Michelin PSS, M3 & Dinan Bits Installed on 135is

[3002 tii]

Posted here and there but finally got around to installing some "OEM" suspension upgrades. Past weekend consisted of:

- 1M strut bar
- M3 control arms
- Dinan camber plates
- Michellin PSS 225/40 and 255/35-18

Car will remain my daily but will see some auto-x action here and there. Picking up the car from the alignment shop tonight but final specs are below. I could've pushed more camber both front and rear but I drive 80 miles a day mostly on I95 so wanted to keep the fronts at -2.0* or below. Ignore the active steering reference on screen, end of day doesn't matter since I gave them my own alignment specs.

[Joaco135]

Did you ever found the factory alignment specs?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Joaco135

Did you ever found the factory alignment specs?

Nope

[SfValley335i]

I have similar mods, except m3 strut brace and wider pss. My alignment specs from what I can recall are about the same, I got 1m spec alignment... Feels great but there's about one inch of camber wear on the tires....

[litebulb]

Are you using any wheel spacers?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by litebulb

Are you using any wheel spacers?

Nope, didn't want to do anything that would increase the chance of rubbing.

I will say, Michelin PSS in 225/255 is the perfect size. It gives the rear such a more aggressive stance and the extra height fills in the factory wheel gap nicely.

[litebulb]

Thanks for the insight. That's exactly what I was wondering as I wanted to go +1 on my tire sizes once the RFT are done. I was worried since I have 12mm MS spacers on the rear.

Cheers

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Nope, didn't want to do anything that would increase the chance of rubbing.

I will say, Michelin PSS in 225/255 is the perfect size. It gives the rear such a more aggressive stance and the extra height fills in the factory wheel gap nicely.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Nope

Are they not right on the screen?

[bNks334]

I recently had an alignment done on my 128i, bone stock. I can post it up if the factory specs for the 128i and the 135i are the same...

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Are they not right on the screen?

Sorry, I thought if you asked I had found out based on my other thread.

Yes they were on screen but part of the reason for installing the M3 arms (or at least how I justified) was my existing arms were so bent from hitting so NYC potholes so my stock alignment was pretty screwed up to begin with. Plus, I left the car with the shop and it didn't occur to me ask what my starting point was knowing it wasn't representative of a correct factory alignment.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by litebulb

Thanks for the insight. That's exactly what I was wondering as I wanted to go +1 on my tire sizes once the RFT are done. I was worried since I have 12mm MS spacers on the rear.

Cheers

I honestly think 255's are enough in filling out both the vertical and horizontal gap. You could probably do a 5mm spacer in the rear to give it a "flush" stance w/o rubbing but keep in mind I'm a function over form guy so my definition of flush is pretty conservative. Going up to the track this weekend but I can snap pics of how she sits upon my return.

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

...Going up to the track this weekend but I can snap pics of how she sits upon my return.

Very much interested to hear how you get on.

Karl.

[Overpar56]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

I honestly think 255's are enough in filling out both the vertical and horizontal gap. You could probably do a 5mm spacer in the rear to give it a "flush" stance w/o rubbing but keep in mind I'm a function over form guy so my definition of flush is pretty conservative. Going up to the track this weekend but I can snap pics of how she sits upon my return.

Are you running the stock suspension and wheels?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Overpar56

Are you running the stock suspension and wheels?

Aside from mods listed above yes

[3002 tii]

For those wondering how Michelin PSS in 225/255 fill out the wheel gap (in combination with Dinan plates in the front):

[odj]

Looks good!

[swagon]

Nice. How does it drive now with the modifications - control arms and plates?

After swapping the stock RFT Potenzas for non-RFT Dunlops I have to say that the suspension needs to be redone as well. It's too soft and somewhat nervous... Need to drive the car more, but we're pretty close to ordering KW SCs and subframe bushings or inserts.

Gahhh, I can't believe what BMW did to these cars.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by swagon

Nice. How does it drive now with the modifications - control arms and plates?

After swapping the stock RFT Potenzas for non-RFT Dunlops I have to say that the suspension needs to be redone as well. It's too soft and somewhat nervous... Need to drive the car more, but we're pretty close to ordering KW SCs and subframe bushings or inserts.

Gahhh, I can't believe what BMW did to these cars.

I noticed the same as well which confirms BMW engineers purposely designed the crappy runflats + soft bushings & underdampened shocks to be used as 1 system. Individually they suck, but in totality it's not that bad. It's just the harshness of the runflats that gets to you.

My driving experience so far has been consistent with what others noted:

• When I did FSB alone (all else stock including tires), I saw noticeable decrease in body roll. Front end felt more planted
• Whiteline bushing inserts, 70% of the rear pogo stick feeling removed, no increase in NVH
• No noticeable change with 1M strut bar
• M3 control arms & Dinan plates + Michelin PSS = more compliant ride, soaks bumps way better. Steering feels more precise. Have only taken car on public roads but the few sweepers I like to take higher than PSL resulted in what I viewed as better mid-corner stability. Downside is the underdampened shocks seem more apparent. Springs seem fine though.

I like the ride how it is so far, I may upgrade to BMW PS when the shocks need to be replaced. I do have minor rub on the rear but it's only on big dips and it's not on the fender but just the plastic liner. I suspect that'll go away after few hundred miles, which in my case is about the equivalent of a 2 week commute.

[3002 tii]

Actually, funny story about the sweeper comment above. I only noticed this because there's a road I take that has 2 hairpins coming down a hill. It's actually very close to where the F1 track would've been in NJ (along the NYC skyline). The road starts at the top of the ridge and winds down to the main road by the Hudson river. I take this road everyday so I know where the braking points and apexes are.

There was a C250 coupe behind me, riding my tail hard. I figured WTH so I decided to take this windy road down to see if he'd chase, sure enough he did. First corner I took sorta slow but took the 2nd corner (first hairpin with speed). Brake deep and take the late apex, maintain throttle and track out nicely which leaves me parallel with double yellow. This guy turns in too early, tracks out OVER the double yellow and had to swerve to avoid on-coming cars LMAO. From there it's a nice downhill straight with a 2nd hairpin.

I get on the gas going down the straight, he chases hard to close the gap. He seems my tails light up as a I brake late and take the late apex again. He has no idea what he's doing so he just brakes to a full stop and then takes the turn in tiny increments, like 3 turns in 1 lol. After that it leads on to the main straight but he decides to take some random right turn and avoid me at the bottom of the hill.

But on both hairpins, car maintained excellent balance with minimal steering correction on my part.