Suspension options for lowering the E39 Touring

[whterice]

Got an email back from both Megan and BC. Megan does not make a kit and BC has never tried fitting a sedan kit on the rear of a touring.

[geargrinder]

Hope I was answer your question and provide some insight.

Thanks a load man! Too bad about the BCs and rears as I really like the look and value otherwise. Up in air still but STs moving up on the list...

[CLKFAN]

Thanks a load man! Too bad about the BCs and rears as I really like the look and value otherwise. Up in air still but STs moving up on the list...

You're welcome.

I just noticed my gramar from 4am this morning...lol

[RVAE34]

Parts for the rear shocks have been ordered by Fortune Auto. Can't wait to get them in and see how the rear feels now. Then I hope to have updates with kit availability

[Flycaper]

Sorry if this has already been answered. If purchasing a set of coilovers either KW or ST and your wagon has sls.., why not buy the set for wagons without sls, re-sell the rear coilovers then buy some rear shocks and links? It looks like their priced the same? Thanks.

edit: I thought it might be nice to try and help out a non sls member with what i mentioned above but I think im going to place an order tomorrow. Thank you all for so much great information.
This is how its goin down..pun intended... Hope this works out...

99,540it- 19"Mpar Reps (on the way from Dennis Cooper, thanks man) Rear275/30 Front245/35? - Upper control arm and rear subframe bushings on the way- Plan on ordering the ST Coilover setup for sls tomorrow.
Also Im waiting for the wheels to get here before i buy tires so i would love to hear how people feel about the (R.275/30- F.245/35) versus the (R.265/30- F.235/35) setups?
Also not sure what to do with the 18x9 square Breytons that were on the car when i bought it. I think there breytons that were poorly painted black? Dont know much about them, ie, quality? value?
Will update w/photos when everything gets here.
Quick Update: Ordered the ST coilovers for wagons with sls. Im in cali so they said i should have them by monday (4 to 5 days fyi). Also ordered the coilover instalation kit to try and make my life easy and have things proper. all from esc tuning.

[Flycaper]

Hey guys. Just an update. Got the ST coilovers today and when I opened the box to my surprise there was a set of rear springs. Haha. I cross checked all of my order forms to make sure i did not miss-order the setup. My orders were correct, "ST Coilovers for wagons with sls". Thankfully the guys at KW and esc tuning are all being very helpful to get things straightened out. To top it off i think I missed the wheel delivery, going to pick-up at 6pm.

Here are some photos of what i received in case any of you have an order out for these. I will update when its resolved.

[M5 Jed]

FYI, I spoke to Ground Control last month. They are also working on a coilover set up for the rear of E39 Tourings. I already have a front set of GC coilovers and will be removing the rear OEM SLS system once the rear coilovers are available. Just another option to consider.

[clevertd]

What aren't you happy about with the rear SLS?

[CLKFAN]

What aren't you happy about with the rear SLS?

I can speak for myself when I say that I love my sls. Reason being that no matter how much weight I put in ny car the rear lifts back up to my already pretty low ride height.

[M5 Jed]

I'm actually very happy with the SLS, I love the adjustability and the ride feels great. But, for the purpose of my build, keeping the SLS is not ideal.

[geargrinder]

I'm actually very happy with the SLS, I love the adjustability and the ride feels great. But, for the purpose of my build, keeping the SLS is not ideal.

yeah I totally agree w/ other guys SLS is great for road car and I intend to keep it, but i've always assumed if you are going really hard core it wouldn't be ideal. by the very nature of the air bags there is limited ability to preload. therefore to "lower" you are reducing the spring rate by taking air out of the bags and how stiff it can be at rest. real springs can have preload meaning you can have a very very stiff spring and a low ride height at the same time. that said the E39 is enough of a pig (sorry guys) that I'd never go hardcore on it myself for a tracking setup etc. which is why i'm not worried... but I can understand somebody doing a heavy duty build, or wanting to track the car would want to ditch the airbags.

