Pics: X5 lowered ~2in (~50mm)
 

So I finally had some time today to install the custom springs and custom rear links for the air suspension ecu. The total lowering was ~2in (50mm)m which was more than I previously calculated. I calculated ~43mm drop, which was a bit too conservative of an estimate.

The custom springs are H&R springs in the front with one (1) dead coil cut off. On the front of H&R springs, there usually are a few 'dead' coils which act as spacers while the other 'active' coils are supplying the spring force. In this application, there were 4 'dead' coils. H&R claimed a ~1.2in (~30mm) drop on the front. Each coil is 0.5in (12.5mm) think, so removing one would theoretically yield me an overall drop of ~1.7in (~42.5mm). Well that didn't work, and I ended up with a 2.125in (52mm) drop in front.

On the 4.8i there are air springs in the rear, which obviously can't be replaced. But there are these links that connect to the lower control arm and a sensor that tells the ecu what height the corner is at. Using a bit of high school algebra and geometry, I calculated that in order to have a 1.7in (43mm) drop in the rear, I would have to shorten the link ~0.39in (~9.9mm). I sourced some endlinks that I could adjust for length that would fit and set their length center-to-center about 16.4mm which is about 10mm shorter than stock. But there was barely enough thread overlap so I needed to shorten it a bit more to 16.2mm center-to-center. In the end I did end up with a 1.875in (~47mm) drop in the rear.

I totally forgot to take some pictures of the springs, especially to describe the 'dead' and 'active' coils. But here are the custom endlinks that I made:
http://members.roadfly.com/haroldc/e70_rearlinks.jpg


Due to the lighting and lateness of the day I was only able to take a few shots of the current setup.

http://members.roadfly.com/haroldc/e70_slammed.jpg


http://members.roadfly.com/haroldc/e70_slammed_2.jpg

Impressions: It's definitely more bumpy of a ride. The stock shocks seem to be not be able to deal with the severly reduced travel that the springs resulted in. It's not harsh, but bouncy. Having had a few street cars with various different aftermarket (street and track oriented) suspensions, I understand the tradeoffs, and will use the weekend to judge the severity of the reduction in ride comfort.

I understand that my choice to shorten the springs has much to do with the ride quality. Now that I cut the spring, my choices to raise it in the front will be the but the H&Rs again and not modify them, or get the Eibachs. I can always raise the rear, as it's a simple process that involves romoving the rear links and turning the ends to lengthen them.

For now, I do love the way it looks. It is so much more aggressive and meaner looking. But the ride quality, since this is a daily driver, might require that I raise the car.

I love it!

To be honest I think somewhere in between would be nicer.

It looks a bit sagged/droopy IMHO, I think it is a bit too much... If you want a car that sits that low, don't get an SUV/SAV.

How is the camber on those wiiiide rear wheels? (You cheated a little by snapping it on a slope)

Very nice!!!!!

I personally don't like it. Looks more like a wagon right now..

:iagree: Didn't like it either. To me, it looks perfectly fine from the original, SAV/SUV doesn't meant to be lower in some way.

Looks like Chrysler PT Cruiser to me. IMO.
http://www.dragtimes.com/images/4144...%20Cruiser.jpg

Looks good.

Lots of hate but I love it!!!

:iagree:

The lower the better. ;)

looks great

Looks a little too low for my taste.

Looks more like a lowrider then an SUV.

How long did it take you?

:thumbup: can we get some more pics?

Way too low for me...But to each his own.

It's a little too low for me as well. I'll probably end up replacing the springs up front for full length H&Rs or Eibachs. Haven't decided which yet, but the rears are simple to raise.

First side (front left) probably took about an hour and a half, just trying to figure out how everything goes together. The second side (front right) was done in less than an hour. It'll be even quicker the second time around.

Sweet

looks good....So you cut the springs, how is the ride????

I absolutely love that look esp. with the color you have

I just watched motorweek, and they were reviewing Toyota LX570.
That thing can raise/lower the suspension with a touch of a button.
When getting out of the SUV, the suspension automatically lowers the car body to ease the passanger exit, etc.

How come this is not available to X5?

For sport mode, and at high speed, car body should be lowered to have the low center of the gravity, thus improve handling, etc.
BMW is all about sporty drive, and X5 cannot raise/lower the car body hight? This is kind of a shame for Ultimate Driving SAV!

looks good

looks great. I think when i lower mine i want it to be around 30mm like i had last time.

:iagree:

I think Stock is pretty good myself, but slammin it that low makes it look clumsy and its lost its athletic perch - I would go in between and experiment.

