Worn shock absorbers?

It's very hard to spot the snapped part of the spring on a general look over the car as the spring sits down inside the cup of the suspension arm and it's only the tip that breaks off.
But as said, very common fault on the 3 series.
 
Broken o/s/r spring.

My mums 2001 e46 318i has had the rear springs changed 3 times in 70k.

On each occasion, it was the o/s/r that snapped, and according to Knights BMW in Stoke its being regularly driven (& weighted over that corner) with a full tank combined with frequent speed bumps what does them in.

I bet my mums driving does not help - "speed bump? what speed bump?" style..... :D

To be fair to BMW, on each occasion,iirc they only charged for the part, not labour.
 
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Whilst rear springs are notorious on the E46 (And thus the Z4) even a car with perfect springs will have the same difference in ride height from one side to the other.

If there is a broken spring, it's a coincidence rather than the cause of the difference.
 
Biohazard said:
are you saying that bmw's should sit low on one corner at the rear by default?

ie, this height difference isn't discernible at the front?
Click to expand...

I believe they do.

That said, they are still prone to snapping springs, especially the o/s/r.

My e38 had the same issue as well.

Can't say I've noticed the difference visually.
 
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