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Originally Posted by bmw_solid
Sorry to hijack but wanted to know if your car is a SE or M-Sport? I have got a pre-lci E92 SE with recently fitted new Sachs dampers and am experiencing the crashy ride with the usual thuds over bumps etc. I am keen on getting the ride better by using the B4s (non-sport version). I would like to ask you if you can remember back to the time when your dampers were in good shape how your ride was? Was is it crashy over bumps and could you hear thuds over the usual bumps?
How would you compare the ride with the B4s you have now to the original Sachs you had before (when they were in good order)?
Also, just a thought about the B4s - did you buy the correct B4 shocks, as I understand that there were 2 types - B4 non-sport and B4 Sport.
And finally, the front left side of the E9x models (measuring from the ground on a level surface to the wheel arch) is approx 10-13 mm higher than the front right side. And one more thing, the E9x models sit higher on the front than the back, just for reference.
When I had my new SACHS dampers put in, I do not recall any increase in ride height. I also replaced the shock mounts as well with Lemforders. Hope this helps.
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Sorry to hijack but wanted to know if your car is a SE or M-Sport? I have got a pre-lci E92 SE with recently fitted new Sachs dampers and am experiencing the crashy ride with the usual thuds over bumps etc. I am keen on getting the ride better by using the B4s (non-sport version). I would like to ask you if you can remember back to the time when your dampers were in good shape how your ride was? Was is it crashy over bumps and could you hear thuds over the usual bumps?
No problem, mine is regarded as the Exclusive, so not M-Sport or SE I gather, so has the normal suspension and trim etc. I suspect the crashy ride has always been there and is more to do with the car having RFT tyres, well, mine has always had RFT tyres, will eventually change to normal tyres when I am able to find a nice set of 18" style 162 Ellipsoids (do have a proper BMW space-saver in the boot). The B4s do feel quite good overall, not nearly as hard as I would've expected, firm but still very comfortable. I can still feel the slightest bit of thud or crashiness from the rear when accelerating over the harsher bumps in the road here and there, but it's not as bad as obviously compared to the old shocks. To be honest though, I still have to drive the car more to get a real sense of these shocks in all conditions, but apart from the height issue, cannot fault them.
How would you compare the ride with the B4s you have now to the original Sachs you had before (when they were in good order)?
That's hard to say since I've effectively been running with these deteriorated Sachs (rubbish) since probably 2014 or so, only had them tested middle of last year when I suspected they were getting tired, and drivers side was reported as below 50%, passenger side was just on 50%. But, thinking back, ride was always firm as expected, but comfortable, never liked rough town roads and this meant a choppy ride here and there.
Also, just a thought about the B4s - did you buy the correct B4 shocks, as I understand that there were 2 types - B4 non-sport and B4 Sport.
I took my car to a BMW specialist and they ordered the parts based on the car's spec, so when I spoke to them this past Friday, they confirmed that they did order the non-sport shocks and struts, and we never got the AWD (Xi) models here, but was evening wondering if they somehow supplied struts for those instead of the RWD which are apparently higher up front.
And finally, the front left side of the E9x models (measuring from the ground on a level surface to the wheel arch) is approx 10-13 mm higher than the front right side. And one more thing, the E9x models sit higher on the front than the back, just for reference.
When I measured mine before it went in for this work, I parked it in the middle of my level garage, and then measured from the ground up on all four wheels - it was interesting that I saw both left wheel arches were 66.5cm from the ground and both right wheel aches were 66cm from the ground, so drivers side 5mm lower. Maybe from my weight when moving the car, and course battery in the boot is drivers side too. As for the ride height in front over the years, has always been exactly like the before picture - using the body panels and roundel on the wheel as reference makes it quite easy to see, there's a huge difference with a 10-15mm change of ride height.
When I had my new SACHS dampers put in, I do not recall any increase in ride height. I also replaced the shock mounts as well with Lemforders. Hope this helps.
Only reason why I didn't replace with Sachs is simply that I was quite disappointed that mine were trash at approximately 70k km or possibly earlier even. I remember around that time going through a dip down a hill pass and the right rear did something weird, later on I figured out that it had bottomed out and crushed the right rear bump stop. It wasn't even that much of a dip, and was going at normal speeds. I was going to replace the upper mounts if necessary, and was initially going to also fit the Lemforders, but read of some complaining that they found cracks in the ones they bought recently and there's even a note from Lemforders saying that their mounts need to be inspected for cracks which is sometimes due to manufacturing. So if I was going to have to replace these, probably would've gone for Meyle. But mine were still fine, and they just added some bearing grease.