Car WAY Too High after FSD/D5 Install

hdrewh · 07-30-2014, 10:48 PM

I finally installed my Koni FSDs and ZSP springs, and they look like this:

I didn't drive it yet, still working on the rears. I was careful on the install and everything otherwise seems ok, shock is fully seated, springs are properly placed, etc. Brand new Koni FSDs, p/n 2100-4036, and hardly-used D5 springs from a 2011 M-Sport E90, my OEM springs are C4. Did I go the wrong way with the springs? Pretty sure D5 is what I needed. By themselves they're a bit shorter than my C4's, as I'd expect from non-ZSP to ZSP.

Thanks.

jwzimm · 07-30-2014, 10:53 PM

You need to drive it back and forth a couple times to settle the suspension.

SaviorXi · 07-30-2014, 11:14 PM

Hopefully that picture is with the car jacked up because if it is not then I don't care how much it settles you are going to need steps to get in your car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdrewh

I finally installed my Koni FSDs and ZSP springs, and they look like this:

I didn't drive it yet, still working on the rears. I was careful on the install and everything otherwise seems ok, shock is fully seated, springs are properly placed, etc. Brand new Koni FSDs, p/n 2100-4036, and hardly-used D5 springs from a 2011 M-Sport E90, my OEM springs are C4. Did I go the wrong way with the springs? Pretty sure D5 is what I needed. By themselves they're a bit shorter than my C4's, as I'd expect from non-ZSP to ZSP.

Thanks.

stashtrey · 07-30-2014, 11:16 PM

Hmmm. Something is not right there. Curious to see what you find!

hdrewh · 07-31-2014, 07:52 AM

That pic is with the rear on jack stands. Can someone confirm D5 is the right ZSP spring designation for an LCI E90 MT, coming from C4?

pileofstack · 07-31-2014, 09:12 AM

I would say that you put RWD Front Struts on an X-Drive, but your signature says 328i... weird...

07-31-2014, 10:04 AM

From what I've read, I'm pretty sure you're supposed to keep the numbers the same and just swap letter designations: C4 -> D4, etc. That D5 spring probably came from a car with options that made it heavier than yours (maybe it was an automatic instead of manual, etc.).

You'll find some good info here:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=435450
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=583071

Also, did you put new front guide supports in? That alone will raise the front of the car up by ~0.5" until they settle in (which takes at least a couple months/couple thousand miles).

hdrewh · 07-31-2014, 10:21 AM

I did put in new strut mounts, but you're probably right on the spring designation. With all the research I did, I never asked the guy I got the springs from if his car was MT or auto.

I'll probably go with new Eibach Pro's and eliminate this pre-owned spring guesswork.

mike-y · 07-31-2014, 11:07 AM

take your car off the jack stands, and drive it around the block a few times and then take another picture.

even with the D5 spring, the car should not be that high. the non-sport guide support (top mount) is slightly taller than the sport, but still - it shouldn't be that high. unless maybe you have the xi strut mount or something.

Or maybe your front strut isn't 100% seated inside the hub. There is fin/button on the back of the strut that is supposed to slide into the slot on the back of the mounting collar.

hdrewh · 08-03-2014, 08:46 PM

update: soon as I put the rears on the ground it became clear the install is basically ok, although it seems a bit higher than before, probably because I need D4's instead D5's. But I'm still going with the Eibach Pro's for a better match with the FSDs and my own car. Thanks for the replies.

andrey_gta · 08-03-2014, 09:11 PM

D4 are 328i/128i Sport Springs
D6 are 335i/135i Sport sptings
D7 335i auto

D5 may be XI sports... or 335i Non Sport or 328i AUTO or Some kind of Convertible springs

Eat.Sleep.Race · 08-03-2014, 09:18 PM

go with eibachs that gap is badddd.

jwzimm · 08-03-2014, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

D4 are 328i/128i Sport Springs
D6 are 335i/135i Sport sptings
D7 335i auto

D5 may be XI sports... or 335i Non Sport or 328i AUTO or Some kind of Convertible springs

The Xi's did not get D series springs ever. The fronts are all labeled with an "I" number. The various numbers are selected for a specific car depending on its options.

zhp43867 · 08-04-2014, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdrewh

update: soon as I put the rears on the ground it became clear the install is basically ok, although it seems a bit higher than before, probably because I need D4's instead D5's. But I'm still going with the Eibach Pro's for a better match with the FSDs and my own car. Thanks for the replies.

Did you drive it yet? Is this a joke?

jwzimm · 08-04-2014, 12:35 PM

That seriously looks like the strut is not fully seated inside the knuckle/carrier. Did you make sure the base of the strut fully seated? You need to spread the carrier pinch area enough to allow it to slide in. There is a special tool to do this.

