Spring & Struts

[bgwoody]

I have a 97 540 and I.m thinking of purchasing front & rear springs and struts from a 2002 M5. Will this bolt up?

[Torque]

Originally posted by bgwoody@Feb 12 2005, 12:29 PM
I have a 97 540 and I.m thinking of purchasing front & rear springs and struts from a 2002 M5. Will this bolt up?

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yes

[Dirty_Tool]

yes but keep in mind this will not lower the car, it will actually make it sit slightly higher.

DT

[BeelZibub]

Erm.... I don't know if it will make an 540 sit higher as they have the nice heavy V8 4.4 (In fact I'm sure it won't) but it would definetly make one of the I6's sit higher as they weigh less. But either way, please bear in mind that for a full set up you will need the dampers, bushes and sway bars also, to balance out the set and make her sit properly.

One of the problems with dropping an e39 is that they tend to sit awkwardly and scrub the inside shoulders of the tyres unless you change the bushes and swing arms (sorry sway arms in US speak).

[billB]

Originally posted by Dirty_Tool+Feb 12 2005, 11:54 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dirty_Tool @ Feb 12 2005, 11:54 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>yes but keep in mind this will not lower the car, it will actually make it sit slightly higher.

DT

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[/b]

<!--QuoteBegin-BeelZibub@Feb 12 2005, 07:11 PM
Erm....* I don't know if it will make an 540 sit higher as they have the nice heavy V8 4.4 (In fact I'm sure it won't)* but it would definetly make one of the I6's sit higher as they weigh less. But either way, please bear in mind that for a full set up you will need the dampers, bushes and sway bars also, to balance out the set and make her sit properly.

One of the problems with dropping an e39 is that they tend to sit awkwardly and scrub the inside shoulders of the tyres unless you change the bushes and swing arms (sorry sway arms in US speak).

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[/quote]


The real question becomes whether the engine of 97 540 is in fact lighter (in weight) than the 2002 M5's........I am assuming "slightly higher in DT's remark" refers to the lighter wieght of 97 540 V8 engine. The M5's is heavier, isn't it?

[Torque]

308lbs - M62 V8
348lbs - S62 V8

I don't think those 40 lbs will make it sit higher... I think there will be a drop. Probably very slight, but a drop nonetheless.

[bgwoody]

I really don't whan to change the sway bar It looks like too much work I will replace the upper and lower arms though I hope I don't screw up the handling its so easy to do! The M5 struts and springs are matched white paint code on the front springs and green paint on the rears. I can't seem to find what the meaning of this code anywhere? Probably what transmission and acc. installed? Mines an auto. Any ideas Thanx Bill

[jmig]

Originally posted by bgwoody@Feb 12 2005, 08:42 PM
I really don't whan to change the sway bar It looks like too much work I will replace the upper and lower arms though I hope I don't screw up the handling its so easy to do! The M5 struts and springs are matched white paint code on the front springs and green paint on the rears. I can't seem to find what the meaning of this code anywhere? Probably what transmission and acc. installed? Mines an auto. Any ideas Thanx Bill

[snapback]290697[/snapback]

I replaced springs, struts, shocks and rear sway on my 97 540 6 speed and while doing so met a guy local in MD. that had put M5 springs, struts and springs on his 540 and it did raise his car. He ended putting his sport springs back on.

Do you have sport suspension? I did and wanted to lower my car so I went with H&R sport springs and Bilsteins sport struts and shocks. Also the rear sway is a easy DIY, the front is another story.

[bgwoody]

Originally posted by jmig+Feb 13 2005, 05:47 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmig @ Feb 13 2005, 05:47 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-bgwoody@Feb 12 2005, 08:42 PM
I really don't whan to change the sway bar It looks like too much work I will replace the upper and lower arms though I hope I don't screw up the handling its so easy to do!* The M5 struts and springs are matched white paint code on the front springs and green paint on the rears. I can't seem to find what the meaning of this code anywhere? Probably what transmission and acc. installed? Mines an auto.* Any ideas Thanx Bill

[snapback]290697[/snapback]

I replaced springs, struts, shocks and rear sway on my 97 540 6 speed and while doing so met a guy local in MD. that had put M5 springs, struts and springs on his 540 and it did raise his car. He ended putting his sport springs back on.

Do you have sport suspension? I did and wanted to lower my car so I went with H&R sport springs and Bilsteins sport struts and shocks. Also the rear sway is a easy DIY, the front is another story.

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[/b][/quote] No my car isn't the sport (wish it was) At 100K the bushing are shot and the shocks should be going soon. This local guy replaced his M5 struts & springs with Dinion stuff at 3K miles and I firgured what the hell I replaced struts and control arms on my E34 and swore I'd never do it again. But when I get price quotes I find myself digging out the tools. Maybe I'll just replace the bushings and call it good. Bill

[Dirty_Tool]

Once again it WILL sit higher. I never said anything about the engine having anything to do with it. Go and measure ride height on an M5 as compared to a 540 and you will see. I have done 2 540-m5 suspension swaps. measured both before and after, it sits higher. Did you think that I just pulled this out of my butt?

DT

[billB]

Originally posted by Dirty_Tool@Feb 14 2005, 02:22 AM
Once again it WILL sit higher. I never said anything about the engine having anything to do with it. Go and measure ride height on an M5 as compared to a 540 and you will see. I have done 2 540-m5 suspension swaps. measured both before and after, it sits higher. Did you think that I just pulled this out of my butt?

DT

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I did mention the engine as a possibilty so if it is not an engine issue what is it? the answer may help us understand more and make your point. Is it simply a higher suspension by design/default..period.

[Dirty_Tool]

Originally posted by billB+Feb 14 2005, 03:36 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(billB @ Feb 14 2005, 03:36 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Dirty_Tool@Feb 14 2005, 02:22 AM
Once again it WILL sit higher. I never said anything about the engine having anything to do with it. Go and measure ride height on an M5 as compared to a 540 and you will see. I have done 2 540-m5 suspension swaps. measured both before and after, it sits higher. Did you think that I just pulled this out of my butt?

DT

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I did mention the engine as a possibilty so if it is not an engine issue what is it? the answer may help us understand more and make your point. Is it simply a higher suspension by design/default..period.

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[/b][/quote]


Yes it is just higher by design. Although you wouldnt think that it would be I learned this by doing the swaps that I did. Just because it sits higher doesnt mean it doesnt handle because we all know it handles amazingly. But I just wanted to warn people doing the swap that of they are doing it to lower the car then that is not the result they will get.

DT

[billB]

Originally posted by Dirty_Tool+Feb 14 2005, 01:18 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dirty_Tool @ Feb 14 2005, 01:18 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>

I did mention the engine as a possibilty so if it is not an engine issue what is it? the answer may help us understand more and make your point. Is it simply a higher suspension by design/default..period.

[snapback]291631[/snapback]

Yes it is just higher by design. Although you wouldnt think that it would be I learned this by doing the swaps that I did. Just because it sits higher doesnt mean it doesnt handle because we all know it handles amazingly. But I just wanted to warn people doing the swap that of they are doing it to lower the car then that is not the result they will get.

DT

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[/b][/quote]

Fair enough; it is the M5 stuff that is higher by design.....thanks DT and I rest my case....You are the authority..that much I know

[BeelZibub]

Well blow me down with a feather, just looked up some figures at BMW UK and came up with this:

m5 height = 1437
540 height = 1435

So yep the ///M is higher by 2cm on a standard e39 or 17cm if you have an e39 sport.