335D front strut

mhd · 05-15-2018, 08:48 AM

Is the 335D front strut are the same as other E90? Mine need to be replaced. I found online that it is recommended to replace E90s' with Bilstein B6 (part # 35-120384 (right) and 35-120377 (left)).

Can I use those with my 2009 335D?

floydarogers · 05-15-2018, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhd

Is the 335D front strut are the same as other E90? Mine need to be replaced. I found online that it is recommended to replace E90s' with Bilstein B6 (part # 35-120384 (right) and 35-120377 (left)).

Can I use those with my 2009 335D?

I just looked at my records, and can't find the part #s when I had my fronts replaced with B6 last year. Pretty sure they're compatible; everything else is (brakes, etc.)

Miko226 · 05-15-2018, 03:01 PM

Yes identical however the extra weigh on the D seems to wear them quicker.

aaddam2 · 05-15-2018, 03:33 PM

I think if you look at the OE suspension, it shows E90/E91 Diesel. i believe that it is due the D being heavier and rates are slightly different, but as far as fitment should match up just fine.

mhd · 05-16-2018, 03:45 PM

Thanks Guys! I am planing to buy B6 and performance mounts to count for the heavier engine.

Is there any other things that I need to buy to replace the front struts?

BB_cuda · 05-16-2018, 07:03 PM

Are you sport or base? There is the B6 or B8 discussion if sport.

mhd · 05-17-2018, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

Are you sport or base? There is the B6 or B8 discussion if sport.

Mine is base without sport package. I guess I should use B6.

kbsilver · 05-20-2018, 04:55 PM

I'm running B6's on all 4 corners of the D. They definitely are stiffer than stock. I did not like the bouncy feeling out of the rears with stock. If we had smooth roads like we should, it wouldn't be an issue at all but I am running RFT's. Have not bent a single rim since I put the B6s on compared to 5 in one season with stock.

mhd · 05-21-2018, 09:22 AM

Good to know your experience. I will swap out front first and see how the hybrid version feels like.

I havenot been a fan of D with RFT from day one. Heavier engine make the car hit bump stop whenever it pass the bumps on road. Hopefully B6 can reduce those.

kbsilver · 05-21-2018, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhd

…. Heavier engine make the car hit bump stop whenever it pass the bumps on road. Hopefully B6 can reduce those.

It will!

dr_dirtg · 06-06-2018, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhd

Is the 335D front strut are the same as other E90? Mine need to be replaced. I found online that it is recommended to replace E90s' with Bilstein B6 (part # 35-120384 (right) and 35-120377 (left)).

Can I use those with my 2009 335D?

My 335d spring broke a while ago so i swapped whole struts from 335i non sport both left and right side front only. i can tell you there is no physical stop on the side of these so i can literally adjust my ride height now. The strut is clamped but the 335d sport struts have a little vertical tab welded to the side of the side of the strut so that they "rest" or bottom out on the "strut mount" / "clamp"

They are ever so slightly more comfortable but You really have to be sensitive to feel it.

alex sol · 11-18-2018, 02:10 PM

dr dirt, do you know if the stock 335i springs are same ride height as stock 335d? I bought my 335d with lowered springs and not practical in our snowing winter roads. summer is fine!

dr_dirtg · 11-19-2018, 09:50 AM

They are "adjustable" in the sense that there is no tab welded onto the side of the strut which will stop the strut at a prepositioned spot when inserting into the hub knuckle.
My oem strut had this, the 335i Non Sport struts do not, so I can technically adjust the ride height now.
Currently the car sits slightly lower than oem 335d sport, but i dont have the time to re-adjust it.
also, with my sport wheels i have to use spacers because the bottom plate of the sturt (where spring coil sits) will touch the tire.
(Perhaps if I raised the struts this wouldn't be a problem)

dr_dirtg · 11-19-2018, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex sol

dr dirt, do you know if the stock 335i springs are same ride height as stock 335d? I bought my 335d with lowered springs and not practical in our snowing winter roads. summer is fine!

so the 335i springs will lower your 335d, unless they are non sport 335i and your 335d is a sport.
Then it might not lower, it might be about the same ride height as oem. Not sure.

alex sol · 11-20-2018, 09:55 PM

dr dirt, my head is spinning from your response. I removed the spring strut setup and needed to replace because the fronts were scrubbing every time i hit a bump in the road. my snow tires have more tread and would 'zing' the plastic fender bits...

i found this youtube video very helpful and accurate except one of my control arms are swapped out requiring 21 mm nut with 6mm hex on one side that barely held and t35 torx on the other side... video says t45 torx and ended banging a t40 into the torx then went with.. you guessed it, a vice grip in between the rubber boot and steering control arm.

after struggling with the control arms and slipping out the strut, i found the stock 335i springs about 2 inches taller than my after market springs. i had been scrubbing on some of my plastic fenders from running up driveways too quickly... and the intercooler looks like a bit too close to the ground for comfort.

