04-20-2016, 04:13 AM | #1 |
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Rear spring failure
While replacing the rear pads and discs, (with the help of the excellent thread in this forum), I discovered that the right rear spring was broken. Vehicle is X3 20d xDrive SE auto, nearly 5 years old, with 73,000 miles. Just the bottom coil was broken, and the spring was still sitting happily in its seat. There was no apparent effect on the stance of the vehicle and I hadn’t noticed any effect on ride or handling. Or perhaps I’m just insensitive.
BMW parts quoted 126 GBpounds per spring, 24 for the rubber boot (which was deteriorated), and 17 for the upper and lower spring pads, which “we always replace”. BMW service advised that they “always replace both springs”. They estimated 3 to 4 hours labour, and it looks like the total bill would have been about 750 GBpounds. One spring or two? There seemed to be no adverse effect from the broken spring, so it seems unlikely to me that one old spring and one new spring would cause any problems either. I’ve followed this philosophy when replacing rear springs on other vehicles, and not had cause to regret it. If the remaining old spring were to break, so be it, but chances are it won’t break. The good guys at local workshop East Cornwall Garage, also recommended replacing both springs, but were happy to do just the one. In the event, they replaced the one spring and rubber boot (not the spring pads), and the total labour charge was just 90 GBpounds. The job does include removing rear trim to get at the shock-absorber upper mount. I definitely can’t detect any effect, good or bad, from replacing the one spring. Anyone found differently? |
04-20-2016, 07:40 AM | #2 |
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I found the following advice:
"A broken coil spring must be replaced at once, and because springs wear at the same rate, they should be replaced in pairs only." http://atlanticmotorcar.com/why-do-m...springs-break/ Whatever conditions caused your coil spring to fail may have also affected the life span of the spring on the other side. It may be prudent and long term less expensive to replace both the coil springs at the same time. It is possible that if the other spring breaks in a more catastrophic manner there may be additional damage to the associated tyre or it may contribute to an accident. For example, I had a spring fail while the car was in my garage and the wheel housing came to rest on the tyre. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...-breaking.html Last edited by MichiganMike; 04-20-2016 at 07:48 AM.. |
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04-20-2016, 08:50 AM | #3 | |
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BTW, BMW won't replace both springs under warranty, if one fails, so mixed messages from BMW sources on replacing in pairs. I've had a single spring replaced after a break, no difference in running the car or ride height. The only issue I had, was a year later the other front spring failed. Same issue a break while stood on the drive overnight, due to a hydrogen embrittlement induced failure. The linked article explains the common failure mode. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...-breaking.html See sections on corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement. |
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04-20-2016, 10:49 AM | #4 |
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Spring failure after 73.000 miles is uncommon - even in salt environment - probably specific problem on that spring - I would change that spring only.
When I planned to lower my car - H&R at £110 for all four, bought from Germany - I got an estimate from my BMW dealer of £700 (4,5 hours)- good independant shop charged £350 (4 hours). During oct-dec, we have, primarily, southwesterly winds, bringing acid rain from somewhere in the southwest. Maybe you are close to that origin? |
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04-20-2016, 11:21 AM | #5 | |
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We've had lots of springs break in the family, Highlands of Scotland doesn't help, wet and heavy salting in winter. |
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04-20-2016, 01:08 PM | #6 |
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Pete, my experience from a car manufacturer selling also a fair amount of cars in Scotland, is that broken springs after so short time is unusual. If anything, it indicates BMW has a bad supplier or bad specification for the springs.
My 9000 has 270.000km on the clock - only major repairs are head gasket and clutch slave cylinder. Springs supplied by Swedish supplier. In southwest of Sweden, where I live, people can`t drive, so lots of salt. |
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04-20-2016, 03:11 PM | #7 | |
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04-30-2016, 04:35 AM | #8 |
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Some interesting replies. Thanks, guys.
But it’s striking that no one else reports a rear spring failure on the F25. By all accounts, the E83 X3 was prone to them. So either BMW have fixed the problem, or it’s early days as yet and we should expect a rash of failures as the worldwide fleet ages? |
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08-08-2017, 05:49 AM | #9 |
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Will chime in here. Left rear coil on our 2011 broke after 70,000km / under 6 years old. Car was driven fairly conservatively by my dad.
Apparently the springs were different so they wouldn't take the take off springs from my 2013 |
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08-08-2017, 12:50 PM | #10 |
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Replace BOTH !
only consideration not too............. personal finances.
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12-26-2019, 09:44 AM | #11 | |
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12-26-2019, 04:51 PM | #13 |
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12-27-2019, 06:28 AM | #15 |
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12-27-2019, 07:05 AM | #16 |
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Not on an X3, but same thing happened on my wifes E46 several years ago, passenger side rear spring broken. It wasnt discovered until we sold it and it was inspected, as the ride and ride height were not effected. But that car was about 10 yrs old when the broken spring was discovered, who knows how long she was driving with it broken.
I imagine there are more X3's with broken springs out there that the owner has no idea the spring is broken. They just attribute the slightly harsher ride to age, if they notice it at all. That being said, my 2011 X3 35i's springs are fine as I just had the shocks/struts replaced and the springs checked out fine. 8 1/2 years old and 127k miles.
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12-27-2019, 11:06 AM | #17 |
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Even though people will keep their vehicles paint nice and clean, many neglect the under carriage. I have an under carriage wand for my pressure washed that I use to clean under my vehicles at the end of winter. It's amazing how much crud comes off onto the ground with a thorough washing.
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12-27-2019, 11:58 AM | #18 | |
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04-29-2020, 07:48 AM | #19 | |
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70,000 miles 2012 model. Just saying. ☺️ |
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04-29-2020, 07:55 AM | #20 |
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I've had many cars during my life, new and used. All get tracked, off-roaded, or abused in some other manner, and I've never seen a spring break. What are you guys doing to these X3s!?
If anyone needs rear/front springs ill sell my OEM ones. Have about 20k miles on them on an FL (no salt) car.
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04-29-2020, 08:17 AM | #21 |
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My money is on hydrogen embrittlement, I've seen what this can do in other applications and believe BMW's spring supplier had an out of control process. Interesting to note in my case is that one day my wife got in the car (2011 X3 35i at probably 70K-ish miles), started backing out of the driveway and heard a very loud bang. I was in the house and it sounded like a gun going off. Neighbors who were walking by shuttered, stopped and looked at her.
There was no obvious or visible rationale for the noise and I thought it was the brake pads breaking loose from the rotors as I had washed it the night before and put it in the garage, she was the first to take it out the next morning. So, since we couldn't find any other reason, I took it around the block, it seemed just fine, she got in it and drove off. A little over a year later when I was replacing brake rotors and pads, I noticed the broken spring, passenger rear corner, and then it hit...we finally knew what that very loud bang was. In the year since it happened, we drove the car from Florida to NY, drove all year in NY and then back to Florida again, probably around 10K miles all in all and never knew the spring was broken...no noise, no ride hide diff, nothing. We just got back from Florida a couple of months ago, I pulled it in the garage and have not driven it since due to the virus and as soon as the weather decides to warm up, I'll jack it up and see if there is a part number for the spring and will replace it. I have learned from members on this board that BMW used different part number springs depending on the options on your car so for those of you out there wanting to replace yours, be sure to get the correct part number spring. Here is what my broken spring looks like. I will replace both springs and both shocks since I'm doing it myself. . |
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