Lowering '06 530XiT wagon?

stateniland · #1 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008, 03:32 AM

With self leveling rear.. I'm running into road blocks on "yes it will work" and "no it will not with self leveling rear".. any help?
thanks
Joe
NYC

bmw528i · #2 (**permalink**) 11-29-2008, 01:36 PM

I think there is a way of tricking the rear self leveling system into lowering. Bavarian Autosport has something for the X5 and the E39 wagons. I don't know if it would work on the new E61 self leveling system but you could contact them and check it out...

stateniland · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2008, 02:56 AM

Thanks BMW528i but I already contacted BavAuto. They do not have anything for my year or model for such an application. I've been in contact with several aftermarket businesses and still get conflicting replies to my inquiries.
Some say put in the front sport springs and the car will "Self lower" itself and others say the rear must be "Re-calibrated".
Talking to my mechanic who is going to do the springs and some other mods I have planned says that there has to be a way to re-calibrate the rear. If it self levels itself when weight is added / removed then there' must be a way to level it with new springs up front.
Im sure we will get it right and I will post my conclusions here for those interested.
I do thank you for the time you took to reply to my post.
Thank you,
Joe

CarDriver · #4 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 09:36 AM

What you will have to do is eliminate the self leveling system in the rear and replace the shock mounts with ones from a 530 W/O self leveling. You will need to plug the hydraulic lines, remove the solenoid and get standard sport shocks for the rear. The Kits that Bavauto have are totally unnecessary (and expensive). Not that they have one for yours anyway.

That is the only way I know to do it. There may be others ways but I do not know of them. I am about to do the same with my touring. If I ever needed to replace the self leveling shocks in the rear they would be 650 each instead of 125 for bilsein sports.

I wish you the best of success.

bmw528i · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stateniland

Thanks BMW528i but I already contacted BavAuto.

Well then you were already one step ahead of me. The only reason why I thought of them was because I saw something in their monthly magzine for the E39 wagon and E53 X5. No problems though on the response. Good luck with the lowering and I hope everything works out for you.