How is it going? I think the b4s are not made for lowering springs. The travel is made for stock springs. I made that error and the shock absorber was shot in a few months. They were brand new sachs shock absorbers. Then I bought the b4s but I put the stock springs back up. The b6 are made for that, much more expensive.
Hey, you're absolutely correct. The B4s do not have enough damping to handle the stiffer springs. Definitely not terrible, but not dialed in like it should be. I've got good bump stops so they're holding up fine, I've put about 10k miles on them without issue. Not a long term setup though.
Yoo love the vids bro, and finding this video made my day better. My e34 needs new front shocks and struts but wanted to see if you have any good recommendations of some good parts
Hey thanks, I'm glad! Recommendations on shocks? Sachs is the OEM part and will be the most comfortable / most resemble what the engineers originally intended. I used Bilsteins, no particular reason other than good results in the past, which I've heard give a slightly harsher ride. That might be some of the difference in ride quality I complained about in the video. If you're looking to go lower and / or sportier, Bilstein makes great sport shocks for these cars and H&R makes some of the most reputable lowering springs with a whole variety of stiffness and ride height.
15:02 I‘m having trouble removing the bottom part of the rear struts (bolt is already out), already used a lot of rust remover, hammered on it and even used a wooden block with an axe! In every video I see it only needs a small push by hand :/ Have you got any ideas what else I could try?
Not many E34 videos out there. Few years back I done a complete front suspension overhaul but now I’m thinking of dropping it a little. Eibach do a similar setup; Pro-Kit. Progressive springs. Great upload! Keep it up. Subscribed!!!
Just changed the front shocks on mine last weekend with the help of a friend who knows another friend with a workshop spring compressor which made life easy. The oil in the strut housing is to help dissipate heat build up from hydraulic dampers, less so with gas units apparently. Your car looks gorgeous dude. Beautifully filmed and explained video and I loved the analysis and summation at the end. I suspect this guy works for BMW on the sly.
Oh nice! I figured after filming and looking in the tube that the oil was meant to be there, so I didn't drain it. Really appreciate the positive feedback! Although I'm glad I give off the impression, I promise I have no professional ties to BMW haha
Just an FYI. There is supposed to be a small amount of oil placed in the front strut tube when installing the struts per BMW installation instructions. Your strut may have been leaking as well.
excellent tutorial! i have bavarian autosport lowering springs and bilstein shocks on my 89 535. the bavauto springs definitely lower the car at least 2.0-2.5 inches and have relatively soft spring rates, but the bilsteins provide are a bit harsh on compression. overall, i am happy with the lowered ride height because these early e34's do have gigantic ride heights...monster truck style.
Have a question about the plate underneath that has the three bolts. When putting it back on to the strut housing, do you need to slight them in from the outside of the car laterally, because of the notch? Or just bring them together directly from the bottom?
Vertically is fine, but sometimes they do need to slide. I recommend aligning them by putting a screwdriver through one of the bolt holes on both the plate and the strut and prying them back and forth until they're aligned
I have those same oe sport springs in my garage now. Looking to replace vogtland springs which ride really low and look cool but ride terribly over routine bumps. I imagine these will ride a lot better than what i have
These springs will be night and day for sure. Idk if they've settled in or what, but I don't even notice the ride like I was anymore. Perfectly comfortable. Another thing to note, a lot of people report the Bilsteins giving a harsher ride than the OEM Sachs counterpart, which may be a lot of the difference I saw in ride quality.
The most clear guidance so far, thank you @myersmotors. I've ordered the Bilstein B12 Pro kit, which consists of shorter B8 shocks and Eibach Pro sport springs. I was contemplating whether to go for OEM shocks instead, but after your input, I think using sport shocks in conjunction with shorter springs is the best choice. After all, Bilstein wouldn't have put together this kit without good reason.
What do you think of the B12? I actually just decided against it… everybody told me it’s way too hard… bought the Sachs M-Technik instead. Would love to hear your opinion please!
@@benedictbecker7 it is too hard... the B8 dampers. I will throw them out now and put in sachs super touring. The Bilsteins are undriveable on normal roads imo
Thanks! Drives me crazy when guys won't include the torque specs. Why should you have to do more searching when you already had to search the video to begin with?
Koni shocks are the way to go with Eibach lowering springs and H&R SwayBars and find a strut bar and change all busgings all around with poly bushings Get camber plates up front and rear adjustable camber/toe (KMAC or Grount Control) top it off with 19" staggered rims and the e34 will be on rails!!! I smile every time I drive my e34
Just finished replacing my front shocks with the help of this video. Thank you.
How is it going? I think the b4s are not made for lowering springs. The travel is made for stock springs. I made that error and the shock absorber was shot in a few months. They were brand new sachs shock absorbers. Then I bought the b4s but I put the stock springs back up. The b6 are made for that, much more expensive.
Hey, you're absolutely correct. The B4s do not have enough damping to handle the stiffer springs. Definitely not terrible, but not dialed in like it should be. I've got good bump stops so they're holding up fine, I've put about 10k miles on them without issue. Not a long term setup though.
Yoo love the vids bro, and finding this video made my day better. My e34 needs new front shocks and struts but wanted to see if you have any good recommendations of some good parts
Hey thanks, I'm glad! Recommendations on shocks? Sachs is the OEM part and will be the most comfortable / most resemble what the engineers originally intended. I used Bilsteins, no particular reason other than good results in the past, which I've heard give a slightly harsher ride. That might be some of the difference in ride quality I complained about in the video. If you're looking to go lower and / or sportier, Bilstein makes great sport shocks for these cars and H&R makes some of the most reputable lowering springs with a whole variety of stiffness and ride height.
