Eibach Spring Problems on E30 Model BMW’s

(Updated Information Below)

We installed a set of Eibach springs on a very clean 1989 E30 325is. It was noted on the test drive that when braking after accelerating, and on forward loading, the rear springs let off a loud “sprong” kind of noise. On removal of the springs, a witness mark was noted indicating rubbing between the smaller diameter end coil and a larger diameter intermediate coil. After verifying that the rear trailing arm and rear sub-frame bushings were in good shape, a second pair of Eibach springs were installed. The second set was less noisy, but the problem still existed. Below are photos of the second set of Eibach rear springs:   

The indicated area shows were the powder coating has been rubbed away. 

This is the installed spring at droop.

This is the installed spring at normal compression (ride height). Incase you’re wondering, we tried installing the springs with the logo both upside down and right side up, and the problem didn't change.

I don’t pretend to be an engineer, but it would seem to me that a batch of E30 springs have been wound improperly for Eibach. I purchased the springs from SSF, and they refunded my money for the two sets of springs. They sent the springs back to Eibach in September, 2002, and Eibach has failed to respond to SSF as of December 4, 2002 (Apparently, the information I received from my contact person at SSF was erroneous; Eibach was in the process of moving their company to a new location, and lost the springs in the shuffle. I have since been contacted by representatives of both SSF and Eibach. SSF was satisfied with Eibach's responsiveness to the situation. Eibach has since responded by testing all their E30 springs in stock, and have found "some" to have problems). When my shop foreman attempted to telephone support personnel from Eibach, he was shuffled to an extension that left him on hold for fifteen minutes (The contact person from Eibach claims that their new phone system has taken care of any hold problems). Anybody can make a mistake, but when a company becomes so arrogant as to not respond in anyway to it’s clientele (Eibach has now responded, and I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that it's not just my published web page that has made them respond. The incident occurred in August of 2002, and Eibach's representative got a hold of me in February 2003), it's time to move on to a more responsive and responsible company (I'll give them another try, especially now that I have a contact within the company that seems genuinely concerned ).