[Kevindshea]

Xi front upper strut mounts on RWD e9x to lower front 12mm? Has anyone tried this ?
I have compared them don’t see any difference except stack height . I’m curious if anyone has ever tried this and if there is enough clearance between the upper spring perch and the upper mount . Pretty sure it would lower the front of RWD e9x 10-12 mm if it clears the upper perch under load.

[colorado.e9x]

Why not get lowering perches? They're available for rwd

[Kevindshea]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Why not get lowering perches? They're available for rwd

That’s another option . I would agree except I have a set I can try for cheap. I will eventually try it . Curious if anyone already has .
Crazy as it sounds ...I think it’s likely to work ?

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by Kevindshea

That’s another option . I would agree except I have a set I can try for cheap. I will eventually try it . Curious if anyone already has .
Crazy as it sounds ...I think it’s likely to work ?

I believe the top mounts are interchangeable, I heard there is some other hardware you need to switch out too? I don't remember. I believe some people with xdrive have used rwd top mounts before.

If you can get them cheap I say go for it. Then write a review!

[Soravia]

I bought an xDrive new set for my xDrive suspension refresh. They are not expensive. Be sure to buy the noise eliminating ring pads as well. They came out torn up from use.

You can use this chance to replace front struts.

[Kevindshea]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

I believe the top mounts are interchangeable, I heard there is some other hardware you need to switch out too? I don't remember. I believe some people with xdrive have used rwd top mounts before.

If you can get them cheap I say go for it. Then write a review!

Agreed . I know for sure u can put RWD front upper mounts on an Xi.
Some Xi guys do that to allow the use of front lowering perches on an Xi- but the RWD upper mount does offset some of the drop offered by the lowering perches.
They do this because the Xi upper mount doesn’t have the clearance / tolerances to keep the Xi upper mount from hitting the upper perches . I don’t think there is any difference in hardware (if the 3 studs are the wrong length they can be swapped) .
Honestly even if it doesn’t work that may just mean it needs 1 more washer for a little clearance- should be a cheaper option than lowering perches .

[Kevindshea]

Originally Posted by Soravia

I bought an xDrive new set for my xDrive suspension refresh. They are not expensive. Be sure to buy the noise eliminating ring pads as well. They came out torn up from use.

You can use this chance to replace front struts.

Good advice on the ring pads.
My shocks are fresh.
I put bmw PS T3 front and T4 rears even though not recommended for wagons.
Rear was too soft for me so upgraded to eibach 650 lb 2.5 id 10” rear springs on adj perches - so rear is dialed in - next up lower the front 10mm but keep those bmw PS t3 yellow front springs because they do great with hotchkiss front sway bar , m3 front control arms, m3 thrust bushings , Dinan fixed camber plates. I only have bilstein b4s dampeners first now , but some day with a little more cash might go koni yellow up front and BC double adjustable remote reservoir rear coil over shocks in the rear .

[Soravia]

I thought about the Camber plates but they add height to already talk car. xDrive so M3 front arms for camber are out of question.

[Kevindshea]

Yes they probably add 3-4mm

[colman]

Did you end up trying the xi mounts on your RWD? I want to try the same on my E61 535xi, which interestingly uses the RWD strut mounts from the factory.

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by colman

Did you end up trying the xi mounts on your RWD? I want to try the same on my E61 535xi, which interestingly uses the RWD strut mounts from the factory.

BiginBoca used them on his to compensate for the camber plates and it did the trick. There's another guy in his thread who just wanted to lower it a bit and it worked.

I just bought some for mine too but haven't installed them yet.

I'm on coilovers but I want to gain a little travel so this will allow me to raise them up a tad while still sitting at the same height.

[The Nightman]

You might need the xi spring perches to go with the xi strut mounts: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...0#post28752590

[colman]

Good info, looks like the interference was with the camber plate nuts, and not by much. I would assume RWD perches would not bind on xi mounts without a camber plate. I'll have to find out.

The E6X xi/rwd perch is the same perch used on the RWD E46 and E39. I believe it is similar enough to the E90 RWD perches, as I have heard of people using the E90 lowering perches (can't find those anymore) on the E46.

So I will have to experiment with the stock E6X/E46/E39 upper perch, and the E9X xi top mount on my 535xi. I like the reinforcement of the xi mount as well. It would be awesome to get a little bit of drop in the front and adjust the air springs in the rear of the E61 to match. There are no great options for E61 535xi lowering besides H&Rs which have poor reviews (in this application) or KW V3 which is about half the value of the car itself nowadays.

[bmw335ie90]

Originally Posted by colman

Good info, looks like the interference was with the camber plate nuts, and not by much. I would assume RWD perches would not bind on xi mounts without a camber plate. I'll have to find out.

The E6X xi/rwd perch is the same perch used on the RWD E46 and E39. I believe it is similar enough to the E90 RWD perches, as I have heard of people using the E90 lowering perches (can't find those anymore) on the E46.

So I will have to experiment with the stock E6X/E46/E39 upper perch, and the E9X xi top mount on my 535xi. I like the reinforcement of the xi mount as well. It would be awesome to get a little bit of drop in the front and adjust the air springs in the rear of the E61 to match. There are no great options for E61 535xi lowering besides H&Rs which have poor reviews (in this application) or KW V3 which is about half the value of the car itself nowadays.

You should be fine using Xi mounts instead of RWD. Only if pairing this with dinan fixed camber plates will it cause binding.

Also note that the upper mounts do 'smash' over time. 12mm drop is only achieved if replacing brand new RWD for Xi ones, your current upper mounts likely have wear. Mine were only a 8 mm difference between the original 60K RWD ones for brand new Xi ones.