or E85)

Wow!
Mines 130k and the ride is horrible around Plymouth: to the point I won't be sorry to sell it when I get my E39 back.

I'm 99% sure nobody would have changed them before I bought it and it sailed through the MOT yesterday. It looks like I have to explain to my lovely wife how beneficial it will be to spend more money on my hobby car after the roof/boot microswitches and the water pump..................

Probably use Bilstein B4OE unless someone has a good reason not to.

God I love this forum, it helps me spend my children's inheritance.
 
simnew said:
So when the shocks go, does they make the ride crash and stiff?
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That's certainly what happened with my 330i. I just had them replaced with OE Sachs ones but might have explored other options for a Z4.
 
I had to do mine at 70k, firm ride, potholes the suspension gets a lot of shock loading, parts arent expensive ,no big challenges to fit them.
All part of the Z4 fun
 
Bumping up an old thread.

My car is 2012 with 70k miles. I have Eibach springs en route, and have now started thinking I should so the shocks at the same time. Bilstein B4's seem to be regarded as sufficient with Eibachs, and they are good value too which helps.

I'm just trying to work out what else is needed when getting them installed. Are top mounts and bump stops essential? I'd probably rather not replace things for the sake of it!
 
ARCS said:
I'll be refreshing the suspension on my e89 in the coming weeks. It's sitting at 39k, so I'll see how well the shocks were working.



Is it straight forward enough to get to the rear top mounts?
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Yes
 
Lyons said:
Bumping up an old thread.

My car is 2012 with 70k miles. I have Eibach springs en route, and have now started thinking I should so the shocks at the same time. Bilstein B4's seem to be regarded as sufficient with Eibachs, and they are good value too which helps.

I'm just trying to work out what else is needed when getting them installed. Are top mounts and bump stops essential? I'd probably rather not replace things for the sake of it!
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I paired my eibach's with Bilstein B8's
 
That’s what I started looking at, then read a lot of folk using B6’s, then noticed that there seem to be even more people that have used B4’s and Eibachs (not specifically E89’s, but various BM models). Based on positive reports coupled with the price, I’ll probably just go for them.
 
Lyons said:
That’s what I started looking at, then read a lot of folk using B6’s, then noticed that there seem to be even more people that have used B4’s and Eibachs (not specifically E89’s, but various BM models). Based on positive reports coupled with the price, I’ll probably just go for them.
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Eibach spring rate is really aimed at B6/B8 damper settings..so it should be B8s
 
I get that. But there are countless scenarios where folk have used B4’s with Eibachs and have good reports.

I was planning on just using the existing shocks originally, but the B4 are bound to be a an upgrade to them.
 
While the B4's will be fine, they won't be fine in the long term.
You see, a B4 is a longer shock absorber and does not match the Eibach spring, so it is permanently partially compressed by the shorter springs.
End result, accelerated shock absorber wear.
The B8's are more expensive, but honestly, do the job once and do it right is my approach.
Oh and as has been stated already, do the drop links, bump stops, dust covers, top mounts and anti-roll bar bushes.
I started by thinking I would just need shocks, then it just grew as I realised I should do this properly (or rather my mechanic should as i am too old to be doing this stuff!)
 
You can get larger spring pads to increase the shock stroke to compensate for the shorter Eibachs

Meds

Thread 'Thicker spring pads/shims to raise the front a touch?'

Has anyone added thicker spring pads to their E85/E86.?
I'm contemplating to revisit my front suspension.
Previous owner installed Eibach Pro springs but they just ran too low. The drivers arch liver was rubbing and the experience was not pleasant, not from lack of comfort, but from worry and hearing that horrendous rub noise on deep road undulations.

My quick solution was to install M Sport springs on the front. I did this and all my problems went away. :thumbsup:
Running a mixture of Eibach at the rear and M sport at the front was fine, I can't tell any difference with springs rates...

For mine, I've gone for

Front (within 1mm of standard height and 3mm of standard shock travel)
- new E90 xi front top mounts
- new e30 spring pad
- new e85 lower spring pad
- B4 shock and Eibach springs

Rear (within 1mm of standard height)
- new OE top mounts
- new lower spring pad
- new thicker (9mm raise) upper spring pad
- B4 shock and Eibach springs

(And new bump stops, droplinks, washers/mounting hardware etc)
 
Lyons said:
I get that. But there are countless scenarios where folk have used B4’s with Eibachs and have good reports.

I was planning on just using the existing shocks originally, but the B4 are bound to be a an upgrade to them.
Click to expand...
The springs and dampers need to work in harmony...stiffer springs require stiffer damping both compression and rebound B6 B8 have 20% ish more damping..

Countless reports means after zippo damping and shagged springs anything is an improvement..but that's not the correct answer..but..each to their own..
 
Would B6 be acceptable?

With regards to top mounts, are these ok?

1775767771694.png

Anyone recommend what bump stops I should be buying to suit the drop of the Eibachs?
 
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