Rear suspension starting to feel loose/sloppy

daMau · 05-25-2013, 05:01 PM

2007 335i, 59k miles. I have noticed (and my fiancé has pointed it out as a passenger) in the last couple months that my rear suspension is starting to feel a bit loose/sloppy. After bumps and dips, the rear end feels a bit unsettled, and it sways a bit when recovering. It's not extreme, but it's a little noticeable. It actually feels a lot like my stock 135i did, which were known for sloppy rear sub frame bushings when switched to non-RFT. It's particularly unsettled if only one side of the car hits a bump.

The front tension arms and tie rod ends were replaced about 10k miles. I jacked the rear up the other night and grabbed the wheels but didn't feel any looseness.

I am thinking my rear sub-frame bushings may be going bad, but is that really possible after only 60k miles? I was pretty surprised when my front tension arm bushings went at only 40k. I am thinking about going full M3 suspension updates, but have actually been very happy with the stock sport suspension.

Any thoughts or experience with this? Any other troubleshooting tips? Want to make sure I am on the right track before I starting dumping money into expensive suspension mods/repairs.

pocoyo_3 · 05-25-2013, 05:21 PM

I wanted to ask if you are still on the original shocks? They could be gone too.

Replaced my original shocks after 70k miles and switched to Bilstein HD's. That transformed it.

daMau · 05-25-2013, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my325i

I wanted to ask if you are still on the original shocks? They could be gone too.

Replaced my original shocks after 70k miles and switched to Bilstein HD's. That transformed it.

Yes still on original shocks. It doesn't really feel bouncy under normal driving though. It's particularly unsettled if only one side of the car hits a bump. Could this still be shocks?

e679 · 05-25-2013, 11:01 PM

The rear dampers are almost dead if not totally.
Is time to upgrade. Congrats!

pocoyo_3 · 05-25-2013, 11:14 PM

The big difference between worn shocks and new shocks is not so much the initial response to the bump as much as how much the suspension movement is contained after the initial response. Worn shocks lead to the car feeling unsettled and bouncy. Your symptoms do sound like that.

Some thoughts on shocks. You can go with OEM, or you could also go aftermarket with a set of Konis or Bilsteins. I haven't tried the Koni shocks but I am very happy with my Bilstein HD's. They are more aggressive than the OEM sports suspension shocks, so the ride is a little firmer, but the car feels a lot more controlled.

I would also think about replacing the mounts if you are doing the shocks. You may as well as it will only be parts costs for the mounts. There should not be any labour as they would have to change the mounts from the old shocks to the new shocks in any case.

daMau · 05-26-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my325i

The big difference between worn shocks and new shocks is not so much the initial response to the bump as much as how much the suspension movement is contained after the initial response. Worn shocks lead to the car feeling unsettled and bouncy. Your symptoms do sound like that.

Some thoughts on shocks. You can go with OEM, or you could also go aftermarket with a set of Konis or Bilsteins. I haven't tried the Koni shocks but I am very happy with my Bilstein HD's. They are more aggressive than the OEM sports suspension shocks, so the ride is a little firmer, but the car feels a lot more controlled.

I would also think about replacing the mounts if you are doing the shocks. You may as well as it will only be parts costs for the mounts. There should not be any labour as they would have to change the mounts from the old shocks to the new shocks in any case.

Thank you, very helpful! Never upset my hand is forced to upgrade. Ill have to start doing some research, but any thoughts on replacing just the shocks vs going coilovers? Price appears to be an obvious factor.

pocoyo_3 · 05-26-2013, 11:17 AM

Upgrading is fun. Coilovers sounds like you are looking at a more serious upgrade. I went the shocks only route as I wanted to keep the car close to stock in terms of the ride and cost was a factor. I didn't look into coilovers at the time but it's worth researching. Much of the cost with these things is labour, unless you can DIY.

Wish I was able to give you a more helpful answer.

CALWATERBOY · 05-26-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dMau1986

Thank you, very helpful! Never upset my hand is forced to upgrade. Ill have to start doing some research, but any thoughts on replacing just the shocks vs going coilovers? Price appears to be an obvious factor.

If running stock suspension, Koni FSD's are an excellent choice. Designed and matched to stock springs - difficult to do better. DIY?

daMau · 05-26-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

If running stock suspension, Koni FSD's are an excellent choice. Designed and matched to stock springs - difficult to do better. DIY?

Ya unless its prohibitively difficult or I can't find the time, I will DIY. I had coilovers installed on my 135i, but they were inexpensive STs. I was very happy with them, but I would worry about the lifespan on my 335i, which I plan to keep for a while.

Not sure I really want to lower the car, and if I did, it would have to be adjustable for the winter months.

I take the Koni and Bilstein shocks are slightly stiffer than stock? Any knowledge on the lifespan compared to stock? Sounds like the route I might go unless I bite the cost and get some 2-way adjustable KW V2s.

r0nd3L · 05-27-2013, 12:15 AM

The alignment could cause that as well. After I installed coilovers and prior to doing alignment on my 135i, the rear end was all over the place. Hitting a bump on one side would throw the car sideways a bit. I thought it was weak subframe bushings coupled with 700# springs, but after the alignment car drove perfect.

