Trying to figure out something (suspension) and would love some guidance...

[SpeedyE38]

What would make my 03/00 build date E38 Sport do the following? As I go over bumps or imperfect roads, the car feels little like it is launching upward and sometimes crawling/crabbing sideways. Sometimes it is severe, other times subtle.

Background, only change I made "recently" (or since this started) is changed out the suspension via the FCP 20-piece set along with new shocks/struts (Bilsteins). Rear springs were replaced (they were sport springs too).

I feel like I need to hop under the car, loosen up the suspension while it is under load and then re-torque it all. (I am essentially saying that an installed and torqued suspension without load can launch your car...does that even make sense? It would seem to me that the rubber would fail long before lifting all that weight over and over and with so much gusto!)

[Auto Parts Guy]

did you torque the bushings on all the links down while car was at ride height?
Almost sounds like something is loose. Tire pressure ok?

[tomloans]

What would make my 03/00 build date E38 Sport do the following? As I go over bumps or imperfect roads, the car feels little like it is laughing upward and sometimes crawling/crabbing sideways. Sometimes it is severe, other times subtle.

Background, only change I made "recently" (or since this started) is changed out the suspension via the FCP 20-piece set along with new shocks/struts (Bilsteins). Rear springs were replaced (there were sport springs too).

I feel like I need to hop under the car, loosen up the suspension while it is under load and then re-torque it all. (I am essentially saying that an installed and torqued suspension without load can launch your car...does that even make sense? It would seem to me that the rubber would fail long before lifting all that weight over and over and with so much gusto!)

Which Bilsteins and springs are you speaking of? There is not much better than the original sport springs and OEM BMW struts. There are few here that have made the leap to B6 struts but I understand it is very stiff.

[CPHES]

What kind of alignment did you do, post install?

[SpeedyE38]

Thanks all...I don't get updates to my email (I didn't set it up on this thread) so am running behind.

As to the torque...I had a shop do the work. They should have known to do that. They are/were a specialty BMW shop...but who knows if they subbed out the work (I had some signs that indicated they may have.)

As to the alignment, I actually had it done three times. All post work.

As to the Bilsteins (B4s) , there were these...Bilstein Touring 22-045041/ Bilstein Touring 22-045034 and shocks Bilstein Touring 19-028675 on original sport springs.

As of right now, I am going to drop it at a local German specialty shop. When I shared the symptoms, they came to the conclusion that the suspension wasn't torqued under load (their first guess) and if not that then we'd certainly figure it out (which I will report out to you all here.) I am really hoping it is some failed strut or shock at this point as that would give me comfort that the original work was done correctly.

[racer2086]

Were the alignment numbers in spec or what? Who makes the components of the FCP kit? Any noises? Make sure they didn't swap left vs right arms.

[SpeedyE38]

Were the alignment numbers in spec or what? Who makes the components of the FCP kit? Any noises? Make sure they didn't swap left vs right arms.

Yes, alignment results were in spec and spot on. That's what makes this so weird. Prior to the work, the car rode/drove perfectly fine and handled bumps well.

[racer2086]

That is strange...the only other thing I could think of is a defective shock. When one is blown it can cause the car to yaw around.

I'll never forget as a 10 year old driving around in my mom's 1982 Audi Coupe. The car would randomly start wobbling left to right and front to back after hitting a bump. Felt like we were on a pontoon boat in the ocean. Turns out the front passenger shock was blown.

[SpeedyE38]

That is strange...the only other thing I could think of is a defective shock. When one is blown it can cause the car to yaw around.

I'll never forget as a 10 year old driving around in my mom's 1982 Audi Coupe. The car would randomly start wobbling left to right and front to back after hitting a bump. Felt like we were on a pontoon boat in the ocean. Turns out the front passenger shock was blown.

That is what I am hoping for...a blown shock (i.e. defective). I don't ave a proper garage to work on it, so I will let the pros guide me.

[CPHES]

Hah we had 2 Coupe’s - an 81 and an 82. My first experience with Bilstein. Cool cars - some really sketchy electronics.

[racer2086]

Hah we had 2 Coupe’s - an 81 and an 82. My first experience with Bilstein. Cool cars - some really sketchy electronics.

My dad hated that car...it was nothing but problems. They bought it new and it would overheat. They had to wire the fan to force it on whenever the A/C was on. Not sure why it wasn't like that to begin. Speedometer broke multiple times. Trunk struts died multiple times. Cruise control never worked. But mechanically it was good.

As a kid not dealing with that stuff, I loved that car. Wish we still had it.

[Trasportador]

Indy did something wrong on install of suspension. Hard to tell without looking at the work. Things to check for:

1. Did they re-install the large washer that sits atop the shock piston, and under the shock mount?
2. Did they properly secure the strut to the shock tower (3 13mm bolts)
3. Did they actually pre-load the UCAB before locking it down?

Bottom line, they messed something up. What you're experiencing makes no kind of sense.

[clarkitect]

My dad hated that car...it was nothing but problems. They bought it new and it would overheat. They had to wire the fan to force it on whenever the A/C was on. Not sure why it wasn't like that to begin. Speedometer broke multiple times. Trunk struts died multiple times. Cruise control never worked. But mechanically it was good.

As a kid not dealing with that stuff, I loved that car. Wish we still had it.

First newish car I bought was an '82 Audi Coupe. Loved that car! Never had any problems with it. Pretty rare now and hard to source parts I am told.

Agree with Transportador above. Indy should take a look at it again to discern the cause.

[SpeedyE38]

Okay...update and boy am I happy. I took it to an indy German repair shop. Owner has an E38 sport as well.

They did the review and said that the front suspension was clearly torqued down with the car off-load. They used the term "indexing" for the work they did.

The car drives so much nicer, more stable and controlled. Wonderful feeling. Am so glad my bushings didn't tear due to this.

Now...he had to bring up timing chain guides...

Thanks all for the advice and comments.