Hi Gregory and all the others,

car is still at the dealer for service but now I am really very happy that all of you have helped me out of that disaster with your tips. When I have the car back I will have a look how bad the shocks really are - I normally do drive fast and I would assume that I would feel bad shocks... but we will see.

I had Bilsteins in a former car and loved them very much. But I remember that when you ran over a cigarrette you could tell if it was one with or without filter - these Bilsteins were VERY hard :-)
I would go with some aftermarket shocks which are like the original ones, will keep the coils and do a wheel alignment after the replacement.

Thanks everybody,

Helmuth

@bcred - was making a point on how some people were saying you never need to replace coils etc.

For example if you towed with a e53 and had alot of tongue weight or load it up heavily in the rear alot, they may sag as well etc.

I understand, you are correct any spring can fail in the best of driving conditions or use of an E53 X5 or any other vehicle that I can think of.

My point is not that there are no circumstances that an E53 spring might fail but that it is not something that is anyway near common under any realistic daily driving conditions or uses of an E53 X5.

The question, paraphrased, asked was if springs are something that are normally or recommended to be replaced when they have the same miles on them as the struts. Several of the posts at least indirectly implied it should be done and I think the cumulative effect was trending toward---if you don't replace the springs you are asking for problems, similar to the input OP was questioning. That is simply not the case on an E53 X5.

Bilstein B4 low pressure gas are the OE strut / shock for the E53. I did the rear B6 first and it reduced the front to rear pitch / hop, no regrets. Front B6 made it firmer, but not like a lowered 3 series with sport suspension. Remember that your tires also dampen as well - so your ride will be firmer (regardless of the shocks) with 18", 19" or 20" tires due to the lower aspect ratio.

If you want to see what it's like - try to stop in Geneva during a business trip some time.

Hello Gregory,

have the car back now. Dealer warned me to put non BMW shocks in. He said that there are a lot of different shocks available because of the different versions of X5's (weight ??!). Whatever ............

Are you saying that Bilstein B4 are the original replacement for an original X5 with 17" winter and 18" summer tires? I do not want to lower the car, I just want a replacement which doesn't change driving behaviour.

Thanks for your tips.

Have a great time,

Helmuth

EDIT: Google thinks that Bilstein B4 are for the E71 ..?

Yes, there are a number of choices of shocks for an E53. I'm a yellow Bilstein guy myself, I've had them in E21, E26, E30, E34 & E53 as well as my wife 2G Honda CRV.

For the E53, the factory shock is a Bilstein B4 which is a twin tube oil/air shock. Not as "lifetime" as the traditional B6 Bilstein, but it suits most typical drivers. Neither the B4 or B6 will lower ride height.

If you want the factory feel, B4. If you want a bit firmer - B6. I can give you specific part numbers. I run 17" wheels, about to put on a set of factory 18" for the summer that I bought recently from a former E53 owner who wanted them out of his garage. If you have and use your trailer hitch, B6.

What suspension do you have: standard, sport, other? Do you have air suspension in the rear?

I use the old Bilstein nomenclature where B4 was lower pressure or comfort, B6 was yellow/high pressure or HD and B8 was sport (typcially for a lowered suspension).

I tried Bilsteins when I redid my suspension. Ride changed-- very harsh, go harsh for the street. At highway speeds the handling was very skittish. I removed them and installed BMW shocks. Logic is--If your goal is to retain the current driving behavior I would buy the same shocks and struts.

Hey Gregory,

since the X has now 173.000 km on the clock my goal is not to convert it into something that is not original. Would be VERY interested in details and part numbers.
I have standard - non sport shocks and no air suspension.

All the best,

Helmuth

PS: would like to visit Switzerland - but I have to go more south :-)

(EDIT) PPS: just reading the response from bcredliner ...... so ....... unsure, what now?