Struts and Mounts Recommendations

[Joe///540i]

Need new front struts and mounts. Dealer says they are leaking. There are so many options out there - looking to retain the M-sport suspension performance or improve it. Wouldn't mind something that provides some comfort too - probably asking too much to get the best of both worlds?

[300kplus]

Brother, you ain't lying!
I'm in the same predicament but just a daily driver I need the front rear ball joints and rear wishbones. For me just going to go with the best bang for the buck. But the options are Unlimited. You wish you could find so many other options for so many of the other parts that are disappearing for these cars. Best of luck I'll be following just to increase my knowledge of these cars.

Need new front struts and mounts. Dealer says they are leaking. There are so many options out there - looking to retain the M-sport suspension performance or improve it. Wouldn't mind something that provides some comfort too - probably asking too much to get the best of both worlds?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[philly98540]

Stock or Koni yellow or FSD

[JimLev]

Stock or Koni yellow or FSD

What he said.

[Joe///540i]

Stock or Koni yellow or FSD

Thanks. Called a few shops. Any thoughts on Bilstein?

[jclausen]

I have bilsteins I think the hd's

[crazy4trains]

From what I have read on here and other sites the Bilsteins ride very rough. Maybe only a certain model though. Just go with OEM.

[Joe///540i]

From what I have read on here and other sites the Bilsteins ride very rough. Maybe only a certain model though. Just go with OEM.

Indy just quoted me $450 per side for the OEM strut. So $900, does that sound right? I thought they were $450 per pair? Plus another $200 for other parts that should be replaced. Maybe I should just go dealer.

[crazy4trains]

If your indy will allow it, buy your own parts. That gives you control over the quality of the purchased part and price paid. Luckily most places around me will install owner supplied parts. Some won't but most of those are corporate chain stores (i.e. Firestone, Goodyear, NTB etc.).

Buy your parts from FCP. Lifetime warranty. I've used the warranty so it is for real.

[crazy4trains]

As a point of reference, about two years ago I paid approximately $2k for parts for my suspension overhaul. Essentially replaced everything that was replaceable on the front and rear suspension. I also paid approximately $2k to have an indy do the install. This equated to approximately two days of labor. I didn't have the time or the proper tools for me to do it efficiently. I arranged the repairs around a work trip where I needed to fly to Arkansas so I drove a couple of hours to a Euro specialty shop to get this done. Car was waiting for me when I got back. I would have paid less locally but my local indy doesn't always inspire confidence. He is good at some things but not everything.

Other things you can and/or should do while in there:
- Front hubs/bearings. With the shocks/struts out this is very easy. PITA job with shocks/struts in place. This is a should do while in there.
- Engine, transmission and subframe mounts
- Flex disc, center support bearing and drive shaft cv joint

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Joe, my 540 has the full stock Mtec ll sport suspension from the factory, I’ve put over 27,000 miles on them, very happy with the ride and handling. On my 528 wagon, which originally had the base crapcan 528 wagon suspension, no airbags in the rear, I got Eibach Pro springs with the yellow Koni Sports, PHENOMENAL!!! It feels better than my 540. Now, I had replaced the stock original struts with sport Sachs with the old front sport springs off of my old 530 sport which I’ve sold, it was ok, but no where near the crispness of the Mtec ll suspension on my 540. My 540 feels like a stock M5, if that helps you any. Only difference is, the M5 corners with less body roll, M5 torsion bars are slightly stiffer than the Mtec ll set up in the 540.
When I got the deal on the Eibach springs for the wagon, I went ahead and swapped the Sachs struts and shocks for the Konis, I had purchased Rein strut bearings, I only put about 15,000 miles on those, and they were already shot, I knew something felt funny, sure enough, it was the bearings, so, I suggest getting them from the dealership, or at least go with Lemforders. Get all new spring pads, bumpers, the works.

[computiNATEor]

+1 for Konis. They're recommended just about everywhere. I love my FSDs.

[RyansBMW]

Koni Sports is what you seek.

I had Bilstein Sports with B&G springs and it rode well, but the Konis were better. I know the Boston roads well and Koni will be your best option.

For mounts, Lemforder is OEM so stick with them.

[Joe///540i]

Thanks again for all the input. I ended up going OEM M-tech II everything and through the dealer. I took into consideration all the suggestions and I got a lot of feedback here and at the fest to just stay with OEM based on my handling and comfort preferences. I did ask the indy if he was open to me supplying the parts ($700 for the full kit at FCP) and he was not. After negotiating with the dealer (15% off), the difference in the indy vs. the dealer was $100 ($1600 vs $1700). Other factors to consider were convenience - for $100 more I get a loaner, a mini detail and my ass kissed. The only thing that seems off or frustrating is that it is going to take 3-4 days to get the parts? So I have to drive this 320i for a week.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

That’s about normal for a dealership without a great big inventory of stock. Most have stopped stocking the older parts, so they have to rely on the two BMW warehouses in the country, if what you need is not in stock in the US, than they have to wait for the part to come from the fatherland. When you do things that way, the way you are going, order the parts, when they come in, set the appointment, then you won’t be stuck driving that ugly little turd for a week.

[Joe///540i]

That’s about normal for a dealership without a great big inventory of stock. Most have stopped stocking the older parts, so they have to rely on the two BMW warehouses in the country, if what you need is not in stock in the US, than they have to wait for the part to come from the fatherland. When you do things that way, the way you are going, order the parts, when they come in, set the appointment, then you won’t be stuck driving that ugly little turd for a week.

- yeah, makes sense. Funny how we, owners, can get parts quicker than them. Guess the dealer doesn't use FCP, ECS or Amazon!

[rbelton]

I went with OEM sachs for my sport package 530i, definitely would recommend them for the price, quite affordable.

I made this intensive DIY suspension overhaul guide a few years ago, maybe this will help:

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...Videos-Inside*

[Joe///540i]

I went with OEM sachs for my sport package 530i, definitely would recommend them for the price, quite affordable.

I made this intensive DIY suspension overhaul guide a few years ago, maybe this will help:

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...Videos-Inside*

Nice job, I actually caught that post in my searching over the last few days.

[JaxPlanet]

+1 to the dealer for loaner but my dealer washes cars like they hate them so I tell the service rep to write "NO WASH" on my service ticket. I suggest you watch your dealer wash another car before you let them wash yours.

[Joe///540i]

+1 to the dealer for loaner but my dealer washes cars like they hate them so I tell the service rep to write "NO WASH" on my service ticket. I suggest you watch your dealer wash another car before you let them wash yours.

I’m actually getting a detail from the “spa” as part of the deal. I negotiated it along with my 15% off. This isn’t the complimentary wash and vac.

[Joe///540i]

Got the car back from the dealer after 10 days. What a difference.