BMW 5 Series

[Dodger1]

I have recently purchased the above, a 09 model, I am a little concerned that the rear end sags a little, all weights are spot on ie. nose wieght etc, has anybody got the same vehicle and if so what have they done to beef up the rear suspension.your comments would be invaluable. Thank you.

 

[Lutz]

Unless the car has self-levelling suspension it's only natural that the back end goes down a bit, but then it would do that, too, with a full load in the boot and the caravan not hitched up. Something's got to give somewhere.

 

[Guest]

Once the 5 series is rolling the suspension should level up! Never found any need to beef up suspension when we had 5's, self levelling just kicked in.

 

[Dodger1]

I realise the car will sag a little providing the car/'van are loaded correctly, which they are,but the car when hitched looks like a speedboat !! It's not that I am inexperienced as I have been caravanning for 38 years, and no the car in question does not have self levelling suspension.My previous Volvo did have SLS so can appreciate your comments, to go back to my original question "What have they done to beef up the rear suspension" I have approached the BMW Dealer I where I bought the car but they were no help whatsoever.

 

[Lutz]

As one must not exceed the permissible rear axle load regardles of whether towing or solo, the back of the car can't be any lower with the caravan hitched than if the boot were fully laden. It would therefore look 'like a speedboat' then, too, but as long as you don't have any problems with the suspension bottoming out, so what?

 

[otherclive]

I had a chat with one of our local traffic cops about the 5 series tourer that he was driving annd could not believe what he had stowed in the back, yet the car looked okay when he drove off. I can't recall seeing any 5 series of the present or previous models looking particularly nose up when loaded and towing. Don't forget that fitting suspennsion mods such as spring assisters don't allow for any load increase above the manufacturers rated loads

 

[JeffandDi]

The 5 series tourings (ie the estate version) have self leveling suspension which is why our friendly coppers car looked OK. The 5 series saloon does not have this. I tow with a 5 series Sport which has beefier suspension than the standard SE model and I have no problem. Do you have the SE? If so its suspension will be softer. Interestingly I had a BMW 330Ci before this that had a BMW factory fitted tow bar. As part of the factory fitting they upgraded the rear suspension. If your towbar was factory fitted it may already have this so check. Your local BMW dealer will tell you the exact spec of the car as it left the factory.

 

[tonybur]

as a repairer off cars i do remember a lady some years ago had a 3 series compact,unladen it was perfect,as soon as she had rear seat passengers it "dragged its ass" Unladen on a level floor with no broken springs it looked perfect.she wanted somthing sorting out so we changed the rear springs for OE spec springs.measuring before and after there was a negligable increase in height,5mm max.she had the car back and a week later reported it was perfect,no sagging.we deduced that in the course of its life it had incorrect rate springs fitted.an easy check is to inspect for paint mark,eg brown brown blue and check they are the correct spec.a bmw dealer would also be able to supply the correct colours for uprated springs which could be purchased aftermarket

 

[tonybur]

sorry didnt spot its an 09

 

[lunarcamper]

I currently tow with a 03 530d Msport, rear sags a bit when loaded at 75kg. Not a problem on the road.