The shocks were completely dead and would not push back out, other side was leaking oil... so i figured i'd try to use them anyway for about 5 mins until common sense and reason got the better of me.

raced over to the local auto supply place and i replaced with bilstein stock replacements: 31316784974 / 31316784973 (right / left)

Are these b6 or b8 - or are these the yellow color bilsteins that i have on my e46 m3?

used those very awkward spring compressors from princess auto (harbor freight) using one compressor on each side and plugged everything back together.

cars runs great and suited for our terrible roads complete with frost heaving, deep ruts, sewer covers sticking up and, get this, the many traffic calming humps that are designed to make sporty cars bottom out in our neighborhood.

was a bit of a journey as a do it your self with two jacks and a pair of jack stands, and some basic hand tools and saved by a strong cordless dewalt electric impact gun. this came in most handy when removing and replacing the lock nuts on the steering control arms.

i would not recommend using the dewalt on the spring compressors and we had a air impact gun that was worked pretty hard...

alex sol · 11-20-2018, 09:59 PM

dr dirt

regarding the sport vs non sport 335d, how do we know the difference?

i have the 15 spoke 17" rims guessing 8.5" wide

dr_dirtg · 11-21-2018, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex sol

dr dirt

regarding the sport vs non sport 335d, how do we know the difference?

i have the 15 spoke 17" rims guessing 8.5" wide

i dont have a photo but this is what i googled and you see on the strut body there is a small tab welden on? this only existed on my 335d sport struts. the 335i non sport did not have these and i could adjust the ride height as i pleased.

dr_dirtg · 11-21-2018, 11:19 PM

here it is shown, how it rests against the hub/knuckle assembly.

335dsleeper · 11-22-2018, 07:09 AM

How did you adjust your ride height? That “tab” does not determine ride height. The strut bottoms out in the spindle regardless of the tab.

My non-sport struts also had that tab.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_dirtg

i dont have a photo but this is what i googled and you see on the strut body there is a small tab welden on? this only existed on my 335d sport struts. the 335i non sport did not have these and i could adjust the ride height as i pleased.

dr_dirtg · 11-22-2018, 04:51 PM

the non sport.335 struts i got did not.have these tabs. therefore i put them at whatever height i wanted to and measured to match the other side.

335dsleeper · 11-22-2018, 09:43 PM

So you raised you car? You can’t go lower as the tabs have nothing to do with rid height. The bottom of the strut seats into the spindle, if installed correctly ride height is fixed with no adjustability. Please post pictures of your adjusted stock suspension.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr_dirtg

the non sport.335 struts i got did not.have these tabs. therefore i put them at whatever height i wanted to and measured to match the other side.

dr_dirtg · 11-23-2018, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335dsleeper

So you raised you car? You can’t go lower as the tabs have nothing to do with rid height. The bottom of the strut seats into the spindle, if installed correctly ride height is fixed with no adjustability. Please post pictures of your adjusted stock suspension.

next time i raise the car i'll take photos.
The strut seats into the spindle but the spindle has a slit and it "clamps" around the strut as you tighten the bolts. If the tab is there and you bottom it out against the spindle then that is your ride height. If the tab is not there, then you can put the strut down lower and there fore the car sits lower.

