SLS spring question

[Normajean]

So i have a 93 wagon with SLS and i want to delete it (like everyone else) but i was wondering if the SLS springs will fit into a non SLS strut. BECUASE the sls springs are 315mm in uncompressed legnth and the stock rear is 365mm. So in the long run i want to put SLS springs into a stock strut

[eddycooper]

I have read numerous times on this board that they don't work, but I have not managed to find a reason why. I have a set of sport SLS shocks and a set of "lowered-ride-height" non-SLS shocks and they are very close. They have the same number of coils, the same wire diameter, and the same coil diameter, but I have not yet measured the uncompressed length. It sounds like you have done this last part already.

If you have some springs on hand, you can help others out by doing some measurements and sending me the information. See here: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1812315

[Elka]

See this link for a pic of 4 rear springs compared.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1729577
James

[Normajean]

it looks like they would fit just fine, it seems to the same exact coild as non sls rear just shorter.

[Layne]

I've always thought they would be too soft since the SLS provides significant upward force that the non-SLS won't have.

But if the wire diameter and number of coils is the same, I would use them. Measure the wire diameter with dial calipers though, some of them are close but not the same.

[bubba966]

I've always thought they would be too soft since the SLS provides significant upward force that the non-SLS won't have.

But if the wire diameter and number of coils is the same, I would use them. Measure the wire diameter with dial calipers though, some of them are close but not the same.

SLS (as well as EDC) springs are softer than non-SLS springs.

[Normajean]

on the chart i see that the rear non sls springs are 27.5 n/mm and the sls rear springs are 40.7. The lower the springs rate the stiffer the spring? in turn it wouldnt be a good idea to use sls springs for a (stock lowering spring) becasue they are to soft?

[eddycooper]

on the chart i see that the rear non sls springs are 27.5 n/mm and the sls rear springs are 40.7. The lower the springs rate the stiffer the spring? in turn it wouldnt be a good idea to use sls springs for a (stock lowering spring) becasue they are to soft?

I noticed this too and was also a bit surprised. One difference may be that the SLS springs that I measured are the sport model ones, which were not offered in North America. It still seems like a big difference...

[Normajean]

well i have a pair of SLS springs and billstein sports and im gonna try it out and see what happens :)

[zubbie]

When I deleted the sls on my M5 the rear dumped very low (tucked) with sls springs and no shock so they are quite soft. I'm guessing that since sls compensates the suspension with line pressure that the springs are designed to be softer than normal so as to not resist suspension travel too much. The sls shock will make up the difference in the firmness in the rear.

Since spings are relatively cheap I would replace them with stock or lowered rears (I used lowtecs)

[Normajean]

ehh not to sure if i want that plus its alot of work in my wagon to do that and have a soft saggy rear end, but i wonder if i use a heavy duty shock and the sls spring if it will be okay. IDK i might just have to get some lowering springs for the rear since i have fronts

[gtopaul]

ehh not to sure if i want that plus its alot of work in my wagon to do that and have a soft saggy rear end, but i wonder if i use a heavy duty shock and the sls spring if it will be okay. IDK i might just have to get some lowering springs for the rear since i have fronts

The nice thing about keeping the SLS is you can adjust the rear ride height and only have to buy lowering springs for the front. Do not use the factory SLS rear springs with regular shocks because it's a much lower ride in the Touring and carrying any kind of load makes it worse. I had 200k miles on my stock SLS system with no problems until the rear shock mounts broke through. Since I was in there I went ahead and changed to springs to H&R Touring lowering springs and M5 rear SLS shocks. Also did the accumulators while I was there. Rides and looks great and still works perfectly.

[Layne]

I no longer bother trying to convince anyone that it is prety much the greatest thing ever for a touring.

[Elekta]

SLS (as well as EDC) springs are softer than non-SLS springs.

That's what the S button is for :evil2


Since I was in there I went ahead and changed to springs to H&R Touring lowering springs and M5 rear SLS shocks. Also did the accumulators while I was there. Rides and looks great and still works perfectly.

So just throw a number of rear M5 SLS shocks, 2 accumulators, all new piping, and a few cans of CH11. Over $2k? $1500? My point being the car can ride good as new on brand new OEM, and going cheaper at the rear....you may do it a few times before you like where it sits, and then you're at $1500 (if you count your personal time you waste ripping it out, putting some stuff back - and the 50 threads asking does this shock make my ass look big? It's not EDC, so in comparison, your rear shocks are chump change (sadly)

[bubba966]

That's what the S button is for :evil2

Oh trust me, I make great use of the S button... :D

But I was mainly trying to illustrate that factory shocks that are used with shocks/struts that assist load handling like SLS & EDC versions have softer springs as the spring is doing less work than a regular style shock/spring combo would.

[Hoolie]

If you do the struts get new springs and top mounts too.. Make sure you loop the pump too or it'll seaze up.. Can't just plug it.

I run sedan springs and shocks in the rear. Works great but gets really low when loaded..

