[SDf10]

I want to lower my car on H&R springs and was wondering how much did you guys that have done it paid for the install and how long it should take? Did you have to do an alignment after also?

[EV0LVE]

install is about $250. I wont pay more than $300. It takes about 2 hours of straight work. be warned h&r is very conservative on the f10, I have it on my car. I would suggest coilover either megan or kw v1. you'd end up paying more getting h&r now then switching to c/o later.

Cheers!

[SDf10]

Thanks for the reply. Doesn't coil overs mess with your ability to switch the suspension modes?

[Sluggoslinger]

I believe it does, otherwise that is what I would be doing.

[MELLOWYELLOW06]

where would you guys recommend lowering. its a dd fro me so i dont want it slammed. just get rid of gap

[RambleJ]

Originally Posted by MELLOWYELLOW06

where would you guys recommend lowering. its a dd fro me so i dont want it slammed. just get rid of gap

You mean you don't like the 535/4runner hybrid look?

[Hunter5179]

$600. I recommend a very good experienced shop otherwise you can run into complications. And def an alignment.

[MWPos]

So Cal Suspension in El Cajon installed Eibach PRO-KIT Performance Springs #20112.140, which I provided, for $350 which included good work on the suspension itself and ancillery components (trimming upper stops, etc.) an initial alignment, and a follow-up check a few hundred miles later. Their initial work took three hours. I got the springs from Autoanything for about $226 (after MIR) . So Cal Suspension did a great job on the big-muscle items, but they are not alignment experts. I had the alignment checked at Import Auto Specialists (IAS) in Kearny Mesa after 500 miles and they corrected the alignment issues and also recommended that I should buy, when one is available, a front wheel camber kit because the front wheels are out of alignment spec (-0.2 degrees camber) and cannot be brought into spec. There are currently no camber kits available for the F10 according to IAS. The Eiback Pro-Kit lowering springs lowered the car only slightly so it is a very subtle drop, but the ride is tremendously improved.

[MELLOWYELLOW06]

Any pics MWPos?

[SDf10]

I was thinking of going there too MWPos, please post pics. I don't know how I feel about going there now that I know about the alignment issue.

[MWPos]

I should have been more clear about the alignment issue; it is not the shop's problem, it is a simple effect of lowering the car...the wheels will tilt inwards (camber) because their pivot point is adjusted. The pictures in "my garage" show only a front quarter view so I'll catch a break in the rain ans get a full side view and wheel well closeups today. I was going to go with another vendor, also local family-owned business, called Suspension Plus, but their offer was $600. In retrospect, I'm still happy going with the lower-cost manual labor and putting some of the savings towards a top-end alignment. Any shop with a Hunter-based alignment set can do a very thorough alignment. Final thought; I won't consider the work to be complete until I can buy, and have installed, a front end camber kit. My estimate for that is $200. Pix today if i can catch a break in the rain!

[Die Wolfe]

Originally Posted by MWPos

So Cal Suspension in El Cajon installed Eibach PRO-KIT Performance Springs #20112.140, which I provided, for $350 which included good work on the suspension itself and ancillery components (trimming upper stops, etc.) an initial alignment, and a follow-up check a few hundred miles later. There initial work took three hours. I got the springs from Autoanything for about $226 (after MIR) . So Cal Suspension did a great job on the big-muscle items, but they are not alignment experts. I had the alignment checked at Import Auto Specialists (IAS) in Kearny Mesa after 500 miles and they corrected the alignment issues and also recommended that I should buy, when one is available, a front wheel camber kit because the front wheels are out of alignment spec (-0.2 degrees camber) and cannot be brought into spec. There are currently no camber kits available for the F10 according to IAS. The Eiback Pro-Kit lowering springs lowered the car only slightly so it is a very subtle drop, but the ride is tremendously improved.

Nice! I'm about to order that same kit, but are there any negatives to the camber issue if not addressed? Thanks!

[MWPos]

More information, and photos.

First, it was only the front right wheel that could not be brought into spec. Front left is fine. I am the car's second owner. I'm not sure what its original alignment was.

Second, IAS said that the -0.2 degree out-of-spec problem on the front right wheel is NOT unsafe but that over a long time, the tire's wear would be greater than the other three. IAS advised me to shop for the front wheel camber kit so that they could get the front right wheel into spec.

