Advice on springs to pair with Bilstein dampers

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by dtla1

Thanks for all this knowledge my friend.
I was hoping to run 255/25/18 in the front, same as the rear so I could rotate and get a little bit more life out of my tires.

Running my second square set of 255/35R18 Extreme Performance Tires for that reason myself. My quest is to minimize costs, and maximize front grip. Could not justify getting a $2000CAD set of Apex wheels, or slightly cheaper set of aftermarkets. Found a second set of BMW OE style 261 wheels for $300CAD, and used four rear 18x8.5 ET52 RIMS. With ET52's, you will need 8-10mm spacers in the front, depending on tire width you plan to use. You require plenty of negative camber to tuck in the top of the tire to avoid fender rubbing ...

Just be careful with total outside diameter of your selected tire, as 235/40 is larger than 215/40 or 225/40, or even 245/35, and 255/35 ...

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by dcaron9999

Running my second square set of 255/35R18 Extreme Performance Tires for that reason myself. My quest is to minimize costs, and maximize front grip. Could not justify getting a $2000CAD set of Apex wheels, or slightly cheaper set of aftermarkets. Found a second set of style 261 wheels for $300CAD, and used four rear 18x8.5 ET52 RIMS. You will need 8mm spacers or thicker in the front, depending on your wheel offset and tire width you plan to use. You require plenty of negative camber to tuck in the top of the tire to avoid fender rubbing ...

Just be careful with total outside diameter of your selected tire, as 235/40 is larger than 215/40 or 225/40, or even 245/35, and 255/35 ...

Just noticed my typo, yeah 255/35. May need to go to a different tire as I hear that MPSS run a little wider than other 255. Do you know anything about zii *specs vs MPSS in terms of width differences?

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by dtla1

Just noticed my typo, yeah 255/35. May need to go to a different tire as I hear that MPSS run a little wider than other 255. Do you know anything about zii *specs vs MPSS in terms of width differences?

Pretty much the same.

ZI-SS = 10.2" section width and 9.6" tread width

PSS = 10.2" section width and 9.5" tread width

Keep in mind that the ZII-SS are Extreme Performance whereas MPSS are Max performance tire, so not as track focussed (tolerance to heat is lower and sidewalls are softer).

[cbl117]

Bilstein HD with BMW perf speings and RSFB inserts:

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by cbl117

Bilstein HD with BMW perf speings and RSFB inserts:

Car is looking good. Stance and ride height are just right IMO.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Car is looking good. Stance and ride height are just right IMO.

Thanks! The bridgestone re71 helped fill up the wheel well too.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by cbl117

Thanks! The bridgestone re71 helped fill up the wheel well too.

I agree! I have 225/255 and I think they help do that as well.

BTW -- I like the black 264s.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

I agree! I have 225/255 and I think they help do that as well.

BTW -- I like the black 264s.

Thanks. They are powdercoated satin black.

The re71 run wider than typical 225/255. They are almost like 235/265.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by cbl117

The re71 run wider than typical 225/255. They are almost look like 235/265.

Any rubbing or clearance issues?

[swagon]

Originally Posted by cbl117

Thanks. They are powdercoated satin black.

I'd go back to stock BMW roundels IMHO.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Any rubbing or clearance issues?

No issues.

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by swagon

I'd go back to stock BMW roundels IMHO.

Really? I prefer the cleaner look of all black. I took an extra set of BMW roundels and sanded/painted with a matching satin black paint.

[dcaron9999]

Here's my 135i in action under moderate braking, with suspension setup mentioned ealier:

[Rainier42]

Originally Posted by cbl117

Bilstein HD with BMW perf speings and RSFB inserts:

Bilstein B6s? Also, how stiff is the ride?

[cbl117]

Originally Posted by Rainier42

Bilstein B6s? Also, how stiff is the ride?

Yep B6s. Ride is noticeably stiffer but not harsh.

[houtan]

Here's a couple pictures of my car with Swift Spec R springs, Bilstein B8s,and Dinan camber plates. Wheel and tires are Apex Arc 8s 8.5 x et45 with 235/40, 9.5 x et 62 plus a 5mm spacer with 275/35.

I had rubbing on the front at the bumper tab and fender lip without the dinan camber plates. No rubbing after shaving the bumper tab and installing the camber plates.

Doesn't impact ride height but worth mentioning is I have the whiteline RSFB installed. I also recently installed the dinan rear upper shock mount bushings that give slightly more suspension travel and I can tell the difference. The rear feels more supple now and absorbs bumps a little better.

I am 100% happy with the ride and handling, even before the RSFB and dinan rear bushings. Its slightly firmer than stock but the car feels rock solid now. I don't have to slow down for bumps in the road so it's not annoyingly low, I drive it exactly the same as before the springs were installed.

