M Sports suspension VS M Sports suspension II?

[Volum]

Hello. What's the difference between those two? I mean springs.

[jmc1590]

There's quite a bit of info out there. Try searching S704A vs S705A.

To recap... S704A (Sport Suspension) used lower springs, matching shocks and slightly larger diameter sway bars. S705A (Sport Suspension-II) to the best of my knowledge used excess M5 suspension components. I'm certain someone better informed will chime in soon...


James

[Volum]

I'm asking because my EDC springs are setting the car a bit too high and i don't know which one to buy, I or II.

[StephenVA]

Try this tread on this same questions. Appears to be a option package with interior, exterior, and suspension parts tweak.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=869188

[crazy4trains]

On what car are you trying to fit the springs?

Try a VIN decoder to see what suspension package your car came with. Consider contacting one of the reputable vendors to ask their opinion on what spring you need. Oh, by the way, why are you buying springs? They typically don't fail.

[Volum]

I have EDC. I'm buying because the car is too high.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Mtech ll springs are the same as M5’s, same valving on the shocks, and struts, the torsion bars are 25mm, same as the M5, I may be off on some of that, but it is what I remember when I was boning up on info on my Canadian spec 2001 540, it is actually a real deal M Sport 540.
Mtech 1 springs are softer, the struts and shock are more compliant, the torsion bars are 24mm front and rear. The regular suspensions..... eh, who cares.

[geargrinder]

Some have said the MII springs themselves are NOT exactly same as M5 and will result in ride height discrepancies / problems if you put them on a 540, which is their 'proof' that they aren't the same. There's threads on this from WAY back in the day.

I've always been skeptical about that. The front end weight difference of a 540 vs M5 has got to be very nearly insignificant. What, the extra weight of the ITB's and VANOS required a massively different spring rate? No.

Others have suggested however, there MAY be some perch differences between the M5 and regular 540 stuff, so perhaps the guys who whaaaah bout M5 suspension increasing ride height have mis-matched the M5 parts with the wrong perches or strut mounts or something.

Now. The M5 / MII spring rates STILL might be a tad different. I wouldn't doubt for a minute that BMW would have some teensy difference there (have seen it w/ VAG where they have a boatload of "why?!?!?" different spring color codes for one model of car...), and springs are hard to confirm as they don't carry PN's, but, all reports are the MII STRUTS are the same PN's as the M5.

In summary... Possibly the springs are a teensy different, but if so, they are interchangeable on the struts and given the similar weight of the cars, they can't be that different. The struts are for sure the same. But if you try to use the springs on a normal 540 strut, you likely have problems.

[dwgates]

I'm not sure about the front but would have to agree with the grinder as far as the rears go. I had a cracked spring on my vanilla 540i and used a set of M5 rear springs and struts to get the old girl past its NYS inspection. The ride height stayed the same (crack in the spring was at the bottom of the spring) and to be honest although the springs were visibly different the ride and handling don't really seem different. Must be the changes were fairly subtle, at the rear of these anyway. The sway bar might be smaller on my 540i than an M sport or M5 and that would probably be noticeable in transitions. Perhaps that's where the big difference lies...

[peter540]

So are you guys saying in my '03 Sport with the Mtech II suspension that I have the M5 sway bars, or at least the M5 rear sway?

[slandis]

Your rear sway bar is not the M5 version. It's upgraded over a regular 540i but it's still not the M5 part (Mtech-I/Mtech-II 15mm vs. 16.5mm M5)

M5 front sway bar is 27mm while Mtech-I/Mtech-II is 25mm.

[peter540]

Thanks. I'd always thought my sway bars weren't the same as the M5's. This confirms that...

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Your rear sway bar is not the M5 version. It's upgraded over a regular 540i but it's still not the M5 part (Mtech-I/Mtech-II 15mm vs. 16.5mm M5)

M5 front sway bar is 27mm while Mtech-I/Mtech-II is 25mm.

Wow, I’m losing it, M5’s front bar is 27mm? What are the Eibach? They’re supposed to be thicker.

