Suspension Mods to be made over time for track use?

[msos]

Please give me your suspension advise for my daily driver (2011 135i MSport) and occassional track toy (about 6 times/year) on the "incremental" changes that will benefit my track experience without taking too much away from the daily comfort.

I already have track rubber (Toyo R888's- same size as street set up), and found the car to understeer horribly on the track, so my next thoughts are to: Add Hotchkis front sway bar & Vorshlag camber plates. Is this going to be enough to make me happy is my question?

What concerns me is that the labor costs may not be so much higher to do added suspension work at the same time as the sway bar/camber plates. If you think I am eventually going to change out more of the suspension parts, should I simply bite the bullet now and go for more, and if so, what can I expect from each additional change?:

• What would be the benefit of M3 control arms?
  What would be the benefit from changing to stiffer bushings?

Lastly as I am NOT a do-it-yourself person....... I pay to have all the work done and do not want to have to change my suspension set up for track use (so adjustable suspension is out for me)...this advise will be valuable $$ Thanks, in advance.

[pixelblue]

sway bar and camber plates are your best bet if on a budget. from there I would add coilovers and then a m3 front kit and finally the rear m3 kit and bushings. the control arms are stronger and lighter material with stiffer bushings which will help with the lag in steering response. otherwise you feel a sharper steering response with this upgrade. I pretty much took the step by step approach and I do some work myself but I still managed to waste about $1k in redundant work.

[kevin@bavarianx]

Adjustable coil overs are more ideal for track use. H&R/KW V1 coilovers or spring and shock combos would work for your criteria but if you are serious about tracking the you are better off with adjustable coilovers.

[GaryS]

FWIW after I added stiffer springs (BMW Performance), shocks (Koni FSD) and the M3 front parts, my car was still too bouncy until I added Dinan rear shock mounts and M3 rear subframe bushings.

[msos]

My choice is: All the M3 Front suspension parts including 28MM bar and Koni's, plus camber plates. Will be installed next week and will update everyone on my thoughts at that time. FYI: decided to retain stock springs and rear suspension components. Thank you Harold from HP Autowerks for all your patience and advise.

[vwrefugee]

I also have a 2011 135i w/Msport and would like to address the understeer. Looking forward to your review.

[BMW86]

I have the KW V2's and I'm glad I chose them over the V1's for the adjustability. I've ordered the M3 front sway bar and will post a review once it's installed. The V2's alone made a huge difference, day and night IMHO.

[Eyeman]

That's an interesting choice. If Harold agreed then it's a good idea. I can definitely see the logic. Camber plates and sway bars are the most cost effective mods for an occasional track car. While you're in there you may as well do the control arms and slap in a set of Konis. Probably can do that all for $1000-1200 installed?

I have around $2200 in my coilovers, M3 control arms and installs including two steps which required two alignments and I bet your car will work better on the track. Most go KWv2 with camber plates and a sway bar which will get you up in the $3k+ range. Cross coilovers which come with camber plates is another good choice.

[UsualSuspect]

Originally Posted by pixelblue

sway bar and camber plates are your best bet if on a budget. from there I would add coilovers and then a m3 front kit and finally the rear m3 kit and bushings. the control arms are stronger and lighter material with stiffer bushings which will help with the lag in steering response. otherwise you feel a sharper steering response with this upgrade. I pretty much took the step by step approach and I do some work myself but I still managed to waste about $1k in redundant work.

When I'm looking for the M3 front kit, do I look as if I own an M3 and want replacement parts or do I find some package somewhere for our 135s? Thanks.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

When I'm looking for the M3 front kit, do I look as if I own an M3 and want replacement parts or do I find some package somewhere for our 135s? Thanks.

They are actual parts from an M3 so source the kit as if it were replacement parts for an M3.

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

When I'm looking for the M3 front kit, do I look as if I own an M3 and want replacement parts or do I find some package somewhere for our 135s? Thanks.

These kits contain every part you need for perfect fitment.

http://www.hpashop.com/product.sc?pr...categoryId=119
http://www.hpashop.com/product.sc?pr...categoryId=119

[UsualSuspect]

Originally Posted by BMW86

They are actual parts from an M3 so source the kit as if it were replacement parts for an M3.

Originally Posted by GaryS

These kits contain every part you need for perfect fitment.

http://www.hpashop.com/product.sc?pr...categoryId=119
http://www.hpashop.com/product.sc?pr...categoryId=119

Thanks to the both of you!

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

Thanks to the both of you!

