BMW Performance Suspension Impression

[Bullitt]

^If I'm understanding gmag21 correctly, I think he means taking hard turns with better control and significantly less body roll.

[stovesax08]

Originally Posted by MastaMind

Yearofthe1, here is a parts list (copied from Dan's thread):

Kit includes:
- Rear Stabiliser (Not required for Parts Kit # 33 50 0 444 831)
- Front Stabiliser
- Front McPherson Struts (2)
- Rear Shock Absorbers (2)
- Bottom Spring Supports (4)
- Top Spring Supports (4)
- Front Stabiliser arm rubber bearing (2)
- Rear Stabiliser arm rubber bearing (not required for kit # 33 50 0 444 831)
- Rear auxiliary shock absorber (2)
- Front auxiliary shock absorber (2)
- Supporting bearings lower section
- All fastening pieces

The springs are purchased separately from the above package. Assuming you have a sports package equipped 135, you don't need/get the rear sway bar, as it mentions above.

So why do 135s with the sport package not get the rear sway? I am under the impression that all 135i's, regardless of sport package or no, have the same suspension:iono:

[gmag21]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

^If I'm understanding gmag21 correctly, I think he means taking hard turns with better control and significantly less body roll.

yes exactly i just want a suspension that can give me thrill on the road, yet be decent at the track

[theanhdy]

Originally Posted by stovesax08

So why do 135s with the sport package not get the rear sway? I am under the impression that all 135i's, regardless of sport package or no, have the same suspension:iono:

+1

[Mega Man]

Thanks for the review and supplemental information, denial. I want to upgrade my 135i's suspension as well, and much like yourself, don't want to void my warranty. What's the point to buying a new car, and then voiding the warranty, right?

Great information, thanks for letting me know the approximate cost of a dealer install. I've been an avid DIYer in the past, but this is the first new car I've ever owned. Given that it's still new, any upgrades I do will be warranty approved upgrades until the warranty is up...then it'll be my turn to tinker a little.

[My135]

Originally Posted by stovesax08
So why do 135s with the sport package not get the rear sway? I am under the impression that all 135i's, regardless of sport package or no, have the same suspension:iono:

It is because 135's sport suspension (standard) already came with the larger rear sway bar and BMW did not think that it is necessary to upgrade it to a larger one.

[theanhdy]

^ What's the diameter of the sway bars with sport suspension? Thank you

[matt]

Anybody got noises after the install?

My swaybar doesnt like the rubber bearing on the drivers side, awkward noise..but its gone after ~20 miles.

Dealer will remove the swaybar and put some grease on it.

Just wondering, im unaware!

[stovesax08]

Originally Posted by My135

It is because 135's sport suspension (standard) already came with the larger rear sway bar and BMW did not think that it is necessary to upgrade it to a larger one.

This still doesn't make sense, because as you say the "sport suspension" comes standard with the 135. My understanding is that BMW is claiming that the 135s with the sport package don't need the rear sway, but those without the sport package do need the rear sway. If the "sport suspension" is standard, then 135s both with and without the sport package have exactly the same suspension and either both should require the rear sway, or neither.

[Mega Man]

Does the upgraded suspension kit weigh less or more than the stock parts being removed?

[stovesax08]

[Smac355]

So does anyone have suggestions between the Dinan Suspension and BMW performance? Seems like u get the same drop from each, not really sure if there are any major differences

[///M1]

This is too good of a thread not to be bumped up!

All the posters that have had the BMW PS for a while now and had chimed in here, can you pls give us your update? It's been almost a yr If you had to do it again, would you still go this route or choose a different setup?

Also, reading through the recent Bimmer Magazine article that reviewed the 135i and 335i with the BMW Performance Upgrades, it seems both sway bars are the same thickness, but apparently much stiffer! If so, this would mean that you do indeed need to change both (even if you have the Sport Option). Can someone confirm? I realize this thread is dated so maybe there is new info now (or perhaps BMW did introduce newer antiroll bars).

