Strut time. Recommendations? Sachs, Bilstein, Monroe?
 

2011 35d with standard suspension, no third row, and 179k miles.Thinking Sachs will be more than "good enough" but am considering Bilstein also. Thought I remembered reading about someone using a Monroe product on their 35d and loving it. Going to use new Lesjöfors springs and replace all the mounts, stops, and hardware. Love to hear any experiences.

Think it was Sachs I installed couple years ago.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/index.php?posts/13134155
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Monroe OEspectrum worked great for me.
Feels like OEM but less harsh on rough pavement/potholes.

Shop around, Amazon, rock auto... Prices vary wildly.

I recommend Bilstein B4s if they offer this model for X5. I typically use that for most bmws I work on.

I just did a full rear refresh with the B4s and like them. Feels just like OE, even with the small lift I have on my E53. I guess that is the point of the B4's - OE ride? I definitely didn't want a firmer ride. I need to do the struts, bushings, etc., the whole schmeer up front too and would love to have the yellow Bilstein color, but I think the B4s only come in black.

I've so far found that springs for the E53 are BMW only and pretty pricey unfortunately, if you dont want to go the ultra cheap chinese parts. Maybe I'm missing an OE mfr for the front springs tho.

Those were the ones! I recognize your name from the post.

Lesjöfors may be the OEM. Bilstein may make some. Eibach or Koni may be able to make a recommendation.

https://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j...ray-Paint.webp
Here ya go....


http://https://image.made-in-china.c...ray-Paint.webp

Ha! nice. But I don't have an excavator.

And my spray paint skills are sorely lacking.

I just did the fronts in my 2010 e70 with the B6s. I’m happy with them for what I was looking for (firmer than stock but able to deal with nj roads). If you’re looking for “comfort “ I looked really hard at the koni fsd’s. Supposed to be premium comfort but stockish in the twisties.
When I did mine, the foam doughnuts that sandwich the spring hat/upper chassis mount were completely toast. Since these aren’t a McPherson strut (no strut bearing on top) the doughnuts won’t effect comfort. Because of this, I went with polyurethane. It’s the only place I have poly in the entire steering and suspension system. I actually bought the monoball tension strut for the front because I keep toasting meyle HDs. I refuse to put poly anywhere else. In this application, however, it won’t hurt and will far outlast the oe ones.