Front Shock Absorbers…

[KitTheRam]

Hello.

Now my Touring is back on the road I can turn my attention to the crashy ride, the car struggles to smooth out bumps and I feel the steering is a little more vague than usual. So best start by swapping out the front shocks as I am guessing this is the most likely cause.

I can see by other threads that there are various versions of oem front shocks (I’m not a huge aftermarket man).

My car is now a 525i but started life as a 1995 520i, looking at the part numbers they are different for a 525 v 520. I guess the safest bet is sticking with the part number for the 520, although is the 525 a slightly better shock? If so is it a like for like fit?

The part number I have for the 520i is - 31321138836, and the part number for the 525i is - 31321138667.

Sach’s seem to do a version of both at an ok price.

Any advice would be welcome, including any other parts worth changing at the same time (rubber bits?!).

Thanks,

Kit

[moroza]

Shocks don't affect steering slop. See here, post 4.

You want genuine BMW E34 Touring shocks? Expect to spend a small fortune and possibly that they'll be NLA. It appears that all E34 OE shocks are made by Sachs (formerly Boge), and while I can't definitively say whether they are or are not functionally identical to aftermarket Sachs, I can say that the latter's 312 254 are quite satisfactory for me, and I value the original ride and handling rather than the hard-parked nonsense by which many E34 are ruined. What are the Sachs part numbers you're looking at? Do you shy away from aftermarket because of quality concerns, or because you value the stock ride? There's also a genuine OE Sport shock for your car, 31321138833, and Sachs makes the 312 392.

There were three different strut mounts used on E34 (see FAQ for details). They must match the shock inserts, which assembly is interchangeable with the rest of the car. I recommend switching to the V3 mounts unless you insist on using shocks available only for V2 (such as genuine Sport shocks).

Yes, there are a few more parts worth changing WIT. See here.

[KitTheRam]

Very useful reply. Thanks.

I value a comfortable ride but with that assured bmw handling when needed. My first reaction to any problem is start with the oem part then make a call if there is a more modern part that looks the same but performs better.

Is there anyway in knowing which version of the shock mounts I would have by visual inspection? Apologies if this question is answered in the links you posted!

[KitTheRam]

I think the oem shocks for my car are - Sach’s : 312 254.

Any opinion on them?

Is Sach’s : 312 392 a straight swap or will there be added stuff to buy (guessing so by the earlier reply).

Thanks

Kit

[moroza]

312 254 is what I have. I think they're OE sedan shocks minus the markings and the markup. Very comfortable - when I first testdrove my new front end, the words "magic carpet" came to mind - while handling is adequately responsive but not crisp and athletic like Bilstein B6/B8 or coilovers. Note that they fit V3 strut mounts, but there is an identically valved 312 393 for V2 mounts. The 312 392 have firmer valving, only fit V2 mounts.

[KitTheRam]

Is there any way I can find out what my mounts are? The website ‘Real Oem’ gives me the part number that matches 312 254 when I input my vin number, so guess these will fit. The mounts also match your v3 part number.

My cars a mid 1995 build (520i Touring) so quite a late car. I put in a M50b25tu and the other parts that were needed to make that work but kept the rest of the car as it was, including the suspension. The brakes were already switched to the 525i vented discs as I believe the 520i got them as standard on these late models.

[KitTheRam]

I have now ordered the V3 mounts (febi-blistein) and the 312-254 Sach’s shocks. £200 delivered from Auto-Doc, not too bad.

I notice your other items on your list are from other cars including an e90. If I only wanted to change the essentials what other e34 only parts would you recommend? Everything rubber based?!

[moroza]

Yes, I'd replace all rubber. The FAQ I suggested previously explains the strut mounts, including identifying them.

Just because a manufacturer says their part 12345-XYZ is a replacement for OE part 54321 doesn't mean it's the same part, or even that it's usable as such. For example, Monroe and Kilen each make two different coil springs to cover all E34 front ends, while BMW makes about two dozen. IIRC, in Monroe's pair, one of them is for 518i and the rest 520i and up, while Kilen's 518i "replacement" also "fits" the 520i, with 525i and up taking the other one. This resulted in a forum member's (on different forum) 518i sitting taller than a Lada because Kilen based their spring on a 520i, and an ensuing headache. 312-254 is also listed as a replacement for the sedan V3-fitment front shocks 31321092283 which are (probably) not the same as the Touring V3-fitment that BMW specifies for your car. I don't know what the difference is, and suspect it's indistinguishable to most people even in back-to-back testing with brand new parts and all variables controlled.

[KitTheRam]

Wow. Sounds like a lottery!

At the very least I know I have the right mounts for the shocks I have purchased and your review of them gives me confidence that they should be the thing I am looking for.

I have also ordered all the rubber parts and screws and nuts, no point putting the rusty ones back in as they cost so little! And lastly decided to buy new front control arms (aluminium) that come with the nuts and bushes, they are made by Febi-Bilstein.

In for a penny in for a pound (english saying about going all in).

[E34 Lives]

If you are considering keeping car for a while then you might consider upgrading to monoball arm. I have been using mine for over 13K miles and they are great! I bought the Turner Motorsport version ….. it is actually on sale right now …. worth every penny.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-turner-m...22013tmse34kt/

[KitTheRam]

Thanks for that, to be honest I am already a little over budget but good to know for the future!

[KitTheRam]

After a long day yesterday I have new front suspension, however one part remains unfitted…

How is the top mount protection cap fitted? Please don’t tell me you have to fit it before it goes in! Part Number - 31331133729.

7A3B8051-37F2-4DFB-9F04-75C6CEA05404.jpeg

[Old525i]

Push it hard in place.

[KitTheRam]

Thanks. Will have a go.

After a lot of research and parts buying the front end is sorted. Just had the wheel alignment done as it went massively off after the work, could feel the wheels trying to drive towards each other!

Also changed the spark plugs after noticing the car was running rich after a tuning chip was installed, gone back to the oem chip, a lesson there perhaps. Love how the oem boxes can be lined up to create a spark plug.

Ahh, the German’s.

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[moroza]

The upper control arm bushings are mismatched. Details here.

[KitTheRam]

We only fitted the one that came with the bush attached (right side) in the end as the one I had on the car already on the left was fine. Long story but they had no stock of a matching pair.

Real-oem has it as part number - 31121136605 for my car. And the arm being part number 31121141097.

The right hand side in which the bush came pre-fitted was part number 31121141098.

So Febi seem to do two different products under the same part numbers, with and without a bush. The bush I brought separately was not a Febi item as I could not find one.

[moroza]

Not a good idea to have asymmetrical suspension parts. The arms should always be replaced in pairs and with the same bushings - same part, same condition and age. I wouldn't use Febi bushings if Lemförder or genuine OE are available (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284153553011).

[KitTheRam]

Ok. Noted.