Update on Dinan E60 M5 Springs

[SteveBreen@dinancars.com]

We have noticed the postings on E60 M5 rear spring noise and front marks on coils, and a couple of people have called to make us aware of the situation. We thank those people because we don’t catch every posting. Calling tech support is the most effective way to make us aware of a problem.

The rear spring is a progressive spring. With this type of design the progression of the spring occurs when some of the coils come into contact with each other, shortening the spring and increasing the spring rate. The coils that are close together should have insulators on them to prevent you from hearing the contact. This is a common practice that you will find with many spring manufacturers. If you are hearing your rear springs, it is likely that the insulators were not installed, they were installed incorrectly, or they have fallen off. Please contact our technical support department at 800-341-5480, and we will arrange to have new insulators installed at no charge.





In related news, Dinan has been testing the 600 hp 5.7 liter M5 in preparation for road tests in car magazines, and we’ve made adjustments designed to improve the car’s ability to both turn into a corner and put down power. Primarily, the change is a slight softening of the rear spring and a reduction in the amount of progression in the progressive spring. Consequently, ride quality will improve along with the handling. These springs have already been designed and are in production. They will be available in about a month. For anyone who wants the spring update, the parts and labor will be covered by Dinan. Just call our technical support department at 800-341-5480, and we will arrange to have them installed.

In regards to front spring marks, the front springs are barrel shaped to make the spring progressive, and the coils should not be hitting each other. One of the coils is supposed to go inside the other coils like on the rear of a 3 series spring. After checking, we believe that some of the springs were not wound correctly and do not have enough barrel shape. The spring bottoms out at 1.5” of travel into a 2.0” bump stop. The bump stop never goes to zero; it usually goes solid at around 1.5” to 1.75”. Therefore, there is no reason to worry about damaging your car because almost all of the energy transmitted into the car over a bump is being absorbed by the bump stop, and the spring is touching down very lightly. Having said that, if anyone is experiencing this please contact our technical support department to arrange a replacement spring set. Since we were just made aware of this issue, it will take a couple months to get new springs wound.


We apologize for this error and will make every effort to rectify it ASAP.

Steve Breen

[bodaddy]

I must say its nice to see that a rep is going to be here for questions and service. So those of us with the Stg 2 suspension can have the new springs updated at no cost to us? Would we just have to have them sent to a Dinan Authorized dealer?

[andrewsherman]

No this is a quality response.

[///Marshall]

Originally Posted by bodaddy

I must say its nice to see that a rep is going to be here for questions and service. So those of us with the Stg 2 suspension can have the new springs updated at no cost to us? Would we just have to have them sent to a Dinan Authorized dealer?

I'm curious about this myself. If there's an improvement I'd like
to get this. Also when my M6 stage II was delivered it didn't have
insulators. Is this normal for an M6?

[550Chris]

Originally Posted by bodaddy

I must say its nice to see that a rep is going to be here for questions and service. So those of us with the Stg 2 suspension can have the new springs updated at no cost to us? Would we just have to have them sent to a Dinan Authorized dealer?

I wonder who helped out with getting someone from Dinan to post here

Anyway yes if you would like the newly developed softer rear spring and not worry about insulators take the car to your local Dinan Dealer and it will be free!!!!!

Great move Steve Dinan to improve customer service and thank you Steve Breen for a quality post.

[tightie]

very nice customer service... if dinan products went lower in height, id be a customer for sure.

[CBarton]

No Kidding.....others could learn a lesson here.......

Originally Posted by andrewsherman

No this is a quality response.

[SteveBreen@dinancars.com]

Originally Posted by ///Marshall

I'm curious about this myself. If there's an improvement I'd like
to get this. Also when my M6 stage II was delivered it didn't have
insulators. Is this normal for an M6?

This is normal. The M6 and M5 springs are not the same. On the M6, the outer coils are touching at ride height and only separate at droop. Hence, there's no need for insulators.

[Gustav]

I agree. For those who have missed it I would recommend seeign these videos with me personally talking at lengtht with Steve Dinan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5H5l56Dy3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J269H_M0UDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_ejWuAquYM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAji85ECmO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NOETofafVI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1s86jnopMk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uzOxo_Lk_c

Originally Posted by 550Chris

I wonder who helped out with getting someone from Dinan to post here

Anyway yes if you would like the newly developed softer rear spring and not worry about insulators take the car to your local Dinan Dealer and it will be free!!!!!

Great move Steve Dinan to improve customer service and thank you Steve Breen for a quality post.

[r tuned]

I have stage II and interested in the revised springs. I am not located in the states, so what would happen in my case ?

Thanks,

[BD 997]

where can we buy the insulators? I have noise from my FRONT springs when I go up inclines (driveways etc) but they are H&R (the bottom 2 coils are hitting the tops of the coils above them)... BUT I DO HAVE DINAN STAGE 2 suspension (minus springs)...

Check out the pics, does that look normal to you??....PLEASE HELP! Thanks!