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      01-22-2013, 08:30 AM   #1
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M3 Sub Frame Bushings and Rear Upper Links

I'm having M3 sub frame bushings and rear upper links installed today. I can't wait to see how the car drives after adding these M3 parts.

After these M3 parts are installed I'll have the M3 suspension upgrade complete. I previously added an M3 (E93) FSB, M3 control arms and tension rods in the front and M3 guide rods in the rear to go along with my Koni Sport dampers, 2011 M sport springs and non run flat tires.
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Last edited by 1Pirate; 01-22-2013 at 04:17 PM..
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      01-22-2013, 04:16 PM   #2
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Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
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      01-22-2013, 04:16 PM   #3
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Update: Just heard from the shop. The M3 sub frame bushings and upper links have been installed. They are going to do an alignment in the morning so I'll have it back tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait to drive the car!
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      01-22-2013, 04:21 PM   #4
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I have the same setup as you, even the Koni Sports. You are in for a treat! Once complete, it's an amazing transformation and, for me at least, made me question how I ever lived with the slop and rubber-banding of the stock suspension.
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      01-22-2013, 04:32 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1ToBeOn2Wheels View Post
I have the same setup as you, even the Koni Sports. You are in for a treat! Once complete, it's an amazing transformation and, for me at least, made me question how I ever lived with the slop and rubber-banding of the stock suspension.
Excellent! I'm even more excited to drive the car now.
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      01-23-2013, 12:43 PM   #6
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updates?
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      01-23-2013, 12:46 PM   #7
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I picked up the car at lunch and although I only got to drive it about 5 miles it really feels solid. I was able to get on it hard once coming out of a curve and the car shot out of the curve with hardly any movement in the rear suspension. I'll provide more feedback once I can get out this weekend and really drive the car.
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      01-27-2013, 11:00 AM   #8
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Wow! That's all I can say. Because of the recent winter weather we just experienced I finally got a chance to get out and really drive the car this morning. The rear end feels much more solid and planted to road. The whole car now has a solid feel that wasn't there before. Now when I really get on the car there is very little movement in the rear suspension where as before it seemed to wallow around before settling in. Now the car handles like I thought it should have from the beginning.

The only downside or tradeoff I see to having the M3 sub frame bushings is slightly more vibration from the rear of the car under certain road conditions because of the stiffer busings. Like most performance mods there is usually a NVH tradeoff. It certainly not significant nor is it something that would keep me from doing the M3 sub frame bushings.
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      01-27-2013, 11:09 AM   #9
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^^The M3 subframe bushings are really the key to making our cars handle in the twisty bits. It really helps the car "feel" more planted so you can chuck teh car into the turns and not worry about anything funny happening. I also feel that the front end suspension works much better - post M3 subframe bushings.
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      01-27-2013, 11:20 AM   #10
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Since I did the M3 sub frame bushings last, it's hard for me to say what affect just the bushings have alone. All I know that in connection with my other M3 suspension upgrades and Koni Sport dampers M3 sub frame bushings work very well. I did most of my M3 suspension upgrades first. I still think the best bank for the buck with the M3 suspenson upgrades are the FSB and the control arms and tension rods.
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      01-27-2013, 04:28 PM   #11
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I've done the rear bushing upgrade and it's a solid improvment over stock. Real interested in doing the upper link now. Wonder if it's worth the cost.
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      01-27-2013, 09:02 PM   #12
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While I think the rear upper links are a good mod, the rear guide rods are the better individual mod. However, if you can afford to do both then it is easier to do both at the same time. I did the rear guide rods several months ago and they made a noticable difference in the way the rear of the car felt. I decided to go ahead and add the upper links at the same time as the sub frame bushings in order to finish off the M3 suspension mods in the rear of the car. I had previously completed the front M3 suspension mods.
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      01-27-2013, 09:45 PM   #13
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Thanks for the inspiration. A lot of people do the rear subframe bushings at the same time as some other mod that would also make a huge difference (i.e. front control arms, coilovers, camber plates, etc), so I was never really sure how big of a difference they'd make in isolation. I think you've helped to put me over the edge for some polyurethane rear subframe bushing inserts... I know that the whole bushing would be a better mod, but that's probably more labor hours than I can afford...
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      01-28-2013, 05:11 AM   #14
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I did the front arms first, then the rear subframe bushings, then the rear guide rods, upper arms, and (Rogue) toe arms. The 3 rear arms together made almost as much difference as the two front control arms, and the rear subframe bushings made the biggest difference. But it's close enough to call each set one-third of the upgrade.