08-04-2014, 01:35 PM

lol all you guys doing these conversions need to make sure you do them right, if your going from non-sport to sport, get the correct struts/springs and shorter guide supports along with correct sport package shorter bumpstops, so many questionable suspension mods on e90post lately.

That being said, that looks like a install issue, even though your probrably using the non-sport bumpstops and strut mounts it shouldn't be that high.

The correct thing to do is C4-D4 but having a D5 front will make a tiny difference, nothing like that above, most E90 Sport N52 equipped cars have D5 front springs for autos and D4 for manuals.

calicolorado · 08-05-2014, 01:52 AM

When you remove the struts, springs or control arms and replace them, you must reassemble everything and avoid torquing it to spec until you load the car properly. Install the suspension components, tightening everything reasonably, then lower the car off the jack to the ground. Make sure you have 180 pounds in each front seat and the same (maybe 150) in the back, a full tank of gas and proper tire pressure. Then torque everything to spec. It sounds inconvenient when you're doing it on your own, but it yields the right result.

I learned this on my own with a '72 2002 and an Audi TT, then read the preceding advice in Mike Miller's tech Q&A.

Hope this helps.

- Brendan

#Tee · 08-05-2014, 02:35 AM

dam im sorry for your lost...looks like the car is on jack stands and ready for an oil change

hdrewh · 08-05-2014, 09:02 AM

Eibachs's are on and the car is fine, looks great. As I mentioned in post #10, once I had all 4 wheels on the ground it was clear I did the first install correctly. I do have the proper ZSP bump stops, guide supports and everything was seated properly. I followed the Bentley service manual and a few DIYs here and on Youtube (from ECS and Bavauto)

Still, I preferred to have the brand new Eibach Pro's instead of the pre-owned ZSP (probably from an auto) D's.

Scrippy · 08-08-2014, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaviorXi

Hopefully that picture is with the car jacked up because if it is not then I don't care how much it settles you are going to need steps to get in your car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdrewh

I finally installed my Koni FSDs and ZSP springs, and they look like this:

I didn't drive it yet, still working on the rears. I was careful on the install and everything otherwise seems ok, shock is fully seated, springs are properly placed, etc. Brand new Koni FSDs, p/n 2100-4036, and hardly-used D5 springs from a 2011 M-Sport E90, my OEM springs are C4. Did I go the wrong way with the springs? Pretty sure D5 is what I needed. By themselves they're a bit shorter than my C4's, as I'd expect from non-ZSP to ZSP.

Thanks.

Lol!

