LCI strut mount on 2015 models?

mark1996 · 07-04-2015, 09:46 AM

Anyone know if the LCI suspension changes and possibly steering changes were introduced on the 2015 (pre LCI) model? My February 2015 build 320i has the new five bolt strut mounts.

My steering seems OK to me compared to my prior E90's but I see many complaints about the F30 steering.

tony176000 · 07-04-2015, 10:56 AM

That's interesting. My July 2014 MY 2015 has several updates over the previous year. I wonder if they phase in LCI to some extent this go around.

Daftasabrush · 07-04-2015, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark1996

Anyone know if the LCI suspension changes and possibly steering changes were introduced on the 2015 (pre LCI) model? My February 2015 build 320i has the new five bolt strut strut mounts.

My steering seems OK to me compared to my prior E90's but I see many complaints about the F30 steering.

Got any photos?

mark1996 · 07-04-2015, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Got any photos?

Hopefully, I attached the photos correctly. If so, you will see 3 exposed bolts for the strut mount. The bolts are equally spaced around the strut mount. The two other bolts are concealed under the plastic cover.

As I understand it, the pre-LCI strut mount had a total of three bolts on the strut mount.

Blubaron79 · 07-04-2015, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony176000

That's interesting. My July 2014 MY 2015 has several updates over the previous year. I wonder if they phase in LCI to some extent this go around.

I think from 2014 on the F30 received some updates people have claimed part numbers changed in 2014

Daftasabrush · 07-04-2015, 12:04 PM

Just checked my mar 2015 car and that's got 5 too

tony176000 · 07-04-2015, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

I think from 2014 on the F30 received some updates people have claimed part numbers changed in 2014

Besides the published stuff like new leather colors, I have others. Eg MSport fog lights.

Daftasabrush · 07-04-2015, 12:10 PM

Here's a 2012 one stolen from another thread

Daftasabrush · 07-04-2015, 12:14 PM

Looking at realoem, part nos changed in Jan 2015

optimaxed · 07-04-2015, 12:14 PM

My car is a 2015 build and has the 5 bolt strut mounts, steering does feel better than my 2013 F30 (the vibrating wheel issue is no longer there) and the steering has a weightier feeling too.

Tim@codemybimmer · 07-04-2015, 12:16 PM

Interestingly, the 4 Series also seem to have gotten the same revision starting 01/2015 with 5 bolts rather than 3 if you look at RealOEM.

greekcs · 07-04-2015, 06:47 PM

9/2014 build 435 has 3 bolt design.

RPM90 · 07-04-2015, 10:53 PM

That's great info.

After I received my 2013 335i Msport in late August 2012, BMW made changes to the steering system around Oct/Nov 2012. Then in 2013 they changed to a different steering rack iirc. So post Jan. 2013 builds should have a different feel to the steering.
I haven't driven a newer 3 series to compare to mine.
My steering is numb and lifeless just like the initial reviewers experienced.

I have great hope that BMW really did tune the 340i to be more like former 3 series in handling, suspension, and steering. BMW claims the 340i has suspension changes with the mounts, springs and dampers, steering, and improvements to the manual trans as well as the ZF auto trans.

Sanelko · 02-22-2019, 11:12 AM

To add to the confusion, it seems like cars up until 2013 used 3 X M8 bolts, while after that (up until the LCI) they switched to M10 bolts. I'm assuming the holes in the strut tower are different as well

kpgray · 02-22-2019, 06:30 PM

The upgrade was in conjunction with the LCI and electronic steering revision, see previous posts:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...w+5-bolt+strut

I have a 2014 and I have driven the newer LCI version and the steering is better (but certainly not an E9x hydraulic feel). It makes a difference but not a deal killer if the model you are looking at has the old style 3-bolt pattern.

The real difference is the sport suspension (Option 704) found on the Sport or M-Sport RWD (rear wheel drive) models of the F3x models. The xDrive is soft and heavy feeling and is on ALL the xDrive versions of F3x regardless of model. The RWD sport version (Option 704) is much more sensitive and has a better connection to the road. The later LCI model cars with the 5-bolt strut has a re-tuned electronic steering along with the 5-bolt strut that feels better. NOTE: their was an Adaptive Suspension option that provides for a much better "Feel" on the steering, but was a rarer option (cost over $1,000 as a stand alone). Hope this helps clear up some confusion.

Techno 9000 · 02-23-2019, 04:56 AM

Interesting thread.
So, like Daftasabrush I have a March 2015, but in my case a (pre LCI) 4er, which has the later five bolt front strut fixing arrangement.

Going back to the OP, how would we know whether any changes were made to our cars in regard to the steering?

