Uneven suspension level

JayReplay · 04-30-2009, 12:56 AM

Ever since day 1, my car has had different ride heights. I currently have the ZSP suspension with 15,xxx miles. The fronts are normal, but the rear seems to vary. What's for sure is that the rear left has always sat lower than the rear right side. Additionally, sometimes the drivers side is almost tucked (1 finger gap) while the right side has a 2.5 finger gap. Pretty significant. I have noticed this height difference on different surfaces while parked. I originally thought the right side would be lower than the left to accomodate the drivers weight when sitting in the car.

Does anyone have the same problem? There is one guy overseas who had a similar issue but could not find a resolution. Should I take this to BMW as I still have my factory warranty?

Thanks,
Jay

E90330iS · 04-30-2009, 02:26 AM

yes!!

Nutballa · 04-30-2009, 02:28 AM

I have noticed an abnormality in my suspension. My rear left side is a bit lower than my rear right, By about 1/4 an inch or so. I can't tell unless it's on level ground. It's not noticeable from a distance or a quick glance. I only have 5,XXXmiles on it and believe my car's suspension may need time to settle down and loosen up.

zerox_guru · 04-30-2009, 02:30 AM

thats weird cuz mine is the other way around my passenger side is lower than the drivers side..hmmm, i always thought since the battery is on that side maybe thats the case..

M3SWEETNESS · 04-30-2009, 02:53 AM

I know on the older E36 M3's this was caused due to the gas tank location. I'm not sure if it's the same problem on the E90's but it might be the culprit.....

JayReplay · 04-30-2009, 09:50 AM

hmm good to know. Has anyone brought their issues to the dealer? I hope to have some time to take it in and maybe they will replace the suspension. Or just throwing on some h&r sports on the stock shocks. What are your thoughts in this situation? Is it the springs problem or the shocks?

BK · 04-30-2009, 10:30 AM

Try measuring without a full tank of gas, then measuring with a full tank of gas.

ragingclue · 04-30-2009, 10:51 AM

I would suggest getting some coilovers if it bothers you that much....

When I had my E36 M3, the buzz was that the driver's side sat higher so as to sit level when the car had just a driver and no passengers (which was like 90% of the time). Not sure how much I believed it, so I got some coilovers and leveled it out.

ejazbmw · 04-30-2009, 11:11 AM

i think its because bmw accounts for the driver on the left side weight to level it out since the right side is a bit higher..

ragingclue · 04-30-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejazbmw

i think its because bmw accounts for the driver on the left side weight to level it out since the right side is a bit higher..

Well, OP's issue is that his car is leaning the opposite way of what is expected.

JayReplay · 04-30-2009, 11:41 AM

This happens all the time; full fuel tank or not. And I don't see anyone else with this problem. I'll have to take it to the dealer and have them replace the suspension I guess. Unless they tell me it's a wear and tear situation and it's not covered!

zerox_guru · 04-30-2009, 11:51 AM

i would suggest getting some coilovers and even it out.. thats probably ur best solution..

CV335 · 04-30-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejazbmw

i think its because bmw accounts for the driver on the left side weight to level it out since the right side is a bit higher..

The driver side should be higher. This is done as part of the alignment procedure to compensate for the driver's weight. If the passenger's side is higher with no one inside the car, then there is something goofy going on with the suspension.

cn555ic · 04-30-2009, 02:17 PM

I noticed that when i installed my coilovers, but realized that after many adjustments to the rear coilover adjustments the car seemed to still be lowered more on one side....after going crazy for a while, I realized the pavement in my garage was pitched and created this illusion that the car was not adjusted right....took it to a spot where its leveled and sure enough the car was even in the rear on both sides!!! To the OP...make sure when you look at the car its on a even roador surface

stressdoc · 04-30-2009, 02:29 PM

There is something seriously wrong if you only have a one-finger gap on the driver's side rear and a 2.5 finger gap on the passenger rear. I would definitely have the dealer sort it out. Something is likely to have been damaged to have a difference > 1 inch.