CALWATERBOY · 05-28-2013, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dMau1986

Ya unless its prohibitively difficult or I can't find the time, I will DIY. I had coilovers installed on my 135i, but they were inexpensive STs. I was very happy with them, but I would worry about the lifespan on my 335i, which I plan to keep for a while.

Not sure I really want to lower the car, and if I did, it would have to be adjustable for the winter months.

I take the Koni and Bilstein shocks are slightly stiffer than stock? Any knowledge on the lifespan compared to stock? Sounds like the route I might go unless I bite the cost and get some 2-way adjustable KW V2s.

I did many mods in one go - found my Yellows slightly stiffer than stock at low speed; significantly smoother @ medium-high speed. Some of that was Delrin, some sways & coilovers, some rear bushings. But overall I'm very satisfied with Yellows....goes around a corner now....

FSD's reputed to be similar. Either way, pothole explosions are history.

05-25-2013, 05:01 PM	#1
daMau Second Lieutenant 45 Rep 238 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0)	Rear suspension starting to feel loose/sloppy 2007 335i, 59k miles. I have noticed (and my fiancé has pointed it out as a passenger) in the last couple months that my rear suspension is starting to feel a bit loose/sloppy. After bumps and dips, the rear end feels a bit unsettled, and it sways a bit when recovering. It's not extreme, but it's a little noticeable. It actually feels a lot like my stock 135i did, which were known for sloppy rear sub frame bushings when switched to non-RFT. It's particularly unsettled if only one side of the car hits a bump. The front tension arms and tie rod ends were replaced about 10k miles. I jacked the rear up the other night and grabbed the wheels but didn't feel any looseness. I am thinking my rear sub-frame bushings may be going bad, but is that really possible after only 60k miles? I was pretty surprised when my front tension arm bushings went at only 40k. I am thinking about going full M3 suspension updates, but have actually been very happy with the stock sport suspension. Any thoughts or experience with this? Any other troubleshooting tips? Want to make sure I am on the right track before I starting dumping money into expensive suspension mods/repairs. Last edited by daMau; 05-25-2013 at 10:54 PM..
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05-25-2013, 05:21 PM	#2
pocoyo_3 First Lieutenant 52 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2006 330i / 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	I wanted to ask if you are still on the original shocks? They could be gone too. Replaced my original shocks after 70k miles and switched to Bilstein HD's. That transformed it. __________________ 1999 E46 323i / Jet Black / Black Leather / 6MT / Sports Package / Heated Seats 2006 E90 325i / Jet Black / Black Leatherette / 6MT / Sports Package / Cold Weather 2011 E90 335i / Slate Grey / Black Leatherette / 6MT / M-Sport Package / Heated Seats 2014 F30 328i / Alpine White / Black Sensatec / 8AT (2TB) / ZMM / 494 / 609 / ZDA / ZLP 2015 F22 M235i / Alpine White / 6MT / ZTP / ZPP / ZDA / 494 / ZDM
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05-25-2013, 11:01 PM	#4
e679 Private First Class 9 Rep 117 Posts Drives: E93 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	The rear dampers are almost dead if not totally. Is time to upgrade. Congrats! __________________ E93 335i Alpine White, 19" Works, PSS, M3 arms, M3 bushings,M3 E93 FSB/E92 RSB, powerflex rear diff bush. AST 5100 with M3 rear camber arms. GC street plates.
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05-25-2013, 11:14 PM	#5
pocoyo_3 First Lieutenant 52 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2006 330i / 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	The big difference between worn shocks and new shocks is not so much the initial response to the bump as much as how much the suspension movement is contained after the initial response. Worn shocks lead to the car feeling unsettled and bouncy. Your symptoms do sound like that. Some thoughts on shocks. You can go with OEM, or you could also go aftermarket with a set of Konis or Bilsteins. I haven't tried the Koni shocks but I am very happy with my Bilstein HD's. They are more aggressive than the OEM sports suspension shocks, so the ride is a little firmer, but the car feels a lot more controlled. I would also think about replacing the mounts if you are doing the shocks. You may as well as it will only be parts costs for the mounts. There should not be any labour as they would have to change the mounts from the old shocks to the new shocks in any case.
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05-26-2013, 11:17 AM	#7
pocoyo_3 First Lieutenant 52 Rep 352 Posts Drives: 2006 330i / 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Upgrading is fun. Coilovers sounds like you are looking at a more serious upgrade. I went the shocks only route as I wanted to keep the car close to stock in terms of the ride and cost was a factor. I didn't look into coilovers at the time but it's worth researching. Much of the cost with these things is labour, unless you can DIY. Wish I was able to give you a more helpful answer.
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05-27-2013, 12:15 AM	#10
r0nd3L Second Lieutenant 50 Rep 217 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Naples, FL iTrader: (0)	The alignment could cause that as well. After I installed coilovers and prior to doing alignment on my 135i, the rear end was all over the place. Hitting a bump on one side would throw the car sideways a bit. I thought it was weak subframe bushings coupled with 700# springs, but after the alignment car drove perfect.
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