Spoiler alert it is no going to be so easy like in the video 😅
15:02 I‘m having trouble removing the bottom part of the rear struts (bolt is already out), already used a lot of rust remover, hammered on it and even used a wooden block with an axe! In every video I see it only needs a small push by hand :/ Have you got any ideas what else I could try?
Perfect timing - I'm doing this on my 1990 535i next weekend.
Well done DIY job and well documented, thanks!
Thanks! That's awesome, good luck!
Not many E34 videos out there. Few years back I done a complete front suspension overhaul but now I’m thinking of dropping it a little. Eibach do a similar setup; Pro-Kit. Progressive springs.
Great upload! Keep it up. Subscribed!!!
Oxford green- the absolute best colour !! Maybe that purple is also a winner.
Mine is a 95 540iA
240K km
Just changed the front shocks on mine last weekend with the help of a friend who knows another friend with a workshop spring compressor which made life easy. The oil in the strut housing is to help dissipate heat build up from hydraulic dampers, less so with gas units apparently. Your car looks gorgeous dude. Beautifully filmed and explained video and I loved the analysis and summation at the end. I suspect this guy works for BMW on the sly.
Oh nice! I figured after filming and looking in the tube that the oil was meant to be there, so I didn't drain it. Really appreciate the positive feedback! Although I'm glad I give off the impression, I promise I have no professional ties to BMW haha
Did you get any clunking in the front ? I put Vogland springs on my 525i with stock shocks and i get some clunkimg going over small bumps
Which is better? Ur e34 or ur e39?
Just an FYI. There is supposed to be a small amount of oil placed in the front strut tube when installing the struts per BMW installation instructions. Your strut may have been leaking as well.
Yup, gotcha. I had a feeling that was the case and left it in the tube.
I'm about to get your combo (H&R + B4) but I read online of some people complaining of bottoming out - have you had any instances of that so far?
Just saw your comment that it's not a long-term setup, should I go with B6 instead if I don't want issues?
Thank you for the content. Explained very well! Cant wait to do my suspension on mine.
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful. Best of luck!
excellent tutorial! i have bavarian autosport lowering springs and bilstein shocks on my 89 535. the bavauto springs definitely lower the car at least 2.0-2.5 inches and have relatively soft spring rates, but the bilsteins provide are a bit harsh on compression. overall, i am happy with the lowered ride height because these early e34's do have gigantic ride heights...monster truck style.
How many cm did you reduce?
Have a question about the plate underneath that has the three bolts. When putting it back on to the strut housing, do you need to slight them in from the outside of the car laterally, because of the notch? Or just bring them together directly from the bottom?
Vertically is fine, but sometimes they do need to slide. I recommend aligning them by putting a screwdriver through one of the bolt holes on both the plate and the strut and prying them back and forth until they're aligned
I have those
same oe sport springs in my garage now. Looking to replace vogtland springs which ride really low and look cool but ride terribly over routine bumps. I imagine these will ride a lot better than what i have
These springs will be night and day for sure. Idk if they've settled in or what, but I don't even notice the ride like I was anymore. Perfectly comfortable. Another thing to note, a lot of people report the Bilsteins giving a harsher ride than the OEM Sachs counterpart, which may be a lot of the difference I saw in ride quality.
The most clear guidance so far, thank you @myersmotors. I've ordered the Bilstein B12 Pro kit, which consists of shorter B8 shocks and Eibach Pro sport springs. I was contemplating whether to go for OEM shocks instead, but after your input, I think using sport shocks in conjunction with shorter springs is the best choice. After all, Bilstein wouldn't have put together this kit without good reason.
What do you think of the B12? I actually just decided against it… everybody told me it’s way too hard… bought the Sachs M-Technik instead. Would love to hear your opinion please!
@@benedictbecker7 it is too hard... the B8 dampers. I will throw them out now and put in sachs super touring. The Bilsteins are undriveable on normal roads imo
@@btfkillsthepromqueenthanks so much for your feedback 😊
When deciding how much to lower your car remember on older BMWs e34s, e30s. e28s ect., your oil pan is your skid plate.
awesome video man
Appreciate it!
The car looks clean . Do you know anywhere in Md I got find parts for the e34?
I'm glad you listed tq specs. I see a lot of videos with just impacts being used and no tq specs listed. Great vid man
Thanks! Drives me crazy when guys won't include the torque specs. Why should you have to do more searching when you already had to search the video to begin with?
Interesting stuff again and congrats on the 1k subs
Hey thanks man!
Replace all the suspension rubbers for beter ride quality
love your videos, they helps a lot !!
Glad you find them helpful!
GymBro spotted !
You caught me lol
Now some 17" BBS!😁
17s are definitely required now👌
About to watch this in the tub
Tub time
Can you put the lowering springs with the same shocks we have in the car or do we have to change everything
I would recommend replacing them if they're old, but you don't have to no.
Thank you so much for your quick response
I Hate the front strut design on these.
Why is that?
@@TheHunterHofman one bad ball joint and it feels like crap.
The take out a strut you need to perform surgery 🤣
I was actually pretty impressed with how easy/ well designed it was. I've definitely seen much worse. Doesn't even need an alignment after.
@@MyersMotors I have an e34 touring. Front suspension is next on the list. 🥺
@@blue_lancer_es godspeed 🫡
Koni shocks are the way to go with Eibach lowering springs and H&R SwayBars and find a strut bar and change all busgings all around with poly bushings
Get camber plates up front and rear adjustable camber/toe (KMAC or Grount Control)
top it off with 19" staggered rims and the e34 will be on rails!!!
I smile every time I drive my e34