Adaptive Suspension Lowering Problems

hybrid90 · 05-05-2020, 09:42 PM

Had my F30 340i w/M Sport Pkg and M Adaptive suspension for about 11 days now. I'm coming from a 2013 E92 335is, a 2011 E90 335i w/Sport Pkg and a 2005 330ci w/ZHP Pkg. I've already ordered Eibach Pro Kit Springs and have read through dozens and dozens of threads/posts, but can't really get a straight answer.

I actually have two questions.

First, I know that the Eibachs aren't extreme enough to make anything freak out and everyone is saying that putting Eibach Pro Kit Springs is a good improvement for the Adaptive Suspension. But I've also seen a few posts mentioning needing a computer to "reset" the Adaptive Suspension once the new springs are in. I would imagine that this is true, but is it something that needs to happen IMMEDIATELY or can I drive the car for a few hours/days without any ill effects?

Second, will an alignment shop do this reset or will I have to go to someone/someplace specific (dealership) to have this done? And if it does have to be someone/someplace specific, can someone who does coding perform this reset?

I've looked at a couple of YouTube videos to see them change the springs so it looks fairly straightforward, so I'm hoping the reset will be the most difficult aspect of this upgrade.

Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

FaRKle! · 05-05-2020, 10:15 PM

It's not absolutely critical to reset the ride height measurement after installing the springs. I'm not sure if a 3rd party scanner has the capability to do it, but any shop that uses ISTA can do it (BMW indy shops should have it).

hybrid90 · 05-05-2020, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

It's not absolutely critical to reset the ride height measurement after installing the springs. I'm not sure if a 3rd party scanner has the capability to do it, but any shop that uses ISTA can do it (BMW indy shops should have it).

A good Tire/Alignment shop would not have the tool to do it? But I guess not since ISTA is specific to BMW.

SilkySmoooth · 05-05-2020, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

It's not absolutely critical to reset the ride height measurement after installing the springs. I'm not sure if a 3rd party scanner has the capability to do it, but any shop that uses ISTA can do it (BMW indy shops should have it).

Farkle - if I were to flash my adaptive dampers using ISTA would it remove my Dinan Shockware?

FaRKle! · 05-05-2020, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilkySmoooth

Farkle - if I were to flash my adaptive dampers using ISTA would it remove my Dinan Shockware?

Zeroing the ride height via ISTA won't do anything to shockware. I believe to flash a new damper profile or shockware you'd have to be doing like an istep update of the EDC module.

yuyuyuyu · 05-07-2020, 11:31 PM

Are there any long term adverse effects if the ride height adjustment is not done after installing lowering springs? I recently installed the pro kit as well, but this is the first I'm hearing about needing adjustments via ISTA.

hybrid90 · 05-07-2020, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuyuyuyu

Are there any long term adverse effects if the ride height adjustment is not done after installing lowering springs? I recently installed the pro kit as well, but this is the first I'm hearing about needing adjustments via ISTA.

Very good question. I'd like to know as well

exE36M3 · 05-07-2020, 11:36 PM

I'm pushing a year on my adaptive suspension with Pro-kit/Sport kit springs on my 2015 435i RWD. No weirdness on my side and I drive like a maniac.

hybrid90 · 05-07-2020, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exE36M3

I'm pushing a year on my adaptive suspension with Pro-kit/Sport kit springs on my 2015 435i RWD. No weirdness on my side and I drive like a maniac.

I wonder if it would ride any different if you reset it...

exE36M3 · 05-08-2020, 12:10 PM

Honestly, maybe yes, maybe no...

Farkle has spent GOBS of his life reading up on this stuff and we've had enough conversations during my suspension work (which he's helped out personally on - literally turning the wrench). If the suspension needed a reset, he wouldn't mentioned it to me to do.

From my observations:
1. In comfort mode, my car still has SOME bobs and dips similar to the stock height, stock springs over similar road conditions. Obviously less as the Eibachs are a stiffer spring.
2. In sport mode, my car is pretty much flat where it might lean a bit in stock form. Road undulations in sport mode are at a minimum, similar to stock.

Or in short, if I could take a straight 25% value for the Eibach set-up, I'd say it's 25% stiffer, 25% less body/roll, 25% more road "feel" etc. That's where I am now.

If someone posts, hey I reset the ride height and my car handles 100% better (whatever that may mean), I'd be more prone to give it a try.

As an aside, I do have to make my way to the dealer to reset my ACC radar sensor. It's been knocked around enough, there's a number of resets that need to be done, I may ask for it then.

FaRKle! · 05-08-2020, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exE36M3

Honestly, maybe yes, maybe no...

Farkle has spent GOBS of his life reading up on this stuff and we've had enough conversations during my suspension work (which he's helped out personally on - literally turning the wrench). If the suspension needed a reset, he wouldn't mentioned it to me to do.

From my observations:
1. In comfort mode, my car still has SOME bobs and dips similar to the stock height, stock springs over similar road conditions. Obviously less as the Eibachs are a stiffer spring.
2. In sport mode, my car is pretty much flat where it might lean a bit in stock form. Road undulations in sport mode are at a minimum, similar to stock.

Or in short, if I could take a straight 25% value for the Eibach set-up, I'd say it's 25% stiffer, 25% less body/roll, 25% more road "feel" etc. That's where I am now.

