Rear suspension worryingly lower on one side

dopper99 · 12-14-2014, 09:25 AM

Just noticed today worryingly the rear drivers side seems much lower than the passenger side. I have ACS springs fitted.

No idea how long its been like that and only just noticed it. I've nothing in the boot and no-one sitting in the car to bias the weight to one side and the drive is quite level. I've not measured it, but it looks a good 10mm difference to me.

dopper99 · 12-14-2014, 09:27 AM

Below was took just after the ACS springs were fitted in exactly the same place on my drive. Looks like its dropped to me, above.

MWA · 12-14-2014, 09:32 AM

It does look lower.. by off chance could tyre pressure have a play in this? otherwise this reminds me off E46's with rear coils breaking...

Hope its nothing serious for you

MarkG_M5Comp · 12-14-2014, 09:48 AM

Just whizzed outside and took picks of mine - SAME!

What have you done, now I'll start stressing.

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That said, like me you have revered up the driveway - I always notice the car is uneven after reversing.

Don't stress mate.

dopper99 · 12-14-2014, 10:17 AM

Good point about the tyre pressures. Just checked and the the rears are virtually identical, about 0.2 PSI difference. I've just pumped all the tyres up again to the correct pressure and the car still looks like the pics above.

dopper99 · 12-14-2014, 10:18 AM

@MarkG335 how bizarre, yours seems the same!!!

F30AM · 12-14-2014, 10:26 AM

Oops!

jusdorange · 12-14-2014, 10:27 AM

Is the ground level??

F30AM · 12-14-2014, 10:30 AM

Faulty xDrive cars or faulty springs or both.

Nick the Greek · 12-14-2014, 10:30 AM

Where's Lorcan when you need him?

Can't still be in the pub surely?

Nick the Greek · 12-14-2014, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30AM

Faulty xDrive cars or faulty springs or both.

The first three words only would have done it F30AM.....

F30AM · 12-14-2014, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

The first three words only would have done it F30AM.....

Now don't you think this requires an appreciate from you?

Nick the Greek · 12-14-2014, 10:42 AM

Done.

Trust it will be reciprocated.......

moonshine · 12-14-2014, 10:42 AM

have you any steering lock on?
I noticed the rear suspension ride height seems to vary a lot from side to side depending if there is Left, no, or right lock applied on my drive with adaptive suspension.

dicky.hillary · 12-14-2014, 10:58 AM

I had that with my F31 on standard M-Sport Suspension. It can be caused by the fuel in the tank sitting more on one side, its a saddle tank. Apparently BMW allow 10mm difference from level when the tank is either full or empty.

d4springer · 12-14-2014, 11:04 AM

Isn't the battery on that side as well? Maybe added to the weight of the steering column etc.. I think these cars are setup mainly for LHD so when the driver sits in the car it's perfectly level. Try moving it and see if it changes (maybe give it a clean whilst your at it

)

HighlandPete · 12-14-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopper99

Just noticed today worryingly the rear drivers side seems much lower than the passenger side. I have ACS springs fitted.

No idea how long its been like that and only just noticed it. I've nothing in the boot and no-one sitting in the car to bias the weight to one side and the drive is quite level. I've not measured it, but it looks a good 10mm difference to me.

You are parked on a slope, how flat is the drive? Really flat? Only takes the opposite front position of the drive to be down a few millimetres and the car will sit like that.

I see my drive as flat, but park in different positions and I see changes in ride heights around the car.

I'd suggest you try and get on a different piece of flat ground before you panic.

HighlandPete

sweels · 12-14-2014, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d4springer

Isn't the battery on that side as well? Maybe added to the weight of the steering column etc.. I think these cars are setup mainly for LHD so when the driver sits in the car it's perfectly level. Try moving it and see if it changes (maybe give it a clean whilst your at it

)

I noticed this on my e39 several years ago (although that was perhaps just saggy due to 100k plus miles!) But I have also read on other forums that bmw set their cars up for LHD i.e. having just a driver on the left (which means it's even worse when just a driver is in our rhd models- and if they do this, given the cost of building for rhd anyway,surely do an rhd suspension setup?!)

Of course being an xdrive with no upgraded springs mine is about 3 feet high on both sides, so a 10mm difference hardly shows up!

Lorcan · 12-14-2014, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

You are parked on a slope, how flat is the drive? Really flat? Only takes the opposite front position of the drive to be down a few millimetres and the car will sit like that.

I see my drive as flat, but park in different positions and I see changes in ride heights around the car.

I'd suggest you try and get on a different piece of flat ground before you panic.

HighlandPete

+1. Don't panic. Check it out on a properly flat surface and let me know if you're still concerned.

Nick the Greek · 12-14-2014, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorcan

+1. Don't panic. Check it out on a properly flat surface and let me know if you're still concerned.

Ha!

He's back from the pub!

pdk42 · 12-14-2014, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

You are parked on a slope, how flat is the drive? Really flat? Only takes the opposite front position of the drive to be down a few millimetres and the car will sit like that.

I see my drive as flat, but park in different positions and I see changes in ride heights around the car.

I'd suggest you try and get on a different piece of flat ground before you panic.

