[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

Thanks TDI for the hint on Turnersports.com for the FSD's. Definitely the best price out there...

You betcha.

Now comes the fun part. What's your plans for getting them on the vehicle?

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

You betcha.

Now comes the fun part. What's your plans for getting them on the vehicle?

I have a few vacation days in August - not looking forward to the sweating. But definitely better than cohones freezing to the garage floor for the DPF delete. Anything to watch out for except what you already covered in your install description?

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

...Anything to watch out for except what you already covered in your install description?

Well, I might add something about the spring compressor I used. It was a version that looked similar to this: http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part=kt20252

First time I had used this type of spring compressor. It didn't work as well as I was hoping it would for the front springs. It was difficult to get those paddles into a position in the spring openings and also get it to compress enough. In hind sight I'd likely use a different type of compressor.

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Well, I might add something about the spring compressor I used. It was a version that looked similar to this: http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part=kt20252

First time I had used this type of spring compressor. It didn't work as well as I was hoping it would for the front springs. It was difficult to get those paddles into a position in the spring openings and also get it to compress enough. In hind sight I'd likely use a different type of compressor.

I was planning to borrow the spring compressors from Autozone. They worked OK on two other cars so far (E46, Chrysler minivan). Will report back with my findings.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

I was planning to borrow the spring compressors from Autozone. They worked OK on two other cars so far (E46, Chrysler minivan). Will report back with my findings.

I too have purchased fsd forum turnersports thanks to tdiwyse suggestion and plan on doing the install myself. I had read a trick from another forum with spring compressors.

Most diy's suggest before removing the front strut to place a floor jack under the control arm to compress the spring. Then attach the spring compressor to it. That way you have the floor jack doing the work instead of having to tighten them with a wrench.

Also my local ntb offered to move the springs from my old strut to the new strut for 75. Might be worth it..

I plan to install mine end of this week.

[Mik325tds]

Nice trick. Thanks for sharing!

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

...
Most diy's suggest before removing the front strut to place a floor jack under the control arm to compress the spring. Then attach the spring compressor to it. That way you have the floor jack doing the work instead of having to tighten them with a wrench.

Also my local ntb offered to move the springs from my old strut to the new strut for 75. Might be worth it...

Just a note, I had to compress the springs to get the assembly back into the vehicle (if anyone knows a way to get them back in there without compressing the spring I'd be interested in learning that trick). So having a spring compressor available for the install would be a good idea.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Just a note, I had to compress the springs to get the assembly back into the vehicle (if anyone knows a way to get them back in there without compressing the spring I'd be interested in learning that trick). So having a spring compressor available for the install would be a good idea.

Holy shit this has taken me way more time to swap dampers than I thought. I started with the rear as I thought it would be easier. Sadly 6 hours for the 1st shock (I'm way anal) which included lifting (my first time on a bimmer) and the car and removing the wheels. then 45 min for the second. I had to buy a star socket set to replace the rear lower shock mounts...... I've gotten the rears replaced now to the front.

I'm going to try tomorrow compressing the springs on the front sturts with a floor jack. Then hooking on the spring compressors.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Holy shit this has taken me way more time to swap dampers than I thought. I started with the rear as I thought it would be easier. Sadly 6 hours for the 1st shock (I'm way anal) which included lifting (my first time on a bimmer) and the car and removing the wheels. then 45 min for the second. I had to buy a star socket set to replace the rear lower shock mounts...... I've gotten the rears replaced now to the front.

I'm going to try tomorrow compressing the springs on the front sturts with a floor jack. Then hooking on the spring compressors.

I would get some valium and plan on taking a few personal days off work

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

I would get some valium and plan on taking a few personal days off work

A lot of it is that it's also about 100 out+ in the garage I'm working. Part of it has been I don't have any power tools to assist with this job, and had to buy a star socket set and self ratcheting box wrenches. The other factor for me is almost none of the diy guides I've seen have a comprehensive list of torque specs for various fasteners so I've been doing a lot of stop work and search to get proper torque specs. so hopefully there will be no creaks or rattles when I'm done.

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

A lot of it is that it's also about 100 out+ in the garage I'm working. Part of it has been I don't have any power tools to assist with this job, and had to buy a star socket set and self ratcheting box wrenches. The other factor for me is almost none of the diy guides I've seen have a comprehensive list of torque specs for various fasteners so I've been doing a lot of stop work and search to get proper torque specs. so hopefully there will be no creaks or rattles when I'm done.

Oh man, I feel your pain. Twas hot and humid when I was doing this procedure as well. Think my body sweated more doing the front's than any marathon or ironman I've done.

This ECS video has some torque specs in it (and I'm attaching a pic I had made from this for when I was installing stuff):

I gotta admit that I didn't use a torque wrench on some of these due to not being able to get the wrench into where it would need to be ... so I did some guessing on how firmly to snug things.

Going on vacation this morning. Looking forward to hearing about your results when I get back in a week.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Oh man, I feel your pain. Twas hot and humid when I was doing this procedure as well. Think my body sweated more doing the front's than any marathon or ironman I've done.

