[TheirThere]

from within the trunk, how do access the top of the rear shocks?

[bbog2008]

You can't. Read this.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=994489

[TheirThere]

For others that might be looking for this info.

Spring install doc

[zxtman]

Originally Posted by ehaze

For others that might be looking for this info.

Spring install doc

Thanks, this is good info.

I'm getting ready to do a coilover install on my F33 435. Is there any difference between in the rear installation between the F32 and F33?
Thanks.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by zxtman

Thanks, this is good info.

I'm getting ready to do a coilover install on my F33 435. Is there any difference between in the rear installation between the F32 and F33?
Thanks.

off topic, but what coils did you get?

I recently put some KW V1 on my F36 and absolutely love it!

[zxtman]

Originally Posted by tboooe

off topic, but what coils did you get?

I recently put some KW V1 on my F36 and absolutely love it!

KW V1s also! Installing them this weekend.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by zxtman

KW V1s also! Installing them this weekend.

Did you get the spring spacers??? At least on my F36 I am glad I did because the minimum drop was more than they advertised.

I suggest getting the 15mm spacers from KW. They are expensive ($70 for 2) but worth it to include at time of install. I am not sure how low you want to go and how much adjustability you to raise it, but it could be worth it. I and quite a few people had issues with the rear ride height. Check out my build thread for more details on how much lower than advertised the KW went.

[TheirThere]

I'm running KW V2.
Thinking about raising the car a little.

[tboooe]

ehaze , beautiful! How much are you going to raise your car? I am a little less than 1/2" between top of tire and fender.

[TheirThere]

Thank you.

Wanting the fender to sit right on top of the tire. Hard to tell from the pic, but the tires are currently a little tucked under the fender. Massive PITA dealing with speed bumps and sloped driveways.

[zxtman]

Originally Posted by tboooe

Did you get the spring spacers??? At least on my F36 I am glad I did because the minimum drop was more than they advertised.

I suggest getting the 15mm spacers from KW. They are expensive ($70 for 2) but worth it to include at time of install. I am not sure how low you want to go and how much adjustability you to raise it, but it could be worth it. I and quite a few people had issues with the rear ride height. Check out my build thread for more details on how much lower than advertised the KW went.

I got these ride height adjusters for the rear, just in case I need them. They have a lot more adjustability than what came with the KWs.

http://www.hpashop.com/HPA-E82-E9x-R...?categoryId=-1

ehaze ...car looks awesome!

How much adjustability do you have in the rear? I'm with tboooe on the ride height: I want about 1/2" between tire and fender. Do you think I'll be able to get that without adding spring spacers (or ride height adjusters)?

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by zxtman

Do you think I'll be able to get that without adding spring spacers (or ride height adjusters)?

At least on my F36 you can get that ride height without the spacers but you wont have much more room to go higher if you want to. With the adjustment collar all the way up and the 15mm spacer, the rear dropped 1.5" giving me 1/2" gap. Without the spacer the adjustment collar would be have to be around 15mm lower would would only leave another 13mm to adjust higher.

Post pics when you get the coils installed.

[TheirThere]

Originally Posted by zxtman

ehaze ...car looks awesome!

How much adjustability do you have in the rear? I'm with tboooe on the ride height: I want about 1/2" between tire and fender. Do you think I'll be able to get that without adding spring spacers (or ride height adjusters)?

Thank you.

Last week, I had the rear wheel off and it looked like the the rear coil was set to the lowest position.

I'm guessing that I only need to bring it up by 1/2" from the current position.

Specs on the coilovers:
Individually height-adjustable - Front = 25-50mm lowering; Rear = 30-55mm lowering,

[zxtman]

Originally Posted by tboooe

At least on my F36 you can get that ride height without the spacers but you wont have much more room to go higher if you want to. With the adjustment collar all the way up and the 15mm spacer, the rear dropped 1.5" giving me 1/2" gap. Without the spacer the adjustment collar would be have to be around 15mm lower would would only leave another 13mm to adjust higher.

Post pics when you get the coils installed.

I've been driving on the new suspension for almost a week now (I installed the KWs last Saturday), and even with the stock run-flats, I am extremely pleased!! I was able to get the ride height where I wanted (about a 1-finger gap) without the addition of spacers.

Let me add that there is a "night and day" difference in handling characteristics between the M-Sport suspension and the KW V1s. I'll do a separate write-up with some pics to elaborate.

tboooe, thanks to your write-up w/pictures, I was able to get the ride height very close to where I wanted, which saved me a lot of time ...thank you!

[tboooe]

Glad you like the V1s. I agree. It is such an improvement over the M Sport suspension. Wait until you ditch the run flats! The ride is so much more enjoyable.

Question...did you find that you had to tighten down the adjustment collars more on the right side of the car than the left? I found that I had to tighten down the collar (up in the front) about 1/4" more on the right side to get the same ride height as the left.

[zxtman]

Originally Posted by tboooe

Question...did you find that you had to tighten down the adjustment collars more on the right side of the car than the left? I found that I had to tighten down the collar (up in the front) about 1/4" more on the right side to get the same ride height as the left.

No, I didn't have that issue. One thing I did make sure though, is that the shock bodies in the front were seated all the way down in the hub. If not, this may cause a need for what you're describing, and I used some anti-seize to help with this during the installation. You should be able to confirm this by comparing the position of the L & R shocks by looking at them from the bottom, and how they relate to where they insert in the hub.

[tboooe]

Thank you I will check that.

Last question...did you make the ride height on the left and right sides the same height? I noticed that BMW makes the left side about 1/4" higher to account for the driver. I ended up making the left side 1/8" higher.

[zxtman]

Originally Posted by tboooe

...did you make the ride height on the left and right sides the same height? I noticed that BMW makes the left side about 1/4" higher to account for the driver. I ended up making the left side 1/8" higher.

Yes, I set the ride height even w/ no driver. The only time I would set up the ride height with the driver is if I were to corner balance the car.

Interesting though ...I wonder how much the KW suspension drops with the driver in the car. We could measure to find out.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by zxtman

Yes, I set the ride height even w/ no driver. The only time I would set up the ride height with the driver is if I were to corner balance the car.

Interesting though ...I wonder how much the KW suspension drops with the driver in the car. We could measure to find out.

I am with you...I too find it interesting that BMW would set up their cars like that in stock form. Maybe because I had M Sport suspension? Does that mean that the springs are different from left to right or are the linkages different to get the left side higher without a driver? I am going to check out realOEM to see if there are different part numbers for the left and right side.