I have a 00 MY and my shocks were gone @ 77k. The car felt really unsettled over bumps and had a lot of body roll. Additionally, when I would hit a bump, the whole rear end would move side to side. It almost felt like it would lose control.
I had brand new Koni adjustables installed with the stock springs. I had them set at 1/4 turn from full soft. Now the car rides really stiff and the rear end is still doing that side to side motion. It also feels very bouncy when I hit speed bumps, etc.
Is there something else going on in my suspension that could be causing this problem? Sometimes I also experience a vibration between 50-65mph when driving. Are the Konis supposed to be so much stiffer than the stock shocks even on the almost softest setting? How can I make my suspension feel much tighter and composed...any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Poor alignment can cause the rear to feel 'loose' when changing lanes, etc. Is that what you’re referring to?
Also, your rear swaybar may have pulled from one of its mounts adding to a softer, more bouncy feel.
Vibration? It could be several things.
Find yourself a local tire and brake shop that handles the local race crowd if you can and have them put their most qualified to the task of a full checkup with test drive.
Last edited by basil; 18th June 2005 at 09:12.
Reason: Grammer
I have a 00 MY and my shocks were gone @ 77k. The car felt really unsettled over bumps and had a lot of body roll. Additionally, when I would hit a bump, the whole rear end would move side to side. It almost felt like it would lose control.
I had brand new Koni adjustables installed with the stock springs. I had them set at 1/4 turn from full soft. Now the car rides really stiff and the rear end is still doing that side to side motion. It also feels very bouncy when I hit speed bumps, etc.
Is there something else going on in my suspension that could be causing this problem? Sometimes I also experience a vibration between 50-65mph when driving. Are the Konis supposed to be so much stiffer than the stock shocks even on the almost softest setting? How can I make my suspension feel much tighter and composed...any thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Anton
The vibration between 50-65 is it there all the time or just when braking?
1. Check the sway-bar brackets and links both front and rear. Look for broken brackets, cracks and play.
2. At 77 k miles, the rubber bushings (at least rear) are very likely ready for replacment.
Put the car on a lift. Have a really strong and heavy guy push and pull at each wheel in turn with full force, while a skilled mechanic checks for play in the rubber bushings. There should be zero play, just smooth damping.
David
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2000 M5 LeMans blue/Silverstone sport interior, double glass windows, all options except alcantara ceiling and trailer. Michelin PS2 tyres.
I had the exact same symptom of body roll and it turned out to be a broken rear sway bar bracket. Once it was fixed, it was like night and day. I also had my front bushings replaced (at 32K) and a control arm as well.
Actually, one of my sway bar brackets was replaced about 6 months ago. I checked them again last night and they're both good. The weird thing is that even with brand new Konis in the rear, when I go over a bump, rear end feels loose. On large bumps, not only does it go up and down like it should, but it feels like the whole rear of the car moves sideways.
I used to have a vibration in the steering, and had my front control arm bushings replaced, which cured most of it. Are there similar bushings in the rear that may be worn out and causing this problem?
Last edited by Sweetsound2001; 18th June 2005 at 20:32.
As the shock-absorbers (dampers) gave up, everything else in the suspension has been working hard too.
Apart from the rubber bushings, it could also be a loose or missing bolt among the rear-subframe or diff bolts.
Although unusual, it could even be a broken sub-frame. Look for cracks at the mounting points.
Does the car feel symmetrical between left and right hard turns?
David
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2000 M5 LeMans blue/Silverstone sport interior, double glass windows, all options except alcantara ceiling and trailer. Michelin PS2 tyres.
The Koni shocks are not the problem, unless the mechanic doing the work accidently set them to 1/4 turn from full stiff. They are great when set under 1 turn from full soft...or lower. Your rear Konis don't create such overdampening symptoms, even when installed on 525i cars that weigh 500 lb less. That said, the Koni's will NOT offer you a wallowing, underdampened ride quality like you felt with your blown out 77K mi shocks. If you became accustomed to that ride quality, you will only get that in a Lincoln Town Car or shocks with no hydraulic fluid in them.
I would advise you to have a professional mechanic test-ride and examine your car for problems. There is no way to diagnose this problem peering thru a PC on the web. An experienced E39 driver with Koni's could test drive and advise you whether the mechanic erroneously set them near full firm.
If the rear end of the car is side-stepping on the street as if something is defective, you have a serious suspension problem. My car did not even do that on-track hitting bumps at 120 MPH with Koni's foolishly set over 50% stiff.
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