05-15-2018, 08:48 AM	#1
mhd New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2009 335D, 1989 325iC Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Great Boston Area iTrader: (0)	335D front strut Is the 335D front strut are the same as other E90? Mine need to be replaced. I found online that it is recommended to replace E90s' with Bilstein B6 (part # 35-120384 (right) and 35-120377 (left)). Can I use those with my 2009 335D?
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05-15-2018, 03:01 PM	#3
Miko226 Captain 61 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 11' 335d Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (0)	Yes identical however the extra weigh on the D seems to wear them quicker. __________________ 11' m57 335d 165k Miles - JR 2, ATM Full Exhaust & Intake, Wagner FMIC, AAR Boost Pipe, AAR Swirl Delete, AAR EGR Delete 08' n54 135i FBO E85 - SOLD
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05-15-2018, 03:33 PM	#4
aaddam2 Private First Class 32 Rep 153 Posts Drives: '11 e90 335d M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I think if you look at the OE suspension, it shows E90/E91 Diesel. i believe that it is due the D being heavier and rates are slightly different, but as far as fitment should match up just fine.
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05-16-2018, 03:45 PM	#5
mhd New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2009 335D, 1989 325iC Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Great Boston Area iTrader: (0)	Thanks Guys! I am planing to buy B6 and performance mounts to count for the heavier engine. Is there any other things that I need to buy to replace the front struts?
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05-16-2018, 07:03 PM	#6
BB_cuda Brigadier General 765 Rep 3,556 Posts Drives: 2011 335D Msport, 2013 X5D Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Clear Lake, Texas iTrader: (0)	Are you sport or base? There is the B6 or B8 discussion if sport.
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05-20-2018, 04:55 PM	#8
kbsilver Captain 142 Rep 634 Posts Drives: 340GT & '22 eDrive40 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0)	I'm running B6's on all 4 corners of the D. They definitely are stiffer than stock. I did not like the bouncy feeling out of the rears with stock. If we had smooth roads like we should, it wouldn't be an issue at all but I am running RFT's. Have not bent a single rim since I put the B6s on compared to 5 in one season with stock.
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05-21-2018, 09:22 AM	#9
mhd New Member 4 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2009 335D, 1989 325iC Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Great Boston Area iTrader: (0)	Good to know your experience. I will swap out front first and see how the hybrid version feels like. I havenot been a fan of D with RFT from day one. Heavier engine make the car hit bump stop whenever it pass the bumps on road. Hopefully B6 can reduce those.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-18-2018, 02:10 PM	#12
alex sol Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2009 335d Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Toronto Canada iTrader: (0)	dr dirt, do you know if the stock 335i springs are same ride height as stock 335d? I bought my 335d with lowered springs and not practical in our snowing winter roads. summer is fine!
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11-19-2018, 09:50 AM	#13
dr_dirtg Private First Class 39 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	They are "adjustable" in the sense that there is no tab welded onto the side of the strut which will stop the strut at a prepositioned spot when inserting into the hub knuckle. My oem strut had this, the 335i Non Sport struts do not, so I can technically adjust the ride height now. Currently the car sits slightly lower than oem 335d sport, but i dont have the time to re-adjust it. also, with my sport wheels i have to use spacers because the bottom plate of the sturt (where spring coil sits) will touch the tire. (Perhaps if I raised the struts this wouldn't be a problem)
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11-20-2018, 09:55 PM	#15
alex sol Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2009 335d Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Toronto Canada iTrader: (0)	dr dirt, my head is spinning from your response. I removed the spring strut setup and needed to replace because the fronts were scrubbing every time i hit a bump in the road. my snow tires have more tread and would 'zing' the plastic fender bits... i found this youtube video very helpful and accurate except one of my control arms are swapped out requiring 21 mm nut with 6mm hex on one side that barely held and t35 torx on the other side... video says t45 torx and ended banging a t40 into the torx then went with.. you guessed it, a vice grip in between the rubber boot and steering control arm. after struggling with the control arms and slipping out the strut, i found the stock 335i springs about 2 inches taller than my after market springs. i had been scrubbing on some of my plastic fenders from running up driveways too quickly... and the intercooler looks like a bit too close to the ground for comfort. The shocks were completely dead and would not push back out, other side was leaking oil... so i figured i'd try to use them anyway for about 5 mins until common sense and reason got the better of me. raced over to the local auto supply place and i replaced with bilstein stock replacements: 31316784974 / 31316784973 (right / left) Are these b6 or b8 - or are these the yellow color bilsteins that i have on my e46 m3? used those very awkward spring compressors from princess auto (harbor freight) using one compressor on each side and plugged everything back together. cars runs great and suited for our terrible roads complete with frost heaving, deep ruts, sewer covers sticking up and, get this, the many traffic calming humps that are designed to make sporty cars bottom out in our neighborhood. was a bit of a journey as a do it your self with two jacks and a pair of jack stands, and some basic hand tools and saved by a strong cordless dewalt electric impact gun. this came in most handy when removing and replacing the lock nuts on the steering control arms. i would not recommend using the dewalt on the spring compressors and we had a air impact gun that was worked pretty hard...
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11-20-2018, 09:59 PM	#16
alex sol Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2009 335d Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Toronto Canada iTrader: (0)	dr dirt regarding the sport vs non sport 335d, how do we know the difference? i have the 15 spoke 17" rims guessing 8.5" wide
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11-21-2018, 11:19 PM	#18
dr_dirtg Private First Class 39 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	here it is shown, how it rests against the hub/knuckle assembly.
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11-22-2018, 04:51 PM	#20
dr_dirtg Private First Class 39 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	the non sport.335 struts i got did not.have these tabs. therefore i put them at whatever height i wanted to and measured to match the other side.
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