How to lower an e39 touring with SLS for free

[audio18]

If you want the ability to frequently change the height of the SLS (Self Leveling Suspension) on your e39 touring, then please buy a set of aftermarket adjustable lowering links. If you are cheap like me and would rather stick with OEM parts as much as possible, then you can try modifying the stock links to lower your car. The stock link is extremely strong for what it is, and already has sealed ball joints. Since it doesn’t see any stress or load, there should be no concern with bending it to shorten the length.

Tools needed:
• 10mm open ended wrench
• 10mm socket with ratchet (or another 10mm wrench)
• Two combination/box ended wrenches between ¾”and 13/16” size



1. Jack up the rear of your car and remove rear wheels (Please see the DIY or FAQ section for the proper way to securely lift your car).

2. Using the 10mm wrench and 10mm socket/wrench, remove the stock link that connects the control arm to the SLS sensor. You should place the wrench on the back side of the bolt to keep from applying too much stress on the plastic sensor bar and to prevent it from spinning.

3. Once you have removed the link, then measure and verify that it is the stock length of 3 ½”. To get approximately a 1.5” drop on a sport suspension, I found that I needed to shorten the link to 2 7/8”. I forgot to take pictures of the stock link, but you can assume it was straight rather than bent. I did not go shorter than 2 7/8”, so please do so at your own risk.



4. Bending the link is up to you. You can certainly heat it or put it in a vise, but I chose the simple route with a set of wrenches (between 3/4” and 13/16” work the best). You can figure out the technique from the picture below. Make certain you bend the link so that the bolts stay parallel to each other. You should also take care not to stress the bolt too much, since you may damage the threads or the ball and socket. Rather than stressing one bend in the metal, I moved the wrenches several times to gradually bend in multiple locations. I wouldn’t expect it to break, but you can always buy an aftermarket link if it does.



5. Reinstall the link just as it was removed. Make sure the sensor bar is not pointed straight down before lowering the car back down, otherwise it might break when the control arm rises (not likely, but you never know). With the car back on the ground, you may want to drive the car around the block to make sure everything is settled. Measure the drop and readjust if necessary.



Since this method still uses the OEM link, there should be no side effects or issues. You should go ahead and replace the rear shocks at the same time, since the factory shocks will probably not last long.

Here are a few pics of the drop I got with the 2 7/8” length on Bilstein sport shocks with B&G front springs:

[Orxan4ik]

Get ready for "purists" to give you $hit 4 it lol

I say rock on, well done!

[audio18]

You are probably right! At least it is still the stock part......just shorter! As hard as it was to bend the thing, I seriously doubt it could ever break while driving. I also have the piece of mind knowing it will never loosen up or change length.

[D540i]

i love your garage! and touring!

[rrcompton]

Sheet I love your Cobra!!

I see her over there in the corner......

[amd4me]

Holy crap your car is sweet.
Good job on the 0$ mod.
Free stuff is always awesome

[jchung9825]

Thats brilliant..

What springs you use for the front to match the rear?

[audio18]

What springs you use for the front to match the rear?

I used B&G springs for the front. So far I could not be happier with the ride, but I think the Bilsteins might be keeping the front from dropping more than it did.

[BoardEm]

Do you have any more shots of how low your front is with those B&G springs? I'm thinking about those on my 99 540it. Thanks.

[xpcgamer]

Looks Damn nice! Are those E60 rims on your car?

[audio18]

Are those E60 rims on your car?

Of course, hard to pass on a Craigslist special! Hopefully I can put some nicer wheels on it some day, but for now these will do.

[jase007]

Quick fix ... good way to save some coin.

You should go ahead and replace the rear shocks at the same time, since the factory shocks will probably not last long.

I replaced front and rear OEM Sachs / Boge Sports ... (front with Koni Sports and rear with OEM sports) ... new rears were nearly as stiff as old ones I took out ... with 160,xxx miles on them. OEM fronts typically last 50-75K max and prolly need to be replaced 2X or 3X (if stock) versus the rears.

[xpcgamer]

Did you bore out the centers? I have a set from an 07 530i. Was gonna slap them on while I refinish my RK's but I thought I had to bore them out?

[cpatstone]

op - you're just trying out the look, right? but you WILL replace those with carbon fiber lowering links, right???



-- nicely done. goes to show that while many folks fear these cars for their complexity, all it takes is a reasonable noggin and a little fearlessness.

[xpcgamer]

I am really thinking of modding my factory ones and getting rid of the adjustable one I have.

[audio18]

Do you have any more shots of how low your front is with those B&G springs? I'm thinking about those on my 99 540it. Thanks.

I will take better pics this weekend and post them up.

I replaced front and rear OEM Sachs / Boge Sports ... (front with Koni Sports and rear with OEM sports) ... new rears were nearly as stiff as old ones I took out ... with 160,xxx miles on them. OEM fronts typically last 50-75K max and prolly need to be replaced 2X or 3X (if stock) versus the rears.

I thought my rear OEM sport shocks would have been been fine with only 80k on them. After pulling them out, I realized that I could move the piston in and out with only two fingers. Since I was going to be lowering the rear, I knew they wouldn't last long no matter what. The Bilstein sport replacements are less than $100 a piece, and they made a dramatic difference in the composure of the ride. Well worth the money.

Did you bore out the centers? I have a set from an 07 530i. Was gonna slap them on while I refinish my RK's but I thought I had to bore them out?

I will be honest, the previous owner bought them off Craigslist right before I purchased the car. I thought e60's had a smaller hub than the e39 as well, but these wheels fit fine with no issues. I can check to see if they have been machined to fit, but I am sure someone with more knowledge about wheel fitment could tell you what works or not.

[cbouchez]

Great info!

thanks for posting.

BTW: what suspension are you using for the front?

[03msport540it]

audio18,

while i know i'll never attempt what you did, thumbs up to a great job! besides that, your touring looks awesome! some of these new wheels are hit and miss - yours go well. more pics would be welcomed!

[CHRIS27]

I am really thinking of modding my factory ones and getting rid of the adjustable one I have.

Where can I purchase the adjustable ones?

To the OP, great job on this mod!! Can u poin me to where I can get the front slings for the touring? TIA!

Chris

[amd4me]

Great info!

thanks for posting.

BTW: what suspension are you using for the front?

Your car is making an angry face at me

[Mark@EAC]

we carry the B&G lowering springs at EAC Tuning.

see here: http://www.eactuning.com/bg-s2-sport...bmw-p-423.html

[pa520]

why not use these... i did. You can adjust the height with 30mm


came with my kw gewindefahrwerk. I adjusted the original software to -40mm and with these adjusters made the car best suit the wheels



with these you can get the car higher or lower without bending the original part.

[Jo@EuroDyne]

To the OP, I commend your ingenuity!

why not use these... i did. You can adjust the height with 30mm


came with my kw gewindefahrwerk. I adjusted the original software to -40mm and with these adjusters made the car best suit the wheels



with these you can get the car higher or lower without bending the original part.

Ive always wondered how my amber celis tails would look on a black touring...sir, thank you. thank you for proving to me that its soooooo damn sexy!!!!

[repandpresent]

If one were to buy adjustable links and not alter the oem links, where would one look?

haha I've been searching man. Any hot leads will be appreciated.

[airkhin]

very interested in doing this as well.... anybody have any info on where to get rear adjustable mounts? cheers!