Front springs - what color dots do I need? - 99 540iT6

[pyite69]

My 1999 540i 6 speed touring did not have the S227A slightly-lowered suspension originally.

I replaced the air springs with the lowered part, but I'm not sure which springs I need in front to match. It currently has the strut towers from my donor M5, which are definitely wrong in so many ways.

It is my understanding that they originally installed springs based on the weight of the engine and options, so there is no easy way to be sure which one to use. I really don't enjoy compressing springs, so I only want to do it once!

Ideally, I'm trying to find out the color of the dots I need to look for. There are tons of E39s and E53s going through the local junkyards.

Thanks,
Mark

[seagreen323i]

If it's the same as the 540i sport package (not M sport) mine were blue if I recall correctly.

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[ross1]

I believe the springs are very specific to a car's configuration and there are many variations.
Ordering OE from the dealer using the VIN of a car with the configuration you wish to emulate would seem the only way to assure* getting the right ones.
With time the parts catalogs begin to consolidate similar spec springs under one number and specification so some of the less popular may not be available any longer even though the catalog indicates a part that "fits".
E34 guys have been struggling with this for a while and I suspect the now elderly E39 platform has suffered a similar parts consolidation.
A member here Moroza(?) has done quite a bit of research on the topic and may be a good resource.

[TiagE39]

I would suggest the Lesjofors catalog for deriving spring PN's.

[CPHES]

Blue dots are known to be a sport springs. Vin specific or not, any 99-03 front sport springs for a 540i should fit. ( sedan or wagon ) You can’t use 528, 525, or 530 ( six cyl ) springs

[pyite69]

Tiag: I found one in Lesjofors which appears to be what I need, it says 40mm lowering for vehicles with rear axle pneumatic suspension. Article number 4508460.

How do I turn this into the BMW part number?


Thanks,
Mark

[CPHES]

Not sure that you can. That is the # for a spring Lesjofors will sell you. Rear Pneumatic tells you that it will be a pair - 2 springs, not 4, so the price should be lower.

How bad is the M5 strut / spring combo? It should be close to 540i sport. The M62 is also a heavy v8

[danb1979]

You can only source the correct springs fro BMW or off an E39 being broken for parts...

I wouldn't rely on any aftermarket parts catalogue etc

Speak to your local BMW dealer, they'll confirm via your VIN etc

[CPHES]

But he already has a mutt. Sounds like a 99 540iT with no sport package is modified with manual trans and other bits from a M5.

To the OP - I have a 99 540iT with sport options - the last 7 of my vin is GN90428 - if you go thru a dealer for springs, use that vin, and it should get you what you need.

[haolibird]

CPHES,

I have a 99 540iT as well.
It has coilovers on the front that are terrible.

Thanks for the info, as I want to go back to stock set up.

Best,
Tom

[wagons ho]

A 540 with m5 front springs will sit higher than a non sport 540. I know people who did, and had to instantly change back.
M5 is over 100lbs more in front.

[pyite69]

CPHES - thank you, I'll give it a try!!!!

A 540 with m5 front springs will sit higher than a non sport 540. I know people who did, and had to instantly change back.
M5 is over 100lbs more in front.

This is my case as well. One of the shocks is dead as well so it pulls left when I brake hard. I need to get this resolved asap, it is not very fun to drive.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, is it plausible that the S227A option was really lowered by 40mm? That seems like quite a lot.

[pyite69]

I have a 99 540iT with sport options - the last 7 of my vin is GN90428

Pelican Parts was able to look it up:

WBADR6336XGN90428 S227A Sport susp.+low-slung+ride-height ctrl.
31 33 1 093 866 FRONT COIL SPRING

Thanks again!

Ha ha, as it turns out, the 2000 M5 also used this spring, but it changed for 2001. I had one in my garage the whole time (donor is a 2002)

[JimLev]

The difference in front ride height between a 540 sport and non sport (99-02) is only 10mm.

[CPHES]

Jim - they say that, and I’ve read that, but when I look at sport vs non sport, it seems more. I dunno why.

In reference to that 40mm difference - I think that is from the Lesjorfers link, and that is for an aftermarket spring. Not OE.

[pyite69]

Thanks for the help guys!

I just got the springs mounted and it handles like it's new again. I am amazed at how much easier it is to shift gears now.

The painted dots on the springs were brown, FYI. These dots line up with the notch on the bottom plate of the shock absorber, where the spring is mounted.

I used Sachs 556-838 shocks. They feel good so far.

I also learned a valuable lesson - make sure to grease the spring compressors before use. It was 100x easier to compress the second spring because I didn't grease them before the first one.