Chromey failed MOT - springs not springey enough!

[Speedtouch]

Took my '87 320iSE for an MOT today. Despite attracting comments from the tester about it being "pretty good for an old bus", he failed it because he claimed its suspension springs were loose in the struts.

They are lowering springs - approx. 60mm drop. I queried this, and mentioned that they were non-standard lowering springs, and he claimed although you're still allowed lowering springs, they have to be of the 'progressive type' - any movement of the spring in the strut with the car jacked up is now an MOT failure

Yet the car passed OK last year on the same springs - WTF!?

So, I'm now having to revert back to the standard 'car on stilts' standard springs

This was at a branch of 'Formula 1', btw. A*se.

[OBs]

Noooooooooooooooo

Cable tie the buggers in though the drainage holes? Should be ok???

Not definate but maybe a option

[Speedtouch]

Well not a bad idea, but I changed the rears over today. To be fair, they were a bit 'collapsed' looking; I suspect they started off as -35/40mm cheap (unbranded) springs that have sagged over time. Just the fronts to do now - of course, my spring compressors have gone on the missing list

[Cotty]

Were the springs and shocks matched or just lowered springs on standard shocks ?

[Speedtouch]

Standard BMW shocks.

[kam-325i]

Standard BMW shocks.

Thats whats causing the loose springs then......

[320Touring]

Standard BMW shocks.

Thats whats causing the loose springs then......

yep- over 40mm drop and the dampers wont hold springs in place when extended.

[Speedtouch]

OK, thanks - worth knowing about!

[Ant]

Name and shame dude !

contensious ( sp?) failure for sure.

Valid point on the cable ties/shorter dampers though

[Simon13]

thats bullsh!t

when an E30 is on the ramps with 60/40 60/60 springs you can nearly pull the rear springs out! but thats not the case with the car on the deck is it? It's only on the ramps to check bushes, oil leaks and critical rust.

Think he was trying it on for sure

[Davenotouring]

Yeah, but what about the Pflantgarten jump at the 'Ring for example? All wheels off the ground, 'could' they fall out?

[Simon13]

hmmm, could be a very very slight possibilty i suppose?

They are very loose, you can move them up and down a good 20-30mm

If* i could get a 325i to go as fast as you Dave then i would know the answer!

[Cotty]

Standard BMW shocks.

Thats whats causing the loose springs then......

Thats what I thought

[Davenotouring]

hmmm, could be a very very slight possibilty i suppose?

They are very loose, you can move them up and down a good 20-30mm

If* i could get a 325i to go as fast as you Dave then i would know the answer!

Gary from Northloop will be trying his best do keep a 325i with my Civic, with his track knowledge I think it'll be close!

[kam-325i]

My rear springs are not lose when the arse end is of the floor........but id do have a H&R kit fitted, shocks and springs...

[Speedtouch]

Started on the fronts today, getting as far as removing the n/s/f strut. The spring has sagged somewhat, and is loose enough to turn by hand, and yes, it is possible to push it sideways out of the proper placing, so I suppose the MOT tester had a point - if I were to go flying over a hump-backed bridge, I suppose there would be a possibility of the spring shaking loose and possibly fouling the steering...

Anyway, I'm now stuck because you have to hold the inside of the strut firm while you undo the top centre nut...anyone got any tips on how to do this?

Cheers,

[Simon13]

from what i can tell i'll suggest this

You should undo the top shock 19mm nut first before you do anything whilst the car is on the ground. with a nice long breaker bar. Sometimes the shock itself spins with this nut so then you have to come up with another solution!

i use a half inch 19mm socket and then an 8mm quarter inch socket on a log extention with a ratchet. The smaller socket holds the top of the shock itself, then hold the 19mm socket ontop and undo that way............if you get me! hard to explain on the computer

if this isn't the help you need then sorry!

So from all of that i would put the wheel back on and put the car back on the deck and try what i have suggested and hopefully you can carry on from where you were

[Speedtouch]

Cheers, I'm sort of getting you. Only snag is, I noticed my car has an allen-bolt on the n/s strut, and 8mm nut on the o/s one! Still not sure how you manage to get the smaller socket on and turning at the same time as the larger one though Or do you undo one at a time?

Cheers.

[kam-325i]

You kinda place the smaller socket inside the bigger one......

I did mine this way. i placed the larger socket on the nut, then placed the smmaler socket thru the larger one, but my sockets have a hex patern on top of them so was able to use a spanner to undo the nut.

[Speedtouch]

Sheesh, looks like I may need a new socket set then...what make are yours Kam?

[kam-325i]

Beta 1/2" drive, but i just bought the main sizes: 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, 21, 24 & 32mm.

I know that Halfords do a good range of sockets available individually with the hex patten on the top.

[Simon13]

yes i have the complete sets in 1/2 3/8 and 1/4. yes you use it as Kam says.

allen key?! never seen/heard of that before.

You can if you want just undo if it will, undo the 19mm nut right off, just be a bit messy as the top mount and washers and stuff all comes apart at the top when you jack the car up.

Yes Dave Gary will no doubt make a better job of it than me! i shall try my best though!

[Speedtouch]

Thanks, looks like a trip to Halfrauds is on the cards tomorrow then. It serves me right for following the Haynes manual procedure really...

[Simon13]

You only learn by taking part yourself!

[dom-1984-320i]

i have just had my car mot'd, it has a 40mm drop on standard shocks(at the mo, changing shocks very soon) all round and when it was on the ramps the guy said there was a little bit of play in the front ones. i had a look and there was less than 10mm in it. the car still sailed through no problems at all. As already said, the guy could be trying it on, or there is a hell of a lot of play in them. in which case could be a fail? Good luck with it mate!

[kam-325i]

You only learn by taking apart yourself!

[Speedtouch]

Cheers dom, sounds like you got a right result on your '84 chromey I suppose the MOT tester is erring on the side of caution, but to be fair the springs do look pretty manky - the coils aren't even a natural curve in places! Best advice I can offer is - avoid cheap lowering springs, and Haynes manuals!

[Speedtouch]

Finally completed the reversion to standard springs today...here's some pics of the knackered cheapo lowering springs:





Original BMW spring compared to lowering one (showing how slack it was in the strut):


Original BMW spring compared to lowering one:


Can anyone suggest a use for the fecked springs?

[kam-325i]

fek me, them old springs are shit......!!!!!
What are they made of ??? Aliminium..........

No wonder he failed them, they are distorted like F**K !!!

[bmwe30mtech]

The spring is on the strut upsidedown

[dom-1984-320i]

fek me, them old springs are shit......!!!!!
What are they made of ??? Aliminium..........

No wonder he failed them, they are distorted like F**K !!!

AGREED!!! shit man, no wonder it failed! They look a complete mess and could of been pretty dangerous. I think you have done the right thing getting the original ones back in. Good work!

[Speedtouch]

Cheers! Yeah they are pretty well used, yet the car still drove and handled quite well, with no nasty noises - even with them mounted upside-down (I thought there was something funny about their orientation!)

[WerkdE30]

i had an e34 on the 2post hoist once and you could see around a 2 inch gap between spring and its seat on the front this was a definate fail you could also pull out the rear springs if you wanted to. i say at full travel there should be no gap at all. short shocks will acheive this. we are more strict with our roadworthiness than the english tho it seems.

[pacerpete]

They look like standard BMW springs that have been 'lowered' by heating up with a gas axe, that is seriously dodgy and council,but it is a chrome 320 !

[gareth]

a large spark plug socket should be the right size for the shock top nut and usually has spanner flats... this is how i do mine, with a 1/4" extension + socket through the centre.