This ECS video has some torque specs in it (and I'm attaching a pic I had made from this for when I was installing stuff):

I gotta admit that I didn't use a torque wrench on some of these due to not being able to get the wrench into where it would need to be ... so I did some guessing on how firmly to snug things.

Going on vacation this morning. Looking forward to hearing about your results when I get back in a week.

Thanks that really helped, I had not seen the ecs video. Still not done, shocks are in with new mounts, and struts are assembled and ready to go in tomorrow am. Should be done tomorrow. I've only had about an hour or two at a time to work this.

Ran into a big road block with moving the springs. I used a set of inexpensive Amazon spring compressors. Great for helping to get the struts in/out of the car. But they weren't any good for compressing the springs enough to get them onto the fsd's. No matter how I attached the compressors when I removed the top spring land from the old struts the springs would pop up a bit. Then i,couldn't compress the springs enough to mount them on the fsd's. Ended up after a few hours (no impact gun) of manually wrenching the spring compressors trying various tricks taking the struts over to ntb to mount the new springs. Should have done this from the get go. They only charged me 70 to remove the spring from1 old struts and install both springs on with new mounts on the new struts. Heck my spring compressors cost 35. The time savings alone was worth it on the other strut. Might be different if you have a good spring compressor and impact gun.

[Thecastle]

Koni fsd install complete. I also replaced the strut bearings, strut bumps stops, shock upper and lower shock mounts etc. I'll give my opinions after some driving.

As far as the install goes, it was a pain, had to use spring compressors to get the struts to fit under the fender. Otherwise it was straight forward. Almost wish I replaced my brake pads as I had to flully dissasemble the calipers and it would have been ears to add some stop techs

[Yozh]

Although this has been discussed in the Suspension sub forum. I thought I would share anyway. Because I really have no time to do everything, and have all these wonderful suspension bits laying around, I had decided to at least install an M3 E93 Front Sway Bar with proper M3 bushings, links are old and so is everything else (stock for now). Amazing what a change in 2mm diameter would do.

Objective evidence: given the same on-ramp/off-ramp, my wife can tolerate higher speed without kicking and screaming Otherwise, turn-in is slightly better, roll is noticeably less, feels a tad stiffer.

May be doing things one at a time has it's purpose of evaluating the effect of changes. Next, onto replacing the rest of the suspension bits.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Just a note, I had to compress the springs to get the assembly back into the vehicle (if anyone knows a way to get them back in there without compressing the spring I'd be interested in learning that trick). So having a spring compressor available for the install would be a good idea.

TDI what is your verdict on the FSDs? I like them to the extent my ride quality has improved and my old shocks were worn out.

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

TDI what is your verdict on the FSDs? I like them to the extent my ride quality has improved and my old shocks were worn out.

From a qualitative point of view, I found the ride quality shifted in a direction that I found pleasing. And I hadn't done a swap like this before, so it was an interesting learning experience. Overall I'm pleased with the whole thing.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

you see i told you guys those FSD's were awesome!!!

[Mik325tds]

Finished the install of the FSD's today. For me it was pretty straight forward, even though it was a lot of work for the fronts. I found it quite astonishing that the FSDs are about 3cm longer than the original dampers (M-sport version). That made it easy to transfer the springs from the old struts to the new ones.
I used a slightly different technique than displayed in the video that TDI shared: Instead of leaving the hub connected to the steering and control arms, I completely removed the hub and thus had no problems with the reinstallation of the longer struts. See pics:

[Mik325tds]

One thing to watch out for is to move the two washers from the old strut to the new one. I do recommend replacing the guide support (upper strut bearing). Also, I used the McPherson spring compressor rent from Autozone. Works quite well.

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by Mik325tds

...
I used a slightly different technique than displayed in the video that TDI shared: Instead of leaving the hub connected to the steering and control arms, I completely removed the hub and thus had no problems with the reinstallation of the longer struts. See pics:

Interesting. How much extra time/work did this involve? And was there anything non-intuitive with this step?

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

you see i told you guys those FSD's were awesome!!!

PR Just like you I really like the FSDs a lot, but my sport suspension still floats too much. Thanks to the advice of folks like sukutash, I have started to swap out some of the suspension components for M3 equipment. So far, so good. The following has been put on my car.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-335...Arm/ES2794964/

The kit above has definitely sharpened up handling and mitigated the bouncy rear end. I will also be upgrading to an M3 rear sway bar. I can't decide about the rear sub-frame bushings, i.e., going to all metal given my concerns about harshness. In any event, with the FSDs and the M3 upgrade above the car's handling is a lot better and it has definitely taken some of the 75K miles out of the ride.

[Mik325tds]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Interesting. How much extra time/work did this involve? And was there anything non-intuitive with this step?

Maybe about 20-30 minutes more time than not removing the whole hub. On the other hand I might have saved some time not needing to leave the spring compressor on for installing the strut.
I was a bit surprised how easy it was to remove the control arms and steering arm. I remember on older cars there was a lot of banging involved to get them out of their seat. But these ones already turned while trying to remove the nuts and practically fell out after removing the nut. Now, even though my car has 105kmiles on it, it has never seen salt so far. Maybe that made things easier.
I think it took me about 1.5 hours for the back and 7hours total for the front struts (including the occasional neighbours and postman walking up and chatting).