Renewing OEM Suspension

[mlhj83]

I do approximately 12k miles a year with 5 or so track days. While I understand that an accurate figure is impossible, does anyone have any info as to when to get new dampers and bushes?

I don't wish to have to wait till it's glaringly obvious that a suspension refresh is required, but rather a rough maintenance schedule to have them done. Many thanks.

[THE TECH]

You could always purchase a set and have them waiting for whenever you decide they are needed for install.

[mlhj83]

Thanks. I could do that but I don't want to end up spending a wad of cash too early, given that I could invest it in the meantime, so it'll be nice to know a ballpark mileage figure of when EDC dampers and bushes should be changed. I used to do it every 50k miles for my previous cars but suspect it may be later for the M3, or I may be wrong.

[M3PO]

75 to 80K is what I have heard. This is from Malek at MRF Engineering BTW. That's exactly what I would expect also.

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by M3PO

75 to 80K is what I have heard. This is from Malek at MRF Engineering BTW. That's exactly what I would expect also.

Cheers, good to know. Anyone else with ballpark figures? The more the merrier and the better I can plan for the future.

[1MOREMOD]

that seems a little high. that would be 6 years and 30 track days or so. i would say more like 50k you started with if it includes all those track days. with no track use probably more like the 80k stated.

[jphughan]

After tens of thousands of miles, a good mechanic should be able to check this while servicing your car and give you an estimate as to how much longer you can go based on wear rate; that estimate should give you plenty of warning. A great mechanic would do this and let you know without you even asking.

The parts in question aren't so terribly expensive that you should need to plan multiple years in advance though....

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by jphughan

After tens of thousands of miles, a good mechanic should be able to check this while servicing your car and give you an estimate as to how much longer you can go based on wear rate; that estimate should give you plenty of warning. A great mechanic would do this and let you know without you even asking.

The parts in question aren't so terribly expensive that you should need to plan multiple years in advance though....

A mechanic can examine bushes but worn dampers cannot be visually inspected unless they are leaking or visibly abnormal. The only formal way of testing dampers is to have them dynoed, but it's not worth the cost to me.

It will cost 3 to £4000 here including labour. While, not a huge amount, still a fair amount at one go. I've racked up about 20k miles in the first year of ownership, but that will be coming down to 12k I hope, so 50k isn't too far away.

[MKE_M3]

If you can't tell you need them, you probably don't. They really don't go from perfect to bad, they degrade slowly over time. I'd guess 50-80k is a good time frame to consider replacement.

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by jdemetry

If you can't tell you need them, you probably don't. They really don't go from perfect to bad, they degrade slowly over time. I'd guess 50-80k is a good time frame to consider replacement.

Thanks. I do understand that the degradation is gradual, which is why I'm looking for kind of a schedule, just like changing engine oil, but yes, 50K onwards sounds about right.

[MKE_M3]

Originally Posted by mlhj83

Thanks. I do understand that the degradation is gradual, which is why I'm looking for kind of a schedule, just like changing engine oil, but yes, 50K onwards sounds about right.

The differance is with engine oil you wouldn't notice it's time to change until it's doing serious damage to your car. With shocks, they can have seriously reduced performance but not hurt anything under normal driving conditions. It's more of a matter of feel then anything (unless they're totally blown)

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by jdemetry

The differance is with engine oil you wouldn't notice it's time to change until it's doing serious damage to your car. With shocks, they can have seriously reduced performance but not hurt anything under normal driving conditions. It's more of a matter of feel then anything (unless they're totally blown)

Yes, was aware of that, but just using oil as a simple analogy, perhaps not the best one.

[MKE_M3]

Originally Posted by mlhj83

Yes, was aware of that, but just using oil as a simple analogy, perhaps not the best one.

No worries, just trying to be clear