[Normajean]

and thats the thing i dont do much lugging around except for groceries and animal supplies, im sure you really gotta have a load on it too low. plus im gonna run billy sports in the rear no matter what spring i use. i think i just need to buy damn rear springs, i have eibach pros for the front

[Hoolie]

and thats the thing i dont do much lugging around except for groceries and animal supplies, im sure you really gotta have a load on it too low. plus im gonna run billy sports in the rear no matter what spring i use. i think i just need to buy damn rear springs, i have eibach pros for the front

get the same for the rears then..

did this on my touring...

new dogbones too.. car runs like new now

[Elekta]

This dude is shot. It's the proportioning valve for the SLS. Are they the same for all Wagons, or is the M5T with EDC's any different?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/ggil-tx/IMG_6873_zps8bd795a2.jpg
Also, does this fitting look cross thread to you? I'm thinking I should replace the whole accumulator just to make sure, but that's leaking also.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/ggil-tx/IMG_6890_zps62ac6048.jpg
Will pass along pricing when I get quotes. I just need to confirm the PN before I call BMA.

You see, SLS is worth fixing when you have a wagon. I think the main reason BMW put SLS on their cars and wagons is because a lot of Euro's tow little trailers, and there's no better way to adjust tongue weight at the back than with SLS.

[eddycooper]

I think the control valves are all the same. I replaced mine last year - ~250-300 was the cost. You will need a very thin wrench to hold the ball joint when you take that nut off of the linkage rod. Also, take note when you disconnect the linkage rod because the control valve arm is slotted. If you get it right, you might get lucky and be able to avoid the tedious process of re-adjusting your ride height.

Hard to tell if that hydraulic line is cross threaded, but it is strange that it is leaking. If it is, then you might be looking at a new hydraulic hose too because it will be cross-threaded too.

[bubba966]

This dude is shot. It's the proportioning valve for the SLS. Are they the same for all Wagons, or is the M5T with EDC's any different?


I don't believe there is any difference in basic hardware between an SLS system & an SLS/EDC system when it comes to the hydraulic system. So the valve & accumulator should be the same between a 3.6 M5, an M5T, & an M-Sport. But it has been a little while since I looked at all of that on RealOEM so I don't recall for sure. I need new accumulators for my M-Sport. And I'm recalling it to be the same across all SLS equipped E34's (and I think E32's as well).

Does BMA even carry SLS hard parts like that? Seems more of a dealer type part that you'd want to get through thebmwpartstore or ebmwparts...

[Elekta]

cant seem to find the pn
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=HJ91&mospid=47399&hg=33&fg=50

BL01908 is my vin

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HJ91&mospid=47399&btnr=33_0352&hg=33&fg=50

ok , I found it. 37121138407 $329.73

[bubba966]

37121138407 is $261.31 from thebmwpartstore.com

[Elekta]

Thanks!!!

[bubba966]

Thanks!!!

Welcome.

I know you've used Tischer in the past. I did as well. But over the years as they have gotten more popular their discount has gotten smaller. So currently thebmwpartstore.com & ebmwparts.com have the largest (and apparently identical) discounts. And as M5 & EDC stuff is expensive I decided a bit ago it was time to try someone new...

So far I've been pleased with all of my dealing with thebmwpartstore. I'll keep using them (and have a lot lately).

[Elekta]

I thought so too. Accumulators for $136 ea is a deal. Have you ordered EDC shocks from them? My worry about EDC dampers is that they may have been manufactured over 10 years ago and have just rotted on the shelf.

I am doing the regulating valve and both accumulators as all the piping is good and won't need to be replaced (hand bent which is costly and risky if the wrong guy is bending the tubing.) My indy is ok with me sending parts to his shop and not marking them up. He knows that he'll get all the work if he doesn't ding me all the time like Sayther did. Also, he and his guys have a profound respect for the car (which is important to me), as many mechanics just see them as one broken toaster after another.

Would love to just have brand new EDC shocks and springs and stops and rubbers everywhere....not today tho

[bubba966]

I did not order my new EDC's from thebmwpartstore or ebmwparts. I ordered them from a place I will never deal with again.

I will pull my ned EDC fronts out of the closet in a little bit and try and find a manufacture date on them. But as I recall they shouldn't be 10 years old as BMW ran out of stock at one time (probably more than once I imagine) and had to wait for Boge to build new ones.

But I've got everything but new hubs for fully brand new front EDC strut assemblies. Hubs were NLA at the time I ordered most of it. But they're back in stock now so need to order a pair up to finish the assemblies.

[Elekta]

Would love to see your parts pile and the list you've compiled. If I close this deal that's tee'd up I may refresh the whole suspension front to back.

Seriously considering a 2010 535Xdrive 6sp manual touring now, and doing a full resto on the M5T and then putting it in a barn till it turn's 20.

[bubba966]

Would love to see your parts pile and the list you've compiled. If I close this deal that's tee'd up I may refresh the whole suspension front to back.

So I dug my new front EDC's out of the closet. The left one did not have any date stamps on it I could see. And it wasn't shipped in a regular EDC box from BMW in Germany. But the right side one did come in a regular BMW box and had a sticker on it saying it came into the US on 09/02/2004. :( It does look as new. Hope it behaves as new.

And :lol3 at my parts pile. It's getting kinda silly how much stuff I have that has yet to b installed. Entire new front EDC assemblies (springs, brake shields, nuts, bolts, everything). Though nothing for the rear EDC or SLS (it's still fine so why bother). Extra bumpers. M-Systems. Back seat fridge. Power rear sunshades (yes, multiples). Side window sunshades. Power rear headrests. Velocity stack M60 intake & M62TB. New & used coil packs. New MAF's. Wokke thrust bearings. Lemforder front suspension arms. Etc, etc, etc.

Comes from not being able to work on my cars much. :( Get more stuff for the E34's than I can get on.