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Thread: 535xi really soft suspension/Bilstein B4s bad?

  1. #1
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    Post 535xi really soft suspension/Bilstein B4s bad?

    Hey guys I need some advice. I bought a 2010 535xi m sport with 90k miles 2 weeks ago and it needed some suspension work. I fixed the few control arms and bushing that were worn but not blown or anything, then I got to the shocks. The shocks were really soft (no leaks) and not what a BMW should feel like at all but I bought it anyway because I would just replace the shocks myself. It did not have that BMW planted, composed, tight feel at all it was bouncy and shit. I was dead set on OEM Sachs but after some research I decided on replacing them with Bilstein B4s because I read a lot of people preferred the B4s since they were slightly firmer and they're cheaper and I read nothing but good. Now, I'm actually a mechanic and I've replaced hundreds of shocks and when I got the Bilstein B4s I compressed them by hand and they were easier to compress than any shock I've ever tested out the box ever (apart from DOAs). I was really considering not putting them in but I did anyway since one of my fronts was not rebounding after removing and testing. Ride was very slightly better but still crap. I ordered the rears from a different company (Rock Auto) and they came in a few days later. I tested these too by compressing them and it was the same story. They were WAY too soft on compression. The shocks that were on there (looked OEM made in Germany markings no company logo) were at least twice as hard on compression. Again I was considering not putting them in because I've never seen shocks this soft but I figured I ordered them from 2 different companies how could they all be bad so I'll at least try it out and again one of the rears was bad anyway. They were not "blown" out of the box I've had that many times they were just really soft. I could literally compress them with 2 hands like an accordion. After replacing all 4 the ride was not a BMW ride AT ALL. Still had the dips/bounce when stopping and accelerating and just not right. I have driven plenty of X drive BMWs and none of them felt like this. The rest of the suspension is solid and obviously I've tested hundreds or thousands of suspensions and I know what its supposed to feel like and I even had 3 other licensed 20+ year mechanics at my shop do a "safety test" for me just in case.

    My questions is, is this normal for Bilstein to have poor quality control? Am I missing something? I can't believe this is an X drive thing because the way these shocks feel is unacceptable for a BMW and I'm 100% certain it's the shocks. I'm going to take these out and replace them again. I was considering getting the B6s but I don't know anymore. Can somebody shed some light on this in any way?

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by pimpmyride101 View Post

    My questions is, is this normal for Bilstein to have poor quality control? Am I missing something? I can't believe this is an X drive thing because the way these shocks feel is unacceptable for a BMW and I'm 100% certain it's the shocks. I'm going to take these out and replace them again. I was considering getting the B6s but I don't know anymore. Can somebody shed some light on this in any way?
    Have you contacted Bilstein and given them a chance to respond? It's entirely possible you got defective ones. It happens. I replaced my OE Sachs with B4s a year or so ago and wish I had stuck with the Sachs because I DO prefer a cushier ride.
    2007 530xi, Black Metallic Sapphire, 6 speed manual, Sport package, Cold Weather Package, Premium Package, Premium Sound Package, Sirius Satellite Radio, MTech front bumper, Replica Style 166 wheels

  3. #3
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    You might want B6 or B8. I got new front Sachs last year. One of my front springs broke. That was an unexpected surprise. Bilsteins were back ordered at the time or I would have gotten B6 or B8.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by JayArras View Post
    Have you contacted Bilstein and given them a chance to respond? It's entirely possible you got defective ones. It happens. I replaced my OE Sachs with B4s a year or so ago and wish I had stuck with the Sachs because I DO prefer a cushier ride.
    Never thought of that. I can't return the Rock Auto rear shocks because after shipping I would only get $100 back and that's if they accept them. They have a damaged box policy. I'm not going to risk ordering B4s again and being in the same boat. Will try contacting them and if it doesn't really work out will just cut my losses and get Sachs. I can return the fronts at least through our shop.

    I have no problem with defective parts here and there that happens. I was just genuinely confused because I ordered them from separate companies far apart and made this thread because maybe I read bad info about B4s being slightly tighter and they're actually a lot softer than stock or something.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by pimpmyride101 View Post
    ... because maybe I read bad info about B4s being slightly tighter and they're actually a lot softer than stock or something.
    Actually, the Bilsteins ARE a lot stiffer than the Sachs, the higher the number, the stiffer, so you read right.
    2007 530xi, Black Metallic Sapphire, 6 speed manual, Sport package, Cold Weather Package, Premium Package, Premium Sound Package, Sirius Satellite Radio, MTech front bumper, Replica Style 166 wheels

  6. #6
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    did the 2010 X drive M-Sport come with a lowered suspension. i was not aware any X-drives had a lowered suspension. those of us who have tried find that it is nearly impossible to get a good ride without coilovers. the shocks just are not in their sweet spot and bottom out and feel bouncy. whether it is sock or even Bilsteins.

