E88 135i chassis rigidity improvement (?)

[Damiennn]

Hi Folks -

Just got a '13 135i E88 for my wife.. we both love the car, but I find the chassis rigidity to be on par with a week's old lettuce. Not surprising, considering its a rag top .. so nature of the beast, I guess.

Wondering if you anyone knows of a company that makes chassis stiffening comps - like http://unibrace.com/ does for vdubs, but for BMWs?

I already searched through Turner & Dinan catalogs and all I see are strut tower braces, basically.. soooo, again, wondering if anyone knows of a different option?

If so, please do not hesitate.

Cheers, M

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Damiennn

Hi Folks -

Just got a '13 135i E88 for my wife.. we both love the car, but I find the chassis rigidity to be on par with a week's old lettuce. Not surprising, considering its a rag top .. so nature of the beast, I guess.

Wondering if you anyone knows of a company that makes chassis stiffening comps - like http://unibrace.com/ does for vdubs, but for BMWs?

I already searched through Turner & Dinan catalogs and all I see are strut tower braces, basically.. soooo, again, wondering if anyone knows of a different option?

If so, please do not hesitate.

Cheers, M

Mason Engineering is a good start. I believe dbronnik is running one of their strut bars.

http://www.masonengineering.net/Subpages/E82.htm

[Damiennn]

It is indeed a good start. Thank you. However, I was hoping for a bit more than a strut tower brace.. needless to say I will explore this further through their site.

[135ivert]

[QUOTE=Suprgnat;22973188]Mason Engineering is a good start. I believe @[dbronnik]() is running one of their strut bars.

[URL="[/QUOTE]

I have the Mason Engineering strut bar. You'd be surprised at how much it helps. Don't dismiss it outright just because it's a strut bar.

[iminhell1]

So you've come to the conclusion that the body is weak how exactly?

Why don't you spend a bit of reading time about the cars suspension system first. I think you'll find (quickly) that it's where your perceived issues lie.

[Gangplank]

This ^

For starters:

Rear Sub Frame Bushings - Whiteline inserts or 2 piece bushings work great

Differential Lockdown Bracket. Got mine from member on here in classifieds. @135droptop

From M3 control arms - TRW brand from ECS Tuning or Other.

Those 3 things made it drive like a whole different car.

[Damiennn]

just feels like the front end is not really connected to the rear end, when going into turns.. I cant quantify it, but I can definitely qualify the sensation, through the power of perception of my ASS!

it actually feels like the front end leans into the turn first, then the rear end catches up. almost as it is connected by an universal joint in the middle.

although to be fair, I was comparing it to back to back with my Golf R which is stiffened every which way from Sunday, by 2 chassis braces / bigger sways / poly suspension bushings / harder density engine + trany mounts, lower front stress bar, coilovers, etc., etc.

so dont get your panties into a bunch over it. bmws are Ok cars & I like what we got. I just wish it felt more solid in turns - as in one whole car.

I will start with upper strut bar + poly susp comps + coilovers.. & see where that leads me.

Originally Posted by iminhell1

So you've come to the conclusion that the body is weak how exactly?

Why don't you spend a bit of reading time about the cars suspension system first. I think you'll find (quickly) that it's where your perceived issues lie.

[Damiennn]

thank you - this actually does help!

Originally Posted by Gangplank

This ^

For starters:

Rear Sub Frame Bushings - Whiteline inserts or 2 piece bushings work great

Differential Lockdown Bracket. Got mine from member on here in classifieds. @135droptop

From M3 control arms - TRW brand from ECS Tuning or Other.

Those 3 things made it drive like a whole different car.

[a4nut]

Do the subframe inserts and m3 control arms. Made a world of difference for me! That and the ohlins coilovers. I came from an 08 MINI very JCW, and I was shocked how squirrelly my E82 was from the factory.

[gtjosh]

OP what tires are you running? If you are still on the run flats I would recommend getting rid of those first.

[Damiennn]

No sir.. RFTs have been ditched on 2nd day of ownership in favor of a minty fresh set of Michelin AS3+.. plus E46 spare tire kit from ECS.

I wasn't even going to attempt to judge the ride based on RFTs.
They just plain suck & had to go.

Originally Posted by gtjosh

OP what tires are you running? If you are still on the run flats I would recommend getting rid of those first.

[Tuxedo]

last week bought a tire and wheel pkg from tirerack.com Michelin PSS and Verde V27 SAGA a modern style 42 and love it. It went from RFT Goodyear rode ok but they took a sledge hammer to the A pillars for every 1/2in pavement gap or manhole cover edge to nearly riding like a old Buick but still handles like a bmr.

bought this car 3wks ago, will soon install Koni orange F & R and the above mentioned TRW 3M control arm kit from Turner. Whiteline KDT917 in April So I 2nd Gangplank

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Damiennn

just feels like the front end is not really connected to the rear end, when going into turns.. I cant quantify it, but I can definitely qualify the sensation, through the power of perception of my ASS!

it actually feels like the front end leans into the turn first, then the rear end catches up. almost as it is connected by an universal joint in the middle.

although to be fair, I was comparing it to back to back with my Golf R which is stiffened every which way from Sunday, by 2 chassis braces / bigger sways / poly suspension bushings / harder density engine + trany mounts, lower front stress bar, coilovers, etc., etc.

so dont get your panties into a bunch over it. bmws are Ok cars & I like what we got. I just wish it felt more solid in turns - as in one whole car.

I will start with upper strut bar + poly susp comps + coilovers.. & see where that leads me.

Just sounds like the shitty stock RSFB. When you have the old ones out, you will see they have the firmness of jello.

On the newer cars, they don't even use bushings at all.

[Damiennn]

here is my wife's car..

[oneBIGtoe]

Originally Posted by Tuxedo

last week bought a tire and wheel pkg from tirerack.com Michelin PSS and Verde V27 SAGA a modern style 42 and love it. It went from RFT Goodyear rode ok but they took a sledge hammer to the A pillars for every 1/2in pavement gap or manhole cover edge to nearly riding like a old Buick but still handles like a bmr.

bought this car 3wks ago, will soon install Koni orange F & R and the above mentioned TRW 3M control arm kit from Turner. Whiteline KDT917 in April So I 2nd Gangplank

Why is it that some of these tires look like snow tires? The only thing I like about the RFTs are the profile - gives a way better appearance than some of the tire pics I have seen. Not all, but quite a few... Not sure why, but just look off and others don't. Maybe the rims or the angle...

[litebulb]

I would stay with the RSFB and M3 arms and pass on the diff lockdown bracket specifically with a cabrio. I tried the bracket and it created a annoying amount of noise. My indy found it was rubbing against something

Originally Posted by Gangplank

This ^

For starters:

Rear Sub Frame Bushings - Whiteline inserts or 2 piece bushings work great

Differential Lockdown Bracket. Got mine from member on here in classifieds. @135droptop

From M3 control arms - TRW brand from ECS Tuning or Other.

Those 3 things made it drive like a whole different car.