I got a price quoted by my local dealer of below $1K (with my BMW CCA discount), but wonder if that includes the springs... He looked at the part number in the catalog which at least on the picture seemed to have the 4 springs included in the kit.

[Yearofthe1]

I would do it again in a second.

As I, and others, have said before, this is the suspension that should've come on the car in stock form. Even my wife (a good driver, but more in a commuter-type sense) immediately noticed the difference by just pulling out of the driveway. The car just feels very tightly wound and ready to take anything you throw at it. You get everything you want in terms of suspension characteristics, yet give up very little in terms of ride comfort. That, I think, is the most salient feature of the BMW PS - excellent handling upgrade with very little sacrifice. Oh, did I mention the BMW-backed warranty?

[Macca916]

Originally Posted by stovesax08

This still doesn't make sense, because as you say the "sport suspension" comes standard with the 135. My understanding is that BMW is claiming that the 135s with the sport package don't need the rear sway, but those without the sport package do need the rear sway. If the "sport suspension" is standard, then 135s both with and without the sport package have exactly the same suspension and either both should require the rear sway, or neither.

My kit was ordered against my chassis number and it came without the rear arb as my car has the m-sport suspension from the factory.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by Macca916

My kit was ordered against my chassis number and it came without the rear arb as my car has the m-sport suspension from the factory.

Interesting, because according to the Bimmer Mag article (which of course they can be wrong on), the new bars while being the same size as stock are actually much stiffer and rigid...

[hatepotholez]

Bringing this up after 8 years lol! It's time for maintenance on the 128i(with sport suspension). The 128i is a DD and takes crappy roads(NYC) all the time.

I am heavily considering the BMW Performance suspension, Bilsteins or similar. The car won't be tracked, but I would like something with more performance. Since pricing out the stock components compared to the performance suspension the pricing is very similar, actually better(not incl. springs) for the performance suspension since it comes with a upgraded sway bar.

My question is, do I need to get the springs also? I read there is barely any improvement when adding the performance springs.

If not the performance suspension what would be better dampers? I won't be changing the spring's unless they are cracked.

Thanks!

[lowbudgethero]

I just snagged some used performance suspension shocks from a 335i coupe and they were way better than my worn stock shocks. Definitely worth the upgrade on its own.

[hatepotholez]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

I just snagged some used performance suspension shocks from a 335i coupe and they were way better than my worn stock shocks. Definitely worth the upgrade on its own.

Thanks, did you also get the springs?

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by hatepotholez

Bringing this up after 8 years lol! It's time for maintenance on the 128i(with sport suspension). The 128i is a DD and takes crappy roads(NYC) all the time.

I am heavily considering the BMW Performance suspension, Bilsteins or similar. The car won't be tracked, but I would like something with more performance. Since pricing out the stock components compared to the performance suspension the pricing is very similar, actually better(not incl. springs) for the performance suspension since it comes with a upgraded sway bar.

My question is, do I need to get the springs also? I read there is barely any improvement when adding the performance springs.

If not the performance suspension what would be better dampers? I won't be changing the spring's unless they are cracked.

Thanks!

Sure, you can keep the stock springs and update dampers only. I have the B12 kit (Bilstein B8 w/ Eibach pro kit), if roads are really terrible the Konis are probably a better bet if you adjust them down a notch. Bilsteins IMO have better high speed body control at the expense of some harshness.

BMW performance shocks alone will also be a good upgrade without too much harshness.

[hatepotholez]

Looks like i'll go with the BMW performance shocks. Thanks!

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by hatepotholez

Looks like i'll go with the BMW performance shocks. Thanks!

Just note that in general springs are a relatively cheap part of a suspension upgrade, so if you are ripping everything out it's something to consider doing. If you really want to keep ride height the same and keep things as close to stock ride quality then sure leave the springs.

Last note, the performance shocks are decent but can be expensive compared to a set of Konis....just food for thought.