M cars suspension
Discussion
From my experience with the e46 I'd say 50-60k is time for a refresh of shocks.
I've done springs and shocks on mine, once at 100k and shocks only at 155k as they had begun to feel wallowy and loose again. Both times the car has felt significantly more planted afterwards.
Various bushes have been done at different intervals as and when.
All OEM replacements.
I would say a car with 100k will need a total refresh to prevent wandering, tramlining and floaty feelings.
I've done springs and shocks on mine, once at 100k and shocks only at 155k as they had begun to feel wallowy and loose again. Both times the car has felt significantly more planted afterwards.
Various bushes have been done at different intervals as and when.
All OEM replacements.
I would say a car with 100k will need a total refresh to prevent wandering, tramlining and floaty feelings.
How long is a piece of string? Too many variables to consider to be absolute like the poster above me, my M3 has 64k on it and feels as fresh as it did on day one, but it's only two years old a 30k car that is 20 years old may need many things replacing but that wouldn't be mileage related.
Driving style/usage profile/where it's kept and age of the car are also factors more so than mileage in many cases.
Driving style/usage profile/where it's kept and age of the car are also factors more so than mileage in many cases.
Front OE dampers on my E39 M5 were crashy at 78k miles, rears were not so bad. I've found that the various arms and bushes (front & rear) are some way past their best at 60k miles and often worn enough to have a noticeable affect on handling and induce tramlining and the dreaded shimmy. The worn components will more often than not pass an MOT. Would be 'OK' on a daily driver white goods car but not commensurate with a performance car.
Edited by Depthhoar on Monday 12th February 21:34
Depends on many things.
What kind of roads has the car been driven on? How did the owner treat the car? I for instance am quite careful over speed bumps and try to avoid potholes. Alot of people out there however won't ; the car is their means of transportation, that's it. It really is a question of how long is a piece of string.
I've been in a car with 260k that drove better than many cars on 110k . At the time it made me sack off the search for the cars I wanted completely.
There is a slim chance the 260k car of mine had new shocks when I bought it at 110k but they didn't look it albiet it drove like a new car out of the 5 cars I saw at the time.
FWIW I was driving a Mondeo 3.0 V6 on 260k and I was debating between changing its shocks and possibly springs or buying another car, in this case an Audi TT 225. In short all of the TTs I saw locally were dogs and drove worse as in shimmying over bumps etc.. One drove nicely but even that wanted cash throwing at it.
I soon had to buy something as the Mondeo got written off (rear ended)!
What kind of roads has the car been driven on? How did the owner treat the car? I for instance am quite careful over speed bumps and try to avoid potholes. Alot of people out there however won't ; the car is their means of transportation, that's it. It really is a question of how long is a piece of string.
I've been in a car with 260k that drove better than many cars on 110k . At the time it made me sack off the search for the cars I wanted completely.
There is a slim chance the 260k car of mine had new shocks when I bought it at 110k but they didn't look it albiet it drove like a new car out of the 5 cars I saw at the time.
FWIW I was driving a Mondeo 3.0 V6 on 260k and I was debating between changing its shocks and possibly springs or buying another car, in this case an Audi TT 225. In short all of the TTs I saw locally were dogs and drove worse as in shimmying over bumps etc.. One drove nicely but even that wanted cash throwing at it.
I soon had to buy something as the Mondeo got written off (rear ended)!
Edited by SebringMan on Monday 12th February 13:08
Edited by SebringMan on Monday 12th February 13:08
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