[850tgul]

Originally Posted by houtan

Here's a couple pictures of my car with Swift Spec R springs, Bilstein B8s,and Dinan camber plates. Wheel and tires are Apex Arc 8s 8.5 x et45 with 235/40, 9.5 x et 62 plus a 5mm spacer with 275/35.

I had rubbing on the front at the bumper tab and fender lip without the dinan camber plates. No rubbing after shaving the bumper tab and installing the camber plates.

Doesn't impact ride height but worth mentioning is I have the whiteline RSFB installed. I also recently installed the dinan rear upper shock mount bushings that give slightly more suspension travel and I can tell the difference. The rear feels more supple now and absorbs bumps a little better.

I am 100% happy with the ride and handling, even before the RSFB and dinan rear bushings. Its slightly firmer than stock but the car feels rock solid now. I don't have to slow down for bumps in the road so it's not annoyingly low, I drive it exactly the same as before the springs were installed.

Houtan, I'm running the same spec Arc-8 wheel and same tire size up front and about to pair the Swift springs with the B6 (HD) dampers so I'm very interested in your input here...

Are you running a spacer up front? If not, did you have any rubbing on the strut with your setup? I've seen some info where folks claim the bilstein strut is bit thicker than oem which has me nervous. I'm already very close to oem strut but just narrowly clearing it.

I'm most concerned with rubbing in the front. I'm hoping not to mess with camber or roll my fender. I have my fingers crossed that the B6(HD) dampers may increase ride height a smidge and, the fact that my 235/40 kuhmo tends to run narrow for a 235 width tire, I'll avoid rubbing.

[houtan]

Originally Posted by 850tgul

Houtan, I'm running the same spec Arc-8 wheel and same tire size up front and about to pair the Swift springs with the B6 (HD) dampers so I'm very interested in your input here...

Are you running a spacer up front? If not, did you have any rubbing on the strut with your setup? I've seen some info where folks claim the bilstein strut is bit thicker than oem which has me nervous. I'm already very close to oem strut but just narrowly clearing it.

I'm most concerned with rubbing in the front. I'm hoping not to mess with camber or roll my fender. I have my fingers crossed that the B6(HD) dampers may increase ride height a smidge and, the fact that my 235/40 kuhmo tends to run narrow for a 235 width tire, I'll avoid rubbing.

No spacers up front and no rubbing on the strut. I should of mentioned I am running sumitomo htr II's. No idea if they run big or narrow though.

The way my fronts were rubbing, a fender roll wouldn't have fixed the rub. The tire was rubbing when I had the steering wheel turned and hit a bump in the road but it was fine going straight.

You may be ok but it's hard to say until you have everything installed and go for a drive. I would be prepared to shave down the black plastic tab where the bumper and fender meet and/or install a set of dinan camber plates.

I drove around with the fronts rubbing on the fenders for a while and the fender started bowing out ever so slightly after a few months of rubbing. The rubbing was so infrequent I didn't realize it was pushing that hard on the fender until I took a really close look one day.

[850tgul]

Thx. Happy to hear the apex wheel cleared the strut. I have no problem shaving the tab down if nec. I suppose pulling the crash pins and adding as much neg camber as I can get is fairly easy too.
Installing myself so just don't want to have to do the front install again to add camber plates.

[houtan]

I started with no adjustments to the front except for m3 bits up front. Had rubbing on the fender lip so I pulled the pins on the strut tops. Still minor rubbing on the fender. Installed the dinan camber plates and set the strut top to the minimum camber setting. No more rubbing.

If I did it all over again, I would install the dinan camber plates the first time. They are a simple design and also even out the ride height with the spec rs. Most importantly you get better front end grip and response.

Since you are doing the work yourself, going through the same progression I did is not the end of the world, but you will have to do the fronts twice if you do the camber plates later on. I do he work myself as well so you are mostly giving up personal time, but at least it'll be spent working on your car 😀

[850tgul]

Originally Posted by houtan

I started with no adjustments to the front except for m3 bits up front. Had rubbing on the fender lip so I pulled the pins on the strut tops. Still minor rubbing on the fender. Installed the dinan camber plates and set the strut top to the minimum camber setting. No more rubbing.

If I did it all over again, I would install the dinan camber plates the first time. They are a simple design and also even out the ride height with the spec rs. Most importantly you get better front end grip and response.

Since you are doing the work yourself, going through the same progression I did is not the end of the world, but you will have to do the fronts twice if you do the camber plates later on. I do he work myself as well so you are mostly giving up personal time, but at least it'll be spent working on your car 😀

Do you know your alignment specs with the Dinan plates? How's your tire wear? Thx

[houtan]

Yeah see below. Tire wear has been perfect so far.