What did you do to/for your 1er today?

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by EVApilot

Finally got the style 32s! Shout out to parameter416 and gregthegr8 for the insight on these wheels. I’m loving the look! Also, was able to get my hands on some b8 bilsteins with BMWP springs.

Ohhh...damn. Those look really good.

[Fishee]

Originally Posted by parameter416

I wanted a slightly firmer setup but did not want to lower the car. At all. I'm not tracking the car - it's 100% street use. The streets around here are terrible and I didn't want to lose any suspension travel. I went through all of the forum threads and found there was a lot of conflicting information as to whether BMWP springs produced any drop. It seems that the source of the confusion was that some people were comparing the drop to the Sport suspension and some people were comparing it to the non-Sport suspension. With BMWP springs, my car rides slightly lower than it did with the Sport suspension. I'm very happy with them and the stance is great, but I would have preferred zero drop. I couldn't find any springs that were slightly stiffer that weren't also lowering springs.

When researching spring rates a few years ago, I compiled this summary FWIW:

BMW Performance Springs
33 50 0 444 831 FULL KIT
31 33 6 788 891 T1 FRONT 135 (#/in.)
31 33 6 788 892 T2 FRONT 146
31 33 6 788 893 T3 FRONT 160
31 33 6 788 894
33 53 6 788 898 T2 REAR 420
33 53 6 788 899 T3 REAR 460
33 53 6 788 900 T4 REAR 495
33 53 6 788 901
33 53 6 788 902

Spring Rates
135i(M-Sport) 120 / 350
E90 Sport 145 / 460
E90 BMWP 195 / 505
E90 M3 160 / 550
Dinan E82 144 / 490
Cobb E82 142 / 457
Swift E82 201 / 503
BMWP T1/T2 135 / 420
BMWP T2/T3 146 / 460
BMWP T3/T4 160 / 495

The appropriate BMWP springs for your particular car depend on the engine of course, but also to an extent on the optional equipment on your car, so you need to confirm the appropriate codes using your car's VIN. I submitted my VIN to a salesman at FCP Euro, and he was very helpful in providing the right BMWP spring codes for my car. IIRC I also confirmed them with a second source, just to be sure.

I think you may find that some of the BMWP springs are now NLA. I'm pretty sure the T3 rear (33 53 6 788 899), for example, has been out of production for a few years now. Hopefully you can find the right BMWP springs for your application.

Awesome info!!!
Super comprehensive. I was having a tough time filtering through the scattered experiences on this site.
I have the same goal - firmer rates, less float, and no lower than factory M sport.
If I recall, you have Konis?

[parameter416]

Originally Posted by Fishee

Awesome info!!!
Super comprehensive. I was having a tough time filtering through the scattered experiences on this site.
I have the same goal - firmer rates, less float, and no lower than factory M sport.
If I recall, you have Konis?

I'd say the BMWP springs lowered the car by maybe 10 mm from the stock Sport/M-Sport suspension, but YMMV.

I went with Koni Special Actives. I think previously they were marketed as Koni FSD's, and you'll find lots of older posts on here about FSD's. They're relatively firm on low-velocity compressions (like going around a highway curve on smooth pavement), but they soften up quickly on high-velocity compressions and rebounds (like hitting a pot hole), so they're firmer than stock but ride better on the street. That's the theory at least lol. They're much better than stock, but I can't compare them to Koni Yellows or Bilsteins because I don't have any firsthand experience with them. Koni Yellows are a more common choice, and if I was doing any track time I probably would've gone with them. In theory I prefer the idea of a monotube shock like a Bilstein, but FWIW I've read a number of comments that they're too firm for the street. Koni Yellows are supposedly softer than Bilsteins, and Special Actives are supposedly softer than Yellows.

Dinan rear upper shock mounts supposedly give you an extra inch of suspension travel. Strangely, all of the official documentation says they fit the 135i, doesn't mention the 128i. I don't know why there would be any difference, but I couldn't get any salesperson to tell me they'd fit a 128i, so I didn't order them. Later I read a few posts on here from users who'd put them on their 128i with no problems. If I had it to do over I'd give them a try.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by parameter416

I'd say the BMWP springs lowered the car by maybe 10 mm from the stock Sport/M-Sport suspension, but YMMV.

I went with Koni Special Actives. I think previously they were marketed as Koni FSD's, and you'll find lots of older posts on here about FSD's. They're relatively firm on low-velocity compressions (like going around a highway curve on smooth pavement), but they soften up quickly on high-velocity compressions and rebounds (like hitting a pot hole), so they're firmer than stock but ride better on the street. That's the theory at least lol. They're much better than stock, but I can't compare them to Koni Yellows or Bilsteins because I don't have any firsthand experience with them. Koni Yellows are a more common choice, and if I was doing any track time I probably would've gone with them. In theory I prefer the idea of a monotube shock like a Bilstein, but FWIW I've read a number of comments that they're too firm for the street. Koni Yellows are supposedly softer than Bilsteins, and Special Actives are supposedly softer than Yellows.

Dinan rear upper shock mounts supposedly give you an extra inch of suspension travel. Strangely, all of the official documentation says they fit the 135i, doesn't mention the 128i. I don't know why there would be any difference, but I couldn't get any salesperson to tell me they'd fit a 128i, so I didn't order them. Later I read a few posts on here from users who'd put them on their 128i with no problems. If I had it to do over I'd give them a try.

