|
|
|
01-12-2019, 07:15 PM | #1 |
New Member
4
Rep 12
Posts |
Need Advice on Suspension Upgrade
Hi. New to this forum.
I recently bought a used 2009 128i. It's great. My only complaint is that the rear end frequently bottoms out. Potholes, bumps, changes in road gradient, you name it. (FWIW, I live in Michigan which has the lowest per capita expenditures on road. They're awful.) My mechanic (a BMW specialist) says there's nothing wrong with my car--it's just how it's built. So I'd like suggestions on cost-effective upgrades to the rear suspension to minimize the bottoming out I'm getting. Many thanks, Tony |
01-12-2019, 08:53 PM | #2 |
Brigadier General
1540
Rep 3,071
Posts |
What exactly makes you think it's bottoming out? With the runflats I found the ride to be jarring.
__________________
2011 135i w/ DCT | ZSP Sport Pkg | PPK | Ohlins R
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-12-2019, 11:54 PM | #3 |
Private First Class
37
Rep 131
Posts |
The shocks might be shot.....im surprised your mechanic didn't catch that.....I have an 08 128i , Im redoing the whole suspension for this exact reason. (But im instilling coilovers with ///M control arm kit)
but factory shocks shouldn't be that expansion to swap (sachs original shocks + struts are around 350 for the set) |
Appreciate
0
|
01-13-2019, 12:03 PM | #4 |
New Member
4
Rep 12
Posts |
Gangplank: I don't have run flats. I think it's bottoming out because I do feel some travel in the rear end and I hear a scraping, which I assume to be the tires rubbing on the wheel wells.
SayHack: I'll have my mechanic check the shocks again. (I have almost 130k on the car.) Thanks for the suggestion about the M control arm kit and the Sachs shocks and struts. Tony |
Appreciate
0
|
01-13-2019, 03:29 PM | #5 |
Brigadier General
2382
Rep 3,525
Posts |
Stock wheels? What tire sizes? Maybe there is an offset problem and you are rubbing components earlier in the suspension travel than normal.
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-13-2019, 03:50 PM | #6 | |
Major
542
Rep 1,233
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-13-2019, 04:42 PM | #7 |
Lieutenant
177
Rep 502
Posts
Drives: 2010 128i 6MT Sport Pkg. 18"
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada
|
As long as you haven't broken a spring, a set of Bilstein B6's or Koni Yellows should work great on a stock suspension. Your stock shocks may just worn out and since the 1 Series was built to a price they weren't all that great to start with.
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-13-2019, 07:48 PM | #8 |
Malcontent
188
Rep 305
Posts |
At 130k miles, I will tell you definitively that your dampers are worn out. And probably most of your suspension bushings. Maybe your springs too. At the very least, replace all the dampers. If you want to deal with it fully, do the whole thing at once and save yourself some labor.
__________________
Life's tough. It's tougher when you're stupid. -John Wayne
|
Appreciate
1
Dackelone10527.50 |
01-13-2019, 09:14 PM | #9 |
New Member
4
Rep 12
Posts |
Thanks to all for your input. It looks like I'm going to have to have the suspension re-checked. (I had it checked 1.5 years ago.) Then I'll start looking at Bilstein B6's and Koni Yellows.
Tony |
Appreciate
0
|
01-21-2019, 05:26 PM | #10 |
Second Lieutenant
2264
Rep 203
Posts |
I just installed some Bilstein B8's on mine. The ride and handling is much better.
If you go with Bilsteins, you won't need bump stops or boots, they come with them. |
Appreciate
0
|
01-21-2019, 08:00 PM | #11 |
European Editor
10528
Rep 22,992
Posts |
OP have you seen this thread ?
128i the ultimate handling machine... https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=575027 I agree, that with 130K miles... your suspension is shot/worn out. But nothing a set of shocks and springs couldn't cure. Dack
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|