[Blau]

Looking for experience. We need new struts and shocks. Going to order everything from Strut Monkey. They say I can go with either. I prefer a stiffer than stock ride but my wife prefers a softer ride, but recognizes that the blown suspension is terrible.

If you've gone from stock to sport suspension let me know what you think.

Cheers,

[pungo]

There's more to the sports suspension option than just the struts/shocks. The springs as well as the anti-sway bars are different (stiffer). Swapping to sport suspension springs/struts/shocks will improve handling, yet it won't be as comfortable of a ride. Plus unless you change the anti-sway bars, you're not going to get the same feel of the full sport suspension. That's probably why many of the msport models got the sport suspension delete since many people wanted the softer ride. I drove several sport suspension and standard suspension models back to back and felt the standard suspension was very boaty and wallowed a lot when transitioning into and out of turns, the larger anti-sway bars and stiffer springs on the sport suspension make a noticeable improved handling difference. The DHP is the best of both worlds since it has larger anti-sway bars, variable sport steering, yet the dampers are constantly adjusting to the conditions and the sport mode stiffens things up when selected.
If your wife prefers a softer ride, changing over to the sport suspension may or may not be a wise choice

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by pungo

There's more to the sports suspension option than just the struts/shocks. The springs as well as the anti-sway bars are different (stiffer). Swapping to sport suspension springs/struts/shocks will improve handling, yet it won't be as comfortable of a ride. Plus unless you change the anti-sway bars, you're not going to get the same feel of the full sport suspension. That's probably why many of the msport models got the sport suspension delete since many people wanted the softer ride. I drove several sport suspension and standard suspension models back to back and felt the standard suspension was very boaty and wallowed a lot when transitioning into and out of turns, the larger anti-sway bars and stiffer springs on the sport suspension make a noticeable improved handling difference. The DHP is the best of both worlds since it has larger anti-swap bars, sport steering, yet the dampers are constantly adjusting to the conditions and the sport mode stiffens things up when selected.
If your wife prefers a softer ride, changing over to the sport suspension may or may not be a wise choice

So I made the mistake of replacing the factory non-sport struts with the Bilstein B6 struts after 100,000 miles. It doesn't ride as well now - I suspect the struts are overpowering the factory non sport springs.

I'm curious what the spring rates are for the non sport and sport springs:

https://www.getbmwparts.com/v-2016-b...ion-components

I believe, physically, the springs are interchangeable as they share the same lower and upper spring pad. However, I don't recall the springs resulting in different ride heights. Am I incorrect?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

So I made the mistake of replacing the factory non-sport struts with the Bilstein B6 struts after 100,000 miles. It doesn't ride as well now - I suspect the struts are overpowering the factory non sport springs.

I'm curious what the spring rates are for the non sport and sport springs:

https://www.getbmwparts.com/v-2016-b...ion-components

I believe, physically, the springs are interchangeable as they share the same lower and upper spring pad. However, I don't recall the springs resulting in different ride heights. Am I incorrect?

When the dampers don't match the spring rate, handling can suffer, i.e. using sport dampers with a standard spring where the rebound dampening is too slow for the soft standard spring rate. This configuration can be dangerous since the tires have less contact with the road during road irregularities since the spring doesn't return fast enough after a lump in the road. The damper and spring selection is engineered to work as a system, when parts don't match results will suffer

I've never seen any specs on the spring rates for standard vs sport vs DHP.

AFAIK, all F25 suspensions options use the same spring height so none are lowered as like some of the other model BMWs with sport suspension.

The strut bearing and bump stops are not the same across all suspension options.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by pungo

When the dampers don't match the spring rate, handling can suffer, i.e. using sport dampers with a standard spring where the rebound dampening is too slow for the soft standard spring rate. This configuration can be dangerous since the tires have less contact with the road during road irregularities since the spring doesn't return fast enough after a lump in the road. The damper and spring selection is engineered to work as a system, when parts don't match results will suffer

I've never seen any specs on the spring rates for standard vs sport vs DHP.

AFAIK, all F25 suspensions options use the same spring height so none are lowered as like some of the other model BMWs with sport suspension.

The strut bearing and bump stops are not the same across all suspension options.

For the front spring, does it boil down to standard vs sport/DHP?
https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...w2LWdhcw%3D%3D



Also, I prefer to maintain the factory ride height. I don't really see the point of having an SUV only to lower it >1 inch and not have that much more ground clearance over a sedan or station wagon.

[Polo08816]

31-33-6-787-143 Coil Spring (Front)
33-53-6-787-208 Coil Spring (Rear)

Are these the part numbers for the sport suspension springs?

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

31-33-6-787-143 Coil Spring (Front)
33-53-6-787-208 Coil Spring (Rear)

Are these the part numbers for the sport suspension springs?

Is anyone able to confirm these part numbers? I'm receiving information that the Sport Suspension part numbers may actually be:

Front - 31-33-6-787-144
Rear - 33-53-6-787-209

[tracer bullet]

No idea. But - maybe the Realoem site would help?

Just beware of all the ads

[Blau]

I used Strut Monkey and they just came today. I went with the non-sport package. They look great. Everything is assembled so all I have to do it bolt them up.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Is anyone able to confirm these part numbers? I'm receiving information that the Sport Suspension part numbers may actually be:

Front - 31-33-6-787-144
Rear - 33-53-6-787-209

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

No idea. But - maybe the Realoem site would help?

Just beware of all the ads

So RealOEM wasn't definitive.

The preferred BMW CCA dealer in the area (BMW of Annapolis) was able to assist.

In BMW's ETK, it should that these were the part numbers for the S226A Sport Settings WITHOUT the Electronic Damper Control:

Front - 31-33-6-787-144
Rear - 33-53-6-787-209

When you do a look up by these part numbers, most websites won't show you the "fitment". I surmise because this configuration was either not available or very rear in the US. For the model year of my X3 35i, I recall the options being:

1. Base (passive) suspension
2. EDC suspension

I don't recall a passive Sport suspension option being an option.

I ended up ordering these springs through BMW of Annapolis.