E53 front struts failure? Anyone?
 

Coils only, not air.

I'm at almost 180k miles now on my original non-Sport struts on my 2001 3.0i. I've replaced many suspension components on this truck, due to failure or maintaining symmetry.

So I'm wondering how long I should expect to get out of the original struts. I searched high and low here and could not find any reports of these failing. Sure, there are plenty of people who replace them at 100k (or whatever) for good measure, but that does not do me any good in making my decision. Unlike a fuel pump or alternator, a strut with reduced damping will not strand me on the side of the road - so a pre-emptive repair is hard to justify here.

I'll be happy to run these to 400k if they're still working. I believe mine are Sachs.

Anyone have an actual failure to report?

Not an E53, but it is a 2002 3.0 E46. My wife's front strut started leaking at around 100k. We replaced all 4 corners with Eibach.

Yeah no need to change them unless you get a leak or they the vehicle starts to bounce without control. Changing them out after 150-175K mark makes a huge difference on ride and handling. When I did my strut change to bilstein sport on my 540I Touring I had a huge change in the handling and great ride control. My X5 struts were the original delphi (102K)on the front and I changed them out to the sachs touring when I installed the H&R springs. So glad I did this.

All depends. My E83 X3 front struts started leaking at about 60k. Current E53 with 129k no signs of leak.

I have two 2006 X5's. The one I drive has 189,000 miles on it. The other, the wife's, about 138,000. Changed out the struts and shocks on the higher mileage X5. The ride definitely improved and was better than the lower mileage X. The old units were not leaking that I could tell, just old. Then I did a full suspension refresh front and rear, including rear sub-frame bushing replacement. Wow! What a difference in ride and handling. If that hasn't been done anywhere in the past to yours, you're probably past due.

You'd be surprised what a new pair would do. Most don't last more than 80-90k in NYC.

My E39 had 201k on the struts and they were destroyed. I drove it back from VA and it's a miracle I didn't die somehow.

Most German makes seem to have their shocks fail gradually and most people fail to notice the ride getting worse, compared to say a Japanese or Korean brand where it pretty much rides like crap at 70-80k miles.

Mine were not leaking at 106k miles when I replaced them couple months ago but my left strut mount had big crack in rubber.
Obviously, my wheel / tire combo is much heavier and less rubber meat than yours so that's a big factor in wear.
Regardless, I can guarantee you that at the age and mileage you have, yours are definitely tired and you'd benefit from new set.

Mine were replaced by the previous owner around 102k as they were leaking. Replace them and you will most likely notice a big difference.

Thanks for all the helpful advice here. I went ahead and swapped in new Bilstein B4 (22119261 right and 22119278 left) struts yesterday, removing the presumed original ones that said BMW and Delphi on them. Easy job to do - I'll see if I notice any improvement. So far I have driven the truck from my driveway to the street.

Wondering what to do with the old ones since they still seemed fine before and after removal. Gas pressure, damping, surface finish on strut rod, etc. all look just fine.

I replaced the boots (bellows) as well. One of them had cracked, but they both looked amazingly good considering the age and mileage on this truck. I wished I had bought new bump stops ... until I saw the original ones were in mint condition - like they had never been touched (I guess that's how they're supposed to work when everything is working as it should). The mounts, pads, etc., everything was in amazingly good condition here. I would really not doubt that I could have gone a lot further with no problems at all.

But it was fun to do the swap and I got a good deal on the new parts. And it's nice to know things are squared away up there.

I just wish BMW would build their doors (clips, regulators, handles, handle carriers, locks) as well as they appear to build their suspension.

EDIT - I'm realizing that there were a lot of things replaced by the PO that were not in the records. So I think the struts I removed were pretty new, which would explain why the new ones feel the same. Bad move on my part to replace just based on mileage. And probably best to not draw any conclusions from my reports here.

When I bought my 4.6is I had different front struts which I swapped for Sachs units and it wasn't that difficult.

For me replaceable wear parts on my vehicle with 80-100K miles on them don't owe me anything and are probably, in my humble opinion, near end of life.

