BMW PS Installed! AWESOME

[inline-6]

Just got my the PS installed on my stock, non-sport 128i. First serious car mod I have ever done. What a difference! I can feel the increases stiffness but the ride is still very comfortable. When turning in, the car rolls a tiny amount and immediately plants itself - feels rock solid.

On a hard turn before, the amount of roll was not confidence inspiring. Now you can feel the limit of grip approaching with a ton more predictability - feels wayyyyy better. Direction changes are fantastic, much less delay in the weight transfer! That rear-end bounce is still there, but I find it's really reduced. You can feel it, but especially in a turn the back end is way less bouncy/scary.

Gotta love the slightly lowered position and the road feel too!

Loved driving my car before, but now it is an absolute blast. Feels more like a sports car now!

Anyways, just wanted to say thanks for all the solid advice from everyone and great info on the forums. Couple of things that may help people thinking about this:

1. Make sure your are getting the springs with your kit - my dealer did not order the springs and I would have missed this if someone here did not warn me.

2. Kit contents.

For 128i non-sport: shocks/struts, front sway, rear sway. Expect to pay more for labor since there is no rear sway installed and the sub frame has to be dropped.

For 128i sport or 135i: shocks/struts, front sway. They don't touch your existing rear sway bar.

I've also got the part number breakdown of the kit if anyone is interested in that.

Anyways, once again thanks everyone here for recommending this awesome addition to my car! Sooo glad I did it.

[andrey_gta]

Congrats!

Can you post the PS Shock's part numbers. I want to see if can order just them

The bounce will stop with m3 subframe Bushes, maybe we can geta 2 4 1 deal at some place.
Im curious in checking it out. What will you be doing Tuesday the 30th ?
Maybe we can meet in KW.

[simianspeedster]

Congrats and thanks for the detailed review. This really reinforces my thought process. My 128i Coupe arrives next week and HP Autowerks is set to install the Performance Suspension about a week later.

For anyone else planning to order the PS, getBMWparts.com makes it very easy -- they sell it as a kit including the springs and installation hardware. You just need to know whether your car is Sport or non-Sport and you'll need to provide your VIN for them to include the correct springs.

Your description of what the PS does for the car is *exactly* what I'm looking for. I specifically want the car to react more quickly to inputs than any stock, non-M BMW does these days, and I want to reduce unwanted body movements without slamming the car or killing the ride quality.

Question: are you still running the stock wheels and 205-width runflats or did you replace those with something else?

[inline-6]

The bounce will stop with m3 subframe Bushes, maybe we can geta 2 4 1 deal at some place.
Im curious in checking it out. What will you be doing Tuesday the 30th ?
Maybe we can meet in KW.

To be honest I'm pretty happy with the improvement in the rear (hah) as it is. Plus since I had BMW install the kit, my wallet needs a break lol. I'm down for meeting up though. I attached the parts list.

Question: are you still running the stock wheels and 205-width runflats or did you replace those with something else?

Yep I'm running the stock RFT until they are worn. I'm a little worried that the ride will soften up again after putting regular tires on, but it seems like most people fix this by upping the tire pressure.

I have noticed a change in ride quality, some bumps are more noticeable than before but that's about it. If the non-sport 128i is 0% and my friends teeth rattling FRS is 100%, I would say it's around 25%.

One other thing is slight increased noise. With the windows up and radio off I can now barely here the RFTs. Not a big issue for me, you have to be paying attention and it gets drowned out easily.

[simianspeedster]

Cool. I'm swapping out the stock wheels and tires at the same time as the suspension install -- 18x8" Apex Aero-7 wheels and 225/40-18 Michelin PSS tires all around. I figure that combo will help soak up any additional impact harshness that the Performance Suspension may add.

In the end, it's basically a retro move. Putting a modern 1 Series on stiffer suspension, regular tires and a square setup makes it more like a classic 3 series from 10-20 years ago.

I'll let you know how it goes when everything's put together in a few more weeks.

[b1aze]

Could you please measure from the center of your wheel to straight up to the fender? Its best if done on a relatively level ground. Want to get a true idea of about how much of a drop it gives. Pictures of fitment would also be awesome!

[vantagesc]

Originally Posted by b1aze

Could you please measure from the center of your wheel to straight up to the fender? Its best if done on a relatively level ground. Want to get a true idea of about how much of a drop it gives. Pictures of fitment would also be awesome!

My 135i PS + M3 parts install will be done tomorrow, I'll take a measurement for you.

[PA135i]

If you have the factory sport suspension on your 135i, the BMW perfromance suspension lowers the car 10 mm.
I am considering this also next year, along with BMW performance brakes and possibly the BMW Performance exhaust.

I will be due for tires then and plan on the 225 front 255 rear Mich. PSS.
I'm just wondering how to get the car aligned. Factory or a more aggressive alignment.

[MLSavage]

Originally Posted by vantagesc

My 135i PS + M3 parts install will be done tomorrow, I'll take a measurement for you.

Nice, I definitely want details of your setup as I'm thinking of going that route as well. The M3 bits are 100% but I'm still debating on the actual suspension upgrade I want. Can we get the M3 rear upper control arms with the PS? I thought I saw somewhere that we would have to get an M3 style shock.

[inline-6]

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

In the end, it's basically a retro move. Putting a modern 1 Series on stiffer suspension, regular tires and a square setup makes it more like a classic 3 series from 10-20 years ago.

I feel the same way. The way the car feels now reminds me of an E46 I test drove back in the day that started my BMW love. Fantastic road feel but still very refined.

Can you let me know how the tires go? I am thinking about that exact same size.

Originally Posted by b1aze

Could you please measure from the center of your wheel to straight up to the fender? Its best if done on a relatively level ground. Want to get a true idea of about how much of a drop it gives. Pictures of fitment would also be awesome!

Sure, the measurement I got was 13.5" front and rear. My understanding is 10mm lowering if you have sport suspension, or 25mm lowering if you are on a 128i without sport package. Crappy cell phone picture is attached.

[vantagesc]

Originally Posted by MLSavage

Nice, I definitely want details of your setup as I'm thinking of going that route as well. The M3 bits are 100% but I'm still debating on the actual suspension upgrade I want. Can we get the M3 rear upper control arms with the PS? I thought I saw somewhere that we would have to get an M3 style shock.

I believe you're thinking of the camber links which is what actually supports the shock on the lower end. I've done the subframe bushings, rear guide rod and rear wishbone in the back. What is left would be the camber links, toe rod, and the big one, an LSD. I'm holding off on the last three for the forseeable future.

[andrey_gta]

e46 like ride? hmmm

[simianspeedster]

Originally Posted by inline-6

I feel the same way. The way the car feels now reminds me of an E46 I test drove back in the day that started my BMW love. Fantastic road feel but still very refined.

Can you let me know how the tires go? I am thinking about that exact same size.

Will do. Everything's getting installed May 6-7, so I'll have some feedback after then.