Hey guys, just an FYI. About two years ago, I had a Bilstein B14 PSS kit installed in my 540. New shock/strut mounts at the same time. Love the kit, handles and rides great, but after a bit over a year, I started getting a faint, intermittent knock from my front suspension. Figured it was time (over 140k miles) to start replacing much of the front end, so went ahead and installed new everything...center, left and right steering tie rods, new thrust arms with the Meyle HD bushing upgrade, new control arms, new end links, new sway bar bushings...everything but sub frame bushings. But the knock persisted. Had one strut mount replaced and the knock went away for about a month, then returned...and has only gotten worse over the winter.
I finally took it to a really good shop called Group 2 Motorsports here in Seattle, and they did a very detailed inspection, test drive and diagnosis and traced it to both front struts! Right side was worse than left, but both were doing it. I contacted Bilstein for warranty help, and they said "no problem, send them in". This is my daily driver, so no go, and asked them to sell me replacements, and credit me when I return the old ones....problem is they do not normally stock the B14 PSS kit for older cars like the E39 540/M5 much anymore....I had to wait two months for them to get back into stock. Well they finally came in and were sent to me this week and installed today. FIXED! No more annoying knock (it was mostly as low speeds).
I will be contacting Bilstein USA for an RMA authorization to return the old ones and get my credit. Labor and alignment is still expensive, as is shipping, but at least it is fixed.
Just an FYI, and wondering if anyone else has experienced this with Bilstein, either their regular sport/HD, as well as the PSS kits?
I have always heard Bilstein are top notch quality, but this has kind of shaken my confidence. I am not a super agressive driver, and the car is not slammed really low either.
I am happy with the Bilstein customer service, just wish they had these in stock and I didn't have to wait so long...otherwise, it all turned out fine. Just hope the new ones don't have a repeat of this issue.
I finally took it to a really good shop called Group 2 Motorsports here in Seattle, and they did a very detailed inspection, test drive and diagnosis and traced it to both front struts! Right side was worse than left, but both were doing it. I contacted Bilstein for warranty help, and they said "no problem, send them in". This is my daily driver, so no go, and asked them to sell me replacements, and credit me when I return the old ones....problem is they do not normally stock the B14 PSS kit for older cars like the E39 540/M5 much anymore....I had to wait two months for them to get back into stock. Well they finally came in and were sent to me this week and installed today. FIXED! No more annoying knock (it was mostly as low speeds).
I will be contacting Bilstein USA for an RMA authorization to return the old ones and get my credit. Labor and alignment is still expensive, as is shipping, but at least it is fixed.
Just an FYI, and wondering if anyone else has experienced this with Bilstein, either their regular sport/HD, as well as the PSS kits?
I have always heard Bilstein are top notch quality, but this has kind of shaken my confidence. I am not a super agressive driver, and the car is not slammed really low either.
I am happy with the Bilstein customer service, just wish they had these in stock and I didn't have to wait so long...otherwise, it all turned out fine. Just hope the new ones don't have a repeat of this issue.