[bimmer san diego]

I ordered the sports package and seriously considered custom wheel/tile combo. Spoke with a friend who manages a tire outlet. He drives a 545 and knows his stuff. He looked up what run flat 19" tires there are and it gets real expensive and short wear life. He recommended to stick with stock and I listened.

[YYimports]

Originally Posted by bimmer san diego

I ordered the sports package and seriously considered custom wheel/tile combo. Spoke with a friend who manages a tire outlet. He drives a 545 and knows his stuff. He looked up what run flat 19" tires there are and it gets real expensive and short wear life. He recommended to stick with stock and I listened.

Congrats on your car. I just wanna add that altho BMW advertises that the E90 suspension is designed for use with runflats, people have already put non-run-flat tires on the car and have suffered no adverse handling effects. So, there may not be a need to stick with run-flats afterall and to suffer the extra costs of getting them (especially in the larger sizes - 18", 19", 20'").

[arnie]

hi the sport suspension is 15mm lower in ride height than the normal suspension, it does make a big difference to the looks of the car, gives it a more aggressive appearance, get the sport package, u won't be sorry.

[JBOO]

Anyone know what the difference is between the sport and non-sport suspension? In my Mini it was just different springs, so I´d be surprised if it was anything different in the 3. If that is the case, then buying aftermarket springs will match or exceed what BMW offers and like I said earlier, I am sure some people will be selling their springs after they upgrade to aftermarket springs/shocks. I know I sold mine from my Mini after switching to AC Schnitzer springs.

[ogrady]

Originally Posted by JBOO

Anyone know what the difference is between the sport and non-sport suspension? In my Mini it was just different springs, so I´d be surprised if it was anything different in the 3. If that is the case, then buying aftermarket springs will match or exceed what BMW offers and like I said earlier, I am sure some people will be selling their springs after they upgrade to aftermarket springs/shocks. I know I sold mine from my Mini after switching to AC Schnitzer springs.

It's more than just springs. The sports shocks are tuned more aggressively for better handling too.

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by ogrady

It's more than just springs. The sports shocks are tuned more aggressively for better handling too.

I don't think the shocks are different. Both SP and nonSP both have the same shocks. The only difference is the springs. Since they are only lowering the car slightly (15mm?), they didn't have to use different shocks. If you are lowering your car more aggresively, then you should always get matched springs/shocks, or better yet, coilovers. I don't see spending the money on the SP if you end up going for different rims/suspension right after. Save your 1600 bucks and get some really nice seats (Sparcos?).

[andylee97]

If that is true then my dealer is trying to rip me off then. I wanted to lower my car using the S/P parts and told me that i need the whole nine yards, shocks and springs and and bunch of stuff that i never heard off. i just want to lower my car a little so i can put on the 162 with it looking silly