[Centreexit]

hello everyone

can anyone please help me ?

i purchased my first bmw earlier this year - 2007 318 d m sport ,
and i am currently having a issue that is really making me want to sell it .
about 6 weeks ago , whilst reversing off my drive ,the n/s front coil spring
snapped ! .
accepting it as one of those things , i removed the leg and replaced the
spring with a new one ( non gen , but a good quality ) .
i decided to replace the o/s at the same time as no doubt if one had broke ,
the other might soon follow .
now for the start of my problem -
the car sat around 25 mm lower on the o/s .
after checking with supplier of the springs and verifying they were
what they should be - a matched pair , and boxed correctly , they offered
to swap them both to rule out any possibility of error .
i also replaced the top strutt bearing on the o/s while i was in there again,
as it was loose .by this time i found i am getting good at swapping and stripping the legs .
initially the car was only 15 mm lower on the o/s , that i accepted was ok , but after the car been stood for a few weeks unused , and after a short run today - its back to around 25mm lower !
now i know it dosent sound much - 25 mm , but it is really noticeable and
im getting a bit down hearten with and considering selling it ...
i dont want to because otherwise the cars fantastic - everything it says on the tin !
so im after some suggestions on what it could be please ?

the only thing i have yet to do it a wheel alignment , but from what i have seen , alignment wont make any difference to the ride height on the front , un like it would at the back .

thanks in advance for any suggestion and apologies for going on a bit for my first post .

lee.

[CJ421]

Lee - BMW has different springs depending on the car and engine. Your best bet is to order the original OEM springs for a 318d M Sport package car from BMW.

This site might help you get started - www.realoem.com

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by Centreexit

the car sat around 25 mm lower on the o/s

How exactly did you measure ride height?

[Centreexit]

cj 421

i think thats what im going to have to , at least i know how to fit them .

calwater

it wasent scientific , straight length of metal and a spirit level , lined it
upright through the bmw roundel in the middle of the wheel and took a
" mark " off the wing/wheel arch .

it really is so noticeable anyway , and unfortunately im a bit particular with
my cars - i sold a golf gti once because i couldn't get exactly how i wanted it .

[Sparkee]

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

How exactly did you measure ride height?

On a flat floor, measure from the lowest point of the wheel rim to the top of the fender arch over the wheel. That is what the Bentley manual says to do. It eliminates tire pressures as a source of error. Obviously the wheel size and weight in the car matter in the calculation. The Bentley manual has a table based on wheel size. I am not sure what BMW uses.

Edit: I realized after posting, you may have been asking Centreexit how he measures ride height. But, this is a good way to do it.