$2500 To Spend on Suspension Mods

[airs]

Just a Forge FMIC so far on the car. I would like to do some suspension upgrades this summer and I'm thinking about going with HPA stuff. Looking to spend about $2500 including installation. I forsee myself spending another $1000 or so in about a year towards additional suspension mods.

Stage 2 Kit - $1,220.56

Rear Subframe Bushings - $301.95

10 Hour (?) Install - $800-$1000

Thoughts? Is this the "best" way to spend some hard earned dough?

[Mitch1er]

personally, i would go for KW v2 and some M3 bits.

[Eyeman]

Your plan sounds pretty good to me. If HPA recommends it then it will work well. One problem I see is that most say a rear sway can cause the inner wheel to lift in turns and lose traction unless you have an LSD. Also most don't mess with the rear bushings unless they are really serious due to the large install labor hours.

The more common route most of us have taken is coilovers first, that will probably eat up most of your money. I have a little over $1600 in my KW V1's, install, and alignment. That pretty much gave me a good enough suspension for what I need.

I didn't wait long enough for my suspension to settle or maybe my first alignment was not good. Either way, I ate up my front tires and had heard good things about the adding the M3 control arms so I did that before my next alignment. That further improved my setup. I doubt I'll go further unless I start tracking my car.

[ianc]

Stage 2 kit sounds good; although current wisdom seems to question the necessity of a rear roll bar.

I would save the rear subframe bushings for later and get the M3 front control arms instead for more camber.

Coilovers offer more adjustability, but are more expensive to buy and install (including a corner balance). Depends on how you use the car...

ianc

[onefastman]

NOOOO

Jb3 pnp $400 used
vk dp's $250 used
Full cp-e exhaust $800 used
Coolingmist standard methanol $350
If you have the cash then get a ETS fmic $600 brand new and shipped

[ILMOSTRO]

His question was referring to suspension tuning - not power.

Deff M3 bits up front and coil overs.

My 2 cents.

[BMW86]

I would do KW V2's + ditch the runflats for some real rubber

[Bimmer-Bob]

The coilovers (esp. KW V2's) are very fashinable around here, but ask yourself if you really need them. They're significantly more expensive than a traditional spring and damper setup, and it seems to me that you could get more for your money if you avoided them. I think there's a bit of a kneejerk reaction to recommend coilovers - you know your needs, obviously, but I wouldn't go overbudget if all coilovers were going to get me is bragging rights.

[AussieRacer]

+1 Bimmer-Bob

I couldn't agree more. Yeah change the coilovers if you want to go lower, or create a track car, but yet to see how they are the cure all when there are bits like the M3 parts take out the slop coilovers won't fix.

[bradford]

Originally Posted by onefastman

NOOOO

Jb3 pnp $400 used
vk dp's $250 used
Full cp-e exhaust $800 used
Coolingmist standard methanol $350
If you have the cash then get a ETS fmic $600 brand new and shipped

Sounds like a great way to get a really fast car that can't turn. Why not just buy a Camaro?

[bradford]

Rear subframe bushings uber alles, camber plates, M3 ARBs and front tension rods, real tires. $.02

[SV Concepts III]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

The coilovers (esp. KW V2's) are very fashinable around here, but ask yourself if you really need them. They're significantly more expensive than a traditional spring and damper setup, and it seems to me that you could get more for your money if you avoided them. I think there's a bit of a kneejerk reaction to recommend coilovers - you know your needs, obviously, but I wouldn't go overbudget if all coilovers were going to get me is bragging rights.

Definitely good advice. With that said, if you want adjustment, there is nothing like a set of coilovers to do that. I'm actually taking my KW V2s off to turn the car back to stock for lease turn in.

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by bradford

Sounds like a great way to get a really fast car that can't turn. Why not just buy a Camaro?

[miro2296]

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

Definitely good advice. With that said, if you want adjustment, there is nothing like a set of coilovers to do that. I'm actually taking my KW V2s off to turn the car back to stock for lease turn in.

you gonna sell them bad boys???

[ModBargains.com]

The answer is simple, you get what you pay for when it comes to vehicle suspension. As such a crucial component of your vehicle, suspension is definitely something you do not want to cheap out on. KW is known for their reinforced and durable suspension components. KW's coilovers have been carefully crafted and designed by studying the flaws of competitors and improving on them. In addition KW coilovers can go lower than just about any other brand and allow you to set your car to a "slammed look", "sporty look", or anywhere in between. In the unfortunate event that anything should happen to your coilovers, KW's warranty backs all their products from manufacturer's defect.

Whether you are lowering just for looks or for the huge performance benefits, we have a KW system to suit your needs. Coilovers are the best suspension solution as all the parts are crafted to function together, as opposed to just lowering springs. KW coilovers are known for their signature colors, individuality, quality, and security. In addition, KW coilovers are most often the coilovers that allow the most lowering adjustability compared to other options for your vehicle.

The KW V2 system is intended for the experienced driver who requires to not only determine the individual lowering of their vehicle, but adjust the damper setting to fine tune the system to their needs. The adjustable rebound damper allows adjustment of the pitch and roll behavior of the vehicle, adapting it to one‘s own driving preferences. This is by far the most popular system among the community.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Wow, you guys are doing commercials now?

No one's denying that KW makes good coilovers, but the OP is on a budget and, further, may not need the performance benefits of a coilover. Not everyone is a track junkie (or can afford to pose as one).

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by airs

JLooking to spend about $2500 including installation. I forsee myself spending another $1000 or so in about a year towards additional suspension mods.

1. Either BMW Performance suspension or Dinan Stage 1 suspension plus M3 front swaybar from HPA (Dinan's price for the swaybar is outrageous)
2. M3 front control arms from HPA
3. I don't have M3 subframe bushings and probably never will, but I won't argue against it.

[airs]

Thanks for all the responses (and "commercials" )

Now leaning towards springs/struts, M3 control arms and M3 front bar this year and the M3 rear subframe bushings in 2011.

M3 Front Antil Roll Bar

HPA Stage 1

M3 Front Control Arm Kit

[Eyeman]

Sounds like an improved choice to me Airs! I'm sure you be very happy!

[Amnizu]

Maybe you should consider carving off 3 to 4 hundo of that 2500 to get yourself some real professional training at a HPDE. Until then, you are just spending good money on a car you don’t know how to handle.

[airs]

Troll repellant, stat! :P

This from the guy that spent 14k on mods before taking a class? Haha...I'll do a class when I'm good and ready, thanks

[bradford]

He's totally right though...