Best springs to lower the x5 ?

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by GiofromNJ

thanks for your reply - yes, i read them. it was more inter-personal dialogue -- sorry i should've clarified.

I went with eibach. Mostly due to their price as I got them from a fellow member. Definitely wouldn't go standard HR but would consider VTF although they're not cheap. That's the only I'd consider.

[M302_imola]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

I went with eibach. Mostly due to their price as I got them from a fellow member. Definitely wouldn't go standard HR but would consider VTF although they're not cheap. That's the only I'd consider.

You weren't kidding about the VTF price! ~$650 on H&R website. I'm sure Ben is cheaper though but damn

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by M302_imola

You weren't kidding about the VTF price! ~$650 on H&R website. I'm sure Ben is cheaper though but damn

For sure it is way cheaper than KW HAS.

[Feelin Nauti]

I love the look of the lowered suspension. I really do NOT like the look of the rear being 1/2" to 3/4" higher than the front from the factory setup.

I tend to jump curbs from time to time in my line of work. I am afraid if I lowered the vehicle to my personal preference that I would scrape the front end while jumping a curb.

I do have the M Sport and rear air...

Is there a way to just lower the rear to be even with the front ?

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Feelin Nauti

I love the look of the lowered suspension. I really do NOT like the look of the rear being 1/2" to 3/4" higher than the front from the factory setup.

I tend to jump curbs from time to time in my line of work. I am afraid if I lowered the vehicle to my personal preference that I would scrape the front end while jumping a curb.

I do have the M Sport and rear air...

Is there a way to just lower the rear to be even with the front ?

Just buy a set of lowering links on eBay.

[mikew2069]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

If you are fine with about 1" drop and ride quality is the most important, then I recommend Eibach.

If you want the looks or 1.5" drop and willing to suck up the ride quality, then H&R.

I personally would do the later.
Let me know if you want a quote.

Can you send me a quote for the 28817-4 for the 50i? Go ahead and send price for eibachs too for comparison although I’m pretty sure I’m going to try the H&R first. Hopefully they ride as nice as the ones on my F30.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by mikew2069

Can you send me a quote for the 28817-4 for the 50i? Go ahead and send price for eibachs too for comparison although I’m pretty sure I’m going to try the H&R first. Hopefully they ride as nice as the ones on my F30.

PM'ed

[Shredder66]

New to BMW with my 2016 X5 M and reading all these posts on the VTF Springs. Would love a if someone with them can tell me how the ride is in the 3 modes:
Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus and what changes you noticed and would you do it again?

[AvaNick1]

Hey all,
Just about to get the Eibach springs installed on my 2016 to reduce the wheel gap a bit. Do I need to replace the shocks at the same time while I’m in there?

Last thing I want to do is to pay to install the springs just to need to do the shocks a year later, better to do it all at once if necessary!

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by AvaNick1

Hey all,
Just about to get the Eibach springs installed on my 2016 to reduce the wheel gap a bit. Do I need to replace the shocks at the same time while I’m in there?

Last thing I want to do is to pay to install the springs just to need to do the shocks a year later, better to do it all at once if necessary!

No, stock shocks are fine. Unless perhaps you're really high mileage and they're getting worn out?

I left the stock shocks when I did Eibach springs, and I can't think of anyone else on here with the Eibach's that mentioned replacing the shocks when they had the springs installed.

[AvaNick1]

Thanks I appreciate the feedback. I hadn't heard of anyone replacing their shocks either but I figured it's worth sorting it out before the suspension is out for the springs!

[Sylvan Lake V35]

Has anyone tried the ST Springs? They are expensive but the older I get the less I want a rough riding vehicle.

[Bimmer_Seb]

Originally Posted by Feelin Nauti

I love the look of the lowered suspension. I really do NOT like the look of the rear being 1/2" to 3/4" higher than the front from the factory setup.

I tend to jump curbs from time to time in my line of work. I am afraid if I lowered the vehicle to my personal preference that I would scrape the front end while jumping a curb.

I do have the M Sport and rear air...

Is there a way to just lower the rear to be even with the front ?

What did you end up doing? I’m in the same boat I have rear air suspension
And want to lower the car but not sure what to do

[yupetc]

I had just installed H&R springs on my standard suspension, coupled with Bilstein B6 shocks while I was at it. I gotta say, the drop looks great, but the ride is bumpy. Back seat passengers kept bringing up to me how bumpy it gets. I think after some time, I'll swap it out to some Eibach and see if it does get better.

