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EDC rebuild update

117K views 558 replies 85 participants last post by  AseanAero 
#1 · (Edited)
A few people have been asking me what's going on with this so I thought I'd update everyone

I was sick to death of this on-going EDC drama so a couple of months ago I started to seriously research a solution. After much searching I found a specialist suspension company who had the ability, but more to the point had the will to help us. These guys have many many years of experience with all manner of road and race suspension, they specialise in rebuilding old Ferrari and Lamborghini shocks amongst other things, and the boss is a good guy which is so important in these situations

Bottom line is that he's willing to help us. He currently has 2 front and 2 rear units in pieces and he's sourcing all of the necessary seals and gas sacs. They have the ability to manufacture their own seals if necessary so he's not anticipating any problems. There's nothing complex in the units and he's quite confident he can turn these around for us. Rebuild units would come totally refurbed, repainted and would be tested on their suspension dyno before being released. This is not just a hydraulics company, this is a bona fide suspension specialist who has all of these facilities in house, blast cabinets, dyno etc etc

The plan is the same as it always was, he'll hold a set of refurbed units in stock, people will buy them from him and pay a deposit which they will get back when they return their own units which will be refurbed for the next person

Target price is £100 per rear leg and £150 per front leg inc. VAT :cool:

I should be able to update you again next week. We will need to get him all of the blown units we have as there will be occasions where a solenoid or hardened shaft is too damaged to re-use so he has to salvage parts from another leg. Having said that, they can source the solenoids direct and manufacture their own rods if necessary but it would put the price up dramatically so while there are so many blown units available they might as well be recycled

More info soon :)
 
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#441 ·
Hello,
Any one contacted Jon and got EDC legs rebuilt already?
John has been off ill for most of the week with a bug. As I explained to you in your PM I will speak to him as soon as he's back but sending a set of legs out to Taiwan will slow things down quite a bit I'd imagine. Do you want to send yours in for rebuild or have an exchange set sent out? Because I can tell you that of the 10 or so enquiries Jon's working through, despite the option for people to have their own units rebuilt, everyone has gone for the exchange option so with effectively one set available there's going to be a bit of a log jam...

One guy has just received his rebuilt units, what he did was to buy a second hand set and have them sent to Jon for rebuild as he needed them in a hurry, he's now going to donate his 4 old legs to the cause to speed the process up for everyone else :cool:
 
#442 ·
Thanks. I think I will send my set for rebuild, because I not so hurry for them.

But need to know about the VAT and the shipping cost and what need to ship for rear leg. if the cost to Taiwan is so expensive, may I will ask to ship to Germany to my friend.
 
#443 ·
Good, sending yours in for rebuild is no problem at all. You need to strip the legs down as far as possible, he only needs the bare leg. I think that you'll need to pay the VAT then claim it back and as for shipping cost, I'll chase Jon up on Monday when he's back and get him to reply to your Email :)
 
#445 ·
I can't think of a better test for a set of rebuilt EDC legs than thrashing them around the place where they were developed. I'll be very interested to hear your feedback when you return, and if you could get the old legs down to Jon next week that would be wonderful :cool:
 
#446 ·
First Impressions

Well, i finally got the car back yesterday after it spending 2 weeks in the garage being treated to all manner of new bits and bobs, including all new suspension.
I've only done about 40-50 miles since i got it back, but the difference is quite amazing. The P setting gives it almost perfect ride quality on the road, with the car feeling much more stable at both low and high speeds. Round town it soaks up bumps and potholes with ease, and doesn't nod its head everytime i tap the brakes. The S setting is even better, inspiring confidence in the cars ability to corner at high speed with minimal roll, it feels incredibly planted on the road, and the "floaty" sensation is completely gone. Feedback through the wheel and the seat is brilliant, with me being able to feel what the car is doing beneath me. Low speed on the S setting is a little jittery, especially on broken surfaces, but i expected that to be honest.
In addition to the suspension i added poly bushes to the front (only one bush each side as the others weren't up to standard and were returned to the factory before they reached me), new top mounts and springs all round and rear anti-roll bar bushes, and Rogue Engineering transmission mounts. All in it has transformed the car into something similar to what it was like when it was new, which i am delighted with. It's ultimate test will be next week when i'm off to the 'Ring for a few days so we'll see how it stacks up on my return.
 