04-30-2009, 12:56 AM	#1
JayReplay Lieutenant Colonel 84 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: E46 M3 6MT Sunroof Delete Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: River Forest, IL iTrader: (18)	Uneven suspension level Ever since day 1, my car has had different ride heights. I currently have the ZSP suspension with 15,xxx miles. The fronts are normal, but the rear seems to vary. What's for sure is that the rear left has always sat lower than the rear right side. Additionally, sometimes the drivers side is almost tucked (1 finger gap) while the right side has a 2.5 finger gap. Pretty significant. I have noticed this height difference on different surfaces while parked. I originally thought the right side would be lower than the left to accomodate the drivers weight when sitting in the car. Does anyone have the same problem? There is one guy overseas who had a similar issue but could not find a resolution. Should I take this to BMW as I still have my factory warranty? Thanks, Jay __________________ 2002 Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 6MT 2017 White C63 AMG Coupe 2002 Oxford Green E46 M3 6MT - Sold
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04-30-2009, 02:26 AM	#2
E90330iS Major General 143 Rep 6,333 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arcadia, California iTrader: (56) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	yes!! __________________ 2017 BMW M4 DCT Lease Transfer: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post23736398
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04-30-2009, 02:28 AM	#3
Nutballa Captain 248 Rep 840 Posts Drives: BMW F13 M6 // BMW F22 M235i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Texas+ San Antonio iTrader: (1)	I have noticed an abnormality in my suspension. My rear left side is a bit lower than my rear right, By about 1/4 an inch or so. I can't tell unless it's on level ground. It's not noticeable from a distance or a quick glance. I only have 5,XXXmiles on it and believe my car's suspension may need time to settle down and loosen up. __________________ BMW FTW! "Power is nothing without Control" - Pirelli.
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04-30-2009, 02:30 AM	#4
zerox_guru Super User!! 24 Rep 579 Posts Drives: JB E90/Gixxer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal. Simi Valley iTrader: (1)	thats weird cuz mine is the other way around my passenger side is lower than the drivers side..hmmm, i always thought since the battery is on that side maybe thats the case.. __________________
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04-30-2009, 02:53 AM	#5
M3SWEETNESS Watch This! 33 Rep 705 Posts Drives: 2010 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (4)	I know on the older E36 M3's this was caused due to the gas tank location. I'm not sure if it's the same problem on the E90's but it might be the culprit..... __________________
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04-30-2009, 09:50 AM	#6
JayReplay Lieutenant Colonel 84 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: E46 M3 6MT Sunroof Delete Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: River Forest, IL iTrader: (18)	hmm good to know. Has anyone brought their issues to the dealer? I hope to have some time to take it in and maybe they will replace the suspension. Or just throwing on some h&r sports on the stock shocks. What are your thoughts in this situation? Is it the springs problem or the shocks? __________________ 2002 Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 6MT 2017 White C63 AMG Coupe 2002 Oxford Green E46 M3 6MT - Sold
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04-30-2009, 10:30 AM	#7
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Try measuring without a full tank of gas, then measuring with a full tank of gas. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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04-30-2009, 10:51 AM	#8
ragingclue One cam is enough 130 Rep 6,801 Posts Drives: VF Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville iTrader: (1)	I would suggest getting some coilovers if it bothers you that much.... When I had my E36 M3, the buzz was that the driver's side sat higher so as to sit level when the car had just a driver and no passengers (which was like 90% of the time). Not sure how much I believed it, so I got some coilovers and leveled it out.
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04-30-2009, 11:11 AM	#9
ejazbmw blahhh 302 Rep 6,355 Posts Drives: 2014 M235I Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (7)	i think its because bmw accounts for the driver on the left side weight to level it out since the right side is a bit higher..
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04-30-2009, 11:41 AM	#11
JayReplay Lieutenant Colonel 84 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: E46 M3 6MT Sunroof Delete Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: River Forest, IL iTrader: (18)	This happens all the time; full fuel tank or not. And I don't see anyone else with this problem. I'll have to take it to the dealer and have them replace the suspension I guess. Unless they tell me it's a wear and tear situation and it's not covered! __________________ 2002 Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 6MT 2017 White C63 AMG Coupe 2002 Oxford Green E46 M3 6MT - Sold
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04-30-2009, 11:51 AM	#12
zerox_guru Super User!! 24 Rep 579 Posts Drives: JB E90/Gixxer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal. Simi Valley iTrader: (1)	i would suggest getting some coilovers and even it out.. thats probably ur best solution.. __________________
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04-30-2009, 02:17 PM	#14
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	I noticed that when i installed my coilovers, but realized that after many adjustments to the rear coilover adjustments the car seemed to still be lowered more on one side....after going crazy for a while, I realized the pavement in my garage was pitched and created this illusion that the car was not adjusted right....took it to a spot where its leveled and sure enough the car was even in the rear on both sides!!! To the OP...make sure when you look at the car its on a even roador surface
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04-30-2009, 02:29 PM	#15
stressdoc Moderator 617 Rep 10,855 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	There is something seriously wrong if you only have a one-finger gap on the driver's side rear and a 2.5 finger gap on the passenger rear. I would definitely have the dealer sort it out. Something is likely to have been damaged to have a difference > 1 inch. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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