Dropped, not slammed
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Zoo York
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My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
List of parts installed:
- Bilstein B8 dampers
- H&R Sport springs
- OEM strut/shock mounts
Installed everything, replacing original parts, topped it off with an alignment to BMW spec.
Pic report:
Car pre-drop:
![Dropped, not slammed-001.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119102d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-001.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-002.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119103d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-002.png)
Rear shock and spring assembly with the mount on top:
![Dropped, not slammed-003.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119101d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-003.png)
Some pics of the rear getting put in:
![Dropped, not slammed-004.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119105d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-004.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-006.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119106d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-006.png)
This is a little tricky, in the sense that getting to the top bolts was a bit of a chore, and fitting the new shock is not possible if you're working alone:
![Dropped, not slammed-007.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119107d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-007.png)
Rear shock and spring assembly installed:
![Dropped, not slammed-008.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119108d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-008.png)
Front struts are MASSIVE! Take a look at the cores of OEM and B8's next to each other:
![Dropped, not slammed-009.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119109d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-009.png)
Here're a few pics of them installed.
![Dropped, not slammed-010.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119110d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-010.png)
Install, btw, was extremely straightforward and with the fronts - easy!
![Dropped, not slammed-011.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119104d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-011.png)
First pic off the lift post-drop:
![Dropped, not slammed-012.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119112d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-012.png)
Here she is on the alignment station (my indie just had this brand spanking new machine installed, like a month ago - AWESOME!). Aligned it to BMW spec, but the fronts ended up with a little more camber - will be monitoring tire wear to see if that might be a long-term issue.
![Dropped, not slammed-016.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119111d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-016.png)
Here are a couple of pics of the car post-drop:
![Dropped, not slammed-013.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119113d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-013.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-014.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119114d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-014.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-015.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119115d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-015.png)
Honestly, it needs 19's to look right. Or at the very least a set of spacers all around. I've actually thought about getting "i" - as in RWD - 123's and trying to fit them on; they are more concave and are offset 23mm's closer to the fender. But that's maybe something to consider when the winter is approaching.
Next step will be Dension - have an appointment with Motorcepts already![Dance](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/dance.gif)
Then the short shifter and the rims are going on last in the end of April![Big Grin](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/biggrin.gif)
And now, to thank my lovely vendors... well, vendor, really. Michael - owner of Acute Performance - was the one who scored the B8's for me. I was extremely happy to deal with him, since I have dealt with him in the past and he's generally an awesome vendor. Besides, he was able to get me and another member a KILLER deal on these - especially, considering that these are brand new to the U.S. market. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty confident I'm THE FIRST U.S. E60 Xi with these on
Awesome!
As for the reports on how it drives, I can only give you a few initial impressions, as I came down with an exposed nerve in my tooth the day after the install took place, and as a result, I've only driven the car twice after the new suspension was put in. BUT. This much is evident:
* MUCH more responsive handling.
* The car is COMPLETELY solid on these. Feels OEM, but harder - which is what I originally wanted.
* The car retained some of it's smoothness, but it is a hard setup - the ride did suffer some. If you don't have a lot of bad potholes where you live, you'll never know. But around NYC, you'll need to be dodging the potholes, if you want to save your rims and tires.
* I'm very glad I swapped the mounts, the little rattles from old mounts are gone and the car rides LIKE NEW!!! Highly recommend (they are 300 smuckaroos though).
* Flatter turning, more neutral. But the tires are still really soft, so I'll reserve the at-the-limit handling impressions until I throw the 19's on.
* There is some very minor bounce, but that's due to the fact that roads in NYC are crap and the car reflects the irregularities very accurately now. I also think - for some reason - that they'll bounce less as they break in.
Overall, my impression is GREAT - I love the new setup. It gave my car the much-need edginess.
- Bilstein B8 dampers
- H&R Sport springs
- OEM strut/shock mounts
Installed everything, replacing original parts, topped it off with an alignment to BMW spec.