#450 ·
I'm with you on that one Mike...Glad the Nürburgring deal finally came to be.
 
#454 · (Edited)
BEWARE !



While the service is still being advertised as available, you may want to read this before you send anything to Sportsline, especially if you ever want to get the items you've sent, returned.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3...ld-exchange-service-any-good.html#post1379483

On Friday 5Sep08 it will be 15 weeks since I placed my order with Sportsline and I still do not have either of the shipments they claimed to have sent to me. Neither shipment was sent using a "trackable" mail service, despite me being willing to pay for a trackable mail service and actually requesting that a trackable service be used.

I am in the process of having someone in the UK attempt to get the parts on my behalf. That process started in the first week of August. It's now the first week in September. While I hope this will result in Sportsline shipping the parts, I believe that a delay of 4 weeks means it's very unlikely.

By using a cheap and nasty mail service, the cost of the sent parts cannot be recovered nor can the parts be tracked. I suspect they believe I have the parts. If they had been smart enough to send the parts using a trackable mail service, they would know I don't have the parts. I suspect their need to blame someone else for the problems thay have caused, is the reason why they are refusing to send a third shipment using a trackable mail service. Let's face it, when Sportsline chose to send the parts without using a trackable delivery service, they accepted the risk of the shipment going missing. Given I wanted to use a trackable mail service, I was not willing to accept the associated risk.

There are claims that other people have successfully used the exchange service, but no-one on this board has actually stated that. Just be aware, that once you send your shocks to Sportsline, based on my experience, you may NEVER see them again.


Regards,

Reg.
 
#453 ·
Just beware of one thing guys.

The rebuild damper stiffness is not the same as stock. It's a little bit harder and the different between P and S is less than with standard BMW dampers.

I''ve been back to Sportsline with my dampers to have them wound down but they are still harder than stock.

The whole thing works and will last in my opinion.

Just bare the above in mind.
 
#458 ·
well sorry about that then, I´we read your other thread but it was a while ago and those other occasions escaped my attention....
To add to the documentation, there is a M5 touring for sale here in Norway, and the owner claims the dampers have been rebuilt recently(matching the method that sportsline uses and I´m not aware of any firm here that does that) so looks like at least one car outside GB has succeeded in this....

I know that you wrote "based on my experience" but the conclusion being that its almost sure(understated) that one does not get the dampers back/delivered, I thought it was a bit exaggerated....
:cheers:
Sakke
 
#460 ·
Thanks

well sorry about that then, I´we read your other thread but it was a while ago and those other occasions escaped my attention....
Thanks. I shouldn't expect everyone to remember all the details. Having my car on jacks for 4 months is a continuous reminder for me.

the owner claims the dampers have been rebuilt recently(matching the method that sportsline uses and I´m not aware of any firm here that does that) so looks like at least one car outside GB has succeeded in this....
Hi Sakke.

If Sportsline were the source of the parts, why wouldn't he have written "sourced from Sportsline" ? When someone goes to the trouble of writing "matching the method that Sportsline uses", I think it's a fair bet that Sportsline was not the source of the parts, but I'm happy to be proved wrong if you find out Sportsline were in fact the suppliers.

I know that you wrote "based on my experience" but the conclusion being that its almost sure(understated) that one does not get the dampers back/delivered, I thought it was a bit exaggerated....
:cheers:
Sakke
vive la difference
I agree to disagree and respect you for having the courage and politeness to state your view, although I notice no-one is immune from
becoming involved with appropriate provacation
:cheers:​

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e34-m5-discussion/120591-paging-london-mike.html#post1363445

I embrace enthusiastic participation. :applause:

Reg.
 
#459 ·
Makes me wonder if someone nears Sportsline should start up a service for all of the non-locals of stopping by Sportsline to get the dampers rebuilt or get the rear seals and ship them to the people outside of the UK. Sounds like there's no problems getting service if you're there in person. But there's obviously been problems if you're not there in person.

