thinking of lowering the X
 

Hi everyone after some research i am thinking of lowering my X with some H&R front springs and the rear links that the kit comes with for the air bags.

I am currently running a style 214 replica 22" wheels and was wondering if anyone here is running anything similar.

Has the ride changed dramatically?

I will be doing an alignment once the X is lowered.

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

Cesar

I'm running 22x10.5 wheels with lowering springs up front and lowering links in the rear because I have rear air suspension. Nothing to it, no advice to pass on, just do it and get an alignment, click on the link to see my pics in post #1588. Eventually I'm going to go with a coilover setup, I want it a little bit lower...lol!

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...our-x5-20.html

What springs did you end up going with?

Your X looks nice with those wheels!

Personally I wouldn't lower, but I do appreciate the look.

Just lowered mine 1" with BC Racing coilovers. Ride is quite rough: rougher than I expected.. The BC coilovers fit my 2005 3.0d with no problems with fitting..

The spring rates on the BC coilovers is set for circuit/slamming use I think. The front spring rate is 9kg/mm,and rear is 12kg/mm = approx 700 lbs/inch, which is too aggressive for my preferences for city use; even with shockers set to softest setting. Way harder than original factory sport springs were..

FYI: My car is only lowered 1" . I have 20x9.5 and 20x10.5 wheels, running 295/45R20 and 315/35R20 non-runflats..

Hope this helps someone in future who is searching for info on the BC coilovers..

Scott.

Lower my 4.8iS 1" with coding by fooling the computer. I love the look and didn't feel any difference in ride comfort.

I did this same lowering kit, along with a four-wheel strut and shock refresh at the same time, used Bilstein Touring Class (not HD). My starting point was factory sport suspension, 18 inch OEM wheels, at about 100k miles.

Ride has changed dramatically, entirely for the better. Tauter, better controlled, no additional harshness in the ride. And the roads here are not very good.

So I'd be a big thumbs up - but I really can't isolate the incremental impact of the new springs, the new shocks, or just the fact that the pieces are fresh.

Hi guys thanks for the info. I am also on a sports package rear air suspension and have just replaced my OEM 19'' style 132 for replica style 214 22".

I am going to start with the lowering springs in the front and links in the rear and then depending on how I feel the ride I might just replace the front struts.

Should I replace the rear air bags to struts also?

@gdlbmw, my X is super low, but i have a 4.8is and air.

General rule of thumb i follow though for cars i do suspensions on, and the like,,

Matters even more if your up there in mileage but i just follow it regardless,

If your going to lower the front, replace the struts as well, and doing the links in the rear, you might as well do the shocks (not called struts in rear).

Given, most of the cars i do have springs in all four corners, but matching struts/shocks/coils will work for you for the better (this is why coilovers always work better then having to match springs/shocks/struts all seperatly by yourself, some cars there is also limited aftermarket, meaning, ok H&R offers lowering springs, but you cannot find a better matched strut/shock combo for them, because all thats offered is OE spec replacements) .

And once again if your up there in miles, and going to be taking all of this apart, another thing i do is, why take it apart 20 times, when im doing a susp refresh on a car around 100k for example (recently did my fathers), i replace the balljoints, bushings, tierods, stabilzier links and bushings, etc, as well as the struts/shocks/springs, i put H&R lowering ones in as he wanted, just for the record but yeah.

Not sure but sounds like you have air in the rear only?

Yes, I do only have air bags in the rear.

How about spacers? I am adding the 4.8is front and rear bumper I am not thinking of adding the wheel arches but I would like the wheels to have the staggered look.

To chime in.. I ordered HR lowering springs for my non air ride sport 06x..
As ive learned ( i suppose to lack of demand and age) these are pretty much made to order should be here around nov11th..
Main question.. Should i take itnto the stealership, or can any suspension shop do this job without fubaring my x up?
Also alignment.. Ive upgraded wheels to 9 front and 10 back on 20's.. Wheres the best place for alignments?
While im at it.. The steering wheel is off to the right about 3-5 degrees.. No problems driving but bothers me..
Thanks in advance

C, any Indy well versed with the E53 or BMW's in General should be able to get those springs in with no worries. As for alignment...That's the only thing I go to the local dealer for as it's not something I'd trust to any of our Indys. Make sure you ask for a print out of the results though.

Depend on what wheels you have. I would put at least 15mm in the rear on the stock style168.

Where are you in Texas?

The H&R lowering kit can be easily installed by a decent Indy shop. It is not a difficult DIY but you would need to rent a spring compressor from Autozone or O'Reillys. The rear installation is very easy to do as it is only a replacement of the ride height sensor arm links. There is no reason to change the struts unless they are due but they they are removed to change the springs--what you have will work fine. The rear shocks are not touched to lower the rear so there is no need to replace the rear shock unless they are bad.

Most independent shops will not align an X. I go to the same dealership each time
so its is more likely to be the same tech. I keep each alignment sheet. Cost at Dallas dealers is $195.

If you are going to add spacers I suggest you do so at the same time so you only need one alignment. Purchase a brand that uses a longer bolt into the rotor and longer lug nuts as most tire stores will not change tires if the spacers and tires are not adequately secured. The steering wheel off may mean you have other problems with the suspension but it can also be caused by being out of alignment so the re-alignment may correct it.

at some point of spacer width negative camber to specs may not be possible. I suggest choosing spacer width by measuring the gap between the outside tread to the lip of the outside fender wheel. If you go beyond that you will be throwing debris on the side of you X. I don't think spacers wider than 20mm certainly 25mm should be considered but there are many that have gone wider. If you want more than 20 I suggest wider rims with a greater negative offset.

I have the H&R kit with stock shocks and struts. I tried aftermarket struts and shocks and ride was miserable and the handling was not as good.

The H&R springs are the same or almost the same spring rate. They are just shorter. I really noticed the change in center of gravity. I think the ride is little stiffer, not much at all. It was much more than offset by how much more comfortable I am with the handling. I have the stock wheels (87s) 20" wheels that came on my X. If you like the ride of what you have I think you will be fine with the H&R difference.

FWIW I did H&R's with Bilstein sports in the front (rear air susp) and I find the ride to be absolutely perfect for my tastes. Highway cruising is amazing and I feel like city driving is very civilized, yes it is a touch more firm than stock but very smooth and more responsive.

IMO it comes down to how you use your X and what you want out of it.

Just my .02, best of luck with your setup👍