Round one of basic suspension mods started

[DietTab]

After my third autocross, finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the horrible understeer this car has... or at least take a large step in the right direction.

Went with Koni Yellows, Swift Spec-R springs, Dinan Camber plates, M3 front arms and an E93 swaybar. I don't have the $$ for true coilovers so this should fit the bill nicely for the time being. When I can afford to, I'm going to get a nice square set of wheels and run some 255s all around. Will post impressions when the parts come in next week and I put them on the car

[chris82]

Sounds like some solid mods to do. That sway bar should help a lot.

[MaC-N54-E82]

Great start. I would recommend M3 rear subframe bushing as the next step.

[DietTab]

I'll put a poly bushing in before I put in a rubber OE part. Cheaper, too. It's next on the list, but ran out of budget this time around.

[Fidiman]

Can't wait for your Swift Spec-R and Koni Yellow review ! Did you order the external adjustable rear dampers ? Or did you go for the normal ones route ?

[DietTab]

I got the regular ones. There really isn't a need for an external adjuster on an SA shock, in my opinion. It's a minor thing to adjust them if necessary later on (remove one bolt), but once they're set, they'll probably stay set.

[jafo1701]

Originally Posted by DietTab

After my third autocross, finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the horrible understeer this car has... or at least take a large step in the right direction.

Went with Koni Yellows, Swift Spec-R springs, Dinan Camber plates, M3 front arms and an E93 swaybar. I don't have the $$ for true coilovers so this should fit the bill nicely for the time being. When I can afford to, I'm going to get a nice square set of wheels and run some 255s all around. Will post impressions when the parts come in next week and I put them on the car

Nice I have that same set up. Definitely do the M3 subframe bushings if you can. Will 255s fit? I run 235s up front on Apex ARC 8s with 255s in the rear. I have no noticeable understeer with -2.5 camber. I did run a 3 mm spacer up front and would rub a bit on bumps and inclines when turning. I removed the spacers an no more rubbing.

[DietTab]

255s will fit. I'm not afraid to work the fenders at all.

[DietTab]

Taking my sweet lazy time on this, working two hours a day, its like 110 degrees and humid in my garage so... progress isn't exactly quick.



Both rear shocks/springs are in, and one side of the front is done, including struts, springs, camber plates and M3 parts. Should finish up tomorrow and get it aligned on Thursday. Will post impressions then.

[Pig Farmer]

Originally Posted by DietTab

Taking my sweet lazy time on this, working two hours a day, its like 110 degrees and humid in my garage so... progress isn't exactly quick.

Spent all day Saturday and Sunday doing a full suspension swap from one 135i to another. I feel your pain... Literally!

[KD718]

Watching

I'm about to do Koni yellows, H&R sport springs, GC camber plates, H&R front sway bar, and poly subframe bushings whenever they come off backorder. Might go with M3 front control arms as well.

[DietTab]

great time to do the arms and swaybar, you're going to be staring at them when the strut comes out, and it only adds a couple minutes per side. I should have this finished up tonight when I get off work

[DietTab]

Got held up at work, didn't quite finish. Last strut is assembled just waiting to go in the car and button everything up

[DietTab]

New suspension is in the the car is TIGHT. Got to get it aligned tomorrow for a long 600mile round trip to atlanta saturday for a funeral. Did 2.5 turns out on the control arms (not 3.5) and it's pretty close to right. Will post driving impressions after the trip.

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by DietTab

Taking my sweet lazy time on this, working two hours a day, its like 110 degrees and humid in my garage so... progress isn't exactly quick.

Can I ask how you came to have the Koni e9x rear shocks? Was this by Koni Catalogue or your own desire?

Dont worry there is no performance decrease, they should be more robust

[DietTab]

The 1 and 3 series use the same rear shock and part number

[DietTab]

Was about to get -2.55 and -2.54 camber with the dinan plates M3 arms and swift springs, maxed out on the strut tower. Very happy about that.

Final specs were

-2.55 camber front
.01 toe out per side front

-2.2 camber rear
.10 toe in rear

Hopefully this should help the car stick and rotate off to atlanta!

Also, 2.5 turns (out) on the tie rod ends put me actually in the acceptable range on the alignment printoff, as far as front toe goes, so thats probably a better place to start then the 3.5 turns I've seen quoted elsewhere.

[135iam]

Sounds like a nice setup.

You shouldn't have much fender work to fit 255's in the front with -2.5 front camber. I have 245/35/18's on Arc 8's with 3mm spacers with the same neg camber and no rubbing.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by DietTab

Also, 2.5 turns (out) on the tie rod ends put me actually in the acceptable range on the alignment printoff, as far as front toe goes, so thats probably a better place to start then the 3.5 turns I've seen quoted elsewhere.

It's no doubt dependent on the particular car, and the particular mods. Parallel strings or a trammel bar, and careful measurements, will get you close enough to drive to the alignment shop. At least that's far better than guessing or relying on others experiences.

[DietTab]

After a long 700 mile trip I certainly feel the car is 200% as stiff as it was all around. Body roll is significantly less, and the ride is firm. Turn-in is much much better, and grip has increased significantly as well. Slight trade off in comfort with the stiffer springs as expected, and more road vibrations in the steering wheel then before. I do feel the runflats are contributing a lot to the harsher road feel now, since everything else is tighter. Very satisfied with this combination, as it ended up the perfect ride height and I was able to acheive the camber I was after without an expensive or noisy adjustable camber plate or $$ coilover system.

[swagon]

You're still on runflats?

[DietTab]

Yeah, the car had brand new runflats on it when I bought it a few months back, couldnt stomach taking off brand new tires.