I'd love to send my fronts in to get them rebuilt. But am not so sure about doing that now.

I need to get a hold of Inkfish and find out if he ever got his dampers rebuilt, or if he just bought new ones. And I still need to get my Peake back from him as well.
 
#461 ·
The add only claims the dampers have been rebuilt PROFESSIONALLY and that everything inside the dampers have been changed... I came to the conclusion that it matches the method used by SL.
As Im fairly sure that there is no one here in scandinavia who rebuilds these dampers professionally , then I`m also fairly convinced of the fact that it has to be SL(altough I have not called the owner of the car). I`m active on fora here in Norway and in Sweden and have contacts to my home country Finland..and the EDC issue is highly relevant as there arer many M5:s here, but I have not heard even a rumour about anyone rebuilding these dampers here....

But of course, as long as I have not called the owner, It may as well be labeled as "unsure".....

:cheers:
Sakke
 
#462 ·
#463 ·
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e34-m5-discussion/120591-paging-london-mike.html#post1363470

In BURTON's post he also claims that Sportsline haven't bothered to respond to either email or phone requests for service, although he doesn't say which service he was requesting.

Reg.
Well service level really seems to be very poor then......This is a major setback. SL seems to be considering this to be more hassle than the income is worth then. It would be interesting to get Jon to comment all this here on the forum....
:cheers:
Sakke
 
#465 ·
At last, a success story, so 1 in 11 !

Hi all.

Today I was PMed by someone who has used the Exchange Service from Sportsline, i.e. sent parts to Sportsline and had them returned. Hopefully a post of the details of how well the service worked, will follow.

Reg.
 
#466 ·
I have just recently contacted Jon at Sportsline regarding a complete set of rebuilt EDC-dampers, and i have received polite answers. As i understand Sportsline has quite many people waiting to get their legs rebulit, and that is the reason for the service being a little slow...Besides it seems like that some are not so fast to return the worn out legs when choosing the "replacement leg option" :nono: However i will hopefully receive a date within a few days when and how my need for rebulit dampers can be solved. Im 100% sure that Jon is doing his best and that we should be grateful that he does this, im confident in that i will become rebulit legs within reasonable time...
 
#468 ·
Good luck. Keep us informed on how you go.

I have just recently contacted Jon at Sportsline regarding a complete set of rebuilt EDC-dampers, and i have received polite answers.
I agree that Jon is polite, he always was with me too.
Besides it seems like that some are not so fast to return the worn out legs when choosing the "replacement leg option" :nono:
All I wanted was the top seal assemblies for the rear shocks. All he had to do was ship the parts he manufactures to rebuild the legs, which I was going to do. Having legs to repair was not issue for the order I placed.
However i will hopefully receive a date within a few days when and how my need for rebulit dampers can be solved.
Every commitment Jon made to me had to be followed up at least 2 or 3 times and the most crucial commitments (shipment tracking numbers and the parts themselves) have not been delivered in 16 weeks.
Im 100% sure that Jon is doing his best and that we should be grateful that he does this, im confident in that i will become rebulit legs within reasonable time...
it's hard to be grateful for non-delivery !
"a reasonable time", 16 weeks is totally unreasonable.
I wish you luck.

Let us know when you get your legs returned. I'm sure there are others who would like to have confidence in this service. The more success stories the better. History says Sportsline deliver poorly and it has nothing to do with not having enough legs, it everything to do with low levels of respect for people who place orders with them.

Reg.
 
#467 ·
If Sportsline are having a problem with the logistics of offering the rebuild service and if other M5 Board members think it would help, I would be happy to act as a middleman. I live very close to Silverstone and would gladly collate orders and organise shipping between Sportsline and M5 Owners. Whilst adding another 'link' in the chain, it may well be of benefit as it will allow the guys at Sportsline to concentrate on doing what they do best. Let me know your thoughts.
 
#469 ·
This may be a perfect solution. There are LOTS of others on this board, as already mentioned, who value Sportsline's services...Let's make this work!

I really hate to see another EDC Rebuild attempt fall down the drain......Again.
 
#471 · (Edited)
Gents
We all want this to work.
We all need this to work.
But, it has to work.

