[tdavis42]

My front is 1 inch higher than the rear for some reason. This is on M-Sport suspension. I just replaced all mounts, shocks, and front struts with Bilstein B8's. Anyone have any ideas why the front is sitting so much higher than the rear?

[CALWATERBOY]

.

Wheel normal ride height

Ride height is measured from the top of the wheel well fender flange to the bottom of the wheel rim.

Front Stock Values:

16" wheel -- 22.99 in -- 584 mm
17" wheel -- 23.58 in -- 599 mm
18" wheel -- 24.09 in -- 612 mm
19" wheel -- 24.60 in -- 625 mm

Rear Stock Values:

16" wheel -- 22.24 in -- 565 mm
17" wheel -- 22.83 in -- 580 mm
18" wheel -- 23.35 in -- 593 mm
19" wheel -- 23.82 in -- 605 mm

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

.

Wheel normal ride height

Ride height is measured from the top of the wheel well fender flange to the bottom of the wheel rim.

Front Stock Values:

16" wheel -- 22.99 in -- 584 mm
17" wheel -- 23.58 in -- 599 mm
18" wheel -- 24.09 in -- 612 mm
19" wheel -- 24.60 in -- 625 mm

Rear Stock Values:

16" wheel -- 22.24 in -- 565 mm
17" wheel -- 22.83 in -- 580 mm
18" wheel -- 23.35 in -- 593 mm
19" wheel -- 23.82 in -- 605 mm

I'm right on those numbers! Crazy how much more the front looks lifted than the back. These numbers are for the m sport suspension correct?

[juld0zer]

Just to clarify, you fitted B8 all round or on the front only?

Show us what your old front upper strut mounts look like from the side. Perhaps your old ones were as collapsed/flat as the ones someone posted up here recently? Other possibility is your old shocks were that shagged.

B8s do take some time to settle too

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by juld0zer

Just to clarify, you fitted B8 all round or on the front only?

Show us what your old front upper strut mounts look like from the side. Perhaps your old ones were as collapsed/flat as the ones someone posted up here recently? Other possibility is your old shocks were that shagged.

B8s do take some time to settle too

Yes B8's all around.

Those were my front upper strut mounts the lift is probably double what the height of the front upper mounts difference was.

According to calwaterboy the car is at proper ride height.

Anymore ideas??

Originally Posted by juld0zer

Show us what your old front upper strut mounts look like from the side. Perhaps your old ones were as collapsed/flat as the ones someone posted up here recently?

This.

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by tdavis42

I'm right on those numbers! Crazy how much more the front looks lifted than the back. These numbers are for the m sport suspension correct?

Believe so....

[juld0zer]

What part number were the front upper mounts and the front shock part numbers?

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by juld0zer

What part number were the front upper mounts and the front shock part numbers?

Bilstein 35-120417, 35-120414
Lemforder 31306775098

[juld0zer]

35-120407 you mean?

Part numbers all seem correct. I have B8 on my 135i with M sport springs on the front and the tyre to fender gap is very similar to yours. Give it some time to settle in. There was a chap with Koni shocks a few months back who had a similar problem but after a few weeks and some testing, it settled down to the ride height he expected. But usually B8s don't drop much once they settle. They just soften up a tad.

How does it feel now versus the shagged stockers? Much firmer and predictable isn't it? Sporty yet tolerable, firm but not shattering right?

[tdavis42]

You are right on the PN mistake.

The car feels amazing on the B8's. My original shocks we're completely gone so the car sat really low but not intentionally. The car just looks funny with suck a big gap compared to the rear.

Thanks for all of your input and confirming this set-up is right.

Originally Posted by tdavis42

The car just looks funny with suck a big gap compared to the rear.

Not too surprising as that's how they came from the factory; hence the popularity of lowering perches, etc.

There are a number of different methods used to drop the front end the ~1/2" necessary to remove the negative rake angle though.

[techwhiz]

Originally Posted by tdavis42

You are right on the PN mistake.

The car feels amazing on the B8's. My original shocks we're completely gone so the car sat really low but not intentionally. The car just looks funny with suck a big gap compared to the rear.

Thanks for all of your input and confirming this set-up is right.

The B8 on sport springs is a great combo.
I'm running that on my car. Stock shocks are only good for about 80K.
I had to replace mine right about that time.
The rears were so bad, one side sagged on my car.

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by techwhiz

The B8 on sport springs is a great combo.
I'm running that on my car. Stock shocks are only good for about 80K.
I had to replace mine right about that time.
The rears were so bad, one side sagged on my car.

Mine were so bad at 88k there was little to no rebound when shock and strut was compressed. I knew it was bad but they were absolutely shot when I changed them out.

[chris@strutmonkey]

This is my guess too.. worn strut mounts can be up to .4" lower than new ones. Your car is higher because you returned it to factory new. See pic:

Originally Posted by juld0zer

Just to clarify, you fitted B8 all round or on the front only?

Show us what your old front upper strut mounts look like from the side. Perhaps your old ones were as collapsed/flat as the ones someone posted up here recently? Other possibility is your old shocks were that shagged.

B8s do take some time to settle too

[rulonger]

Originally Posted by tdavis42

My front is 1 inch higher than the rear for some reason. This is on M-Sport suspension. I just replaced all mounts, shocks, and front struts with Bilstein B8's. Anyone have any ideas why the front is sitting so much higher than the rear?

Shameless plug - I have new in box lowering perches that retail for $90 bucks. These are from Germany and I could ship them to you for $75. I was originally thinking of keeping my stock springs and replacing shocks and struts, thus I bought the perches. Ending up going all the way with Bilstein B12 (B8s with Eibach springs). I have no need for the lowering perches now, but they would solve your issue.

Let me know.

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by rulonger

Shameless plug - I have new in box lowering perches that retail for $90 bucks. These are from Germany and I could ship them to you for $75. I was originally thinking of keeping my stock springs and replacing shocks and struts, thus I bought the perches. Ending up going all the way with Bilstein B12 (B8s with Eibach springs). I have no need for the lowering perches now, but they would solve your issue.

Let me know.

How low will it drop it?

[bbnks2]

Do not lower the front without doing the same to the rear. You will mess up the cars handling. The front should always have a higher wheel gap than the rear.

[tdavis42]

Originally Posted by bbnks2

Do not lower the front without doing the same to the rear. You will mess up the cars handling. The front should always have a higher wheel gap than the rear.

Thanks for the heads up

[rulonger]

Originally Posted by tdavis42

How low will it drop it?

one-half inch

they are sold under the supreme power branding

Originally Posted by bbnks2

Do not lower the front without doing the same to the rear. You will mess up the cars handling. The front should always have a higher wheel gap than the rear.

[Spineless]

Sorry to necro, but I have the same issue. I just did all Bilsteins and all new mounts on my e90 335 w/ m sport suspension. It’s been driving me nuts as I have repeatedly verified that all the correct parts were used.

I’m glad to finally know that everything is actually fine, even though the gap is terrible

Also glad to finally find this post

**UPDATE** After a few months of driving, the front end height has settled down a bit to a more visually pleasing level, without the collapsed bushings from the previous suspension