Front shock absorbers guide support problem - BMW Forum

nos · 07-13-2009, 04:10 PM

Hey guys, i have changed yesterday both front guide supports, and i have a strange problem...my car front is higher with almost 3 centimeters than before. I have ordered the parts from the bmw representative, original parts, and i don't understand this situation. The new guide supports are a little bit different than the old ones, but they have fitted perfectly into my car, but she's staying more higher than before. Can it be wrong parts, i mean, if these guided supports are from the e39 or e81 models could they fit on my car's body and also with the suspension? Or maybe there are more than one type of supports for the e36 model? I have a e36 325i coupe (not m3 technic) build 07/1992.
Thanks guys.

SHAHAB323IS · 07-13-2009, 08:12 PM

can you post a picture of what a guide support is. I'm not sure what you mean. If you're referring to springs? Then the old ones were probably old and tired and caused the front to sag.

bmwinsider · 07-13-2009, 08:35 PM

IF you just put them on drive around within 3 -5 miles it should come down to normal height. That is if there is any stress on the new parts ( it will seat itself) yes there are different parts for this app.

nos · 07-14-2009, 03:13 PM

Hey guys. The correct name for that part (i assume ) is STRUT MOUNT, i didn't knew it in English, sorry...I made some research today and yes, you were wright sahab, the old ones were there from 1992 when the car was born!

And of course, they were very tired, and lowered the front with approx 2 cm! But they didn't have absolute any gap until one week ago when i ran into a big pothole...
So the old model is not in production anymore (picture 1) and it was replaced with the new aluminium model (picture 2), using the same technology as for the newer bmw models.

The problem is now that my car is staying higher in the front than in the back, and for that i have ordered also the back strut mounts, and i will change it on thursday, of course, i'll come back to you with news.

SHAHAB323IS · 07-14-2009, 04:40 PM

sounds good, hope that works out for you.

nos · 07-26-2009, 02:02 PM

Hey guys, i managed to change the rear strut mounts, but it didn't solve the height of the car. I have made some more research and found out that those strut mounts can deform in time, especially if you have stiff sport suspension. So i re-tuned the front and rear suspension, in order to be as the bmw tech specs for the sport suspensions. Here are the dimensions, measured from the center of wheel arch to bottom of wheel rim ( for 17" wheels and sport suspension).

Front - 560 mm (22.05 inches)
Rear - 535 mm (21.06 inches)

Thanks for your support.

qualicas · 07-27-2009, 10:44 PM

Make sure your springs are properly seated. If they are turned slightly they would not fit the top and bottoms properly causing the car to sit higher.