Yet Another Strut/Shock Thread

[Twistytee]

My 525it has the factory sport suspension with the air springs in the rear. PO swapped in B6 HDs early ~62k and the car now has ~143k. I’m starting to get some front end clunks that I attribute to piston rattle since I’ve replaced the rest of the suspension and everything else appears tight with good rubber. Given there’s very little in the aftermarket that is spec’d for the rear self-leveling sport suspension, I’m considering grabbing some OE Sachs before those too become scarce.

Is it reasonable to assume the Bilsteins could go another 10-20k miles before wearing out? I haven’t seen any signs of oil leaking, but they do seem a bit harsher now than they felt 10-15k miles ago. Any one with the Sachs find them too soft? Hard for me to compare since I’ve never driven one of these cars with fresh/stock sport suspension.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Yeah, my green wagon has sport Sachs with oem sport springs, no air bags in the rear, car rides like factory sport plush, like a brand new E39 wagon. The silver wagon has Bilstein B6 sport struts and shocks with oem sport springs, also no air shocks in the rear, car is a dream at high speeds, on smooth country mountain roads, it is at home, very inspiring, but way to stiff/harsh at slow speeds in the city, potholes shockwave shake my brain, car is super stiff like Bilstein engineers really dropped the ball on the low speed valving.

[QtheGenius]

I wouldn't say "safe to assume they can go another 10-20k miles." I replaced my rear shocks a month ago and they were not leaking, but they weren't rebounding at all. Front Struts are next, just need time since they don't look like they've been replaced. Also depends where you live. If you live around smooth roads, they may last longer. In pothole prone San Diego, they might not last as long. So it depends on the environment as well.

[Twistytee]

Thanks guys. Snotty- I would assume based on the mileage you have on your wagons that the OE sport springs have indefinite life so long as there’s no rust or stress cracks? I went down the road of installing after market sport springs on one of my Audi wagons I don’t feel like dealing with the clearance issues those create. So just looking to replace the struts/shocks and associated hardware while re-using the front OE springs and air bags.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

The silver wagon has 392,000 on the clock. The Bilstein struts and shocks and the OEM sport springs have 17,000 miles on them. I had them new on my original green wagon when the car got totaled.they only had 1,100 miles on them when that happened. The original springs were fine, but they were not sports. My current green wagon has 90,000 on the clock, the Sachs struts and shocks only have 4,000 miles on them, the springs have about10,000 miles on them.
Spring steel is spring steel. When you pull them off a car, place them side by side, are they equal in height? No rust, they should still be good.

[pyite69]

Any one with the Sachs find them too soft

It depends which ones. I currently have the 836 struts and they are kind of soft. I also have a set of 838s which I'll put back on some day. They are not nearly as soft.