Model Year Suspension Differences in 135i

[Diver]

Are there any year to year differences in the 135i suspension for cars sold in the US?

[AW128i]

I just read an article in (I think) Bimmer magazine about the '11 135i and the article mentioned that BMW switched from progressive springs to linear springs. This was the first I've heard of a suspension change for any of the U.S. 1-series cars.

[Dackelone]

^+1. Yup, in the Febuary issue Bimmer mag covered the model year changes of the '11 vs past 135i's. Bimmer said that even though BMW changed the rear springs, on '11 M.Y. 135i's it stopped the rear end movement... the rear end doesn't step out as much as it did before... and Bimmer mag said that was kind of a downgrade in performance.

[Xaeryan]

Driving MY 09 and MY 11 back-to-back, I liked the 11 better - I don't like the initial roll the 09 has while taking up the soft portion of the springs in casual back-road cruising. The 09 was slightly more comfortable in daily driving though.

[Dackelone]

This is kind of old news. But no one has really pin pointed down - what has been changed - other than trying to read between BMW advert lines in the 2011 brochure.

Here are two old posts mentioning the spring change from pregressive to linear.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...1+rear+springs

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...1+rear+springs

Dackel

[Diver]

Aside from an interesting discussion on suspension tuning in the second link, I remain a bit confused. I would say odds are there was some minor tweaking done. It remains to be seen the tweaking improved the understeer situation any. As I drive an '11 and I only drive on the street, it is unlikely that I will ever know the difference. Certainly, I have nothing to compare it to.

Clear as mud as my mom used to say, back during the civil war...

[Diver]

Postscript:

I ave looked around and there does not seem to be a definitive answer anywhere. The N55 is lighter than the N54, so some suspension adjustment is likely. Just what it accomplishes is not clear.

I watched this video:

It does not convey the impression of either body lean or excessive understeer, but that is not the same thing as driving the car. the Motor Trend Laguna Seca video: http://www.motortrend.com/features/l...lap/index.html gives a different impression, but not definitive either.

[CMSS2000]

Originally Posted by Diver

See my photography at http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com flickr deleted my account so it has to be evil.

Is your first name MUFF by any chance?

[Diver]

Originally Posted by CMSS2000

Is your first name MUFF by any chance?

Nope, it's Ron. Hope you liked the pictures.

[Diver]

I found this:http://www.bimmerfile.com/2010/05/16...iew-2011-135i/

In particular:

For 2011 the suspension in sports package/ M Sport 135i cars has been tweaked a bit more towards our liking. In previous years, BMW was using progressive spring rates but now the springs are linear and the rates have even been increased. These changes lessen body roll and provides the driver with more control, allowing smoother transitions from corner to corner and the ability to set the contact patches where and when desired. The rear end is less likely to kick out under full throttle corner exit than in the past, it just feels more consistent and as a result surprisingly quicker. The car is well balanced overall and feels at home on the track though the steering still feels less precise than some other BMW offerings.

The 2011 135i does not disappoint, it is more similar to last year’s model than different, with the fast shifts of the DCT and improved suspension being the main character differences. A few things we took away from this on the track experience is that the 135i is a turn key weekend warrior for HPDEs and that the motor swap has not taken anything away from this venerable sporty coupe.

Well, not so shabby.

[1SerieStud]

Interesting...I wonder how much of an improvement the performance suspension is on the 2011, versus the 2010 and earlier models. I just installed the performance suspension on mine and I'm loving it, but I wonder if the difference was more drastic in previous years.

[Amalfitano]

So, if i asked BMW for replacement springs for a 2009, would they consider giving me the new linear springs?

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by Amalfitano

So, if i asked BMW for replacement springs for a 2009, would they consider giving me the new linear springs?

Probably not since everything they do is by VIN...now if you asked me, I would sell them to you since they are now just sitting in my garage

[vwrefugee]

In particular:

For 2011 the suspension in sports package/ M Sport 135i cars has been tweaked a bit more towards our liking. In previous years, BMW was using progressive spring rates but now the springs are linear and the rates have even been increased. These changes lessen body roll and provides the driver with more control, allowing smoother transitions from corner to corner and the ability to set the contact patches where and when desired. The rear end is less likely to kick out under full throttle corner exit than in the past, it just feels more consistent and as a result surprisingly quicker. The car is well balanced overall and feels at home on the track though the steering still feels less precise than some other BMW offerings.

If you follow the first previous discussions link posted earlier in this thread you will see that I quoted this same excerpt awhile back. As I'd said then, my 2011 doesn't strike me to be as "roll-y" around corners as I've heard described about the previous model years (I don't have any personal experience with them), so linear springs might have helped that situation. However, there is still a significant dampening issue, as the car bounces you quite a lot (ie. off your seat) on undulating-type pavement. Not sure if the bounciness is as big an issue on the 08-10 cars, but I'd say it's the biggest one on the 2011's.

[RimasRS]

It is... It was my first bad impression about suspension.

[HP Autosport]

BMW finally boxed in the guide rods, that should help with traction a tiny bit and maybe take away some of the wheel hop.

[crex]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

BMW finally boxed in the guide rods, that should help with traction a tiny bit and maybe take away some of the wheel hop.

What do you mean?

[msos]

Took them off and replaced with m3 parts and koni adjustable........I will sell 2011 Msport pieces taken off for best offer plus shipping please message me if ur interested

[Jaguar66]

Originally Posted by CMSS2000

Is your first name MUFF by any chance?

Originally Posted by Diver

Nope, it's Ron. Hope you liked the pictures.

Diver? You got the joke, right?

Muff + Diver

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...m=muff%20diver

[PrematureApex]

Sorry to bump an old thread...

But are the '11+ FRONT springs any different? Did they change from progressive to linear as well as the rears?

Thanks!

Still worth it to try the linear rears on my '08 if I get them on the cheap?

[Diver]

I really can't answer your question. Perhaps you can find someone selling a set of used coil overs.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

Sorry to bump an old thread...

But are the '11+ FRONT springs any different? Did they change from progressive to linear as well as the rears?

Thanks!

Still worth it to try the linear rears on my '08 if I get them on the cheap?

Yes.

Worth it? Not sure.