michael.joseph
Active member
Nicely done Sash
:bravo:
:bravo:
-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
My 530d M-Sport (Detail and wheels update pg 11)
- Thread starter sash
- Start date
supertramp
Active member
Nice one Sash …….
One of the best Beamers I ever owned and still today sorry I sold her :blueCry:
One of the best Beamers I ever owned and still today sorry I sold her :blueCry:
sash
///Member
The next item on the list was not even planned, I went to purchase one item, was curious about this and ending up buying it.
I was not sure whether the brace would fit as it is designed for the M5, but Mo at Ultra Racing was kind enough to let me test fit.
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
I had to do some test fitting and it cleared with no issue
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
The difference in just the feel of new brace VS the oem is shocking, the oem one has so much of flex, I wonder how much rigidity it actually added and it's the same brace on the M5 btw
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
I was not sure whether the brace would fit as it is designed for the M5, but Mo at Ultra Racing was kind enough to let me test fit.
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
I had to do some test fitting and it cleared with no issue
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
The difference in just the feel of new brace VS the oem is shocking, the oem one has so much of flex, I wonder how much rigidity it actually added and it's the same brace on the M5 btw
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
It's the entire section, but the light shines through with no hasslegraan13 said:
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sash
///Member
I cant remember if this is an issue with just the e60 diesel or M57 motor, but in order to replace the air filter the brace needs to come out. Which in my case meant the bolts on the brace have been undone and done quite a bit. At one point i noticed that one of the bolts on the centre mounting point ( firewall side) had stripped. I had a helicoil put in, it seemed to work for that time.
When i tried to fit the new brace, the helicoil actually came out and i noticed that the aluminium part had cracked
the helicoil could still be threaded in, buit i was not happy. I ordered a new part through Deago at ABM and picked it up a few weeks later.
I had this fitted a little while after receiving it
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The amazing part to me was that the oem new part had no threads. I found it weird that BMW would choose to make these things out of Aluminium givemn that it requires to be worked on fairly often.
When i tried to fit the new brace, the helicoil actually came out and i noticed that the aluminium part had cracked
the helicoil could still be threaded in, buit i was not happy. I ordered a new part through Deago at ABM and picked it up a few weeks later.
I had this fitted a little while after receiving it
Sent from my MAR-LX1M using Tapatalk
The amazing part to me was that the oem new part had no threads. I found it weird that BMW would choose to make these things out of Aluminium givemn that it requires to be worked on fairly often.
sash
///Member
The next thing on my list was shocks. I had them tested a while ago and the first time they passed, but were closer to the fail limit than i wanted it to be. I started the search for replacements, I knew i had time as they hadn't failed but didn't end up getting suitable replacements. Getting OEM replacements was just not an option. I managed to SACHS replacements and they were considerably more expensive than when i last got a quote from Moranor at Axis. I stand corrected but I believe the SACHS came in at around 9k without fitting. I also tried going for KONI and Bilstein, bilstein I believe came in at around +/-15k and koni was +/-13k (i stand corrected, its been a while). Whenever I heard of other guys relpacing shocks and getting great prices I would follow up but since most aren't replacing E60 shocks, the prices were never the same.
I then came across ISC Coilovers, it was a brand not really known in SA, especially on German cars like BMW, but they were well known in the Japanese brands. I did as much reading as i could, even got to ride in a car fitted with a full track setup (even though it was a corolla, the ride was impressive for a track car). At that point i wasn't ready to purchase as I essentially needed to replace shocks, the thought of going lower was enticing but I couldn't make up my mind.
I kept going back my options, SACH's + HnR or Koni + HnR or ISC. I even started looking at ST coilovers but I was quoted around the 20k mark. The thought of going lower and being too low for my use was a big concern and having to go back to stock (cost wise) just made it worse. Alot of time past and eventually i went for another shock test and the rear failed and the front barely passed. My rear tyres where showing bad signs of camber wear as well as the front tyres which seemed to just be wearing on the sides. The search for the replacements became more urgent and i needed to make a decision.
I followed Ultra Racing South Africa on Facebook and got most of my information from Mo regarding ISC. Eventually there was a special that he was running, he went as far as putting me in contact with other BMW owners running ISC coilovers. I decided to bite the bullet. Being a fully imported product and waiting for bigger orders to be fulfilled meant longer waiting times, but I accepted it.
Midway through the waiting process, Mo informed me of an option to upgrade the dampers to a new version that ISC was offering to current orders for free. This did mean additional waiting time, but I have turned down an offer to get something for free.
Eventually they arrived and I picked them up from Mo
Some of the features on these Coilovers:
32 way damping adjustment.
Forged upper mounts.
MONO-TUBE Shock design (there are service kits for the shocks but at the moment Ultra Racing prefers to bring in replacement shocks).
Ride height adjustment. (upto 7cm)
I then had to make arrangements to them fitted but didn't want to just have them fitted, I wanted them to be setup correctly, not just in height, but also to my liking. After discussing with Mo and looking at the various options I went with Kimesh from Fastoy Performance ( yes, he specialises in Toyotas, but knows these suspensions inside out).
I was surprised at how much smaller they seemed.
Rears
Fronts
Not sure why but I am not able to upload anymore photos... will upload more photos asap.
The aim with the initial setup was to go with the stockish height, get a feel for the damping, let it settle in and then adjust accordingly.
I then came across ISC Coilovers, it was a brand not really known in SA, especially on German cars like BMW, but they were well known in the Japanese brands. I did as much reading as i could, even got to ride in a car fitted with a full track setup (even though it was a corolla, the ride was impressive for a track car). At that point i wasn't ready to purchase as I essentially needed to replace shocks, the thought of going lower was enticing but I couldn't make up my mind.