This might help you out too. Good luck mate

E92 Sway Bar
Stabilizer front: 31352283515
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, bottom: 31352283516 (x2 qty)
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, top: 31352283517 (x2 qty)
STABILIZER SUPPORT: 31352283037 (x2 qty)

E93 Sway Bar
Stabilizer front: 31352283965
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, bottom: 31352283967 (x2 qty)
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, top: 31352283968 (x2 qty)
STABILIZER SUPPORT: 31352283037 (x2 qty)

[UsualSuspect]

Originally Posted by BMW86

This might help you out too. Good luck mate

E92 Sway Bar
Stabilizer front: 31352283515
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, bottom: 31352283516 (x2 qty)
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, top: 31352283517 (x2 qty)
STABILIZER SUPPORT: 31352283037 (x2 qty)

E93 Sway Bar
Stabilizer front: 31352283965
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, bottom: 31352283967 (x2 qty)
Rubber bushing, antiroll bar, top: 31352283968 (x2 qty)
STABILIZER SUPPORT: 31352283037 (x2 qty)

Yeah, I was going to go with the Hotchkis 32mm front sway instead. What do you think of that? Thanks.
https://www.upscaleautomotive.com/p-...5i-e90e92.aspx

[larryn]

Originally Posted by msos

Please give me your suspension advise for my daily driver (2011 135i MSport) and occassional track toy (about 6 times/year) on the "incremental" changes that will benefit my track experience without taking too much away from the daily comfort.

I already have track rubber (Toyo R888's- same size as street set up), and found the car to understeer horribly on the track, so my next thoughts are to: Add Hotchkis front sway bar & Vorshlag camber plates. Is this going to be enough to make me happy is my question?

What concerns me is that the labor costs may not be so much higher to do added suspension work at the same time as the sway bar/camber plates. If you think I am eventually going to change out more of the suspension parts, should I simply bite the bullet now and go for more, and if so, what can I expect from each additional change?:

• What would be the benefit of M3 control arms?
  What would be the benefit from changing to stiffer bushings?

Lastly as I am NOT a do-it-yourself person....... I pay to have all the work done and do not want to have to change my suspension set up for track use (so adjustable suspension is out for me)...this advise will be valuable $$ Thanks, in advance.

For your situation, it sounds like you are approaching this very well. If you cannot get rid of your understeer with -3deg of camber up front on R888's, along with the swaybar, something is wrong. If I were to do my next mod after those two, I would do the rear subframe bushings, before the front M3 parts (I currently have both). There is more positive impact with the rear bushing change than the more expensive front M3 pieces.

[UsualSuspect]

Originally Posted by larryn

For your situation, it sounds like you are approaching this very well. If you cannot get rid of your understeer with -3deg of camber up front on R888's, along with the swaybar, something is wrong. If I were to do my next mod after those two, I would do the rear subframe bushings, before the front M3 parts (I currently have both). There is more positive impact with the rear bushing change than the more expensive front M3 pieces.

Hmmmm.
Larryn, should I do the front bushings too, along with rear bushing or are the rear the most positive impact? Thanks.

[larryn]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

Hmmmm.
Larryn, should I do the front bushings too, along with rear bushing or are the rear the most positive impact? Thanks.

In my opinion, if you do not have camber plates, do the front M3 parts. The OP plans on doing the camber plates and swaybar (and has race tires).. which is likely a very different situation than yours. He is adding lots of grip to the front, so the rear bushings make more sense as a next step.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by UsualSuspect

Yeah, I was going to go with the Hotchkis 32mm front sway instead. What do you think of that? Thanks.
https://www.upscaleautomotive.com/p-...5i-e90e92.aspx

The hochkis is good but I went with the E93. I'm assuming you're on stock suspension? Also I read that you were considering doing rear parts. There is a lot of work involved in dropping the rear subframe so I would concentrate on the front first and go from there.

[nordique14]

I ran R888 at autox and track from the first day I got my 135i. I did that first with a completely stock suspension. Then with the M3 rods/arms and a thicker front bar. Then I added a thicker rear bar. I just recently installed camber plates. Next on the list is the M3 subframe bushings. I am balking at the cost of the install though. This slippery slope is apparently littered with $100 bills.

[UsualSuspect]

Originally Posted by nordique14

This slippery slope is apparently littered with $100 bills.

That's what she said! LOL!

[pixelblue]

Originally Posted by larryn

For your situation, it sounds like you are approaching this very well. If you cannot get rid of your understeer with -3deg of camber up front on R888's, along with the swaybar, something is wrong. If I were to do my next mod after those two, I would do the rear subframe bushings, before the front M3 parts (I currently have both). There is more positive impact with the rear bushing change than the more expensive front M3 pieces.

would like to know where you found the rear M3 parts being cheaper not to mention the labor involved. I would have already done the rears if it didn't set me back two big ones.