F30/31 Ride height

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 04:28 AM

Cleaned the car today, it was on a flat level surface and I looked at the new tyres fitted & checked pressures etc. I noticed that one side seemed lower that the other so I set about with a tape.

I measured from the bottom of the alloy rim through the wheel centre to the underside of the arches both back and front. Result was that the drivers side sits 10/11mm lower than the passenger when comparing same dimensions from the passenger front/rear. I even checked the front splitter underside to road dim and that too varied by 12mm side to side.

Has anyone else had this ? the car is a F31 330d so some weight up front but wouldn't have thought that would make any difference.

I only ask because i'm now thinking of ACS springs / shockers and 10mm or so could be critical for my front splitter staying intact !

Anyone found similar ? Thanks

shoestring · 06-18-2018, 04:59 AM

I have long battled with BMW customer service and also my local dealer over the rear ride height of my F31. On a proven flat surface (F3 racing platform) my car sits 10-11mm lower with a full tank of fuel on the o/s rear compared to the n/s rear.
After protracted talks I eventually got out of BMW that the factory tolerance is 10mm and they will not accept that my car is outside of that parameter and will not do anything about it.
I have had excuses that it it is because of the fuel tank is a saddle tank and that fuel may sometimes have a greater quantity on one side of the saddle than the other, that the battery sits on the o/s rear, that the car is set up for left hand drive. All these excuses are just bollocks!
I have never owned any car before that did not sit level at the rear.
So I am afraid that unless you can get more success than me you are just going to have to live with the fact that BMW cannot produce a car that sits level!!

SkyJawa · 06-18-2018, 05:06 AM

Its a long running thing that BMW's are lower on one side than the other. No point worrying just move on!

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 05:11 AM

Thanks for that info guys, maybe a set of ACS springs might help, but sound like coilovers is the only remedy if that is so. Do't think Ill be going down that route though.

mikeoz · 06-18-2018, 05:21 AM

What happened to the famous 50/50 weight balance?

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeoz

What happened to the famous 50/50 weight balance?

Guess thats front to rear then !

Watsey · 06-18-2018, 05:49 AM

Yes, have had this problem in the past. Really annoyed me, and not easily corrected in OEM form.

It's one of the benefits of height adjustable coilovers and corner-weighting as part of the setup, but I appreciate it's an expensive option.

HighlandPete · 06-18-2018, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

Its a long running thing that BMW's are lower on one side than the other. No point worrying just move on!

Agree, BMW has to have a 'side to side' tolerance, the 10mm figure has been there for years.

Assuming a BMW is perfectly balanced for weight, side to side, for LHD builds, RHD conversion will change the loadings unless BMW make L/H and R/H springs to adjust for the changes. Aftermarket will be the same unless the springs are set for L/H and R/H sides.

Adjustable suspension is the only way to get a perfectly measured set up.

For example, models with the battery mid position in the boot will have less of an issue, than a models with a battery put to one corner.

An issue for measuring, (even on a known flat surface), how is the car weighted? Even the driver positioning the car and just getting out may not give the exact ride height. Rebound on exit may be less on the driver's side, due to some stiction in the components. Car will need 'rocking' to even out the loadings.

mikeoz · 06-18-2018, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Guess thats front to rear then !

Guess so ... lopsided is ok..

Jeff123 · 06-18-2018, 06:35 AM

I read somewhere that the near side is lower to allow for a driver if the car is LHD. Could be rubbish, but both my E90’s were like this.

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 06:44 AM

Interesting information.... thanks

Guess that as I will likely change the car next year, it's not really worth the expense of doing a 'proper job' and spending a fair sum of money at this point to correct it.

I like the F31 size /appearance etc., so if I had another potentially could transfer the parts, or some of them, but there is no guarantee that I would have another, so I'll just live with the tolerances

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff123

I read somewhere that the near side is lower to allow for a driver if the car is LHD. Could be rubbish, but both my E90’s were like this.

On mine it's the off side that is lower....and I'm not a fat bloke either

DaveA · 06-18-2018, 07:48 AM

I am always genuinely surprised when folks raise this issue (as they do from time to time) as many cars on our roads have been just like this for donkey's years... You can see it every day just following folk around on the highways... and cars have always been built to tolerances...

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveA

I am always genuinely surprised when folks raise this issue (as they do from time to time) as many cars on our roads have been just like this for donkey's years... You can see it every day just following folk around on the highways... and cars have always been built to tolerances...

Appreciate what you say, but it just seemed quite noticeable, not something I have seen on my previous cars, hence my question.

Lorcan · 06-18-2018, 08:19 AM

It's normal, and it's not just for BMW. I've had a £100k Porsche here that was the same, 10mm lower on the right front and back. Our tech tells me that back in the E36 days BMW offered different height spring pads to help. I wouldn't know, I was a small child at the time...

. AC Schnitzer springs won't make any difference to the umm..difference.

DaveA · 06-18-2018, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alscoob

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveA

I am always genuinely surprised when folks raise this issue (as they do from time to time) as many cars on our roads have been just like this for donkey's years... You can see it every day just following folk around on the highways... and cars have always been built to tolerances...

Appreciate what you say, but it just seemed quite noticeable, not something I have seen on my previous cars, hence my question.

I think it's something that many folk have just tuned out... until you notice it... then it's "oh, I never noticed that before.."...

If you can find an old Renault 5.. have a look at the rear wheels on both sides... after a while, you will notice that the panels in front of them are different, side to side... because one rear wheel is further forward than the other, due to the design.... many folk never spotted that...