HighlandPete

Absolutely. If the ground isn't prfectly level then any ride height observations will be misleading.

Lorcan · 12-14-2014, 11:45 AM

ACS staff outing last night, followed by a route march up the Norfolk coast led by Wing Commander Rossiter this morning

12-14-2014, 09:25 AM	#1
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3526 Rep 11,311 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	Rear suspension worryingly lower on one side Just noticed today worryingly the rear drivers side seems much lower than the passenger side. I have ACS springs fitted. No idea how long its been like that and only just noticed it. I've nothing in the boot and no-one sitting in the car to bias the weight to one side and the drive is quite level. I've not measured it, but it looks a good 10mm difference to me. Attached Images __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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12-14-2014, 09:27 AM	#2
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3526 Rep 11,311 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	Below was took just after the ACS springs were fitted in exactly the same place on my drive. Looks like its dropped to me, above. Attached Images __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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12-14-2014, 09:32 AM	#3
MWA Major 155 Rep 1,224 Posts Drives: AY M4 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: London iTrader: (0)	It does look lower.. by off chance could tyre pressure have a play in this? otherwise this reminds me off E46's with rear coils breaking... Hope its nothing serious for you
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12-14-2014, 09:48 AM	#4
MarkG_M5Comp Supreme Being 1761 Rep 5,425 Posts Drives: M5 Comp Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	Just whizzed outside and took picks of mine - SAME! What have you done, now I'll start stressing. That said, like me you have revered up the driveway - I always notice the car is uneven after reversing. Don't stress mate. __________________ Current: F90 M5 Competition Gone: F80 M3 Competition Pack / M135i / F15 X5 M50d / Saab 9-5 Aero HOT / F30 335d xDrive M Sport / E92 LCI 320d M Sport / E46 320d M Sport Touring / E46 318i Touring
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12-14-2014, 10:17 AM	#5
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3526 Rep 11,311 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	Good point about the tyre pressures. Just checked and the the rears are virtually identical, about 0.2 PSI difference. I've just pumped all the tyres up again to the correct pressure and the car still looks like the pics above. __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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12-14-2014, 10:18 AM	#6
dopper99 Lieutenant General 3526 Rep 11,311 Posts Drives: Golf R Mk8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (1)	@MarkG335 how bizarre, yours seems the same!!! __________________ Current: Golf R Mk8 Previous: Golf R Mk7.5 Mercedes AMG C63 S Coupe F80 M3 Competition Pack
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12-14-2014, 10:26 AM	#7
F30AM Major General 717 Rep 5,021 Posts Drives: F30 330d M Sport sDrive Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Oops! __________________ Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys
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12-14-2014, 10:27 AM	#8
jusdorange YOLO 443 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: #mw Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monaco iTrader: (0)	Is the ground level??
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12-14-2014, 10:30 AM	#9
F30AM Major General 717 Rep 5,021 Posts Drives: F30 330d M Sport sDrive Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Faulty xDrive cars or faulty springs or both. __________________ Previous: Superman 330d sDrive M Sport + Toys Present: Red Tornado Golf 7R 5 Dr, DSG + Toys
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12-14-2014, 10:30 AM	#10
Nick the Greek Banned 2011 Rep 6,065 Posts Drives: M135i. I don't do diesel. Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Where's Lorcan when you need him? Can't still be in the pub surely?
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12-14-2014, 10:42 AM	#13
Nick the Greek Banned 2011 Rep 6,065 Posts Drives: M135i. I don't do diesel. Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Done. Trust it will be reciprocated.......
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12-14-2014, 10:42 AM	#14
moonshine Lieutenant Colonel 853 Rep 1,864 Posts Drives: 718 Boxster S Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	have you any steering lock on? I noticed the rear suspension ride height seems to vary a lot from side to side depending if there is Left, no, or right lock applied on my drive with adaptive suspension.
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12-14-2014, 10:58 AM	#15
dicky.hillary Second Lieutenant 28 Rep 215 Posts Drives: G30 520D SE Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: County Durham iTrader: (0)	I had that with my F31 on standard M-Sport Suspension. It can be caused by the fuel in the tank sitting more on one side, its a saddle tank. Apparently BMW allow 10mm difference from level when the tank is either full or empty.
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12-14-2014, 11:04 AM	#16
d4springer Major 513 Rep 1,404 Posts Drives: F80 M3 CP SS/SO Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Scotland, UK iTrader: (0)	Isn't the battery on that side as well? Maybe added to the weight of the steering column etc.. I think these cars are setup mainly for LHD so when the driver sits in the car it's perfectly level. Try moving it and see if it changes (maybe give it a clean whilst your at it ) __________________ Current - F80 M3 CP SS/SO \| M Performance Extras Prev - F30 330D M Sport \| White \| M Performance Kit \| Various Extras Prev - E92 330D M Sport \| Black \| Highline Older - E46 330i \| Silver \| AC Schnitzer, E36 328i Coupe \| White
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12-14-2014, 11:45 AM	#22
Lorcan The artist formerly known as AC Schnitzer UK 3541 Rep 4,518 Posts Drives: The Yellow Peril Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	ACS staff outing last night, followed by a route march up the Norfolk coast led by Wing Commander Rossiter this morning
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