Pic report:
Car pre-drop:
![Dropped, not slammed-001.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119102d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-001.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-002.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119103d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-002.png)
Rear shock and spring assembly with the mount on top:
![Dropped, not slammed-003.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119101d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-003.png)
Some pics of the rear getting put in:
![Dropped, not slammed-004.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119105d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-004.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-006.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119106d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-006.png)
This is a little tricky, in the sense that getting to the top bolts was a bit of a chore, and fitting the new shock is not possible if you're working alone:
![Dropped, not slammed-007.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119107d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-007.png)
Rear shock and spring assembly installed:
![Dropped, not slammed-008.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119108d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-008.png)
Front struts are MASSIVE! Take a look at the cores of OEM and B8's next to each other:
![Dropped, not slammed-009.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119109d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-009.png)
Here're a few pics of them installed.
![Dropped, not slammed-010.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119110d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-010.png)
Install, btw, was extremely straightforward and with the fronts - easy!
![Dropped, not slammed-011.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119104d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-011.png)
First pic off the lift post-drop:
![Dropped, not slammed-012.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119112d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-012.png)
Here she is on the alignment station (my indie just had this brand spanking new machine installed, like a month ago - AWESOME!). Aligned it to BMW spec, but the fronts ended up with a little more camber - will be monitoring tire wear to see if that might be a long-term issue.
![Dropped, not slammed-016.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119111d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-016.png)
Here are a couple of pics of the car post-drop:
![Dropped, not slammed-013.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119113d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-013.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-014.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119114d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-014.png)
![Dropped, not slammed-015.png](https://5series.net/forums/attachments/e60-e61-parts-accessories-mods-22/119115d1482366118t-dropped-not-slammed-015.png)
Honestly, it needs 19's to look right. Or at the very least a set of spacers all around. I've actually thought about getting "i" - as in RWD - 123's and trying to fit them on; they are more concave and are offset 23mm's closer to the fender. But that's maybe something to consider when the winter is approaching.
Next step will be Dension - have an appointment with Motorcepts already
![Dance](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/dance.gif)
Then the short shifter and the rims are going on last in the end of April
![Big Grin](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/biggrin.gif)
And now, to thank my lovely vendors... well, vendor, really. Michael - owner of Acute Performance - was the one who scored the B8's for me. I was extremely happy to deal with him, since I have dealt with him in the past and he's generally an awesome vendor. Besides, he was able to get me and another member a KILLER deal on these - especially, considering that these are brand new to the U.S. market. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty confident I'm THE FIRST U.S. E60 Xi with these on
![Twoup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/twoup.gif)
As for the reports on how it drives, I can only give you a few initial impressions, as I came down with an exposed nerve in my tooth the day after the install took place, and as a result, I've only driven the car twice after the new suspension was put in. BUT. This much is evident:
* MUCH more responsive handling.
* The car is COMPLETELY solid on these. Feels OEM, but harder - which is what I originally wanted.
* The car retained some of it's smoothness, but it is a hard setup - the ride did suffer some. If you don't have a lot of bad potholes where you live, you'll never know. But around NYC, you'll need to be dodging the potholes, if you want to save your rims and tires.
* I'm very glad I swapped the mounts, the little rattles from old mounts are gone and the car rides LIKE NEW!!! Highly recommend (they are 300 smuckaroos though).
* Flatter turning, more neutral. But the tires are still really soft, so I'll reserve the at-the-limit handling impressions until I throw the 19's on.
* There is some very minor bounce, but that's due to the fact that roads in NYC are crap and the car reflects the irregularities very accurately now. I also think - for some reason - that they'll bounce less as they break in.
Overall, my impression is GREAT - I love the new setup. It gave my car the much-need edginess.
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fremont/ San Francisco Ca
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My Ride: 545 modded the F out
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Damn! I thought you had the wheels on already. Looks good with the drop tho. Looking forward to seeing the final product. Good call on not slamming it. The several times I drove to NYC I was scared out of my mind with how terrible the roads were.
#10
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Zoo York
Posts: 9,986
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Received 0 Likes
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My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I bought it used from a member on this forum. It is an original Alpina - very rare
![Twoup](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/twoup.gif)
Thanks, mon ami! Liking it myself, I must admit
![Tongue](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/tongue.gif)
![Tongue](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/tongue.gif)
Suspension is still settling, so it will be a tad lower in the end. But yes, of course, without the rims it doesn't look right.