Third: I scanned the alignment report so I could uplaod it for you all to see and I noticed that the alignment machine had been set to target “BMW 06-10 E61 4X2 Series 18” Wheel AFS (Active Front Steering)”. I sent an email this morning to IAS and their reply is "I took a look at the alignment machine and when the 2011 specifications are selected for your year and model BMW the screen labels the car as an 06-10 vehicle. According to the machine, the specifications are the same and these are the same specs in which we used to align the vehicle the last time you brought it to us. There is a possibility we have found a small bug in the software for our alignment machine and I have left a message with Hunter, the company who designed the machine, to let them know and to be sure the specifications we used are for sure for your specific vehicle. Their office is closed today, but I will follow up with them again Monday. Hopefully there is a software update to correct this issue. As soon as I have word from Hunter, I will contact you and let you know what we find out. If the specifications are different, we can bring your vehicle back in to perform the proper alignment and correct the situation."

Finally, about So Cal Suspension's work; they were able to access the rear area throught the speaker holes in the rear deck, and the front and rear springs are almost identical and must be differentiated by part numbers on the springs.

so, to summarize, the car drives perfectly with the alignment as it is right now, per the attached alignment report. If Hunter does have an updated spec for its alignment machine, I will report to all what the difference is, and what needs to be done.

[mrainv23]

$950 at BMW for install and alignment. Peace of mind at dealer.

[MWPos]

My local dealership quoted $1395. I went there first to get advice.

[Die Wolfe]

Originally Posted by MWPos

More information, and photos.

First, it was only the front right wheel that could not be brought into spec. Front left is fine. I am the car's second owner. I'm not sure what its original alignment was.

Second, IAS said that the -0.2 degree out-of-spec problem on the front right wheel is NOT unsafe but that over a long time, the tire's wear would be greater than the other three. IAS advised me to shop for the front wheel camber kit so that they could get the front right wheel into spec.

Third: I scanned the alignment report so I could uplaod it for you all to see and I noticed that the alignment machine had been set to target BMW 06-10 E61 4X2 Series 18 Wheel AFS (Active Front Steering). I sent an email this morning to IAS and their reply is "I took a look at the alignment machine and when the 2011 specifications are selected for your year and model BMW the screen labels the car as an 06-10 vehicle. According to the machine, the specifications are the same and these are the same specs in which we used to align the vehicle the last time you brought it to us. There is a possibility we have found a small bug in the software for our alignment machine and I have left a message with Hunter, the company who designed the machine, to let them know and to be sure the specifications we used are for sure for your specific vehicle. Their office is closed today, but I will follow up with them again Monday. Hopefully there is a software update to correct this issue. As soon as I have word from Hunter, I will contact you and let you know what we find out. If the specifications are different, we can bring your vehicle back in to perform the proper alignment and correct the situation."

Finally, about So Cal Suspension's work; they were able to access the rear area throught the speaker holes in the rear deck, and the front and rear springs are almost identical and must be differentiated by part numbers on the springs.

so, to summarize, the car drives perfectly with the alignment as it is right now, per the attached alignment report. If Hunter does have an updated spec for its alignment machine, I will report to all what the difference is, and what needs to be done.

I love it, clean and not over the top...wifey just ordered a set for me for Christmas. Thanks for the info and pics!

[MELLOWYELLOW06]

my dealer wont even do it

[MWPos]

To close the loop on the Hunter alignment machine not having the 2011 F10 labeled properly in the printout text, "the specifications we have been using are the proper specifications for your vehicle, and there is a label issue on some of the newer BMWs. BMW hasn't changed alignment specs for the newer body styles. The parts are slightly different and the way to adjust them is slightly different as well, but the specifications for the alignment have stayed the same since 2006. They will be rolling out an update sometime early next year he said which should correct the labeling issue in the software database."
So, no fears in proceeding with a spring install and good alignment.

[MWPos]

Originally Posted by Die Wolfe

I love it, clean and not over the top...wifey just ordered a set for me for Christmas. Thanks for the info and pics!

So? You've had almost a full day since opening the gift to have the springs installed...where are the pictures? (meaning to be funny, not pushy )

How did the installation go?

[M3 SMGII]

A few weeks ago I also dropped the car and they quouted me about 200euros for the installation and alignment

[MWPos]

Last month (year) I asked a mod-friendly SA at my dealership about the alignment difference for the front right and left wheels and he asked if he could let his best tech put the car on the alignment rack to 1) check that the springs are installed correctly and 2) what the real alignment measurements are. I took him up on his offer and gave the car to him this morning.
Good news on both counts; the front right wheel is not out of alignment and So Cal Suspension did the install job very well. I attribute the initial out-of-spec report on the front right wheel to a measurement problem as there are so many variables that go into the equation. A second opinion, from the OEM, helped.
So, the final word, from me, is that the Eibach springs lowered the car exactly as much as I wanted, improved the ride beyond my hopes, and did not result in any uncorrectable alignment issues.

[SDf10]

Awesome man! Thank you so much for all the info. I'm getting my car done this month. Will let everyone know how it goes.