[Frobius]

Piss.

Went to drive home last night. Took my foot off the brake and ther was a clunk. Thought it might have been a sticky pad binding but it started making more noise. Manage to limp up to our works garage and the front right spring snapped in the middle!

I've not been able to look properly but it seems that the springs been rubbing between the wheel and the tyre just in he gap between the rim and the rim protector.

Naturally, nobody had any stock of any springs that will fit so I'm going home in a van tonight!

BMW want £550+ to replace both front springs! After a bit of ringing round I've managed to get a pair of Lesjofors(?) springs for just over a ton and I will swap them over on Monday. What a pain in the tits!

[Billyray911]

Had the same a few weeks ago-BMW wanted £1700!
Know you will,but check the inside of your tyre-I had one of my winters written off as it had a deep score on the inside rim...

[Frobius]

Shitbags, that's pretty much where the damage is on mine. I don't think it's gone that deep though from what I can tell. £1700!!! Wow, what else went wrong?

[Danny.B.]

If you can wait a week my springs are coming off buddy!

[Billyray911]

They noticed that three shocks were misting-all classified as wear and tear so wouldn't be covered by warrant!y.
Wanted £260 for wheel alignment too.Politely told them to fack-orf and changed the lot.
Hope yours isn't as bad as mine and its (broken spring) apparently quite a common issue,according to my Indy...

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Frobius

BMW want £550+ to replace both front springs! After a bit of ringing round I've managed to get a pair of Lesjofors(?) springs for just over a ton and I will swap them over on Monday. What a pain in the tits!

bad luck..

£550? that must be fitting too? IIRC from 2012 springs were only about £80 each from BMW? (£320 for 4)

If you want to match exactly the OE spring then you have to get the exact spec from BMW, there is no such thing as a 'standard' one.

The only way is to go to the dealers and go on their parts computer, trawl through to your model, tick the options you have (which effect the spring number) and it will tell you the spring part.

With uprated springs its not such an issue, but factory ones are set for vehicle weight, so you might end up too high or too low if you aren't spot on.

You have a heavy engined 330d, auto? sunroof? these are all heavy options and will need a longer spring to sit right.

[Frobius]

Originally Posted by doughboy

bad luck..

£550? that must be fitting too? IIRC from 2012 springs were only about £80 each from BMW? (£320 for 4)

If you want to match exactly the OE spring then you have to get the exact spec from BMW, there is no such thing as a 'standard' one.

The only way is to go to the dealers and go on their parts computer, trawl through to your model, tick the options you have (which effect the spring number) and it will tell you the spring part.

With uprated springs its not such an issue, but factory ones are set for vehicle weight, so you might end up too high or too low if you aren't spot on.

You have a heavy engined 330d, auto? sunroof? these are all heavy options and will need a longer spring to sit right.

Yeah I got the part number from the spring table on ETK, but they're £75 + vat and are not in stock in the UK. Funny how other car manufacturers don't change their springs according to options!

I think the bulk of the weight is in the engine and auto box and the springs I've ordered are for just that. We will see I guess.

[gsr]

Originally Posted by Billyray911

Had the same a few weeks ago-BMW wanted £1700!
Know you will,but check the inside of your tyre-I had one of my winters written off as it had a deep score on the inside rim...

Exactly the same happened to me on Wednesday. Front drivers side spring went, gouged exactly the same trough in my winter tyre.
Phoned BMW hoping ( and it was a big hope!) that they would replace the springs under warranty as a gesture of goodwill ( pay £480 a year and have claimed once!) but no!
Got AA to tow me to a local garage who replaced both springs, swapped the winter tyres for my summer set as they couldn't get a matching winter tyre until the following day, alignment for £312 all in.
Still need to change winter tyre but have some time to play with!!
Now have my new alloys and tyres on (bit earlier than anticipated) but boy, they look good.
Will post pics when I have a mo!

[Billyray911]

Originally Posted by gsr

Exactly the same happened to me on Wednesday. Front drivers side spring went, gouged exactly the same trough in my winter tyre.
Phoned BMW hoping ( and it was a big hope!) that they would replace the springs under warranty as a gesture of goodwill ( pay 480 a year and have claimed once!) but no!
Got AA to tow me to a local garage who replaced both springs, swapped the winter tyres for my summer set as they couldn't get a matching winter tyre until the following day, alignment for 312 all in.
Still need to change winter tyre but have some time to play with!!
Now have my new alloys and tyres on (bit earlier than anticipated) but boy, they look good.
Will post pics when I have a mo!

Mirrors my experience too.As soon as Sytner started coming the twat over the warranty,I had the car transferred to my Indy.
Bought some KSD shocks and Eibach springs and a new winter-jobs a good 'un!

[xPETEZx]

This seems to be quiet common!
And what a range of prices to fix.

I had this happen in my old Ford Mondeo. Luckily there it never damaged my tyre.

[Frobius]

Hmm. I bet they said that at Rev.3 too! ^^

[parapaul]

*cough* Eibach *cough*

[Giff]

Originally Posted by parapaul

*cough* Eibach *cough*

Most definately!

[Frobius]

Thought about that, but eibach only do the pro-kit for the 330d which gives little to no drop. Plus, I'd have to pay twice the labour to get the rears changed over too.

[xPETEZx]

Is this the m sport springs or se springs that have this issue?

[seanblee]

I can't understand how they can call a complete spring failure 'wear and tear'. The springs should last the life of the car - it's only a coil of metal. If it snaps, surely that implies faulty manufacturing (like a bubble in the metal or a flaw with the compound)?

[E90325iM-SPORT]

I had same problems with springs on e46 and my mate on him m3 e46 . Bmw spring are w.....k . Eibach ordered for my e90 even if oem not snapped yet.

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by Frobius

Thought about that, but eibach only do the pro-kit for the 330d which gives little to no drop. Plus, I'd have to pay twice the labour to get the rears changed over too.

Two ways of looking at it...

Little drop means not noticeable means no need to declare...

The other way to look at it is that they actually do drop quite nicely - have a look back through my threads for before and after pics. I'm very happy.

And it shouldn't be twice the labour - it's a very simple job swapping the rears - literally a couple of bolts.

Edit: pics here

[Frobius]

Balls. I've already ordered the replacement fronts at £110. Could have got the pro kit from M style for £160 plus delivery.

Meh, I was desperate and I need my car back on the road.

[F31-340i]

are you going to diy this frobius? is it easy?

for £110 its less than the cost of a damaged tyre, so might be worth doing before one breaks...

[Frobius]

Semi DIY. I've got access to a garage and all the tools, oh and a mechanic to help when I can't figure stuff out.

[Frobius]

All done in 3 hours. Was really lucky and there's been very little if any damage to the tyre. Weirdly, on the break between the two bits of spring, there was very little clean metal, probably 75% of the surface of the break was rusted over. Makes me think that it was cracked before and it just finally went. In fact about 5cm either side if where it broke, the spring was rusty.

Bastard £132 inc vat for the two springs mind. Could have got a full set of eibach pros from m style for £155! That said, I clip high kerbs when I park at the moment so dropping it any more would to make that worse.

Plus, labour was only £60 all in so saved there!

Last bit, the BMW TIS and the Haynes manual both say that you have to remove the whole hub and whatnot before you remove the strut. Not necessary, yes it's tight but you can get the strut, hub, calliper and disc assembly out complete but just disconnecting the steering rack and ftabs. Just in case you were interested!