Anybody else here ever have a broken front strut/shock coil spring?

Now here is the important part of this - for xdrive most online parts stores - if they carry coil springs at all, many don't at least for the xdrive, only have OEM springs which are wicked pricey like $175 EACH - but they can be had for around $80 each. I had my local mechanic get a new set for me for $80 - I also found BavAuto has the Suplex brand for $83, the ones my mechanic got are another brand named Mubea.

Dunno about those brands but guessing you replaced w/stock spring rate....?? That would be a rating in lb.

Both breaks happen in very cold weather?

And another thing. This is the world of BMW. $175.00 per spring is what drivers of such a car might keep in their wallets, at minimum, for the odd impulse buy. BMW springs are among their most inexpensive parts.

 

as far as brand goes - what brand is OEM/stock?

no idea what the spring rate is - typically one is asked model number, VIN, for parts..

cold weather - well this is winter in NE, but not terribly cold at the time - seasonable - 30-40F.

for the most part I don't find parts at least for my modest typical 328xi to be too pricey, this coil spring was more of an exception.. YMMV! (Upate: geez I just realized your satire there)

My theory partly copped from some other deep internet dive on the subject to a UK forum - my experience was not unique - I let my car sit for over a week in my garage - upon returning to it's use - I wonder if the brakes - either parking - stupidly left on in park on level surface -or other calipers were seized up a bit - leading to a torque on the weakened spring and popped/cracked it at the time.

 

My theory partly copped from some other deep internet dive on the subject to a UK forum - my experience was not unique - I let my car sit for over a week in my garage - upon returning to it's use - I wonder if the brakes - either parking - stupidly left on in park on level surface -or other calipers were seized up a bit - leading to a torque on the weakened spring and popped/cracked it at the time.

Broken springs are very, very rare.

What's the manufacturer have to say?

 

My 2000 323it had a rear spring break. Happened around 120k miles. My mechanic didn't seem surprised. I replaced them both with OEM units.

 

The issue with the springs is the variable rate and pitch design. Very common on many German cars including BMW, VW, Audi, etc. I had one front spring break when I lifted up the rear end to do some repairs. I've heard of two breaking at the same time when the opposite end of the car is lifted.

Be thankful for the break to occur in the garage and not at speed.

 

2011 328xi broke right front spring @ 71k miles! Break occurred at midpoint of spring, no strut damage, just straight out spring failure! Replaced with a BMW OEM spring.

 

'08 E83 broke both rear springs at 135k miles (an inevitable occurrence on that chassis).

'11 VW MK6 Jetta snapped a front spring at 115k miles in the middle of a 400 mile trip; moused the spring in place with wire to continue the journey and not blow out a tire.

'04 F150 FX4 broke both front coils by 100k miles, which is very common on those trucks.

Meanwhile, my '84 GMC still runs its original springs. Steel quality has gone down due to the use of recycled metal, which I am all too happy to continue to supply. I sold 600 lbs of rusted junk to the yard the other day for $111. Turning trash into cash is a favorite hobby of mine.

 

Wife's X3, 71k miles, replacing tires, had 2 broken rear coil springs. Never had that happen on any car I've owned.

 

That happens to every E83 ever made, and has been a commonly known failure point for a decade and a half.


You didn’t just buy a BMW if money was of any concern, did you?