[geko29]

My 2011 335d is at 95k miles, and I've noticed a couple of things that make me suspect some suspension work is in my future. Specifically, at least one of my front struts is leaking, and I have a pretty nasty shudder in the steering wheel when braking from high speed, even with relatively light pressure on the pedal. Tires are new, wheels are balanced (and this occurs with both my summer and winter wheel/tire sets), car has had a recent alignment at one of the best shops in Illinois.

So what do I need? On my E46 at around this mileage, I replaced the front lower control arms, CABs, tie rods, strut mounts and swaybar endlinks; along with the rear trailing arm bushings and shock mounts. Then put in new shocks, springs, and swaybars. Details here

Unlike with the E46, I'm not looking to lower in the process. We're in our 40s now, and my wife already complains about how low it is getting into my car vs. her SUV. For shocks/struts I'll probably go with the Koni Special Active, since I absolutely loved the Koni FSDs I put on the E46, and these appear to be the modern equivalent. Springs look ok (rears on the E46 were broken at this point), so I'll probably put them back on. What other stuff is likely to be worn or otherwise problematic at this age/mileage?

[MooreBoost]

Have you ever done your rotors?

They can warp with age and cause the shuddering in your steering wheel.

[robthewrench]

You issues are most likely front suspension related, so you'll have to decide if you want to do both the front and the rear.

For front: most people seem to replace the upper and lower control arms (thrust) at a minimum. These include the bushings and ball joints. Going beyond this would then also include: struts, tie rods, sway bar end links. When doing the strut, some also replace the strut top bearing plate.

FCP Euro and others make a whole kit that can be cheaper than buying the parts separately.

[geko29]

Originally Posted by MooreBoost

Have you ever done your rotors?

They can warp with age and cause the shuddering in your steering wheel.

They've been replaced once, and are going to be due fairly soon. It's at the dealer now for unrelated reasons, and they mentioned the pads/rotors are close to being ready to go, and that the rotors are too thin to resurface, but didn't mention anything about runout.

Additionally, when I've had warped rotors before, there was also less-pronounced shaking at low speed, and sometimes an intermittent noise as the pad repeatedly makes and breaks contact with the high points of the rotor. I don't have any of that, just the shudder when braking from high speed. That's what has me thinking it's suspension.

[geko29]

Update: replacing the front pads, rotors, and caliper bushings completely eliminated the shake. My guess is the rotors were warped. Based on that and an inspection of the front end suspension components while I was doing the brakes leads me to believe that I don't need to replace any of the suspension arms/bushings/balljoints/etc at this point in time.

However, I do still need to do my shocks and struts, as both front struts are leaking. I've reviewed a bunch of threads, this one is particularly helpful: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1477216

And come up with this list of parts:

$525.62 87451014KT Koni Special Active Shock Kit
$10.88 31336771352 2x front bump stop (URO)
$13.76 31336767500 2x Coil Spring Shim Front Upper (BMW)
$12.88 31336764372 2x Coil Spring Shim Front Lower (BMW)
$25.36 33526764406 4x Lower Shock Mount Screws (BMW)
$76.74 E9XRSMKIT BMW Shock Mounting Kit (FCP)
$47.44 2700101 Strut Mount (Lemforder)
$6.70 31331110196 Strut Dust Seal (BMW)
$10.34 31331094749 Strut Dust Sleeve (BMW)

the FCP (Rear) Shock Mounting Kit contains:
2x bump stop
2x upper shock mount - lower section
2x upper shock mount - upper section
2x lower shock mount
2x shock mount sealing grommet
2x bump stop support cup

Total with tax comes to $763.25. Does this look about right? Any specialty tools I'll need? Looks like possibly these:

Spindle Housing Spreader Tool
Strut Nut Socket - 18 mm

[geko29]

Looking to order today or tomorrow. Does the above list of parts look about right?

[PerfectAce]

Your list looks right. Instead of buying the 18mm strut nut socket, I recommend just buying a metric pass-through socket set. Harbor Freight sells one for about $20. One thing to check is the size of the strut shaft retaining nut. OEM nut is 21mm. Bilsteins use 19mm. I don't know what Koni uses. It doesn't matter what size you're removing as you just just whiz it off with an impact gun. It's the size of the new nut that matters. It's another reason why I recommend the pass-through sockets -- they come with sizes 10mm - 19mm.

For the strut collar spreader, you can pay ECS $31 for it, or get this one on Amazon for half the price: https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-400.../dp/B015Q1JNIM It works fine.

[Torqu3]

Yur order looks right. I'm gonna give a shameless plug to strutmonkey.com. It'll cost more but you get some bonuses. I've installed 2 of their kits. No spring compressors needed and can do front and rear struts and springs in 5 hours on jack stands. It also has all hardware included so you don't miss anything.

[geko29]

Originally Posted by PerfectAce

Your list looks right. Instead of buying the 18mm strut nut socket, I recommend just buying a metric pass-through socket set. Harbor Freight sells one for about $20. One thing to check is the size of the strut shaft retaining nut. OEM nut is 21mm. Bilsteins use 19mm. I don't know what Koni uses. It doesn't matter what size you're removing as you just just whiz it off with an impact gun. It's the size of the new nut that matters. It's another reason why I recommend the pass-through sockets -- they come with sizes 10mm - 19mm.

Thanks! Koni doesn't publish the size of their top nut anywhere I can find, but the google machine suggests it's 22mm. That unfortunately eliminates most of the common pass-through socket sets. So I'm debating whether to assemble something with a 7/8" spark plug socket, passing a 1/4" extension through it and holding the flats with a wrench; or just tapping it on "gently" with the impact gun.

Originally Posted by PerfectAce

For the strut collar spreader, you can pay ECS $31 for it, or get this one on Amazon for half the price: https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-400.../dp/B015Q1JNIM It works fine.

Actually looking at this one now, since it will take my FCP Euro order over $200 and therefore make it eligible for a 5% coupon I have. So net cost is about 10 bucks:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...rt-83300494541

Originally Posted by Torqu3

Yur order looks right. I'm gonna give a shameless plug to strutmonkey.com. It'll cost more but you get some bonuses. I've installed 2 of their kits. No spring compressors needed and can do front and rear struts and springs in 5 hours on jack stands. It also has all hardware included so you don't miss anything.

I'm actually not planning to replace my springs. They're in good shape, and I'm not looking to lower. The closest equivalent package on Strutmonkey lowers by 1", and costs more than double what my parts list will, once the rear mounts are added.