[winther1]

I noticed the driver side rear is really low. I can't even get my index finger under the wheel arch. On the other corners I can get index and middle finger together, so quite significant! Car parked on straight driveway.
I have not noticed anything unusual when driving, so far it just seems cosmetic.
Any idea if this could be a broken shock (Eibach), or would that impact the drive?
I'm wondering if the shocks just slowly lose the firmness, or whether it can be adjusted.
Going on a long drive next week, so really miffed spotting this now
The 2 rears compared:

[Eddamoo]

You've most likely snapped a spring. Be very careful as I've seen people drive with them and the spring shredding the tyre on its way out!

Nice and cheap and easy to replace. Literally 1 bolt and Jack the car should do it.

[winther1]

Damn! Thought it would impact the ride somehow if it was broken. It is on lowering springs, so already quite low.

[coonz]

Originally Posted by Eddamoo

You've most likely snapped a spring. Be very careful as I've seen people drive with them and the spring shredding the tyre on its way out!

Nice and cheap and easy to replace. Literally 1 bolt and Jack the car should do it.

Agreed. Spring would be the first thing to check. Always replace them in pairs.

[winther1]

Thanks. Wonder if it has to be Eibach lowering springs as the rest.
Wouldnt a snapped spring be unusual on a 2016 car with 43k miles (Eibach spring most likely newer)?

[martin10chk]

Not sure about Eibach but generally modern car springs seem very prone to failure. Walk down any road and check out hiw many broken pieces of spring there are!

[winther1]

Just had a look and can't see anything alarming. Also, seller told me its on Eibach lowering springs. Can't see anything Eibach in there, but it's definitely lowered

[winther1]

Double checked my pictures and think I spotted the culprit.
Compared to the healthy side, looks like the shocks are missing the middle part of the surround causing it to sack. Compared to a lose spring threatening to shred the tyre, I guess this is less of a danger? As said, I can't feel anything wrong when driving.
Will of course get it fixed, but need the car Monday!

[winther1]

The healthy left side looks like this

[bishbosh]

Those are the just the bump stops, but the car won't be resting on them unless the springs are faulty.

The driver's side rear sits lower on a lot of BMWs I've seen. Something about even weight distribution apparently, on the continent the driver will be on the left side of course.

Also the battery is at the rear right too.

So apart from the perished bump stops (which won't cause the sag) I think the only other thing to check would be the spring seats.

[winther1]

Hmmmm. My main concern was the spring shredding the tyre. But it looks pretty good on the picture right? Just trying to determine how urgent the fix is

[bishbosh]

Spring looks fine to me.

[ade555]

Don't panic to much my 430d occasionally looks the same when parked on uneven surface, first time I noticed I pulled the spring and shock out to check found nothing wrong, 99% of the time sits fine only sometimes when I let's say pull to to left to park will sit like that.

As for your springs To me they look std, there reason I say this you have nice even gap around the wheel arch on left side, once the car is lowered usually you will see larger gap to the front and rear of the wheel as you look vs top of the wheel, like you have on your picture for right hand side, but they might well be lowering spring.

[winther1]

Thanks. Tried parking it in 3 different locations which all looked level. Even left my girlfriend in the left rear seat and its still the same gap difference.
Will leave it for now and go on that Oxford trip Monday as nothing can be done over the weekend.
If it needs changing.... coilovers?

BTW, when you look at the distance where the bump stops part is missing, the gap definitely looks smaller between the 2 pictures!

[smrtypants44]

Yeah its normal for one side on the rear to be lower

[Craig-SM]

Ours went like that a year or two ago, the same rear right corner. I expected to find a broken spring but no damage was found. I replaced both rear springs and shocks and problem was fixed.
Check the removed components afterwards and both springs were the same length, no sign of sag or cracks in the coating. Both shocks were worn with one more so than the other so assumed that was the rear right.

[winther1]

Thanks - more peace of mind now.
Will get them checked out properly and swapped if needed

[jedi-knight83]

any outcome to this? did you work out what springs you actually have