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Thread: Rough Road suspension system?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Giddings, TX
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    65
    My Cars
    2003 525/5 Touring

    Rough Road suspension system?

    I anticipate finally after almost 6 weeks to have completed a deal for a 2003 525/5 Touring this weekend. I have been trying to make a list of what I need to do first and such with the goal of getting the car pretty much base lined as far as maintenance goes over the next few months. One such item is an alignment.

    I am fortunate enough to be an Auto Tech teacher and have a Hunter Hawk Eye aligner in my class. Since I am going to bring the car to my class to put it on the lift and give it a good look underneath. I will do an alignment too. So, I just entered a 2003 E-39 touring into the machine. It then asked if it was the "Sport suspension (Lowered)", "Air suspension" or "Rough Road" suspension. There was no normal suspension option.

    Then it went on to describe how to tell which is which. There is a registration symbol on the label on the tube of the strut. A circle is a "series" suspension, a triangle is the "sport suspension with lowered ride height" and a square is the "rough road (Easter Europe)" suspension.

    I am just curious what the rough road suspension might include. Any one ever heard of it or maybe have it?
    Last edited by Barrman; 12-12-2018 at 03:24 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Tennessee
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    1,005
    My Cars
    BMW
    I have no idea about the rough road suspension, but would definitely like more details on the 525iT/5. Do you have pictures, and would possibly be willing to share how much you got it for?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
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    2003 525/5 Touring
    Let me actually get it and I will then share.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
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    My Cars
    1999 E39 M5
    “Rough Road Package Eastern Europe” was raised suspension with bigger additional springs (bump stops) for the Russian market.

    You should have 4 options on a Hunter:-



    To get a perfect alignment on any BMW you need to set the car to “Normal Position” ride height with a full tank of fuel and weights:-

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    231
    My Cars
    1999 E39 M5

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
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    My Cars
    1999 E39 M5

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    231
    My Cars
    1999 E39 M5

    Rough Road suspension system?

    Last edited by RosieE39; 12-12-2018 at 09:01 PM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    231
    My Cars
    1999 E39 M5

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Virginia,USA
    Posts
    3,144
    My Cars
    528i, 525iT, M5
    So the bottom line is Rough Road option is a jacked up E39 destined to life it life on gravel (at best) roads. Poor thing.... Short life span and always dirty.
    Current Garage Highlights
    2003 525iT TiSilver
    2002 M5 TiSilver
    1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)

    Former Garage Highlights
    2005 X5 4.8is
    2004 325iTs (2x)
    1973 Pantera L
    1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
    1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
    1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
    1969 Road Runner 383
    1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Canton, Ohio
    Posts
    617
    My Cars
    97 528i
    Quote Originally Posted by StephenVA View Post
    So the bottom line is Rough Road option is a jacked up E39 destined to life it life on gravel (at best) roads. Poor thing.... Short life span and always dirty.
    this can't be exclusive to Russian market...I believe this includes Ohio....(and probably Detroit...)
    "two wrongs don't make a right...only three lefts do...."
    '79 Euro 635csi - gone and regretting it...
    '89 gsxr-750 - former traffic knife
    '97 528i sedan - holding on strong...(just sold after 16 years of ownership - sad day)
    '03 Euro 525it - something about a famous dolphin.....

    '06 Mercury Grand Marquis (don't ask....it gets the job done....)
    '84 Specialized Allez - full Campagnolo Super Record
    '99-ish Cannondale CAAD4
    "Stinky" - Kona Stinky Five
    '86 528e
    2008 E70 X5 3.0


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Giddings, TX
    Posts
    65
    My Cars
    2003 525/5 Touring
    Thanks for the information. I will have to wait until I have the car in my possession before I can start clicking my way through the Hunter menus to get to the actual alignment specs. Lots of variables with wheel size and suspension type I can't be exact on yet.

    Growing up in rural north east Indiana. I think the rough road suspension would be perfect for any place that gets regular snow accumulation year after year.

    I started this thread because I had never seen a reference to the rough road suspension before and was curious. I was also wondering if maybe some of the suspension parts on that version might be beefier compared to what we get here. Kind of like the US truck world where the more work a vehicle is made for, the better the part quality. It seems that isn't the case. Thanks.

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