If someone posts, hey I reset the ride height and my car handles 100% better (whatever that may mean), I'd be more prone to give it a try.

As an aside, I do have to make my way to the dealer to reset my ACC radar sensor. It's been knocked around enough, there's a number of resets that need to be done, I may ask for it then.

I did use ISTA to re-zero the ride height when we did your springs

. Do you think you need to ask the dealer to redo it because you changed the rear spring to the Eibach Sportline after we did the prokit?

FWIW, I didn't really notice a difference after I did it on my car back when I still had EDC dampers.

exE36M3 · 05-08-2020, 01:04 PM

Ha ha ha ha, Thanks Farkle!! Wow, the process was so seamless, I didn't notice!
Or maybe I was daydreaming. :P

Well re-thank you for doing that!

Redo the ride height. Maybe?
I think the Eibach Pro drop was .4" and I went to .8" with the Sportline.

The dealer needs to re-align the car once the ACC is reset. My ACC is fine around town, but gets finicky on the highway, so I figure they might do the reset everything.

But for now, I'm not that fussed.

05-05-2020, 09:42 PM	#1
hybrid90 Captain 246 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Santa Maria, CA iTrader: (7) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 M40i [10.00]	Adaptive Suspension Lowering Problems Had my F30 340i w/M Sport Pkg and M Adaptive suspension for about 11 days now. I'm coming from a 2013 E92 335is, a 2011 E90 335i w/Sport Pkg and a 2005 330ci w/ZHP Pkg. I've already ordered Eibach Pro Kit Springs and have read through dozens and dozens of threads/posts, but can't really get a straight answer. I actually have two questions. First, I know that the Eibachs aren't extreme enough to make anything freak out and everyone is saying that putting Eibach Pro Kit Springs is a good improvement for the Adaptive Suspension. But I've also seen a few posts mentioning needing a computer to "reset" the Adaptive Suspension once the new springs are in. I would imagine that this is true, but is it something that needs to happen IMMEDIATELY or can I drive the car for a few hours/days without any ill effects? Second, will an alignment shop do this reset or will I have to go to someone/someplace specific (dealership) to have this done? And if it does have to be someone/someplace specific, can someone who does coding perform this reset? I've looked at a couple of YouTube videos to see them change the springs so it looks fairly straightforward, so I'm hoping the reset will be the most difficult aspect of this upgrade. Any help or comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!! __________________
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05-05-2020, 10:15 PM	#2
FaRKle! Brigadier General 4017 Rep 3,540 Posts Drives: 328d Wagon, M2 Comp, i4 eD35 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2023 BMW i4 eDrive 35 [0.00] 2017 BMW 328dx Wagon [0.00] 2021 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00]	It's not absolutely critical to reset the ride height measurement after installing the springs. I'm not sure if a 3rd party scanner has the capability to do it, but any shop that uses ISTA can do it (BMW indy shops should have it). __________________ -328d Wagon Build Log (with helpful reference links) -My YouTube Channel for some of the best DIYs and in depth information Please don't PM me for suspension recommendations unless interested in paid private consultations.
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05-07-2020, 11:31 PM	#6
yuyuyuyu Major 67 Rep 1,110 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (3)	Are there any long term adverse effects if the ride height adjustment is not done after installing lowering springs? I recently installed the pro kit as well, but this is the first I'm hearing about needing adjustments via ISTA.
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05-07-2020, 11:36 PM	#8
exE36M3 BMW CCA Member 488 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2015 435i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (4)	I'm pushing a year on my adaptive suspension with Pro-kit/Sport kit springs on my 2015 435i RWD. No weirdness on my side and I drive like a maniac.
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05-08-2020, 12:10 PM	#10
exE36M3 BMW CCA Member 488 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2015 435i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (4)	Honestly, maybe yes, maybe no... Farkle has spent GOBS of his life reading up on this stuff and we've had enough conversations during my suspension work (which he's helped out personally on - literally turning the wrench). If the suspension needed a reset, he wouldn't mentioned it to me to do. From my observations: 1. In comfort mode, my car still has SOME bobs and dips similar to the stock height, stock springs over similar road conditions. Obviously less as the Eibachs are a stiffer spring. 2. In sport mode, my car is pretty much flat where it might lean a bit in stock form. Road undulations in sport mode are at a minimum, similar to stock. Or in short, if I could take a straight 25% value for the Eibach set-up, I'd say it's 25% stiffer, 25% less body/roll, 25% more road "feel" etc. That's where I am now. If someone posts, hey I reset the ride height and my car handles 100% better (whatever that may mean), I'd be more prone to give it a try. As an aside, I do have to make my way to the dealer to reset my ACC radar sensor. It's been knocked around enough, there's a number of resets that need to be done, I may ask for it then.
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05-08-2020, 01:04 PM	#12
exE36M3 BMW CCA Member 488 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2015 435i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (4)	Ha ha ha ha, Thanks Farkle!! Wow, the process was so seamless, I didn't notice! Or maybe I was daydreaming. :P Well re-thank you for doing that! Redo the ride height. Maybe? I think the Eibach Pro drop was .4" and I went to .8" with the Sportline. The dealer needs to re-align the car once the ACC is reset. My ACC is fine around town, but gets finicky on the highway, so I figure they might do the reset everything. But for now, I'm not that fussed.
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