2006 vs 2007-2011 suspension differences?

E91 Hoarder · 03-03-2023, 12:14 AM

Is there difference between 2006 and 2007-2011 shocks and strut sets? While shopping, I noticed there a lot of fitment notes depending on the manufacturing date.

For example, https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...11-410#fitment lists a lot of callouts based on the production date.

What are the nuances?

Tambohamilton · 03-03-2023, 02:48 AM

Fcp's fitment notes are wrong, one way or another. Take the first OE part number on that page and search it on realoem, and you'll see that it fits cars from 2004 through to 2012, depending on model.

The nuances of suspension compatibility are only based on model/spec, not production date really.

whyzee125 · 03-03-2023, 11:58 AM

There were probably many versions of the suspension throughout the production range but they're all compatible and largely the same. Some speculate they switched to linear springs at some point around 2011. They switched at some point from Sachs to Bilstein B4. Some regions got sport suspension throughout the range, some did not. But by and large, stock suspension, if talking sport to sport, non sport to non sport, etc. is all the same.

03-03-2023, 12:14 AM	#1
E91 Hoarder Captain 140 Rep 895 Posts Drives: E91 AWD, E91 RWD, E90, X535i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: On the Road iTrader: (8)	2006 vs 2007-2011 suspension differences? Is there difference between 2006 and 2007-2011 shocks and strut sets? While shopping, I noticed there a lot of fitment notes depending on the manufacturing date. For example, https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...11-410#fitment lists a lot of callouts based on the production date. What are the nuances? __________________ "Let me see what I can do... sir"
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03-03-2023, 02:48 AM	#2
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3166 Rep 4,041 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Fcp's fitment notes are wrong, one way or another. Take the first OE part number on that page and search it on realoem, and you'll see that it fits cars from 2004 through to 2012, depending on model. The nuances of suspension compatibility are only based on model/spec, not production date really. Last edited by Tambohamilton; 03-03-2023 at 01:06 PM..
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03-03-2023, 11:58 AM	#3
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1994 Rep 4,019 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	There were probably many versions of the suspension throughout the production range but they're all compatible and largely the same. Some speculate they switched to linear springs at some point around 2011. They switched at some point from Sachs to Bilstein B4. Some regions got sport suspension throughout the range, some did not. But by and large, stock suspension, if talking sport to sport, non sport to non sport, etc. is all the same.
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