So, I'm not going the "cheap" Bekkers coilover route as I learned my 00 528iT has air ride in the rear, and an exhaustive search this a.m. for an aftermarket suspension has left me more confused then when I began.

So, my question is...how do I lower this damn thing? I already have plans to lower the rear by "tricking" the links, so as to make the car think it needs to be lower. But, I can't find rear shocks for this thing, which I do want as I'll be going pretty damn low. Does Bilstein have a setup?

Also, if I look on TireRack, they show Konis for the wagon WITHOUT the sport pakage but not for wagons WITH the sport package. WTH is the difference? It seems the front should be the same regardless of the model, right? And the rear...I don't know. What springs should I run up front? Remember, I want this thing really low, so H&R sport prolly won't cut it.

Someone PLEASE help me out...I'm going crazy! :eyecrazy

Thanks! :wave

Usually you can buy suspension everything from Dinan. However, their website only offers the front springs and shocks for the front and not the rear. Maybe you are stuck with OEM - - but I am really not sure.:confused

I believe the air ride in the back is computer controlled, perhaps you should ask dinan about this (they do have a rep on this forum somewhere, do a search), but I believe it's a matter of reprograming the computer to bring the back end down.

You can get the dealer to lower the rear.

so there is no way to remove the air setup and install a standard coil and shock/strut combo in the back???

so there is no way to remove the air setup and install a standard coil and shock/strut combo in the back???

There is always a way to do anything...

Just takes time and money, usually in copious amounts of each. :D

All air suspensions have some sort of ride height sensor connected to the suspension componetry somewhere...usually a control arm. Generally speaking, you spend 10 minutes repositioning the sensor mounting bracket or bending or redrilling an actuating arm to make the car "think" it's riding higher than actual position. This causes the system to compensate by releasing some air to lower the car. This is actually a good thing in a wagon because it reduces understeer and the ride height will still be maintained when the car is loaded up with cargo. A steel spring can not do that, so lowered cars with steel springs have problems with varying loads. A set of front lowering springs and some minor rear tweaks is probably all you need.

I think you need to study a bit. Your car is probably easier to lower than a car with steel springs. It is not rocket science. Get ETK & TIS and review components or find a couple BMW draggin' wagon experts.

I own a Lincoln Mark VII with air suspension on all 4 corners. It takes me 5 minutes with a torx wrench to set height to desired level.

I just went to a independent BMW shop and had the rear end lowered a bit (15mm). It cost me $79.50.

I have heard that Koni makes a wagon specific shock for my 540, but I've been able to locate it yet (and the BMW shop that I went to couldn't find it either).