In another thread somewhere, Harold from HPA Shop prioritized the rear arms in this order: guide rods, toe arms, lower camber link, upper arms.

Last edited by GaryS; 01-28-2013 at 08:55 AM..
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      01-28-2013, 08:01 AM   #15
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Harold also confirmed with me that the rear guide rods were the place to start in terms of the rear suspension arms, especially in terms of bang for the buck. He was also high on the rear toe arms. He suggested adding those with the rear guide rods, but at a minimum adding the guide rods. I may consider adding the rear toe arms next.
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      01-28-2013, 02:16 PM   #16
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128i specific question.
since I have a 128i and really have to optimize how much to change, Will a good set of coilovers diminish the need to do m3 subframes or some of the m3 arms ( especially the rear ones)? Will they get me 80% of the benefit vs these advanced mods?

I haven't tracked the car and been very frugal outside of an exhaust and a tune for my 128i. In the future i will perhaps do a track event once a year and it will be some kind of autocross or BMW community track day.
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      01-28-2013, 07:55 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrey_gta View Post
128i specific question.
since I have a 128i and really have to optimize how much to change, Will a good set of coilovers diminish the need to do m3 subframes or some of the m3 arms ( especially the rear ones)? Will they get me 80% of the benefit vs these advanced mods?

I haven't tracked the car and been very frugal outside of an exhaust and a tune for my 128i. In the future i will perhaps do a track event once a year and it will be some kind of autocross or BMW community track day.
Given your stated requirements, why change anything?

If you feel you really must change something, do the rear subframe bushings. They are a bother in terms of labour relative to the other available mods, but without them no other suspension mod will work to its potential.

See Dackelone's comment above. He is right ...
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      01-28-2013, 08:02 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by fe1rx View Post
Given your stated requirements, why change anything?

See Dackelone's comment above. He is right ...
Valid point

I feel compelled to do something because i will switch to non-Runflat tires, most likely the PSS. And right now on my winter tires I feel the rear bounce on bumpy roads and think it is what everyone says that stock msport/135i suspension is under dampened & needs the shocks changed. Looking into kits you find various price points & solutions. Some coilovers even have camber kits.
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      01-29-2013, 12:36 AM   #19
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I have all the m3 bits and ohlins. The ride and handling is amazing.
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      01-29-2013, 08:18 AM   #20
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I have all the m3 bits and ohlins. The ride and handling is amazing.
Did you install the M3 front and rear sways? I am looking to do this down the road, just don't know what sways to go with.
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      01-29-2013, 08:29 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrey_gta View Post
Valid point

I feel compelled to do something because i will switch to non-Runflat tires, most likely the PSS. And right now on my winter tires I feel the rear bounce on bumpy roads and think it is what everyone says that stock msport/135i suspension is under dampened & needs the shocks changed. Looking into kits you find various price points & solutions. Some coilovers even have camber kits.
If you install stiffer springs and keep the stock subframe bushings, the rear will bounce as much or probably even more over bumps - about 1-1.5". If you want to keep the stock subframe bushings, you should keep the stock springs too and just install better shocks. That will fix the bouncing and sliding in bumpy corners, which I consider the biggest problem with the stock suspension. If you want less body roll too, you should install an M3 front swaybar. You can pull the alignment pins for a little more camber, but you don't need camber plates for street.
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      01-29-2013, 09:10 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fe1rx View Post
Given your stated requirements, why change anything?

If you feel you really must change something, do the rear subframe bushings. They are a bother in terms of labour relative to the other available mods, but without them no other suspension mod will work to its potential.

See Dackelone's comment above. He is right ...
I agree. Another option if you must make a change would be to consider a good set of dampers, like Koni Sports. Those alone would improve the ride and handling if you switch to non runflats. The biggest drawback to replacing the sub frame bushings is in my opinion is the labor involved. That's why I put off doing it for so long.

I also believe that adding an M3 FSB and M3 control arms and tension rods really improves the way the car feels, especially with non runflat tires. Adding the other M3 suspension parts would then just be icing on the cake if you decide to do them later.
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