Grand Master
Option #226 - SPORTS SUSPENSION SETTINGS?
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.
1990 E34 535iA, 215,000kms (130,000 miles).
Dual Climate, Rear Headrests, Rollerblind, M-Tech Wheel,
Memory Seats, EAT Chip, T-Stars.
4 Grand Master
Defiantely springs, perhaps the (stock) shocks were rated interestingly... not sure about sways- are yours the stock size?Originally Posted by pundit
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08/88 535i e34 M30+miller MAF, 'stiens, tints & teeth!
Big Time Poster
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.
BMW E39 528i SE 1999
BMW E34 525iA SE 1992
BMW E34 535i SE 1988
BMW E28 525i
BMW E24 628 CSi
http://web.mac.com/johnstjohn1
Don't tempt fate, slap it and then taunt it!!
Big, Big Time Poster
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!!
Last edited by Ausmpower; 07-24-2006 at 08:28 AM. Reason: wireless k/board drop out induced spelling mistakes!!
BMW parts professional
Previous rides:
BMW
E12 M535i (go the dogleg!)
E28 M535i (MMM M88!)
E34 535i M
MAZDA:
RX7 S-IV T04 (440 hp ATW)
RX7 S-I 13b bridge port
RX4 13b peripheral port
Major Contributor
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.
Big, Big Time Poster
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.
BMW parts professional
Previous rides:
BMW
E12 M535i (go the dogleg!)
E28 M535i (MMM M88!)
E34 535i M
MAZDA:
RX7 S-IV T04 (440 hp ATW)
RX7 S-I 13b bridge port
RX4 13b peripheral port
Super Moderator
Total toe is set the same as seen here on bmw
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.
Last edited by Bill R.; 09-14-2007 at 11:23 PM.
Super Moderator
Springs, shocks and sway bars were different
Here's the difference in height using the different factory spring packages
Last edited by Bill R.; 09-14-2007 at 11:23 PM.
4 Grand Master
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
Last edited by genphreak; 07-24-2006 at 10:27 AM.
Join the Aussie 540i LE yahoo forum
08/88 535i e34 M30+miller MAF, 'stiens, tints & teeth!
Super Moderator
Any high pressure gas shock such as Bilstein or
kyb will raise the car slightly. Bilstein claims that the car will settle down in a week or two but i haven't seen that happen, Usually they lift the car about an inch or so roughly.
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...
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