If you want a nice smooth sport ride go with the Koni yellows with the your stock springs

 

My first POST - so be gentle - does the Sport ride much firmer than the SE model? I'm in the market to buy a 530D (3 years old) but can't decide on the Sport or SE variant. My preference is for the looks of the Sport, but the comfort of the SE as i do lots of motorway driving. If i bought a Sport, could i easily change the handling to a more comfortable setting? any advice would be greatfully received - Cheers!

 

Get the sport dont look back

 

Really? - I have heard folks in the UK (and our shitty roads) say the Sport is a rough ride :-)
Guess it's time to go and try both variants out . . .

 

Any other opinions? Koni or Bilstein?

 

personally I have bilsteins but paired with eibach springs and love it. for more stock-like as mentioned above probably go with konis.

 

You can definitely feel the FLOATYness of your suspension.
Especially during turn or when the suspension/body goes up and down (suspension play)
There's less or no "rebound" from the struts = floaty or feels like you driving a boat only riding on your spring.

Bad Alignment does not always mean pulling to one side when you track forward.
Your toe could be off and your steering will still track forward that you can't feel but your tire will wear out MUCH faster when the TOE is off vs when the camber is off.
The best way is to bring the car to an alignment shop to find out.
ALSO, when you take your car to alignment shop they will only "check" whether it's within factory range then adjust to within spec.
This is their "lazy" practice. Look at the spec. For ex:
If Camber acceptable spec is -2.0 to -1.0 and your is @ -1.9.
(Most shop will not adjust because your car is "within" spec.
So DEMAND to adjust camber to -1.5.
(unless you know what you are doing to keep front at negative to reduce the outer wear on your tires or to adjust understeer)

When you say stock: There two stock: Non Sport Package or Sport Package?
The two have two different stiffness right from the factory.

You don't need to replace spring when you replace the struts BUT if you want to replace the spring to an aftermarket ones then you want to do it while you remove the suspension out of the car.

Which spring to make it feel as original as possible? I'd go w/ Eibach Pro Kit or H&R Sport.
Both are the most "conservative" drop and stiffness.
Eibach Pro Kit is still softer than H&R Sport.
So I'd go w/ Eibach Pro Kit.

My opinion when I was trying to decide my setup:
If your E60 has Sport Spring (lowered w/ either OE Sport Package Spring, Eibach Pro Kit or H&R Sport spring) and want a replacement strut for sportier ride : Bilstein Sport.

If your E60 has Sport Spring (lowered w/ either OE Sport Package Spring, Eibach Pro Kit or H&R Sport spring) and want a replacement strut for LESS sportier ride : Koni FSD

If your E60 has Race Spring (H&R Race or Eibach Sportline) and want a replacement strut for EXTREME SPORt : Koni Sport Yellows adjustable

If your E60 has no sport suspension and just want a replacement strut and keep that smoothness, probably go w/ Koni FSD or Bilstein HD.

For me I ended up w/ H&R Sport and Stock OE Struts for now then when I need to replace my OE Sport Package Struts, I'm going w/ Bilstein Sport.

Here are your selections
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/Susptab...=&brand=all

 

that last post was straight 2 tha point. great job!!!!