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Thread: E83 Suspension Upgrade

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M

    E83 Suspension Upgrade

    I recently upgraded to the rear 18.5mm sport sway from the standard 17.5mm rear sway bar on the 2006 X3.

    Initial side by side inspection of the bars showed a small increase in stiffness, but on the car, it is enough of a difference to make the rear of the X3 feel more stable. Less sway or body roll is experienced when turning the car as well.

    The balance of the car has slightly less understeer as a result of this upgrade.

    Parts needed for this upgrade include:

    18.5mm sway bar: 33 50 3 413 000
    18.5mm sway bar mounting bushings: 33 50 3 411 987

    This may also be a good time to replace your end links if necessary.

    Hope this helps others with E83's enjoy their X3's and feel more confident driving them.
    Last edited by bdiefAZ; 05-25-2017 at 02:08 AM.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
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    Pittsburgh, PA
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    94 325ic, 08 X3 3.0si
    How much did this set you back?

    Since there's no real go fast aftermarket parts for these cars, I was going work on the turning bits.

    And do you know if these will fit the facelifted versions. Hard to see why they wouldn't.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M
    The bar was about $100 with bushings from an eBay seller.

    According to RealOEM.com this bar is used on e83's with build dates ranging from 1/2003 to 7/2006 as well as the e83 LCI 2/2006 to 8/2010

    For performance parts, most can be used from the e46. Best performance begins with proper maintenance, refreshing VANOS and engine timing, as well as braking upgrades including new SS hoses and fresh brake fluid. Another upgrade worth looking at is the rear trailing arm bushings, you can either install, limiting plates, new factory bushing, poly, or spherical bearing.

    Don't expect a lot of power from most mods on this engine platform, there is not much left on the table from BMW.

    Hope this helps.
    Last edited by bdiefAZ; 06-29-2017 at 12:42 AM.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M
    Update: on a quest to make the X3's rear suspension more precise, I installed some delrin rear trailing arm bushing limiters. The factory bushings on the car were in great shape, so no need to replace with new or urethane. (I had the bushing limiters in the toolbox from a project on an e36 that never got installed)

    Installing these rear trailing arm bushing limiters is simple, drop the rear trailing from the chassis, insert trailing arm bushing limiters into the carriers, and reassemble. This job can be done in about an hour.

    The trailing arm bushing limiters made the car feel more nimble, and had better control with reduced understeer during curves and turns.

    I hope this helps.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    94 325ic, 08 X3 3.0si
    I might have to do that as well as long as my x3 doesn't cost me a fortune soon.

    Do you have the n52 or the m54 model? I have the n52 3.0si model.

    A little while ago, I heard a little noise. I cant remember what kind of noise it was but it was like a pop or a clunk then the car started vibrating but still ran fine. I've been driving it for a while now with no problems, just the vibration. But on the way to work this morning, I was stopped in traffic when I heard a very loud clunk. Scared the shit out of me and mad me jump. To me it sounded like a spring popped, but the springs are all fine. I have no clue as to what could make that sound.

    Do you have any idea what the issue could be?

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M
    My car is M54.

    It may be a good idea to raise the vehicle and tighten all fasteners on the chassis. Likely culprits for noise are sway bar end links/mounting bushings, exhaust hangers, and engine/trans mounts.

    Hope this helps
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    94 325ic, 08 X3 3.0si
    Yeah I'm gonna have to do get to it this weekend. I can't stand not diagnosing a problem.

    Thanks.

    You should post a pic of your x3. Did you do any other mods to it? I really want to get some Apex wheels for her in the summer time, maybe go a little wider. This car looks great with a little wider of a footprint.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Here are some photos, X3 its basically stock, minus the silver star headlights, LED reverse bulbs, SS braided brake hoses, and mods to the rear suspension RTAB Limiters, and sport rear sway bar.
    IMG_4016.jpgIMG_4018.jpg
    I have performed some maintenance to the car including: all fluids changed, spark plugs, fuel injector cleaning, filters, transfer case gear upgrade, and a window regulator "guide dog"IMG_4014.jpg
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  9. #9
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    Pittsburgh, PA
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    94 325ic, 08 X3 3.0si
    Looks great for being over 10 years old. Definitely like your wheels over mine. When I got my X3, I had a look in mind that I wanted to achieve but after having it as my main daily, idk if I should. I was just going to stay quite simple with a KW coilover kit, 18" or 19" Apex wheels, sway bars, and a chip.
    modded x3.jpg
    Here's what I wanted to do.
    IMG_1745.jpgIMG_1752.jpg
    Here's me currently sitting stock.

  10. #10
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    94 325ic, 08 X3 3.0si
    Little update: Took all the wheels off the car this past Saturday and found a broken spring on the rear drivers side. Ordered new rear springs and they'll be replaced next weekend depending on the weather. As for the other vibration I had, I'm fairly certain it's either the motor mounts or the motor mount bracket. two of the aluminum bolts on the bracket were sheared when I took the intake off last summer. They might have all completely failed now. I'll be letting the shop take care of that when I take it in for inspection in June.

  11. #11
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    Keep us posted on the spring replacement and motor mount repair.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    94 325ic, 08 X3 3.0si
    Replaced the rear springs last weekend. I got the OEM replacements from Bimmerworld, the Bilstein B3's. Great price ($58/each) for them and better quality than BMW OE, which is around $200 a spring.

    Doing this without a spring compressor absolutely sucks and you must have two people to complete it. Once you have the shocks and the rear sway bar links unbolted, one guy has to pry down the spring perch so the other guy can force the new springs in place. Sounds easy enough but it definitely isn't. The way we did was to jam it into the perch so we could let go of the pry bar that was pulling it down. From there we wiggled the springs onto the rubber seats with smaller pry bars. Took us about an hour and a half to complete, which isn't long but just takes some umpf too accomplish.

    If you're doing this job without a spring compressor I suggest following the Pelican Parts DIY instructions. They always seem to do a great job on their DIY write ups.
    https://www.pelicanparts.com/techart...eplacement.htm
    Last edited by WELSCH325i; 05-03-2018 at 03:47 PM.

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