BTW - i'm leaning towards the ST setup for the 540.

I'd love the V2 or BC etc. setups to have adjustable damping, but since I'm probably simultaneously doing a TCKline setup for the M3 and that's pricey, and I've been running the S6 on the dyno and have the "next bottleneck" disease, I'll probably scale back on the ol' Touring to keep cash freed up to distribute across the other projects...

[Busta Rib]

I have a 2003 525iT with sport suspension and SLS. What are my non-coilover options? I've already purchased some Vogtland lowering springs and plan on lowering the rear using some software. I also want to replace the front and rear dampers while I am lowering the car. Was planning on buying Bilstein Sports for the front but I can't seem to find Sports for the rear for a touring with SLS. Any advice/tips are appreciated. TIA.

BTW, I was going to buy OEM sport dampers for the rear but they are $440/ea from www.getbmwparts.com. Ouch.

[Blaqk20]

Parts for the rear shocks have been ordered by Fortune Auto. Can't wait to get them in and see how the rear feels now. Then I hope to have updates with kit availability

Do they sell just the fronts for those with SLS?

[derekmw]

I've been itching to lower the car slightly (I don't like slammed-scratch-on-every-pebble-on-the-street low) and based on what I'm seeing, I'm thinking of going with lowering springs for the front, links for the rear...and to replace my tired shocks, just getting OEM replacement sport ones. How does this sound?

[Flycaper]

I've been itching to lower the car slightly (I don't like slammed-scratch-on-every-pebble-on-the-street low) and based on what I'm seeing, I'm thinking of going with lowering springs for the front, links for the rear...and to replace my tired shocks, just getting OEM replacement sport ones. How does this sound?

The ST coilovers I just bought were 1000.00. It comes with front coilovers, rear shocks, and adjustable links. The set I bought does not have dampening control but obviously has ride height adjustability. I think front springs, shocks all around, and links might be somewhere around the same price, and in the end you will have no adjustability in the front. Im no expert, just a thought.

[bmwsone01]

The ST coilovers I just bought were 1000.00. It comes with front coilovers, rear shocks, and adjustable links. The set I bought does not have dampening control but obviously has ride height adjustability. I think front springs, shocks all around, and links might be somewhere around the same price, and in the end you will have no adjustability in the front. Im no expert, just a thought.

Put it on already so I can see how well it works

[AquilaBMW]

Put it on already so I can see how well it works

Do you still have 20's on your car?

[bmwsone01]

Do you still have 20's on your car?

That would be Kenny. Not me. Lol.

[AquilaBMW]

That would be Kenny. Not me. Lol.

Hi Nelson! LOL! My bad. So, you are in the E39 world now? So am I. We need to get together man.

To OP - Sorry for thread jack, catching up with an old friend.

[RVAE34]

Yes, Fortune Auto will just sell the fronts. But.. The spring rates are for the M5 so if you want to install them on an I6 car, just get a softer spring rate. The Fortune's have dampening and they don't compress the shock/spring when you lower the car.

[Flycaper]

Put it on already so I can see how well it works

i know, i know... they sent me the wrong set so im waiting for the correct set to show up. I will install them as soon as I get them, go drive hard and take some photos of the stance with the 18 breytons and the 19 Mpars. Sorry all for the wait.

[RVAE34]

Just an update that my Fortune Auto rear shocks should be done next week just in time for me to get a little drive time before I yank the stock motor. Looking forward to reporting back with pix and experience.

[gonzilla]

Just an update that my Fortune Auto rear shocks should be done next week just in time for me to get a little drive time before I yank the stock motor. Looking forward to reporting back with pix and experience.

Just to reiterate, you're removing the SLS bags from your car, right?

[RVAE34]

My car doesn't have SLS.

[adjmcloon]

I am installing oem sport springs, sachs sports shocks, and the eibach f/r roll bars tomorrow. I will post up some pics of before/after. I have SLS and einpa on my laptop, so it should be easy to get the rear leveled out after I drop the front of my non-sport 525iT.