gorillamunch

I just had the local BMW Dealer install the Hamann lowering springs on my 2008 535xiT.

The ride is quite a bit stiffer ... though not unbearable. And it should be better after I lose the RFTs next week.

What's strange is that they set the lower height exactly the same as the front height (~660mm to the fender). Anyone have any thoughts on this? Should the rear have been set higher by the dealer, and if so would this smooth out the ride a bit? Thanks, John

HUK

Would you mind posting a picture? I'm thinking about getting a new 535xit and this time I really want to have stiffer springs. Are you saying your car autmatically lowered itself in the back after the front got the lower springs? thank you.

C's Bimmer

Just as an FYI, the Hamann Springs are the same as the H&R's. In fact, H&R makes all of Hamann's Springs and relabels it. The H&R's are half the price, if not less.

Visit www.allsprings.com for them. This is a division of TurnerMotorSports.

jdoug

I don't think gorrilamunch is following the forums now.

I pm'ed him asking about his 19" wheel setup and in that exchange he told me the springs had made the ride too harsh so he removed them.

I expect he had the dealer program the Electronic Height Control (EHC) module to lower the rear.

I would like to see a pic of his car both lowered and not.

vwvwvw

I'm also curious- Did they replace anything in the rear? Air suspension replaced with springs or stiffened?

Pete

DrLev99

So another dissatisfied H&R xi customer.

gpfarrell

That does seem to be a trend.

martinitime

I recently did the H&R thing on my wagon. The ride is bouncier due to the fact that to really drop the car and maintain a similar ride feel, the shocks would need different valving to match the H&R spring rate.

I DIY'd the rear myself and it came down a little lower than the front, just tricked the sensors. If it was the same height, I would be fine with that too. Not sure that you'd notice much difference is the height was set a little lower or not as far as the ride is concerned. Sorry, kind of crappy pic from my iphone.

Bimmerstyle

Can you post some more information about lowering the rear suspension? I was wondering if this is an easy DIY? Witch sensors need to be "tricked"? I'm I have just bought an E61 too and am planning on dropping it a little. I don't have it yet (picking it up on saturday) so I haven't got a chance to take a look under the car.

Maybe there is a DIY about it allready written here somewhere but I've searched quite some time and didn't find one.

martinitime

Forgive me as I didn't plan on doing a DIY on this but I'll give it a try:
Jack up the car, take the wheel off and you'll see where two plastic swing arm type of levers connect. This is the sensor that adjusts the ride height based upon how much sag the rear has from cargo.

I cut some washer/dryer metal ribbon to give some extension to the longer swing arm and bolted it up so that the arm could swing under the horizontal one attached to the sensor and the car would think it needed to lower itself. This is a picture of the passenger side of the car. The drivers side rear will need the same thing. If you swing it the wrong way you'll actually lift the car...learned that the hard way!

Personally, it's best to go to the dealer and see if they will reset the zero point as I've had my warning light come on once from hitting a bump pretty hard. But if you want the look without the dealer knowing that you've been messing around with the car then this may work for you. Note, that when my car goes tot he dealer, I put it back to stock in the rear... takes about 15 min.

Hope this helps!