Option #226 - SPORTS SUSPENSION SETTINGS?

[pundit]

After discovering my E34 came with factory sports suspension (thanks to Ausmpower) I was wondering what exactly the package consists of?
Springs? Shocks? Sways etc?

My E34 doesn't appear obviously lowered but without comparing it to a car with stock suspension I can't be sure.

[genphreak]

After discovering my E34 came with factory sports suspension (thanks to Ausmpower) I was wondering what exactly the package consists of?
Springs? Shocks? Sways etc?

My E34 doesn't appear obviously lowered but without comparing it to a car with stock suspension I can't be sure.

Defiantely springs, perhaps the (stock) shocks were rated interestingly... not sure about sways- are yours the stock size?

[shuriken]

Springs and dampers are the sports suspention package. Sports dampers have a slightly slower return and are a little bit firmer. If you have sports sus then you should tell the tyre garage when you have tracking done as there is a different setting for sports. So I have been told. Also rear offset camber bushes fitted too. I stand to be corrected on this though. My E24 628CSi had sports sus. Felt good too.

[Ausmpower]

The sports suspension runs Toe out on the fronts for better high speed turn in on corner entry (worse for tyre wear though!).

The sways are same diameter but stiffer material, Shocks are revalved, springs are stock height but are more progressively stiff.

They come alive and stable over 120 kph but "tram track" (try to follow truck ruts) at lower speed.

Mine is rock solid at 160+ kph and I mean rock solid!!

[infinity5]

The bently's has all the data for camber/toe in and ride height in it, if theres a difference you can measure it and compare. Their table has three colums, normal, sport, and m-tech.

[Ausmpower]

Most wheel aligners just set the sport suspension to the stock settings leaving you with an understeering dog at high speed.....

We get them in all the time on the e34/e39's. The Toe out is the key.

[Bill R.]

Here's the difference in height using the different factory spring packages

After discovering my E34 came with factory sports suspension (thanks to Ausmpower) I was wondering what exactly the package consists of?
Springs? Shocks? Sways etc?

My E34 doesn't appear obviously lowered but without comparing it to a car with stock suspension I can't be sure.

[Bill R.]

specs, the difference in toe at turn in are due to the difference in camber and caster due to the lower springs changing the camber and caster. The total toe in on the rear is different than the standard model also due to the camber changes.

Most wheel aligners just set the sport suspension to the stock settings leaving you with an understeering dog at high speed.....

We get them in all the time on the e34/e39's. The Toe out is the key.

[Ausmpower]

For the USA market you are correct....

Aus has different springs either standard, "M-tech sport paket" or "sports suspension settings" no Sports low slung here.

Sports and standard are the same height, M-tech is 10 mm lower. Something to do with our australian design rules perhaps?

R

We also have slightly different toe settings, Don't ask me why but we just do.

[genphreak]

Here's the difference in height using the different factory spring packages

Bill, it looks as though my theory about shocks is being borne out here- ie that they affect ride height (stick with me now...)

The stock ride height on 15" rims is 588mm
With Sports suspension it is 568mm
With M-Tech it is 563mm

Now I have changed my Sport Springs to M-Techs and noticed a huge drop. When running the old springs with dead shocks the car was very low. I had Heasmans (a good local shop) install stock shocks when I bought the car and it shot up to the stock (588mm) ride height. Now I find out from AusMPower that my suspension was a Sport setup and I realise that these were in fact the wrong shocks to put in... Damn!

It is very weird. Can a shock help the spring to extend in practice?

My solution after this was to install M-Tech springs and Sports shocks- and that has floored it again.

Well the rear is now perhaps too low, so am thinking that perhaps I should stick my old springs back in and gain the 5mm your chart describes. However I suspect they will be too worn; what happens to a Sashs spring after 18 years exactly? Do they have to go?

After all, with the right sport shocks it looks like my ride height could be low but slightly better than with the M-Techs. They are perhaps too low...

Nick