Lowering an X5 5.0: Eibach or H&R?

[ALPINE_X5]

Sylvan - if that is your new adjusted height then you need to raise it one turn more and it should level your car out to a close to stock ride. Glad they found the problem. I hope that resolves your issues. Mine is fine and no one complains about it. It's amazing what 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch can do. That's what she said

ZooyorQ - did you have someone install them? Reason I ask is that the instructions says to set it at 65mm distance(if I recall) between the two end posts(bolts) I set mine at about 68-69mm and it did two things. It let my headlights point more downward and gave me more light coverage on the road. It was a BIG improvement I knew it would do that but I didn't know that much!!

And your SUV will ride much much better. Obviously the SUV is lowered so the feeling of "stock" will not be exact but its not too far off if you set it right.

[ZooyorQ]

Originally Posted by ALPINE_X5

Sylvan - if that is your new adjusted height then you need to raise it one turn more and it should level your car out to a close to stock ride. Glad they found the problem. I hope that resolves your issues. Mine is fine and no one complains about it. It's amazing what 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch can do. That's what she said

ZooyorQ - did you have someone install them? Reason I ask is that the instructions says to set it at 65mm distance(if I recall) between the two end posts(bolts) I set mine at about 68-69mm and it did two things. It let my headlights point more downward and gave me more light coverage on the road. It was a BIG improvement I knew it would do that but I didn't know that much!!

And your SUV will ride much much better. Obviously the SUV is lowered so the feeling of "stock" will not be exact but its not too far off if you set it right.

Someone else installed them, but thanks for the note. I'll bring that with when I have them adjusted on friday!

[Sylvan Lake V35]

Originally Posted by ALPINE_X5

Sylvan - if that is your new adjusted height then you need to raise it one turn more and it should level your car out to a close to stock ride. Glad they found the problem. I hope that resolves your issues. Mine is fine and no one complains about it. It's amazing what 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch can do. That's what she said

No that's the pre-fix height....but everything is better with pictures I am going to remeasure it when I get to my parking spot in my garage tomorrow. The shop said he was at 65mm then went back and gave it two more turns up. If it feels rough after my road trip tomorrow I may give it another turn or two.
I never expected it to ride like stock over the past 15 years i have been modding vehicles i have either lifted or lowered most of them and they never ride like stock after but I have seen a few guys post that they were getting near stock ride characteristics. I will live with some poor ride charateristics but before I was wincing every time I saw a bump and I am sure the rear caught air on at least 2 occasions in the week I drove it.

[ALPINE_X5]

No worries Zoo. I hope that it works out. Once you get it adjusted you won't want to remove them. No they won't be like Coilovers but then again they are not 3K either.

The ride is compliant enough for everyday use. I don't even notice it lowered anymore but other people at the dealership when I brought it in for service asked me if I lowered it. They seem to notice it immediately. I think it is subtle.

[ZooyorQ]

Originally Posted by ALPINE_X5

No worries Zoo. I hope that it works out. Once you get it adjusted you won't want to remove them. No they won't be like Coilovers but then again they are not 3K either.

The ride is compliant enough for everyday use. I don't even notice it lowered anymore but other people at the dealership when I brought it in for service asked me if I lowered it. They seem to notice it immediately. I think it is subtle.

Thanks again!

When I dropped down to 20"s from the OEM Style 215 21"s I felt like it looked like I had miniature little wheels on it. Its amazing how we now think 20"s look small.. just 10 years ago they were 'huge'.

That said I love the way it looks dropped .. but I'm paying the price with ride comfort and I'm not sure I can do it anymore. I'm hoping a happy medium will eliminate the goofy look with the smaller wheels I put on it, and still ride decent. I'm not a picky guy, and like I said.. I've been driving it this way for almost 2 years.. but it is getting a bit tiring now. Then again maybe I screwed up my suspension from driving it so low for the last 2 years.

[ALPINE_X5]

If you lowered it two years ago I am not sure if H&R included the adjustable links then. I just lowered mine after holding off for a while and it had the links. There are after market links but I think you can H&R to send you a pair if it wasn't part of your kit then.

I have looked at other wheels and outside of some expensive aftermarket wheels i really like the style 214's the most for my X5. First car/SUV I haven't put aftermarket wheels on. Lowering really helps it out.

[ALPINE_X5]

Video of air or it didn't happen.

When I had set it to the recommended settings from H&R the back was lower than expected. On the smooth roads I was like yeah and on the bumps I was like oh crap that is dental work in the making.

It squatted in the rear as well which caused my headlights to point more upwards. I changed to 6K HID bulbs at that time and thought man they kinda suck. I went to my friends shop to realign to a better tire wearing alignment spec but not lose too much of the handling characteristics. While I was there I raised it up and gave it a couple of turns and it measured out the 27.5" from bottom rim to bottom fender and it leveled it out. That night I took the SUV out and BAM there was light on the ground. Haha.

There is always a give and take with springs and lowering. But I can live with this mod. I hope that you will find the right setting for your X5.

[Sylvan Lake V35]

Originally Posted by ALPINE_X5

Video of air or it didn't happen.
5.

The first one was a set of train tracks, they actually dropped down so when I hit the pop up on the other side it felt like the rear wheels came off the ground....it was scary I was going about 120-130km/hr. the second time I had my family in the truck and there was a kick up for an over pass, my 4yr old was about to take a drink of milk when I hit it...milk went every where front seat/back seat all over then she was crying why would dad do that to me looking back it was funny. It may not have litterly caught air but I bet it was awful close with no air in the bags nothing would absorb the bumps it the rear.

[dukesaquariuM5]

^^ pics please
Im lowering mine next week
Thsnk you alpine x5

[ALPINE_X5]

It's in the shop for maintenance until tomorrow. I will shoot a few shots this weekend.