[AngelEye5]

Guys whats with all the confusion?

This is the exact difference

Wheels
2003 M-Sport USA style 37 rims
01-02 M-Sport International style 66 rims

Springs
Same rears but shorter fronts at same spring rates because 540i front end is lighter

Shocks/Struts
Identical to M5

Swaybars
Same as 540i Sport, we don't get M5 sway bars at all

LSD
Only on M5, 6spds have 2.81 and 5 autos Steptronics have 3.15 same gear as M5 just open

[slandis]

Wow, I’m losing it, M5’s front bar is 27mm? What are the Eibach? They’re supposed to be thicker.

Eibach sway bars are 28mm front and 18mm rear so you're not losing it. :-)

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Eibach sway bars are 28mm front and 18mm rear so you're not losing it. :-)

ImagunnaodorasetofEibachtorsionbarsforme528wagonso on. You are right, not completely loosing it, just some odds and ends.

[Bmwe39528i1998]

I've got S705 option ans I'm thinking of replacing the struts.
Anyone knows what's the right kit for that?
I saw a kit for s704 on fcpeuro but not for s704
5

[paul p]

I've got S705 option ans I'm thinking of replacing the struts.
Anyone knows what's the right kit for that?
I saw a kit for s704 on fcpeuro but not for s705

FCP does not have it as part of a kit, but it does have the struts separately.
BMW Strut Assembly - Genuine BMW 31312229612 | FCP Euro
Pretty steep for a strut but what do you expect for an M5 piece. Even the S704 as Genuine BMW is up there at >$400. At least that you can get the OE equivalent Sachs w/o BMW logo for <$200.
Appropriate Bilstein have a reputation of being notably harsher riding than stock BMW Strut Assembly - Bilstein B8 Performance Plus 35-114093 | FCP Euro
So, what I have as a replacement for when the time allows is IMO an excellent compromise.
BMW Strut Assembly - Koni Sport 87411372Sport | FCP Euro
I've had Koni adjustables on an early ex e36 325 and the non adjustable STRT version on the current 318ti. The adjustable will allow you to tune them to your preference. Soft for crappy pavement and tight for canyon carving.
Hope this helps

[Bmwe39528i1998]

Thank you, these are indeed very expensive. 2k just for the struts hehe...who's the original manufacturer for them, Sachs? Do you happen to have a link to Sachs?
I like original bmw ride, nice and soft, perfect for canada. Roads are bad here in canada, bumps everywhere...

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I've had Bilstein b6 on my 528i.
Found them very harsh. Not sure what version is the softest, b12?

[Bmwe39528i1998]

FCP does not have it as part of a kit, but it does have the struts separately.
BMW Strut Assembly - Genuine BMW 31312229612 | FCP Euro
Pretty steep for a strut but what do you expect for an M5 piece. Even the S704 as Genuine BMW is up there at >$400. At least that you can get the OE equivalent Sachs w/o BMW logo for <$200.
Appropriate Bilstein have a reputation of being notably harsher riding than stock BMW Strut Assembly - Bilstein B8 Performance Plus 35-114093 | FCP Euro
So, what I have as a replacement for when the time allows is IMO an excellent compromise.
BMW Strut Assembly - Koni Sport 87411372Sport | FCP Euro
I've had Koni adjustables on an early ex e36 325 and the non adjustable STRT version on the current 318ti. The adjustable will allow you to tune them to your preference. Soft for crappy pavement and tight for canyon carving.
Hope this helps

If going with these koni, I suppose these would be for the rear?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-82401156sport

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Wow rear oem struts for S705 suspension are $800 each

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...39-33522229126

[TiesTorN]

my car has the m1 (s704a) suspension from factory but due to aging I had to replace struts a couple years ago and I replaced them with m2 ones. car has been fine except the rear. it looks a bit high. now one of my customers want to swap his e39 m5's suspension to another brand and I have the chance to buy his springs. it's an 2003 m5 so it has probably m2 springs on it, I'll just install them in my car and see how it looks.