Alscoob · 06-18-2018, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorcan

It's normal, and it's not just for BMW. I've had a £100k Porsche here that was the same, 10mm lower on the right front and back. Our tech tells me that back in the E36 days BMW offered different height spring pads to help. I wouldn't know, I was a small child at the time...

. AC Schnitzer springs won't make any difference to the umm..difference.

Well, at least I will know which side will scrape first

06-18-2018, 04:28 AM	#1
Alscoob Brigadier General 2119 Rep 3,068 Posts Drives: G31 540i M Sport Edition Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	F30/31 Ride height Cleaned the car today, it was on a flat level surface and I looked at the new tyres fitted & checked pressures etc. I noticed that one side seemed lower that the other so I set about with a tape. I measured from the bottom of the alloy rim through the wheel centre to the underside of the arches both back and front. Result was that the drivers side sits 10/11mm lower than the passenger when comparing same dimensions from the passenger front/rear. I even checked the front splitter underside to road dim and that too varied by 12mm side to side. Has anyone else had this ? the car is a F31 330d so some weight up front but wouldn't have thought that would make any difference. I only ask because i'm now thinking of ACS springs / shockers and 10mm or so could be critical for my front splitter staying intact ! Anyone found similar ? Thanks
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06-18-2018, 04:59 AM	#2
shoestring Private First Class 50 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2017 F31 320D Sport Auto Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: East Midlands iTrader: (0)	I have long battled with BMW customer service and also my local dealer over the rear ride height of my F31. On a proven flat surface (F3 racing platform) my car sits 10-11mm lower with a full tank of fuel on the o/s rear compared to the n/s rear. After protracted talks I eventually got out of BMW that the factory tolerance is 10mm and they will not accept that my car is outside of that parameter and will not do anything about it. I have had excuses that it it is because of the fuel tank is a saddle tank and that fuel may sometimes have a greater quantity on one side of the saddle than the other, that the battery sits on the o/s rear, that the car is set up for left hand drive. All these excuses are just bollocks! I have never owned any car before that did not sit level at the rear. So I am afraid that unless you can get more success than me you are just going to have to live with the fact that BMW cannot produce a car that sits level!! Last edited by shoestring; 06-18-2018 at 05:04 AM..
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06-18-2018, 05:06 AM	#3
SkyJawa Major General 3719 Rep 8,636 Posts Drives: F10 530d Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (1)	Its a long running thing that BMW's are lower on one side than the other. No point worrying just move on!
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06-18-2018, 05:11 AM	#4
Alscoob Brigadier General 2119 Rep 3,068 Posts Drives: G31 540i M Sport Edition Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Thanks for that info guys, maybe a set of ACS springs might help, but sound like coilovers is the only remedy if that is so. Do't think Ill be going down that route though.
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06-18-2018, 05:21 AM	#5
mikeoz Major General 2856 Rep 5,608 Posts Drives: BMW X3 M40d LCI Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: cambs iTrader: (1)	What happened to the famous 50/50 weight balance?
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06-18-2018, 05:49 AM	#7
Watsey Major General 6420 Rep 8,500 Posts Drives: F31 330D sDrive M Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: On sabbatical. iTrader: (1)	Yes, have had this problem in the past. Really annoyed me, and not easily corrected in OEM form. It's one of the benefits of height adjustable coilovers and corner-weighting as part of the setup, but I appreciate it's an expensive option. __________________ Current : F31 330sD, remapped, Ohlins Road & Track, Millway camber plates, Quaife LSD, Stoptech brakes + Pagid RSL1 pads all round, Weichers front strut brace, Eibach front & rear anti-roll bars, Michelin MP4S.
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06-18-2018, 06:35 AM	#10
Jeff123 Jeff 318 Rep 1,451 Posts Drives: 330d M Sport x-drive F30 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	I read somewhere that the near side is lower to allow for a driver if the car is LHD. Could be rubbish, but both my E90’s were like this.
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06-18-2018, 06:44 AM	#11
Alscoob Brigadier General 2119 Rep 3,068 Posts Drives: G31 540i M Sport Edition Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Interesting information.... thanks Guess that as I will likely change the car next year, it's not really worth the expense of doing a 'proper job' and spending a fair sum of money at this point to correct it. I like the F31 size /appearance etc., so if I had another potentially could transfer the parts, or some of them, but there is no guarantee that I would have another, so I'll just live with the tolerances
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06-18-2018, 07:48 AM	#13
DaveA Brigadier General 1875 Rep 3,432 Posts Drives: BMW M135i xDrive Join Date: May 2013 Location: Teesside iTrader: (0)	I am always genuinely surprised when folks raise this issue (as they do from time to time) as many cars on our roads have been just like this for donkey's years... You can see it every day just following folk around on the highways... and cars have always been built to tolerances... __________________ CAR HISTORY - Golf GTI 245 - F30 340i M Sport - F30 330d M Sport MPPK - F30 320d Sport - 997 Gen2 GT3 - 987 Cayman S - 986 Boxster S - Ibiza Cupra - Polo 16v - E30 M3 (Official GB import) - Integra 16v - Mk2 Polo S - Mk1 Golf C
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06-18-2018, 08:19 AM	#15
Lorcan The artist formerly known as AC Schnitzer UK 3609 Rep 4,518 Posts Drives: The Yellow Peril Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	It's normal, and it's not just for BMW. I've had a £100k Porsche here that was the same, 10mm lower on the right front and back. Our tech tells me that back in the E36 days BMW offered different height spring pads to help. I wouldn't know, I was a small child at the time.... AC Schnitzer springs won't make any difference to the umm..difference.
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