I don't think that anyone in Oz or US or Europe would see the humour in waiting 4 months for parts,
to then find when fitted, that there is limited functionality.
What do I mean ?
Well, if you had rebuilt dampers & you could not detect the switching of the solenoids @ speed / load
or using the dash mounted switch, it would rather defeat the point in having EDC in the first place.

I have a customer who is in dire straights with his front dampers.
He is not the only one !
Do I risk a pair of another customers failed dampers & send them in for rebuild.
Do I then wait months for the parts only to find them behaving like the system has defaulted to
control plane 3 where it "feels" like the solenoid control circuit has failed & the
soleniods have all de-energised.

We hope to get a closer look at the car exibiting this problem in the next couple of weeks so we can clarify
wether electronics or hydraulics is at issue.
I would add that this vehicle has already been run on at least 3 different aftermarket diagnostic tools including
Autologic, Launch & C soft.
That only leaves BMW tester to use.

Cheers
 
#475 · (Edited)
I don't think that anyone in Oz or US or Europe would see the humour in waiting 4 months for parts, to then find when fitted, that there is limited functionality.
What do I mean ?
Well, if you had rebuilt dampers & you could not detect the switching of the solenoids @ speed / load or using the dash mounted switch, it would rather defeat the point in having EDC in the first place.

I have a customer who is in dire straights with his front dampers.
He is not the only one !
Do I risk a pair of another customers failed dampers & send them in for rebuild.
Do I then wait months for the parts only to find them behaving like the system has defaulted to
control plane 3 where it "feels" like the solenoid control circuit has failed & the
soleniods have all de-energised.

We hope to get a closer look at the car exibiting this problem in the next couple of weeks so we can clarify whether electronics or hydraulics is at issue.

Cheers
Hi Farrell and all.



My car had a slow leak from the top seal of both rear shocks.
  1. I was willing to take the gamble that the shocks were working OK and pointed that out at the time of order.
  2. Of the 2 or 3 people who have the solution, only Sal has expressed minor disappointment about the firmness of the ride.
  3. Sportsline agreed to send the parts to me using a trackable mail system.
  4. If Sportsline want to maintain any kind of credibility they CANNOT commit to supplying parts, whine about those parts going missing when they use a non-trackable delivery system and then refuse to supply replacements because 1 person is experiencing a problem in the face of other successes, especially when I removed the shocks from my car based on their commitment to supply.
Sportsline could find this problem is a "one of". They will never know if they don't get a reasonable number of beta testers going ASAP.

If there are problems why don't people say so instead of just withdrawing services. I might even be able to help. I have been designing and testing digital and analogue electronic systems for 15 years and servicing and repairing them for 10 years before that !

I have a 60MHz oscilloscope and a 20MHz multichannel storage logic analyser here at home. It would not be that difficult to install either in my car and confirm that the controller is switching the valves and confirm the valves are actually drawing current.

ALL I NEED ARE THE DAMN PARTS !

THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING !

Nobody is going to complain if Sportsline put their hand up and say "we are still experiencing problems" and want to go back to alpha testing or we're only willing to accept orders from people who are willing to participate in beta testing but for gosh sake, don't just continue on with an attempt at business as usual when it's anything but that.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the first public airing of technical problems since March/April when the service was offered.

BTW. As per Nebpor's post, I don't hold any malice with Mike either. He put in an amazing effort to get this where it is and as for Sal, well his effort is above and beyond. I just wish Mike could have PMed me back when I went ballistic about the whole thing and he might have understood I genuinely appreciated his efforts.

Reg.
 
#472 ·
Faz,
I'm out and about today but can be contacted on my mobile; I'll PM you the number. Maybe we could discuss and between us come up with a method of taking this forward? I am happy to assist with the logistics side but from what I understand you are certainly best placed re technical issues.
 
#474 ·
I've noticed LondonMike has been very quiet on here recently.

Mike - if you're reading this, please don't take any of the criticism on here wrongly ... I think all of us owe you for helping set this up ... the subsequent problems have nothing to do with you, and in my (and hopefully everyone elses opinion) do not reflect on you in any way shape or form either!

Stephen :)
 
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