    G~

  7. #7
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    I just got a single Sachs front strut through the shop to test out the dampening by hand and it's about twice as stiff as the Bilsteins and feels much more consistent. Gonna order the other 3 and put them in when I have time and will update.

    I'm pretty sure the X drive doesn't come with sport suspension but Im not looking for a race car ride or anything. If you drove the car you would know what I mean. It's not composed or planted, doesn't feel like a BMW should and I'm convinced it's the shocks.

    Oh and I can't return any of the shocks now because I forgot to take the boxes out of the garbage and the truck picked them up this morning. I aint even mad this car is gonna take my money one way or another.

  8. #8
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    Update. Might have to swallow my words. I put the fronts in and honestly didn't really feel a noticeable improvement but the problem was mostly the rear wobble or oscillation.

    Anyway, while I was putting them in I did a check over again because I remember when I checked the car the first time the rear sub frame bushings were moving real easy. There was no cracks or tears so I just figured that was a BMW thing but I dunno. I did a google search any read that there's sub frame bushing inserts for these cars and before I try rear Sachs I'm going to try these ($50). Has anyone tried sub frame bushing inserts? Do they fix/improve rear end oscillation? Does anyone know where to get them for the E60? I'm searching for them right now but having trouble finding the Whiteline inserts for the E60.

  9. #9
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    I replaced with Bilstein B6s no regrets at all. Firmer but what I wanted.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Be sure to replace the mounts as well

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by pimpmyride101 View Post
    Update. Might have to swallow my words. I put the fronts in and honestly didn't really feel a noticeable improvement but the problem was mostly the rear wobble or oscillation.

    Anyway, while I was putting them in I did a check over again because I remember when I checked the car the first time the rear sub frame bushings were moving real easy. There was no cracks or tears so I just figured that was a BMW thing but I dunno. I did a google search any read that there's sub frame bushing inserts for these cars and before I try rear Sachs I'm going to try these ($50). Has anyone tried sub frame bushing inserts? Do they fix/improve rear end oscillation? Does anyone know where to get them for the E60? I'm searching for them right now but having trouble finding the Whiteline inserts for the E60.
    Thanks for the post. I just got an '08 535xi. A lot of people are saying the KW variant 3 are the only coilovers for the xi, but I'm sure there are others out there... I'm hoping to get something solid for around 1k. if i could lower it 1" that would be a plus. Like you, not looking for anything hardcore just slightly firmer than the blown out stockers I have. car bottoms out and not quite as planted as I'd like.

  11. #11
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    Update. 1 year later. After about 8,000 miles my front right Sachs shock is completely blown. All the fluid came out. Yes I did have the aux spring installed. It started driving really bad a few thousand miles in, worse than when I bought it. I've had probably a dozen mechanics and 3 or 4 BMW specialists look at it and they didn't find anything 100%. We went pretty hardcore on the diagnostic and checked literally everything there is to check, and then some, multiple times. We talked about the shocks but I didn't want to just replace them again since I replaced them twice and they passed the "bounce test" which I will never trust again. It got really bad to the point it was almost un-drivable and while I was at a drive through at McDonalds with those floor to ground windows right next to you, I went over a speed bump and watched the front wheel against the reflection. The shock was literally doing nothing to absorb the wheel and the movement matched the wobbling feeling in the steering wheel. That's when I inspected the shocks again and there was a leak. A few weeks later when I replaced them (2 days ago) all the fluid was out. Replaced shocks AGAIN with new Bilstein B4s because there's not much options for shocks on these, and it's almost a BMW now. The wobbling feeling in the steering is almost completely gone apart from bigger bumps. One side feels firmer than the other which I suspect is causing a yaw effect when I'm getting over bigger bumps. I don't know if maybe these shocks are sitting for 10-15 years or something but there's no consistency when you pull them out of the box which was my gut feeling from the start. I don't want to point fingers but does this not mean there's some kind of defect with E60 AWD shocks?

    Now I'm considering replacing the B4s with B6s but I don't know If I can drop $1,000 CAD and they're defective as well...

    The front left Sachs shock is not leaking but it's now very weak compared to when I put them in. I'll post pictures tomorrow if anyone is interested.
    Last edited by pimpmyride101; 03-08-2020 at 08:53 PM.

  12. #12
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    Dude this sounds like a gnarly lemon issue. I know calling a car with suspect defected suspension components is dumb but damn dude you’ve been going through it with shock issues. How has getting alignments been?

    I had a 2015 Jeep I got in 2017 From a big dealership and the whole steering and sway bar collection was a mess! I went through 3 power steering pumps, reservoirs, and racks Because the damn thing would go out every time I sneezed. Because of all of that, it wouldn’t align properly and I had 2 shops tell me the couldn’t get it aligned hahaha. “Just keep it under 50 and you’ll be okay” the dealership told me after buying a $35k chunk of metal.

    Just wondering if you’ve been able to get a proper alignment.

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