F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

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Marc 76
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F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Wed Sep 22, 2021 9:58 pm

I was having a look through the F10/11 D5 parts catalogue the other day and noticed that rather confusingly there are three different front coil springs listed for the vehicle...

Does anyone know why that might be - different ride heights perhaps? It clearly shows that they are all applicable to both limousine and touring.

Mine runs on the 31 33 656 option.

I'd be interested to know what other owners are running on if any of you already know or are inclined to go looking! :D

Coil Spring.jpg
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F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Swizzer2020 » Thu Sep 23, 2021 12:35 am

Following, given that I’d like to do a suspension refresh soon.

Bob
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Bob » Thu Sep 23, 2021 12:45 am

The usual explanation for the multiple spring options is that ALPINA tweaked the spring rates depending on the total option-spec of each individual car. An email to Buchloe or Alloy Wheels Direct should furnish you with the original part number for your car.
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Thu Sep 23, 2021 9:40 pm

Thanks for the pointers Bob!

I feel my car runs slightly high at the front with regards to the ride height spec in the manual hence my thought on slight ride height
variations.
It would be good to confirm although as i say it runs with the first option springs, Alpina, Eibach and the part number clearly visible on both.
F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

Bob
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Bob » Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:21 pm

They should be correct but maybe fire off an email to Herr Rimpler explaining you’re looking to check you have the correct springs since you’re slightly out of spec re: ride height.
Last edited by Bob on Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Frosty
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Frosty » Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:27 am

Marc 76 wrote:
Thu Sep 23, 2021 9:40 pm
Thanks for the pointers Bob!

I feel my car runs slightly high at the front with regards to the ride height spec in the manual hence my thought on slight ride height
variations.
It would be good to confirm although as i say it runs with the first option springs, Alpina, Eibach and the part number clearly visible on both.
I do think the same with my car too Marc, some angles and surfaces it looks very high as does the front spoiler.
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B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted

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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Swizzer2020 » Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:55 pm

Anyone got a contact for Herr Rimpler? Is that the best contact at Buchloe?

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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Bob » Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:14 pm

B3 3.2 TOURING #062

Marc 76
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:55 pm

Frosty wrote:
Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:27 am
Marc 76 wrote:
Thu Sep 23, 2021 9:40 pm
Thanks for the pointers Bob!

I feel my car runs slightly high at the front with regards to the ride height spec in the manual hence my thought on slight ride height
variations.
It would be good to confirm although as i say it runs with the first option springs, Alpina, Eibach and the part number clearly visible on both.
I do think the same with my car too Marc, some angles and surfaces it looks very high as does the front spoiler.
And i thought yours generally looked slightly lower than mine at the front from the pics i've seen...

Perhaps its just a feature depending on on angles and surfaces as you say. From some angles mine looks to sit nicely, now and again i thing the front is too high which appears to concur with the manual. Tape measure out again tomorrow and an email i think!
F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

Marc 76
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:55 pm

CaesarBob wrote:
Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:14 pm
a.rimpler@alpina.de
Nice one Bob! :D
F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

Marc 76
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:20 pm

So, last few days i've been measuring my front ride height (to get an average when parked in different places etc) and it is invariably slightly more than the upper spec in the manual.

An email has been sent to Herr Rimpler with all the detail to try to ascertain whether either of the other spring options would resolve this...
F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Frosty » Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:22 pm

following with interest.

What measurements did you get Marc?
D5 F11 Touring #107
B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted

Marc 76
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:21 pm

Frosty wrote:
Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:22 pm

What measurements did you get Marc?
Front spec is 649 +/- 10. Mine is averaging 670mm, so 21mm above nominal and 11mm above the high tolerance.

Rear spec is 656 +/- 10. Mine is averaging 658mm so more than happy with that, spot on to be fair.

And as mentioned previously, it runs on Alpina springs, part no 31 33 656 made by Eibach.


I'd be interested to know how yours compares! :D
F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

Frosty
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Frosty » Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:50 am

I only measured mine on the front as the rear always looks OK to me, plus that is on the bags and adjusts.

Fronts I have measured at 665 to 670 which is bang on what you have.

Some pics
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D5 F11 Touring #107
B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted

Marc 76
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Re: F10 / F11 D5 Front Coil Springs

Post by Marc 76 » Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:11 pm

Nice one Frosty :)

I have received a reponse from Herr Rimpler today, in which he confirms the spring 31 33 656 is correct for the car, and is also the shortest spring they have for the 5 series.

He also confirms the correct dimension to measure (i.e. bottom lip of 20" rim to highest point on arch.

He did however remind me of the loading ballast to be applied when taking the measurements: 2x68kg on the front seats, 68kg on the rear and 21kg in the trunk.

This would probably bring the front into spec as i didnt measure mine with ballast...Will do over the weekend i think.
The rear would obviously stay fixed as the levelling system inflates to a target height so any ballast would only compress the front.


Ive got a couple more questions for him regards the spec of the other available springs so will update here when he responds. :D
(he does seem like an awfully helpful chap!)
F11 D5 BiTurbo #049
1990 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo
1983 Escort 400bhp Time Attack Car

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