hard bottom easy to find

[richstacy]

I love my 135i. It is more fun than my '99 M roadster was and it is more fun than my '04 E46 M3 was. I have but one complaint. The suspension hits bottom -- hard -- on even seemingly very small bumps in the road surface, as if there were no shocks or no "travel" in the suspension beyond an inch. Is it the run flats?

How about every one else?

[ErvGotti]

It's the runflats. I installed coilovers before replacing the runflats and god you want to talk about a jarring ride. I swaped out the runflats and now the ride is actually more enjoyable. On a side note choose your next tire carefully if you decide to replace the RF's. The stock suspension is a little on the soft side to compensate for the RF's so if you replace them with a soft tire you'll might not like the results.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by richstacy

I love my 135i. It is more fun than my '99 M roadster was and it is more fun than my '04 E46 M3 was. I have but one complaint. The suspension hits bottom -- hard -- on even seemingly very small bumps in the road surface, as if there were no shocks or no "travel" in the suspension beyond an inch. Is it the run flats?

How about every one else?

Stacy, this is sort of the nature of the Beast(ie the run flat tires = RFT). They make the 135i ride harshly, jumpy, and skippy over anything but smooth pavement. Changing to regular non-RFT will help - a lot! But some of that jumpyness will remain (a small amount).

I think only a real suspension like BMW's Performance Suspension kit together with replacing the rear subframe bushings will solve the rear end's looseness. Lots of people also have replaced the front control A-arms with M3 bits.


I have replaced my RFT with non RFT Michelin PS3's. And... I LOVE them! So much better than the stock RFT (nee run-craps).

I am also temped to now replace my rear subframe bushings (all four of them with M3 ones) to see how that will make the rear end feel in the twisty bits.

Dackel


PS: Btw - Welcome to 1addicts

[Tom K.]

My 128i vert with ZSP has the same suspension as the 135i and I've never noticed the suspension bottoming - whether on the original RFTs or the replacement DWS tires. While non RFTs give a softer ride because of the sidewall stiffness, they don't alter either damping or spring rates.

So if you really have only one inch of suspension travel, perhaps the car was not prepped properly for initial delivery. I'd have it looked at.

Tom

[1SerieStud]

Get the BMW Performance Suspension...with or without RFT's you'll love it!

[Dackelone]

Just had a thought Stacy... maybe when your car was PDI'd the tech did not remove the shipping blocks from the shock pistons. To check you will need to jack up the car and peek under the rubber boot that goes over the front shock pistons - under the springs.

IF the shipping blocks were left in there - THAT would limit your suspension travel to only an inch or so!

[richstacy]

Dackelone, Thanks! I will certainly have that checked. It does not seem right that I should have this problem with the 135i that I never, ever had with my M roadster or my M3 or any of the other 3 BMWs I have had over the years. (of course 2 of those were X5s)

[x97Melbourne]

It's not the run flats. I switched to regular performance tires (due to cost not performance) and I still hit hard. I have to baby it over speed bumps.
I actually have a loaner 328i now (NO SPORT PACKAGE) and I can hit speed bumps at 25MPH no problem. It obviously has run flats.
Who ever says its the run flats.....not sure what their smokin. )))
Sports package == fun == rough ride!! But it's worth it.

[Lambobimmer]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Stacy, this is sort of the nature of the Beast(ie the run flat tires = RFT). They make the 135i ride harshly, jumpy, and skippy over anything but smooth pavement. Changing to regular non-RFT will help - a lot! But some of that jumpyness will remain (a small amount).

I think only a real suspension like BMW's Performance Suspension kit together with replacing the rear subframe bushings will solve the rear end's looseness. Lots of people also have replaced the front control A-arms with M3 bits.


I have replaced my RFT with non RFT Michelin PS3's. And... I LOVE them! So much better than the stock RFT (nee run-craps).

I am also temped to now replace my rear subframe bushings (all four of them with M3 ones) to see how that will make the rear end feel in the twisty bits.

Dackel


PS: Btw - Welcome to 1addicts

This.. I have the Michelin Pilot SS and BMW PS. Much improved handling, however the rearend still feels loose to me. I will install the M3 rear bushings and rear control arm to hopefully fix this.

[Cuz5150]

Originally Posted by richstacy

I love my 135i. It is more fun than my '99 M roadster was and it is more fun than my '04 E46 M3 was. I have but one complaint. The suspension hits bottom -- hard -- on even seemingly very small bumps in the road surface, as if there were no shocks or no "travel" in the suspension beyond an inch. Is it the run flats?

How about every one else?

Welcome to the #1 complaint from the 1er cars. I feel the same way, how can BMW produce such a nice/fun/blast to drive car and fall short on the suspension. I too have a M3 vert and the damn 135i is soooo much more fun to kick around town.....DAMN BMW I HATE YOU!!!

[1SerieStud]

Fellas, BMW Performance Suspension and never look back...you'll love it!

[Cuz5150]

Originally Posted by 1SerieStud

Fellas, BMW Performance Suspension and never look back...you'll love it!

^^^Ditto on this^^^

However, its so damn expensive...........again--->Damn you BMW!!!

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by richstacy

Dackelone, Thanks! I will certainly have that checked.

Let us know if it was a non-removed shipping block.

Tom

[RimasRS]

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

^^^Ditto on this^^^

However, its so damn expensive...........again--->Damn you BMW!!!

I don't understand how you can say expensive 1200$ for shocks springs and sway bar? When for freaking after market aluminum intercooler you would pay same price...

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by RimasRS

I don't understand how you can say expensive 1200$ for shocks springs and sway bar? When for freaking after market aluminum intercooler you would pay same price...

I agree. This is a very reasonable price for what you get, specially for how it transforms the car!