07-04-2015, 09:46 AM	#1
mark1996 Private First Class 13 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 2015 320i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	LCI strut mount on 2015 models? Anyone know if the LCI suspension changes and possibly steering changes were introduced on the 2015 (pre LCI) model? My February 2015 build 320i has the new five bolt strut mounts. My steering seems OK to me compared to my prior E90's but I see many complaints about the F30 steering. Last edited by mark1996; 07-04-2015 at 12:01 PM.. Reason: typo
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07-04-2015, 10:56 AM	#2
tony176000 First Lieutenant 39 Rep 310 Posts Drives: 2015 335i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM iTrader: (0)	That's interesting. My July 2014 MY 2015 has several updates over the previous year. I wonder if they phase in LCI to some extent this go around.
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07-04-2015, 12:04 PM	#6
Daftasabrush Fool 1857 Rep 3,542 Posts Drives: F31 340i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Just checked my mar 2015 car and that's got 5 too __________________
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07-04-2015, 12:10 PM	#8
Daftasabrush Fool 1857 Rep 3,542 Posts Drives: F31 340i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Here's a 2012 one stolen from another thread Attached Images __________________
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07-04-2015, 12:14 PM	#9
Daftasabrush Fool 1857 Rep 3,542 Posts Drives: F31 340i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Looking at realoem, part nos changed in Jan 2015 __________________
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07-04-2015, 12:14 PM	#10
optimaxed Second Lieutenant 39 Rep 235 Posts Drives: M340i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Home iTrader: (0)	My car is a 2015 build and has the 5 bolt strut mounts, steering does feel better than my 2013 F30 (the vibrating wheel issue is no longer there) and the steering has a weightier feeling too.
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07-04-2015, 12:16 PM	#11
Tim@codemybimmer BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 567 Rep 987 Posts Drives: 2022 X4 M Competition F98 LCI Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X4 M Compe ... [0.00] 2015 BMW X3 xDrive2 ... [0.00]	Interestingly, the 4 Series also seem to have gotten the same revision starting 01/2015 with 5 bolts rather than 3 if you look at RealOEM.
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07-04-2015, 06:47 PM	#12
greekcs Major 773 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	9/2014 build 435 has 3 bolt design. __________________ 2003 11/02 Steel Gray Metallic on Red M3 - SMGII - VF570 - SUPERSPRINT - KW - BBS - CSL ROOF SOLD 2015 09/14 Alpine White on Red 435i xDrive MPPK - Expensive black vinyl with special lettering. SOLD 2020 12/19 Mineral Gray Metallic on Black Vinyl interior M340i xDrive
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07-04-2015, 10:53 PM	#13
RPM90 Major General 890 Rep 7,047 Posts Drives: 340i M-sport AT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	That's great info. After I received my 2013 335i Msport in late August 2012, BMW made changes to the steering system around Oct/Nov 2012. Then in 2013 they changed to a different steering rack iirc. So post Jan. 2013 builds should have a different feel to the steering. I haven't driven a newer 3 series to compare to mine. My steering is numb and lifeless just like the initial reviewers experienced. I have great hope that BMW really did tune the 340i to be more like former 3 series in handling, suspension, and steering. BMW claims the 340i has suspension changes with the mounts, springs and dampers, steering, and improvements to the manual trans as well as the ZF auto trans.
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02-22-2019, 11:12 AM	#14
Sanelko Second Lieutenant 70 Rep 235 Posts Drives: 2012 Jet Black 328i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	To add to the confusion, it seems like cars up until 2013 used 3 X M8 bolts, while after that (up until the LCI) they switched to M10 bolts. I'm assuming the holes in the strut tower are different as well
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02-22-2019, 06:30 PM	#15
kpgray GasCompressor 333 Rep 564 Posts Drives: 2022 Porsche 911 Cabriolet Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Rochester, MI iTrader: (4)	The upgrade was in conjunction with the LCI and electronic steering revision, see previous posts: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...w+5-bolt+strut I have a 2014 and I have driven the newer LCI version and the steering is better (but certainly not an E9x hydraulic feel). It makes a difference but not a deal killer if the model you are looking at has the old style 3-bolt pattern. The real difference is the sport suspension (Option 704) found on the Sport or M-Sport RWD (rear wheel drive) models of the F3x models. The xDrive is soft and heavy feeling and is on ALL the xDrive versions of F3x regardless of model. The RWD sport version (Option 704) is much more sensitive and has a better connection to the road. The later LCI model cars with the 5-bolt strut has a re-tuned electronic steering along with the 5-bolt strut that feels better. NOTE: their was an Adaptive Suspension option that provides for a much better "Feel" on the steering, but was a rarer option (cost over $1,000 as a stand alone). Hope this helps clear up some confusion. __________________ 2022 Porsche 911 Cabriolet Agate Grey/Black PDK 2019 440i M-Sport Smoke Topaz Metallic/Opel (Sold) 2014 335i M-Sport Black/Beige MPPK/MPE (Totaled) 2013 328i Sport xDrive Imperial Blue/Grey (Sold)
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02-23-2019, 04:56 AM	#16
Techno 9000 Captain 518 Rep 944 Posts Drives: 435D Estoril Blue Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: East Sussex iTrader: (0)	Interesting thread. So, like Daftasabrush I have a March 2015, but in my case a (pre LCI) 4er, which has the later five bolt front strut fixing arrangement. Going back to the OP, how would we know whether any changes were made to our cars in regard to the steering?
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