[STi2M3]

Where to start? When I told the dealer the car looked a little high in the front and the manager said it was normal? When I curbed my rim trying to get in on a high enough curb that I could get a better look? When my local garage turned me away saying they wouldn't dare put a brand new M5 Competition on a lift because they worried about liability? When I tried to get an appointment at my dealer to look at it and they gave me a two week wait? No, I'll just start with the fact that there are, at this very moment, two shipping blocks in my front suspension. They have been the bane of my existence. As many of you have seen in my posts the last couple of months, I have been clear that I thought there was something wrong with my suspension. The problem was that it hasn't been an obvious bouncing or noise, it has just been incredibly harsh. I felt like maybe I was just an idiot for buying, without a test drive, the M5C, because the Comp is meant to have a stiffer suspension. I felt like I live in Boston and the roads are crap and the car is bigger than my M3 was, so maybe... no, I knew something was wrong, but couldn't prove it. I was concerned that if I brought it back to the dealer they would cover up the problem since they left the blocks in and would be the only ones who could see them in there. In the end, my wife and I agreed that if we couldn't find anything wrong with the suspension, we were going to take a ~30K loss and sell it and get something else. As a last attempt (until I my appointment at the dealer was to come around in two weeks) I, after two tries, got my local tire shop to put the car on a lift (only after I bought new snow tires), because I was so convinced there had to be shipping blocks in there — BMW could not make a car that behaves like this... And there they were. (Pics below). I'm headed to the dealer now, but wanted to let my anger calm down.

[onfireX5]

Wow. Glad you found it !

[MCOMP]

Wow, start enjoying this incredible car now.

[Quickburn7]

Originally Posted by STi2M3

Where to start? When I told the dealer the car looked a little high in the front and the manager said it was normal? When I curbed my rim trying to get in on a high enough curb that I could get a better look? When my local garage turned me away saying they wouldn't dare put a brand new M5 Competition on a lift because they worried about liability? When I tried to get an appointment at my dealer to look at it and they gave me a two week wait? No, I'll just start with the fact that there are, at this very moment, two shipping blocks in my front suspension. They have been the bane of my existence. As many of you have seen in my posts the last couple of months, I have been clear that I thought there was something wrong with my suspension. The problem was that it hasn't been an obvious bouncing or noise, it has just been incredibly harsh. I felt like maybe I was just an idiot for buying, without a test drive, the M5C, because the Comp is meant to have a stiffer suspension. I felt like I live in Boston and the roads are crap and the car is bigger than my M3 was, so maybe... no, I knew something was wrong, but couldn't prove it. I was concerned that if I brought it back to the dealer they would cover up the problem since they left the blocks in and would be the only ones who could see them in there. In the end, my wife and I agreed that if we couldn't find anything wrong with the suspension, we were going to take a ~30K loss and sell it and get something else. As a last attempt (until I my appointment at the dealer was to come around in two weeks) I, after two tries, got my local tire shop to put the car on a lift (only after I bought new snow tires), because I was so convinced there had to be shipping blocks in there — BMW could not make a car that behaves like this... And there they were. (Pics below). I'm headed to the dealer now, but wanted to let my anger calm down.

That's crazy! How long have you had your car? I would push them to pay for an M driving school experience or the M drivers package for your car which can be installed after delivery.

I had something like this happen on one of my cars and dealer gave me a few amazon gift cards totaling $5k.

[STi2M3]

I've had the car for more than 2 months. It only has 600 miles on it because... I hated driving it! I was going to have them look at the 1200 mile service, which I got to in 2 weeks with my M3, but I couldn't wait any longer.

[JOHNBMWM5]

I drove my car away and had the same experience, blocks left in I jacked it up and removed them then send a picture to the service manager of the dealership, wankers.
Came back with a load of bull about how they missed them.

[STi2M3]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

I drove my car away and had the same experience, blocks left in I jacked it up and removed them then send a picture to the service manager of the dealership, wankers.
Came back with a load of bull about how they missed them.

Your post was the initial post that made me really think it was a shipping block problem, thanks. I thought about buying a strong jack and getting under the car, but figured it wasn't worth it.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by STi2M3

Your post was the initial post that made me really think it was a shipping block problem, thanks. I thought about buying a strong jack and getting under the car, but figured it wasn't worth it.

Easy fix TBH you need a stong Jack anyway for any unplanned problems.

[norbtx]

That's ridiculous. I'd be upset as well.

[GUNGASLOW]

Can you see the shipping blocks if you jack the car up and just look at the shocks? Or are they under any rubber boots? I’m trying to see if mine are in there

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by GUNGASLOW

Can you see the shipping blocks if you jack the car up and just look at the shocks? Or are they under any rubber boots? I’m trying to see if mine are in there

Yes just jack it up and shine a torch up under the leg you will see the white plastic.

[Gassy]

Thanks, STi2M3, for the invaluable public service announcement! I've now e-mailed my CA to be sure these are removed before I take delivery on Saturday.

[STi2M3]

Note that there is only one in each and they are pretty thin so the dealers could miss them if they are used to the bigger ones used in some of the other models.

[STi2M3]

I lied. There are two in each front strut (see picture).

[ShockArrival]

Wow...talk about missing an item on the old "Prep for Delivery" checklist.

[josec70]

Crazy sh*t!

[Stav]

Originally Posted by STi2M3

Note that there is only one in each and they are pretty thin so the dealers could miss them if they are used to the bigger ones used in some of the other models.

Just replied in a thread I had started about vibration issues before seeing this! That is exactly the issue I had and they were removed this morning. Did you find out if they caused any permanent damage? Mine had two at each front wheel:

[STi2M3]

Unbelievable that we each found these on the same day 1000 miles apart. The dealer said they don't think it would cause any damage, but I have asked them to get me an opinion from BMW USA. DM me if you have figured out what sort of remuneration you are going to get from BMW for the terrible experience.

[Stav]

Originally Posted by STi2M3

Unbelievable that we each found these on the same day 1000 miles apart. The dealer said they don't think it would cause any damage, but I have asked them to get me an opinion from BMW USA. DM me if you have figured out what sort of remuneration you are going to get from BMW for the terrible experience.

I took the car to a different dealer to remove them just so they wouldn't try to cover anything up. This dealer said that they see this a lot, including an i8 recently, but they have not seen the spacers causing any long term issues.

Thing is I don't know if the car is the way it is supposed to be, it is the only m5 I have driven, and it still doesn't feel 100% smooth but I only drove 10 miles so far with them removed - it is definitely a huge improvement.

I still have not contacted the original dealer. The other thing that bothers me is how much time I have spent trying to figure this out and the 2.5 month of car ownership hating driving the car. Wonder what a good next step would be.

[STi2M3]

Did they give you an alignment? I am waiting for the alignment to be done now

[Stav]

Originally Posted by STi2M3

Did they give you an alignment? I am waiting for the alignment to be done now

They did not, but I didn't have an appointment and was in a hurry too. Plus this was not the dealer I bought it from and they did remove them for free though. I will make an appointment and take it back for this but please let me know what they find.

[Quickburn7]

Originally Posted by Stav

They did not, but I didn't have an appointment and was in a hurry too. Plus this was not the dealer I bought it from and they did remove them for free though. I will make an appointment and take it back for this but please let me know what they find.

Please guys, make sure your tire pressures are 34 front and 32 rear. Dealers tend to put them in the 40s killing the ride quality as well.