I kept going back my options, SACH's + HnR or Koni + HnR or ISC. I even started looking at ST coilovers but I was quoted around the 20k mark. The thought of going lower and being too low for my use was a big concern and having to go back to stock (cost wise) just made it worse. Alot of time past and eventually i went for another shock test and the rear failed and the front barely passed. My rear tyres where showing bad signs of camber wear as well as the front tyres which seemed to just be wearing on the sides. The search for the replacements became more urgent and i needed to make a decision.
I followed Ultra Racing South Africa on Facebook and got most of my information from Mo regarding ISC. Eventually there was a special that he was running, he went as far as putting me in contact with other BMW owners running ISC coilovers. I decided to bite the bullet. Being a fully imported product and waiting for bigger orders to be fulfilled meant longer waiting times, but I accepted it.
Midway through the waiting process, Mo informed me of an option to upgrade the dampers to a new version that ISC was offering to current orders for free. This did mean additional waiting time, but I have turned down an offer to get something for free.
Eventually they arrived and I picked them up from Mo
Some of the features on these Coilovers:
32 way damping adjustment.
Forged upper mounts.
MONO-TUBE Shock design (there are service kits for the shocks but at the moment Ultra Racing prefers to bring in replacement shocks).
Ride height adjustment. (upto 7cm)
I then had to make arrangements to them fitted but didn't want to just have them fitted, I wanted them to be setup correctly, not just in height, but also to my liking. After discussing with Mo and looking at the various options I went with Kimesh from Fastoy Performance ( yes, he specialises in Toyotas, but knows these suspensions inside out).
I was surprised at how much smaller they seemed.
Rears
Fronts
Not sure why but I am not able to upload anymore photos... will upload more photos asap.
The aim with the initial setup was to go with the stockish height, get a feel for the damping, let it settle in and then adjust accordingly.
sash
///Member
The ride at this height was surprising, normal driving, normal roads, it felt softer than the OEM setup, yes, softer. Once you get into a corner though it was like driving a different car. The biggest change for me was the turn in, where normally you expect ( or get used to ) this big boat to take a split second to react to a turn with its weight shifting from one side to the other, it didn't.
On my daily route, there's a specific on ramp that gives you a bit of room to drive more spiritedly, same corner, same speed, i find myself almost a meter closer to the apex. The other drastic change is the way the dampers keep the car on the road, which I notice while accelerating into a slight bend (right bend for eg) and there are bumps in the road. I was used to the car essentially hopping a little to the left, but now you feel the bump and the still sticks to the road and holds the line you were taking.
I had the coilies fitted while still on my old tyres, also for the reason of letting them settle and once I'm ready to dial them in 100% new tyres were going on, which were already purchased prior to the coilies arriving, i just had to wait until the right time to fit. It took a bit of time getting used to and adapting to the way the car now handled and while i didn't think that the handling was that bad with the OEM setup and my cheap tyres, now it was so much more in touch with the road and i found myself pushing the car a little more each time, especially on known roads. This also meant I would find the limit of the old tyres as well.
UpNcOmiNg!
Events Organiser
very very nice man!
Great write up there too!
Coilies make a huge difference to how the car adjusts. It is amazing what an aftermarket part/s can do to how the car feels over the OEM stuff!
Great write up there too!
Coilies make a huge difference to how the car adjusts. It is amazing what an aftermarket part/s can do to how the car feels over the OEM stuff!
michael.joseph
Active member
Looking great Sash... waiting for some low shots now
:thumbs:
:thumbs:
sash
///Member
@UpNcOmiNg! thanks bro, combined with the brace, I love it
cOlDFuSiOn
New member
Wow your E60 just gets better and better 
raise: nice write up on the shocks too :thumbs:
raise: nice write up on the shocks too :thumbs:
sash
///Member
Amidst all the issues, the car was due for a service, so did the normal oil filter, air filter, oil. No pics, but just these so show why i hate changing the air filter on an M57... all the parts below had to come out
whenever these items come off the car , they get cleaned prior to fitment, some APC, couple of brushes, rinse or wipe where neccessary, dry and then some TAC seal
Also a chance to clean the engine bay lightly, just a wipe down.
The next item on the list of things to get done was tyres, i knew they were worn, i had purchased them in May while on special and asked the shop to keep them stored until the coilies arrived and were fitted. The wait was longer than expected, but they kept to their word and stored it till i was ready.
This is after over 70000km and i had not done alignment in a while as i knew i was replacing the tyres
Rears - I had noticed the cuts on the inside probably in the last 2 months
Fronts - the front started to come apart after some spirted cornering and testing out the coilies, but given the age and mileage, ive seen worse.
the tyre design on the Goodyears are slightly different, it has a bigger rim protector and adds a tad more poke, i was afriad it might start to rub, but t hasn't
whenever these items come off the car , they get cleaned prior to fitment, some APC, couple of brushes, rinse or wipe where neccessary, dry and then some TAC seal
Also a chance to clean the engine bay lightly, just a wipe down.
The next item on the list of things to get done was tyres, i knew they were worn, i had purchased them in May while on special and asked the shop to keep them stored until the coilies arrived and were fitted. The wait was longer than expected, but they kept to their word and stored it till i was ready.
This is after over 70000km and i had not done alignment in a while as i knew i was replacing the tyres
Rears - I had noticed the cuts on the inside probably in the last 2 months
Fronts - the front started to come apart after some spirted cornering and testing out the coilies, but given the age and mileage, ive seen worse.
the tyre design on the Goodyears are slightly different, it has a bigger rim protector and adds a tad more poke, i was afriad it might start to rub, but t hasn't
michael.joseph
Active member
Those new takkies must feel lovely
:bravo:
:bravo:
