I know everyone is after the lowered look with the stiff springs and shocks, but not me. I've driven a few 740il's and I would like to have a ride that is similar. How should I go about this?
I would imagine that besides shocks and springs it also has alot to do with bushings and the weight of the car, which I am not going to change.
Anyone know what kind of stock shocks/springs a 740 uses?
I have H&Rs on Koni's, and they ride like BUTTER. Definitely softer than stock. I absolutely love it.
Koni's are pretty good. Sachs are the OE shocks, and are also good. OE springs are just longer than Eibachs. I don't know why you are comparing a 740 to E34 because they are the same thing. It's a range in years, not a model. If you are looking for active suspension, you shouldn't. If it fails, you are in for pain of the credit card melting kind. The E34 5 series is heavier than most, and due to that with a proper suspension, has a very smooth ride. Give one a try at a BMW Car Club meet, if you have joined the bmwcca.
What settings do you have the Konis on?
I've been looking to replace the (stock) suspension on my E34, and have been wanting something that keeps all or most of the E34's stock smoothness and comfort, but improves handling. I was thinking of going with Koni/Vogtland, does H&R fit the bill? I remember the H&R springs being quite stiff on my old E30...
BMW CCA #353833
2002 530i, 2002 330Ci
There are some who claim that their upgraded suspension gives a smoother ride - H&R's with Konis here, Vogtlands with Konis elsewhere. And then there are those who'll tell you that it's physically impossible to go lower and have as good a ride.
I'm interested in the exact same thing, and I've been doing on-and-off research on it for a while. What've I discovered? Konis are awesome for everything, Bilsteins are harsh as **** but handle really well, and nobody can agree on springs. All I can personally verify is that 750iL thrust arm bushings make your suspension harsher without a noticable (to me) improvement. Not bad enough to warrant changing them, but if you ever need to, I suggest sticking with the stock bushing.
Here's a compilation of all the opinions on springs I've found in the last year and a half:
Cut stock springs - terrible idea; sounds like a bad idea, but the car handles wonderfully; not bad at all if you know what you're doing; makes the car bounce.
Bavauto - good ride, no problems; good ride, bottoms out; good ride, sags after some time; good ride, ok handling, bottoms out.
H&R - excellent ride; excellent ride, excellent handling; horrible ride, excellent handling.
Eibach - good ride, excellent handling; mediocre ride, good handling; bad ride (especially in the rear), sags too much, crap handling.
Vogtland - excellent ride; decent ride, but bottoms out all the time; mediocre ride, decent handling.
Dinan - good handling, good ride, looks like stock or maybe a touch lower (still too high).
I'ven't seen much feedback on UUC and others. When I have 500 bucks I don't know what to do with, I'm getting Konis, a backup set of stock springs, and cutting my existing stock ones.
Last edited by moroza; 11-01-2007 at 11:32 PM.
you sell the 525 and buy a 740..
Currently it's on full soft all the way around. It rides soooooooo smooth on stock wheels/tires. But I'm riding on a 35 series profile. The ride is stiffer, but it still rides mmmmm mmmm good. BUT, it has a TON of body roll. I plan on getting some anti-sway bars in the future. Perhaps OE M5s, not sure yet.
I June I installed a set of Koni shocks, Vogtland springs, M5 front spring pads, and 750il front end bushings. The shocks are 1/4 turn from full soft. If you don't know New York City and New Jersey has some of the worst roads ever. Despite driving a lowered car my ride is extremely smooth on these horrendous roads.
They are they thinnest front spring pads that I believe are available. Hence, they lowest drop in the front
I think its mostly up to the shocks you use as far as ride goes..
The most important thing to think about here is everyone is comparing brand new shocks and springs compared to stock shocks and springs with tons of miles on them.
How many people buy new springs and new shocks? Just about nobody..
My billy HD's were much stiffer than my Billy Sports and they both had about the same spring stiffnesses. Koni on full soft should yield a great ride, probably much like a stock shock.
I have had both the Bilstein HD and the Koni's on E34's. Where in other applications I have had the Bilsteins be very stiff, the ones in my 535i ride wonderfully, and it has 17" wheels. The Koni's still probably have a little better ride quality, and I would suggest using them with stock springs for the best ride quality. Also, running a nice H rated touring tire in the stock size at the stock pressure will contribute to better ride quality.
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