Keep us posted on what you end up doing, shes a nice ride regardless

I agree with the "somewhere in between" comments.

You should bring it out to the Tri-State Meet on May 31st! (See my signature for details!)

I actually installed the H&Rs again, but unaltered. This time it didn't lower it as much, obviously, but it's still more than advertised.

I'll try to take some more photos next week. It's actually been too bright to get a good shot, looking for a cloudy day.

I plan on coming to the tri-state meet, I'll have my exhaust setup by then..... ;)

:woot:

Be sure to RSVP in the official thread so L can add you to the list!

:iagree: :sorry:

It Looks Great! Looks very tough! :rofl:

I Liiiiiiiiiiike iT!

Looks very aggressive.. IMHO, that is the perfect look... very clean..

There is a pic on page 1.

I did read the post "genius", I thought you didnt see page 1, just trying to help out. :rolleyes:

lol :)

;)

I thought I'd update this thread, since a few people have PM'd me abut the springs. Sorry didn't do this earlier, but lots of things going with two other project cars. So the X5 is relegated to DD duties only.

The H&R springs are no longer on the car. I am riding on OEM springs again. The reason is that the lowering springs limited the travel so much that I was constantly hitting the bump-stops, not a comfortable feeling. I had enough sometime this fall and just swapped the originals back in. And the ride is much better.

I would eventually like to lower the X5 again. H&R now has 2 different height options on their springs. They list a 2.0" (50mm) and 1.2" (30mm) drop for availability. I'm going to try the 1.2" drop when the springs become available. Currently only the 2.0" drop is available, which is what I had.

I'll start a new thread when I drop it again.

I'm also with the 'somewhere in the middle mob'. A little higher would look spot on.
But.........I sought of like it, sought of don't.

Thanks for the update.. as I am one of the ones who PM'd you about your setup..

One question: I understand you cut a couple of the coils off of the springs to get the original 1.3" drops springs you purchased to get your X5 to around 2.1"... Wont the 2.0" drop that was just released by H&R have a totally different and much more comfortable feel than the ones you purchased and cut the coils to get that low??? You will not consider going with the 2.0" drop even though cutting will not be necessary to get the ride height you desire?

Since I myself am considering which ones to go with, I definitely want the 2" drop since I think it looks perfect.. but if the comfort is not there, I will not go that route. Thanks for the help.

i think it looks great! but if the windows were tinted it would look much more aggressive. how about wheel spacers??

im thinking of doing the same thing but if the ride is getting stiffer I wont even touch it!

I didn't post after I swapped out the cut springs to the regular H&R springs on the 1.2" (claimed) drop. The drop was more like 1.75" which would be fine, but again the car kept hitting the bump stops.

What I soon realized, is that H&R spec these springs for a 3.0 and not a 4.8. While you wouldn't think there's much difference between the two in terms of suspension, the 4.8 is ~300 lbs heavier in the front. Which would account for the 1.75" drop that I ended up with.

Until they make a specific spring for the 4.8, I'm not going to change my springs again. While it wasn't that hard to do, it was more of a PITA and I've got other things that need my attention more than dropping the X5.

can u show the pix as it is now?

He said its back to stock now. No point in showing pics of that.

I love lowered cars and have lowered every car I have had for the last 10 years because I can't stand that high riding look BUT I HAVE TO SAY I don't think 4x4's should be lowered. They look good with the 4x4 look that is despised on a road car. They look purposeful. Lower a 4x4 and it looks like one of those 'urban' estates that some manufacturers were making a few years ago.

Its actually one of the reasons I got the X5 was to be able to give up the lowering game which always resulted in comfort trade offs.

I like it, coming from a world of JDM imports, its nice to see people thinking outside the box. Many of todays car makers are using ideas that tuners have been doing for years, auto-starts, sound systems, larger rims, its how cars evolve, by trying different things. Have you thought about putting some H&R spacers on the rear wheels? I think it will give it a sick stance.

He has since 'un-lowered' it - its back to stock now. ;)

I don't think the evolution of the SAV involves slamming it to the ground. It works for some individual owners, but if the car itself evolved to be produced like that, it would no longer be an SAV :dunno:

Um lowering does'nt = slammed, tuning is trial and error, and if no one did it ( including auto makers ) we would still be driving CJ's. Not vehicles like below.

I love it!

Looks clean! As soon as you figure out the ride quality, you'll be pumped. I have H&R's on mine and have no major complaints so far!

Do you have them on the 3.0 or 4.8?

like it !!!!!!! are those endlinks made from H&R?