Help! Suspension advice needed on SACHS sport kit

[Kalevera]

Hi guys -

I called up BavAuto today to find out what shock they recommend using with their springs. Of course, they told me "Bilstein Sport".

Now - I'd read up on this and mentioned to the guy I spoke with - Ian - that apparently people were having to cut the internal bump stop to get it working correctly.

He assured me that this was not the case, as the internal bump stop was under pressure, and therefore not serviceable. He then went on to tell me that the bilsteins wouldn't bottom out (I'd all but stopped listening at that point...)

I'm also concerned that the springs dropped the car TOO low - there doesn't seem to be enough room to put on a set of 17's as planned. The 225/60/15's look to just barely clear it - how am I going to run a 235/45/17 without destroying the fenders on a bump?

Hence the dilemma: I called up my newfound friend at BMA (aka Patrick) to get a quote on the koni's to make all of this work. About $650 plus shipping...someone on eBay's offering the set for about $530 out the door if I recall. He mentioned the Sachs kit, out the door for $640, and I've read tons about it on the board, everybody likes it, etc. Patrick said that the sachs drops the car 1.8" in front...if the BavAuto's do ~ 1.2", will this thing even get over a bump with it on? Anybody got pictures of this kit on while running 17's that I can viddy?

What would you do:

1) Should I remove the new, never ridden on, but now 1 month old BavAuto springs (and hence can't be returned), take the L and buy the Sachs kit,
2) Try to run the current OEM Boges for a while....see what happens,
3) Buy the koni's and run them with the BavAuto springs....


whit LOWELL

[Kalevera]

Oh yeah! And an electrical question: I discovered that the reason my battery keeps on draining itself is because the EML in the dash doesn't seem to turn off when the doors are closed. I've got the Bentley manual, but am not sure how to go about troubleshooting this one. Anyone got any ideas on where to look? Will it turn off when I reset the service indicator?

[632 Regal]

the Bilstein sports have an internal bumpstop, you pitch the stocker. The OLD Bilstein struts were dissasembleable (no clue) but the new ones arent. The Bav auto springs shouldnt sit too low unless you have the V8 and offset rims, if you want about another 1/2 inch of height go with Eibach or H & R springs. The tire height of the 17s should be the same diameter as the 15s so that shouldnt be an issue.

I dont know much about the Sachs kit.

[Kalevera]

Thanks, Jeff. I always appreciate your help. I'm as nervous as a whore in church with these wheels, although I think I've got it right this time - Miglia MM11-2 from an e39 with hubcentric rings to offset the 74mm vs 72mm uh...hubs...

I guess the BMA guy wasn't BSing me...but what's the deal, then, with all of the stuff that these other guys are talking about with the bump stops and bottoming out? I'm not looking forward to spending a month in Cleveland with this car....pothole city...ugh.

whit LOWELL

[632 Regal]

par for the course. I live off the main drag 1 mile, pure hell, dirt and mud...it's like driving through vietnam during bombing drills and the bavauto springs would botton constantly. Then I upgraded (?) to the Eibach springs (H & R were backordered at the time) I did gain about a 1/2 inch of travel which at least in my mind made things a bit better. It still bottoms the shocks when the dirt road gets bad but in regular driving conditions I never really had a problem with either set of springs. I did notice that the rear sits a bit higher than the Bavautos but thats about it. On freeway if theres a big change of road height I can feel it bottom, kinda gets real stiff on its way up but nothing that is too drastic.