I do have front and rear sway bars upgraded to Ultra-Racing bars. Those totally eliminated body roll which was why I did the whole H&R and Bilstein setup in the very beginning. Now that I realize the sway bars themselves will do the job fine, I'll look for options to move back to stock-like ride quality.

[awesomej]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

For sure it is way cheaper than KW HAS.

Is the H&R 28817-2 the old one everybody hates?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by awesomej

Is the H&R 28817-2 the old one everybody hates?

Love and hate.

[awesomej]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Love and hate.

Thanks! Could you please expand on this? It looks like the older ones have a more aggressive drop too. Just curious what makes the VTF version worth the extra $250-300. For context, I have the 50i with self-leveling and my wife and kids hated riding in my old F80 because of the harshness of the ride (big time haters)

[lht5059]

Originally Posted by awesomej

Thanks! Could you please expand on this? It looks like the older ones have a more aggressive drop too. Just curious what makes the VTF version worth the extra $250-300. For context, I have the 50i with self-leveling and my wife and kids hated riding in my old F80 because of the harshness of the ride (big time haters)

Then I would strongly advise against going with VTF. VTF does give you more flexibility since it is adjustable (can go decently low or raised back up), but the lower it is, the harsher it will be. I am riding mine maxed out to the lowest it can go and, while it does look good, it drives very harshly over bumps (and small ones count, I promise)... I'm okay with it, but then when I have passengers, I really really have to baby the car to the point that the drive becomes stressful; partially blaming this on how bad the roads are here. If you want to lower but use the car as a family vehicle, maybe just go straight to coil-overs like KW or BC like many on here are running.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by awesomej

Thanks! Could you please expand on this? It looks like the older ones have a more aggressive drop too. Just curious what makes the VTF version worth the extra $250-300. For context, I have the 50i with self-leveling and my wife and kids hated riding in my old F80 because of the harshness of the ride (big time haters)

Originally Posted by lht5059

Then I would strongly advise against going with VTF. VTF does give you more flexibility since it is adjustable (can go decently low or raised back up), but the lower it is, the harsher it will be. I am riding mine maxed out to the lowest it can go and, while it does look good, it drives very harshly over bumps (and small ones count, I promise)... I'm okay with it, but then when I have passengers, I really really have to baby the car to the point that the drive becomes stressful; partially blaming this on how bad the roads are here. If you want to lower but use the car as a family vehicle, maybe just go straight to coil-overs like KW or BC like many on here are running.

As lht5059 said.
The rear self-leveling airbag will ruin your ride quality if you go too low.
At least with KW V3, the rear shock will compensate the low air airbag bad ride quality with slower speed KW shock compression and rebound.

[awesomej]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

As lht5059 said.
The rear self-leveling airbag will ruin your ride quality if you go too low.
At least with KW V3, the rear shock will compensate the low air airbag bad ride quality with slower speed KW shock compression and rebound.

Thanks to you both for the info. Is the VTF at the lowest setting the same as the fixed H&R kit? Also, any benefit one has over the other at that ride height?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by awesomej

Thanks to you both for the info. Is the VTF at the lowest setting the same as the fixed H&R kit? Also, any benefit one has over the other at that ride height?

Tell you the truth, I only had a chance to install VTF of F85 X5M.
So, I don't have comparison data to regular H&R Sport Spring.
The main advantage is, you can adjust it to your liking and best ride quality.

[lht5059]

Originally Posted by awesomej

Thanks to you both for the info. Is the VTF at the lowest setting the same as the fixed H&R kit? Also, any benefit one has over the other at that ride height?

Don't quote me on this, but I don't think the standard H&R kit drops as low. I can't comment on ride quality of the standard H&R kit from personal experiences, but the general consensus is to avoid the VTF if you use it as a family daily.

Attached are pics of mine maxed out on VTF (sorry for the dirty car lol, but been extremely busy these days). It's on the staggered 611m with 12mm spacers upfront and 20mm spacers in the rear (thanks r33_RGSport!). The rear could use 325 tires (currently on 315) to make it looks more flushed, but I'll burn this set out first.