07-30-2014, 10:48 PM	#1
hdrewh Lieutenant 70 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	Car WAY Too High after FSD/D5 Install I finally installed my Koni FSDs and ZSP springs, and they look like this: I didn't drive it yet, still working on the rears. I was careful on the install and everything otherwise seems ok, shock is fully seated, springs are properly placed, etc. Brand new Koni FSDs, p/n 2100-4036, and hardly-used D5 springs from a 2011 M-Sport E90, my OEM springs are C4. Did I go the wrong way with the springs? Pretty sure D5 is what I needed. By themselves they're a bit shorter than my C4's, as I'd expect from non-ZSP to ZSP. Thanks. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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07-30-2014, 10:53 PM	#2
jwzimm Colonel 687 Rep 2,770 Posts Drives: '16 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Renton, WA iTrader: (17)	You need to drive it back and forth a couple times to settle the suspension. __________________ 2008 Honda S2000 - Current 2016 F80 M3 - SOLD!! 2011 e92 X-Drive Coupe - SOLD!!
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07-30-2014, 11:16 PM	#4
stashtrey Lieutenant Colonel 294 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: 08 E90 335xi TiAg Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (8) Garage List 2008 E90 335xi Sedan [0.00]	Hmmm. Something is not right there. Curious to see what you find!
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07-31-2014, 07:52 AM	#5
hdrewh Lieutenant 70 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	That pic is with the rear on jack stands. Can someone confirm D5 is the right ZSP spring designation for an LCI E90 MT, coming from C4? __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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07-31-2014, 09:12 AM	#6
pileofstack Blast Master 14 Rep 111 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Uncle Rick's Stabbin' Cabin iTrader: (0)	I would say that you put RWD Front Struts on an X-Drive, but your signature says 328i... weird... __________________ IG: @whenstacksattack
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07-31-2014, 10:04 AM	#7
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	From what I've read, I'm pretty sure you're supposed to keep the numbers the same and just swap letter designations: C4 -> D4, etc. That D5 spring probably came from a car with options that made it heavier than yours (maybe it was an automatic instead of manual, etc.). You'll find some good info here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=435450 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=583071 Also, did you put new front guide supports in? That alone will raise the front of the car up by ~0.5" until they settle in (which takes at least a couple months/couple thousand miles).
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07-31-2014, 10:21 AM	#8
hdrewh Lieutenant 70 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	I did put in new strut mounts, but you're probably right on the spring designation. With all the research I did, I never asked the guy I got the springs from if his car was MT or auto. I'll probably go with new Eibach Pro's and eliminate this pre-owned spring guesswork. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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07-31-2014, 11:07 AM	#9
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	take your car off the jack stands, and drive it around the block a few times and then take another picture. even with the D5 spring, the car should not be that high. the non-sport guide support (top mount) is slightly taller than the sport, but still - it shouldn't be that high. unless maybe you have the xi strut mount or something. Or maybe your front strut isn't 100% seated inside the hub. There is fin/button on the back of the strut that is supposed to slide into the slot on the back of the mounting collar.
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08-03-2014, 08:46 PM	#10
hdrewh Lieutenant 70 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	update: soon as I put the rears on the ground it became clear the install is basically ok, although it seems a bit higher than before, probably because I need D4's instead D5's. But I'm still going with the Eibach Pro's for a better match with the FSDs and my own car. Thanks for the replies. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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08-03-2014, 09:11 PM	#11
andrey_gta Brigadier General 300 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	D4 are 328i/128i Sport Springs D6 are 335i/135i Sport sptings D7 335i auto D5 may be XI sports... or 335i Non Sport or 328i AUTO or Some kind of Convertible springs __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is Last edited by andrey_gta; 08-03-2014 at 09:30 PM..
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08-03-2014, 09:18 PM	#12
Eat.Sleep.Race Out Boosting... 243 Rep 3,987 Posts Drives: F30 335i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (7)	go with eibachs that gap is badddd. __________________ Alpine White M-Sport F30
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08-04-2014, 12:35 PM	#15
jwzimm Colonel 687 Rep 2,770 Posts Drives: '16 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Renton, WA iTrader: (17)	That seriously looks like the strut is not fully seated inside the knuckle/carrier. Did you make sure the base of the strut fully seated? You need to spread the carrier pinch area enough to allow it to slide in. There is a special tool to do this. __________________ 2008 Honda S2000 - Current 2016 F80 M3 - SOLD!! 2011 e92 X-Drive Coupe - SOLD!!
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08-04-2014, 01:35 PM	#16
RemovedUser Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	lol all you guys doing these conversions need to make sure you do them right, if your going from non-sport to sport, get the correct struts/springs and shorter guide supports along with correct sport package shorter bumpstops, so many questionable suspension mods on e90post lately. That being said, that looks like a install issue, even though your probrably using the non-sport bumpstops and strut mounts it shouldn't be that high. The correct thing to do is C4-D4 but having a D5 front will make a tiny difference, nothing like that above, most E90 Sport N52 equipped cars have D5 front springs for autos and D4 for manuals.
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08-05-2014, 01:52 AM	#17
calicolorado Second Lieutenant 165 Rep 276 Posts Drives: F10 M5 Comp 6-spd Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2015 BMW M5 [10.00] 1972 BMW 200/ [10.00] 2020 BMW X7 40i [10.00]	When you remove the struts, springs or control arms and replace them, you must reassemble everything and avoid torquing it to spec until you load the car properly. Install the suspension components, tightening everything reasonably, then lower the car off the jack to the ground. Make sure you have 180 pounds in each front seat and the same (maybe 150) in the back, a full tank of gas and proper tire pressure. Then torque everything to spec. It sounds inconvenient when you're doing it on your own, but it yields the right result. I learned this on my own with a '72 2002 and an Audi TT, then read the preceding advice in Mike Miller's tech Q&A. Hope this helps. - Brendan __________________ 2015 M5 Comp 6-spd manual 1972 2002 2003 Audi TT Coupe 225 2011 Highlander 4WD
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08-05-2014, 02:35 AM	#18
#Tee Major General 560 Rep 5,367 Posts Drives: yes Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Socal iTrader: (2)	dam im sorry for your lost...looks like the car is on jack stands and ready for an oil change __________________ You can follow my builds on IG: Tee212
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08-05-2014, 09:02 AM	#19
hdrewh Lieutenant 70 Rep 441 Posts Drives: '09 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York iTrader: (3)	Eibachs's are on and the car is fine, looks great. As I mentioned in post #10, once I had all 4 wheels on the ground it was clear I did the first install correctly. I do have the proper ZSP bump stops, guide supports and everything was seated properly. I followed the Bentley service manual and a few DIYs here and on Youtube (from ECS and Bavauto) Still, I preferred to have the brand new Eibach Pro's instead of the pre-owned ZSP (probably from an auto) D's. __________________ 2009 E90 328i Montego Blue, Black Leather, 6MT, ZPP, Logic 7, HD radio, CA, fold-down seats, PDC. ED pickup 6/12/2009 mods: Koni FSDs, Eibach Pro's, Sport/Heated Seats, BMW Perf. short shifter, M-tech shift knob/e-brake handle/steering wheel, split armrest, black grilles, 50% tint, 3M clear bra.
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