Ohlins coilovers adjustment knob failure?

[whostorm05]

Hi Everyone,

So one side of my car was bottoming out over bigger bumps or if I had any passengers in the car. I took the trim out and noticed that one of the connectors appears to pretty much destroyed? I took both knobs off in the attached pic. Is this beyond repair of my current parts? Can I just buy a new assembly? This is my first car with coilovers so I'm learning as I go. I also can't figure out for the life of me how these knobs are supposed to work.

Any suggestions?

[whostorm05]

Any ideas on this one? I'm assuming the connector on the right is busted? I think I'll call Ohlins and see if they sell just that connector.

[whostorm05]

If anyone knows how those knobs are supposed to work I'd love to hear it.

[whostorm05]

Got a reply back from Ohlins.

"The only replacement piece you are needing is the adjuster itself (par# 24631-03)."

$40.20 for the part. They sent the installation manual as well, but I'm still not entirely sure how this remote adjuster is supposed to work. I'm going to put the one back on and see if I can figure out how to make adjustments. I'm not sure if the adjuster should go on as tight as possible or if the tightness is how the adjustment is made?

[Bodie217]

I have the same coilovers - you just turn the black dial right to firm up the suspension, and left to make it softer. Same in the front but the dial in the front are on the bottom of the struts and they're round metal knobs.

[whostorm05]

Originally Posted by HomeRun217

I have the same coilovers - you just turn the black dial right to firm up the suspension, and left to make it softer. Same in the front but the dial in the front are on the bottom of the struts and they're round metal knobs.

I have a question for when I get the adjuster hooked back up and test this, if you turn it all the way clockwise can you tell when you have hit the limit? ie will it stop turning?

[whostorm05]

So putting the adjuster back on without all the trim in the way is much easier. Yes, it does seem to stop when you go all the way clockwise and then kind of 'click' each time you go one position counter clockwise.

Now I just need to find somewhere to order this part from since you can't order directly from Ohlins USA.

[Nugget]

This was the explanation I got.

Full anticlockwise is softest, BUT, when you want to set the clicker in the correct (factory) position, you turn it clockwise (.. clockwise if you are laying under the car looking up at the damper) .. until it stops clicking, then come back ONE click ... this is called the ZERO position, then continue anti clockwise until you reach the desired click number. So “zero” clicks is maximum dampening, and therefore “10 clicks” is softer than zero. So the higher the click number, the softer the dampening force.

I currently have mine set at 10 clicks anti clock wise from full hard.

[Bodie217]

Originally Posted by Nugget

This was the explanation I got.


I currently have mine set at 10 clicks anti clock wise from full hard.

I believe there are 16 setting in the front and 8 in the rear, unless I was only counting every other click for some reason... Can you confirm this?

[Bimmer-Bob]

I've had these coilovers fitted on my 1er for a little over a year. For whatever reason, the shop that did the install never put the rear adjustment knobs on. I've tried several times to attach them myself, but I've never been satisfied with them - the attachment seems tenuous at best, and the positive feedback you get with each click of the knob is greatly diminished. I end up just taking them off and adjusting the shocks by hand. Not the most elegant solution, but at least I can tell what setting I'm on, and I don't really mess with them very much anyway. Currently at 5 clicks from zero position as described above.

[whostorm05]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

I've had these coilovers fitted on my 1er for a little over a year. For whatever reason, the shop that did the install never put the rear adjustment knobs on. I've tried several times to attach them myself, but I've never been satisfied with them - the attachment seems tenuous at best, and the positive feedback you get with each click of the knob is greatly diminished. I end up just taking them off and adjusting the shocks by hand. Not the most elegant solution, but at least I can tell what setting I'm on, and I don't really mess with them very much anyway. Currently at 5 clicks from zero position as described above.

I didn't realize you could make adjustments without using the knob? What exactly do you turn to make the adjustments? Do you have to use any tools?

[Bimmer-Bob]

The part I'm not using is the black knob with the threading on the bottom of it. The metal knobs at the bottom of your pic are still attached to my shocks (I actually didn't realize they even came off?) and I just turn those by hand.

[whostorm05]

Ah! Got it. Yeah don't break those adjusters they are $40 each.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by HomeRun217

I believe there are 16 setting in the front and 8 in the rear, unless I was only counting every other click for some reason... Can you confirm this?

It's more like 30 for both.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by whostorm05

Ah! Got it. Yeah don't break those adjusters they are $40 each.

Just make sure the opening in the rear trunk liner is large enough so you are not creating extra friction that could possible damage the adjusters from excessive force.

[MightyMouseTech]

Those are some really small shoes.

[mechavore884]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Those are some really small shoes.

HAHAHA I just caught that lol

[E82MSport]

Here's mine - I chose to slot the hole so I can still have access to the adjuster set screw. I was a little off on my measurement so the slot is slightly larger but it worked good non the less.