Examples for me are: belts, hoses, water pump, thermostat, alternator, idlers, pulleys, tensioners, shocks, struts, brake pads, ball joints, rotors, bushings, CV joints/boots/axles and such. Essentially anything on the front of the motor that turns or carries fluid and the working suspension components.

I take a "Touch It Once" attitude when I am refurbishing an area.

I am currently in the starting phase of a rear suspension makeover (front makeover was last month at 100K) replacing shocks, upper arms, ball joints, subframe bushings, CV axles, shock mounts, and lower control arm bushings.

The pressure difference to compress the new KYB shock and the Factory 2002/100K mile shock is significant.

If budget and time allows, you will appreciate not having to go back into an area to replace old components that "looked" OK when you did the broken/failed one :dunno: :dunno:

IMHO, those struts have given above and beyond the call of duty.

Mike

Update - after a brief test drive, with the new struts it drives very nicely ... and exactly as it did before, on the 180k/16-year original ones.

So maybe it's nice to know I'm now good until 400k miles, and it was fun and not too expensive to do. But now that I've done it, I know that these struts I removed were just fine and could probably have gone a long way further.

Just offering a data point for others who may one day be in a similar situation.

The takeaway for me is to not underestimate the quality of some components on these trucks.

Also, I've got the BMW 19" standard wheels, 285/45/19 and 255/50/19 tires.

Mine show no evidence of wear at 320,700 miles. I think bushings are the components to pay attention to.

2002 X5 3.0 320,700 miles
2014 428i 26,200 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration

Have you owned the X5 since new? If not, how many miles did it have on it at time of purchase. Some clues of worn suspension are unusual tire wear, unable to have vehicle aligned within specs.

Bought it with 53,000 miles. It was a lease return from North Carolina so I had all the maintenance history on it and it had no winter salt exposure. At about 240,000 miles I replaced all rear suspension bushings and ball joints, front tension struts and lower ball joints to correct tire wear and light vibration when braking. Had alignment done to minimum rear toe-in specs and everything has been perfect since then. In fact, this set of Yokohama YK580s has now gone over 70,000 miles with 7/32 remaining.

Certainly a good find that has served you well.

Hi all,
To those who have replaced Front struts(and rear at same time or at diff time), could you please list out all other components(with correct name! LOL) that you changed out to new as well? I have a leaking front strut at 187K miles and will be doing a refresh(I have standard sus and will be doing Bil Touring) on the front, so I want to knock out everything that should be replaced all at once. Gonna hit the rear soon too, but am curious to compile a list of the "must change" items(rubber/plastic/etc) people found as they did swap during refreshes. Anyone change out the springs(is it necessary?)? Thanks for any input/advice/etc:thumbup:


Steve

I have a sport front left strut with 8k miles on it if you're interested.

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I replaced everything in the suspension when I replaced the struts. Spring replacement is not necessary. I also replaced the rear subframe bushings.

There are a number of experiences posted here:

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-much-diy.html

and here are some experiences on the rear lower swing arm bushings:

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...swing-arm.html

Mike

Good to know those bushings are a cause of camber problems. I've replaced everything minus those bushings, minus subframe bushings. I have no noise cooking from the rear so I don't suspect those are a problem.

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Also for the rear upper camber and toe arms there are these adjustable units.

I only needed the adjustable camber arms to get my rear to align properly. Even after all new rear components I was still pout of camber spec until I put the adjustable camber arms on.

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...0-shipped.html

Mike

I'm only having issues with one side, and isn't out of spec, it just doesn't have any adjustment. I'm stuck at -2.4 when it settles back down after an alignment.

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Easy way is to go to vendor of your choice and look up suspension kits. Some have two or three options to consider. At least you can see what is considered a rebuild or refresh kit. https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E53-X5.../Refresh_Kits/

Bought a pair of new boxed Sachs struts and strut bearings from someone on eBay last year. Guy sold the X before needing them. I think I paid $150 for everything.

I'm at 176k, and considering replacing them. What spring compressor do people prefer? I have the A-frame type; not sure it it will fit.

I just rent one from one of the car parts stores. Pay a deposit and get it all back when you return the tool.

I did the same. One word of caution on those, don't use impact tools. The vibration causes the spring compressors to walk around the spring. Pretty soon their next to each others. Hand tools only.