[Patrick]

Two things to note would be I also installed a K-Mac adjustable front camber kit which added about 3/8", but used the 3mm front spring pads. Since then I think both the front and the rear have both settled in a bit so the whole car is sitting a little lower than in this pic. So far, I haven't bottomed out or scraped on anything and the roads and interfaces are not great here, so... so far so good.
The ride quality is great imo and I haven't ever read of anyone being disappointed with this setup.
Regarding your situation, since your springs are already on the car I'd run it for a while and see if you love it or hate it.
Hth.
http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/patrick/Tstars0006.jpg

[Kalevera]

* BMA = BavAuto. BMA rocks my tubesocks

[Kalevera]

* "BMA" should read BavAuto. BMA rocks my tubesocks

[632 Regal]

* "BMA" should read BavAuto. BMA rocks my tubesocks

[632 Regal]

looks good though! I'm still not sure I like them 17's yet...might take some time for me.

lol

[Kalevera]

Haha - BMA. BMA is a fine, fine company. They know how to treat people right. First rate service, product, and pricing.

[Kalevera]

What are people's thoughts on the camber kits? I know I probably won't be able to align the thing perfectly without it, causing some more tire wear...but do I *need* it? LOWELL

[632 Regal]

What are people's thoughts on the camber kits? I know I probably won't be able to align the thing perfectly without it, causing some more tire wear...but do I *need* it? LOWELL

[Incantation]

nice!

[Ted K]

Good information here! I am thinking of going with this same setup on mine. I hope to do it within the next month or so. Anyone have any more pictures?

[Chip]

Patrick-
How do you like the K-Macs? I'm considering putting on some camber plates, either fixed or adjustable. Typical fixed are 1 degree, but I think I would like more camber for the track. Did you get these from Ireland Eng? Do you play around with adjustment, or just leave them be? How hard are they to adjust?
Nice ride btw. Mine sits a bit lower with the sachs kit.



Two things to note would be I also installed a K-Mac adjustable front camber kit which added about 3/8", but used the 3mm front spring pads. Since then I think both the front and the rear have both settled in a bit so the whole car is sitting a little lower than in this pic. So far, I haven't bottomed out or scraped on anything and the roads and interfaces are not great here, so... so far so good.
The ride quality is great imo and I haven't ever read of anyone being disappointed with this setup.
Regarding your situation, since your springs are already on the car I'd run it for a while and see if you love it or hate it.
Hth.
http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/patrick/Tstars0006.jpg

Thanks-

[Patrick]

I think it's settled in a bit, since this photo was taken right after the install, but the plates do add. I did get the K-Macs from Ireland Engineering but I don't think they offer it anymore. They have their own kits they sell though, and if I was going to do it again I'd probably go with a fixed setup only because I haven't ever adjusted this one yet. It's dialed into with about one degree now to offset the Sachs kit.
I know a guy who adjusts his K-Mac kit on his 535im often (he's a BMWCCA member and driver instructor here in Denver) and he loves it and told me it's very easy and only takes about 5 minutes/side. If you're participating in those events it may be a good choice for you. Dinan sells a fixed kit as well and iirc they usually have their annual big sale around now.
Interestingly, after I finished all of the suspension upgrades (Sachs, K-Macs, euro M5 front sway, M5T rear sway, and new uppers lowers yada yada yada) I still had the stock basketweaves with old BF Goodrich radial TA's from the previous owner. To say the car had a firm ride was a bit of an understatement -it kinda sucked and I was wondering if I'd made a mistake. I was surfing Roadflea (it's good for something) and found a deal on the polished t-stars with new Yoko AVS Dbs for $800 that I couldn't pass up. The ride is far improved with the 17"s due, I suppose, to the larger footprint and very comfortable.
One of these days I'm going to buy a kit to lessen the rear camber caused by the Sachs kit -since it will eventually cause too much inner tire wear. If you or anyone else has any good recommendations please post them.
Hth.

[Ted K]

Patrick I am looking into the Sachs kit for my 90 535iM. Would you use this kit again? Did you use the stock spring pads?

Your car looks great with those T- stars.

[Patrick]

Yes, I like it and would use it again. Since I was going through the motions I replaced most all of the bits and pieces of the suspension parts, although you don't have to go to that extent.
I used the 3mm springs pads. Here's an old thread (with some familiar names -Ha) I had saved that addresses this:
http://www.bimmernut.com/wwwboard/e34/messages/84427.html
Thanks for the compliment.