Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Post Reply
Bristol X5 E53
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:40 pm

Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by Bristol X5 E53 » Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:45 pm

Hi guys new here.

I've got a 2006 E53 3.0D Le Mans Edition and some BC Coilovers, just looking for some information with regards to fitting these. Ideally looking for someone that has already done this modification.

I have tried searching on here already  ;)

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by Horizon » Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:46 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

Bristol X5 E53
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:40 pm

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by Bristol X5 E53 » Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:57 pm

Yes it is 100% about the ride height. Trying to get the height the same as the car in this post http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=693339

I just don't like the huge wheel to arch gap :(

User avatar
henrym3
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 11:07 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by henrym3 » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:01 pm

Image
Don’t need to go to an America site to see a  lowered X


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
E53 X5 4.6is, Carbon Black, LPG, Paddle Shift, Dynavin N6, Lowered, 22"Wheels, Side Bars. Perfusion Exhaust
E30 M3 Black, S50B32 Engine, 6 Speed Box, Ireland Engineering ARBs & Big Brake Conversion, Lowered, 18"LMs, CF CAI, CF Splitter & Barge Board, ZM3 Quad Exhaust.
VW R32 Gone

Horizon
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:34 pm
Location: Bury Lancashire

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by Horizon » Fri Mar 16, 2018 10:39 pm

[quote="henrym3"]
Image
Don’t need to go to an America site to see a  lowered X


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]
Obviously no speed bumps in Dorset then
2011 Kia Sorento KX3  2.2D 60 Plate Auto in black ( mine )
BMW E83 X3.  3.0d M Sport, 2008 in black ( now gone )
BMW E93 330i Convertible  Msport  2007.  ( Now sold )
VW Golf 2.0 TDI 140 GT 2010 ( now sold )
Now Sold 55 plate, X5, 3.0 D Sport. Silv

mikemsm999
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 10:25 am
Location: Cardiff

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by mikemsm999 » Thu Mar 22, 2018 12:37 pm

[quote="Bristol X5 E53"]
Hi guys new here.

I've got a 2006 E53 3.0D Le Mans Edition and some BC Coilovers, just looking for some information with regards to fitting these. Ideally looking for someone that has already done this modification.

I have tried searching on here already  ;)
[/quote]

Its quite a straight forward job, the biggest issue was some of the bolts on the existing struts and arms were rusted solid even after soaking them for a day they would not come off. Ended up having to heating them up to get them off without the worry of snapping them.

You will need to strip some of the rear boot panels to get to the fittings for the rears but apart from that approach it like changing a normal suspension set up (make sure you disconnect the battery before starting!).

I didn't cut all the plastic/ rubber pipe work, just folded and cable tied it and hid it behind any splash guards and panels I could find so if I ever sell the car and the next owner is a complete fruit loop and want to go back to air suspension they can.

The BC kit is what I bought, great kit, and quality. The set up it comes set at is lower than standard but not too low, and the ride is firmer without braking your teeth. If you want to get the set up right for your taste, DON'T put all the boot trims back in as you wont be able to get to the settings - a mistake I made! Get it set up the way you like it then put all the panels back in. Once you are happy make sure you get it aligned/ tracked.

Should have fitted it years ago rather than throwing constant money at the evil that is 'X5 Air Suspension'!
2004 E53 X5 4.8is Imola Red

Bristol X5 E53
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2018 7:40 pm

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by Bristol X5 E53 » Thu Mar 22, 2018 10:01 pm

Thanks guys.

mikemsm999 did you have to do anything to the ECU after disconnecting the air suspension?

mikemsm999
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2015 10:25 am
Location: Cardiff

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by mikemsm999 » Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:09 am

Yes, a friend used his programmer to remove the air suspension error message from the binnacle.
2004 E53 X5 4.8is Imola Red

User avatar
henrym3
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 11:07 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by henrym3 » Mon Apr 23, 2018 11:10 pm

:camera:
E53 X5 4.6is, Carbon Black, LPG, Paddle Shift, Dynavin N6, Lowered, 22"Wheels, Side Bars. Perfusion Exhaust
E30 M3 Black, S50B32 Engine, 6 Speed Box, Ireland Engineering ARBs & Big Brake Conversion, Lowered, 18"LMs, CF CAI, CF Splitter & Barge Board, ZM3 Quad Exhaust.
VW R32 Gone

Raj
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4512
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:30 pm
Location: Midlands

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by Raj » Tue Jul 03, 2018 1:57 pm

[quote="Horizon"]
Regards coilovers, Raj is the only member that I can recall fitting coilovers, he doesn't frequent the forum much these days as he's moved over to the E90 335i forums.
[/quote]

I should try and get back on here more lol.

A my wife uses the X5 as a daily I hardly drive it and so have refrained from modding the X anymore. Although I might finish off the stereo side of things now.

Wonder how he got on with the BC's.
Image

lokkju
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 1:58 pm
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Fitting BC Coilovers to 3.0D

Post by lokkju » Tue Aug 14, 2018 3:25 pm

Hi there

I recently (last month) got X5 3.0D from a chap that claimed to have spent circa 900 quid on the rear air suspension fix and replacing some sensors and some modules. It still seems dodgy as the left side sits about 3cm lower than the right side. Luckily it only has it in the rear.

After reading a lot about it, weighing pros and cons, I have decided to rip it all out (maybe not literally) and convert to a standard spring. But then again when I compared the price of no-name conversion kits on eBay (200 + P&P if any) with a price of full set of lowered springs (4 corners) by Eibach (213 + 50 for rear rubber pads + 30 P&P) I decided that I'll convert AND lower mine at the same time. It will be done once for the lifetime of this car and saves me the cost of fixing future air leaks every now and then.

I'm now waiting for the parts to arrive. Wish me luck because I only have two stands and one jack. I am however quite optimistic about it since I have managed to do other interesting fixes to the car and it still works :D
2005 BMW E53 X5 3.0d
2004 VW Passat
2007 Hyundai Coupe
1999 Toyota Corolla
2003 Nissan Almera
1994 Nissan 100NX
1999 BMW E39 523i
1995 BMW E36 318is
1998 BMW E36 318i
1975 Fiat 128 Sport Coupe S
Note: wife's, current

Post Reply