EDC components life expectancy

[RobertEvans]

Hey everyone-

New guy here trying to learn more about EDC. I searched and couldn't quite find the answer I'm looking for... I've been spending a lot of time looking for a nice used e90 and although I suppose I would prefer one without EDC, I have realized that I could find one pretty close to what I want that does have EDC so I wanted to learn a little more about it.

Basically what I'm trying to figure out is what is the life expectancy of these EDC components. How many miles/years are these shocks/struts/whatever expected to last? If I was buying an 08 with low miles and non-edc and I knew the shocks hadn't ever been replaced I would go ahead and replace them just based on age.

I looked around and found this set of Bilstein EDC replacements:
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-18...-with-edc.aspx

What else would be needed to refresh the EDC components when the time comes? Are struts themselves part of the EDC system? Anything else I'm missing?

Once again, sorry if this has been covered before but I wasn't able to find anything.

Thanks

[M3PO]

My '08 has 75k on it, 35k of which the car has been lowered pretty low and driven hard in the canyons and on the track. While at this height, the ride and handling is not as good as coils, the actual OEM suspension hardware seems to be very robust. I even nailed a pothole clipping a corner on the track that destroyed my Advan TCIII. Suspension is fine.

[C|3R1C]

One strut went out at 72k after a lifetime of spirited driving and constantly staying in sport mode. It was the front left strut and the interval valves weren't working so it was stuck the sport mode (not that I minded lol)

Since then I switched to bilsteins which are a hell of a lot cheaper than OEM and work great. They should last a minimum of 100k miles. All other components look good and I just dropped my car of B&G springs. I feel the bilsteins have a wider range of dampening. Comfort mode is softer while sport mode is stiffer vs OEM.

Word if caution.. Bilsteins have the spring perch(?) and toe link welded to the strut so the only lowering mod is straight springs.... No sleeve kits.

One last thing. The EDC system is all inclusive. The only two parts are the module which shouldn't go out and the struts which should give 80k+. Everything else should be the same regardless of EDC vs non

[spool twice]

Great thread! I was curious as well as I'm now out of warranty. The suspension still feels tight and robust, especially in the highest EDC level at 50k+ miles. Having a non-E9x series, and prior to had an E46 M3, I was used to replacing suspension components (control arms, bushings, shocks/struts) at or around 40-50k miles. Glad to see BMW using substantially more robust parts for the E9X w/ EDC.

[mlhj83]

47k miles and my ZCP EDC dampers have worn noticeably. Low (shaft) speed damping has suffered the most, while high speed damping is still good.

12 track days and the rest of the mileage is on roads in UK (which are amongst the harshest for fast driving) and in Europe.

[phrozen06]

I'm at 139k miles and my stock EDC suspension still works like a swiss watch although I do have my eyes on the Bilstien replacements. No track days though.

[happos2]

Originally Posted by phrozen06

I'm at 139k miles and my stock EDC suspension still works like a swiss watch although I do have my eyes on the Bilstien replacements. No track days though.

You must have one of the higher mileage M3 I have heard about! Awesome!!

OP: I am at 58k miles and don't have any issue.

[thekurgan]

Folks tend to grow into the suspension wear, making it hard to notice if they are worn from new condition. I find the same issue as @mlhj83, low speed isn't nearly as great anymore (08 36k). I'm looking at the Bilsteins as well, but now am curious as to a good lowering spring, if any since I don't see the sport models with EDC.

[Z K]

It depends on the roads you drive on. If they are smooth, then the shocks will last longer. If you drive on streets that have a lot of unevenness and potholes, then they will not last as long.

Generally I'd replace shocks every 60k miles as regular maintenance. Usually 60-100k miles is the life of a regular shock. Even if it isn't leaking, the shock performance is greatly degraded. For performance purposes, 30k-60k should be the replacement interval for optimal performance.

Most people don't really care about shock performance so that's why rarely do people change shocks until it's unbearable to them.

Bavarian Autosport recommends changing shocks at about 50k miles:
http://blog.bavauto.com/3050/replacing-shock-absorbers/

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by Z K

It depends on the roads you drive on. If they are smooth, then the shocks will last longer. If you drive on streets that have a lot of unevenness and potholes, then they will not last as long.

Generally I'd replace shocks every 60k miles as regular maintenance. Usually 60-100k miles is the life of a regular shock. Even if it isn't leaking, the shock performance is greatly degraded. For performance purposes, 30k-60k should be the replacement interval for optimal performance.

Most people don't really care about shock performance so that's why rarely do people change shocks until it's unbearable to them.

Bavarian Autosport recommends changing shocks at about 50k miles:
http://blog.bavauto.com/3050/replacing-shock-absorbers/

I concur!

[RobertEvans]

lots of good info here...seems like for the every day user 75-100K on stock EDC shocks should be a good rule of thumb on life expectancy at a minimum without taking into account the actual age of the shocks. Just so I'm understanding correctly...the struts themselves have no electronic or EDC component to them?

[Z K]

Originally Posted by RobertEvans

lots of good info here...seems like for the every day user 75-100K on stock EDC shocks should be a good rule of thumb on life expectancy at a minimum without taking into account the actual age of the shocks. Just so I'm understanding correctly...the struts themselves have no electronic or EDC component to them?

They do. The connection to the shock is an electrical connection. So inside the shock, there is some kind of powered mechanism that changes the settings. That is what makes the replacement shocks expensive.

A lot of people disable the EDC system when installing aftermarket suspension.

[RobertEvans]

not to worried about lowering or doing anything more aftermarket than a set of bilstein replacements. thanks for the info

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by Z K

They do. The connection to the shock is an electrical connection. So inside the shock, there is some kind of powered mechanism that changes the settings. That is what makes the replacement shocks expensive.

A lot of people disable the EDC system when installing aftermarket suspension.

How expensive are the replacement shocks?

[RobertEvans]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

How expensive are the replacement shocks?

was referencing these: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-18...-with-edc.aspx


1802$

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by RobertEvans

was referencing these: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-18...-with-edc.aspx


1802$

[Superhiro]

The Bilsteins are still much cheaper than an OEM replacement. OEM is running between $7/800 for the front struts and between $4/500 for the rears. This is for EDC withComp Pkg struts.

[dparm]

OP, I wouldn't worry about it. They should last a very long time, though performance will be slightly degraded as they age.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by RobertEvans

was referencing these: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-18...-with-edc.aspx


1802$

Why not do coilovers?

[Superhiro]

My guess would be some folks want to retain the EDC functionality. That's why I went with the KW sleeveovers. I had planned on going the Bilstein route for when my struts need to be replaced, but it sounds like that won't be possible now... With the cost of going the Bilstein route and springs or OEM struts and using my Sleeveover kit, I'll likely finally just pull the trigger on coilovers and say bye to EDC.

[phrozen06]

Originally Posted by Superhiro

My guess would be some folks want to retain the EDC functionality. That's why I went with the KW sleeveovers. I had planned on going the Bilstein route for when my struts need to be replaced, but it sounds like that won't be possible now... With the cost of going the Bilstein route and springs or OEM struts and using my Sleeveover kit, I'll likely finally just pull the trigger on coilovers and say bye to EDC.

I'm with you. I'm probably going to give up my EDC functionality and go with full coilovers.

[apecush]

when swapping in springs recently, i noticed that one of my front struts does not rebound on its own when compressed. It still functions as a dampener, though this indicates it is probably on it's way out. Car has 45k miles.