Bilsteins on my 128i are FIRM but not unlivable. I have the B12 matched eibach springs and sways on mine.

Dinan rear upper mounts fit the 128i fine.

[Houranimd49]

Quick meet up with cerealwars to snag his pedal tuner. Now I can rev match without looking like a noob.

Captured the e82s in habitat.

[cerealwars]

That was cool! You have a really nice car, Houranimd49. Rare to see a nice e82 in these parts this time of year.

Hope you enjoy the pedal tuner, it served its purpose for me.

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

That was cool! You have a really nice car, Houranimd49. Rare to see a nice e82 in these parts this time of year.

Hope you enjoy the pedal tuner, it served its purpose for me.

I’m surprised I haven’t seen you guys around. And I can honestly say mine is no where near as clean right now

[Houranimd49]

Originally Posted by Piper1

I’m surprised I haven’t seen you guys around. And I can honestly say mine is no where near as clean right now

Where do you stay around? I haven’t really met anyone out here in MI with a bmw to take a trip on some back roads.

I don’t drive mine too much, trying to avoid the salt.

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by Houranimd49

Where do you stay around? I haven’t really met anyone out here in MI with a bmw to take a trip on some back roads.

I don’t drive mine too much, trying to avoid the salt.

Work in Sterling Heights but besides work normally stay north of hall. With the 53 construction last year had way too many close calls in the Zs with people not paying attention south of hall with as congested as it got so had the 1er out daily for most of last year, non salt season I’m in the Zs normally if it’s just me. The broncos more of the family hauler

[Indyxc]

Replaced the Convertible top on my 12' 135i 6-spd. Diassembly easy, assembly harder than expected. Could do it much faster the 2nd time.

[Houranimd49]

Originally Posted by Piper1

Work in Sterling Heights but besides work normally stay north of hall. With the 53 construction last year had way too many close calls in the Zs with people not paying attention south of hall with as congested as it got so had the 1er out daily for most of last year, non salt season I’m in the Zs normally if it’s just me. The broncos more of the family hauler

You are very local to me. I’m gonna PM you.

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by Indyxc

Replaced the Convertible top on my 12' 135i 6-spd. Diassembly easy, assembly harder than expected. Could do it much faster the 2nd time.

Impressive!! Where did you source the canvas top? Was the glass included or did you have to transfer that?

[mkeiser]

I just picked up a N54 manifold so my new winter project is to mess around with that

[MParallel]

What was wrong with the top? I also see it has tension straps like my E36 M3 cabio. Hope the E88 ones last a bit longer.
Is your top the optional anthracite one with silver effect?

Speaking of the top, I finally tested the remote open/closure of the softtop after coding. I did check two weeks ago with no result, thinking it was either no longer an option or I make a coding mistake/forgot something.

Then realised I have that trunk folding thing in the up position for more cargo space. So I just folded it down and low and behold, remote open/closure works perfectly.

Very happy as this isn't possible on the E36.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by MParallel

What was wrong with the top? I also see it has tension straps like my E36 M3 cabio. Hope the E88 ones last a bit longer.
Is your top the optional anthracite one with silver effect?

Speaking of the top, I finally tested the remote open/closure of the softtop after coding. I did check two weeks ago with no result, thinking it was either no longer an option or I make a coding mistake/forgot something.

Then realised I have that trunk folding thing in the up position for more cargo space. So I just folded it down and low and behold, remote open/closure works perfectly.

Very happy as this isn't possible on the E36.

What coding did you use? I tried looking around a while back and can't quite remember why, but it seemed like it was something we couldn't code.

Do you have the convenience package with the keyless entry? Maybe that impacts it? I don't have keyless entry/start, still gotta put the key in the dash.

[Fishee]

BMW

Bank 1 turbo oil inlet seal.
All bank 1 seals being replaced preventatively...

Note the position of that right side torx screw.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by dfox

What coding did you use? I tried looking around a while back and can't quite remember why, but it seemed like it was something we couldn't code.

Do you have the convenience package with the keyless entry? Maybe that impacts it? I don't have keyless entry/start, still gotta put the key in the dash.

I read something similar about E93 owners after BMW updated their car’s modules to newer software. (I-level)

I indeed have comfort access. Not sure how much that plays a role. I did see a very specific code parameter that needed to be set, at least for E93 guys. I didn’t do that parameter on its own so can’t tell.
I’ll look up what it was. Something substitute rear window convertible. Something that sounded weird.

Edit:
this
FH_KOMFORTF_MIT_SUBST
nicht_aktiv->aktiv

And complete topic I dissected:
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=714181

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by Fishee

Note the position of that right side torx screw.

OK, how are you supposed to access that?

[Indyxc]

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

Impressive!! Where did you source the canvas top? Was the glass included or did you have to transfer that?

I sourced it from AutoTops direct. It all comes in 1 piece, including glass. Not as good as the oem one, but significantly cheaper. I don't park the car outside, so it only really needs to look good.

[Indyxc]

Originally Posted by MParallel

What was wrong with the top? I also see it has tension straps like my E36 M3 cabio. Hope the E88 ones last a bit longer.
Is your top the optional anthracite one with silver effect?

Speaking of the top, I finally tested the remote open/closure of the softtop after coding. I did check two weeks ago with no result, thinking it was either no longer an option or I make a coding mistake/forgot something.

Then realised I have that trunk folding thing in the up position for more cargo space. So I just folded it down and low and behold, remote open/closure works perfectly.

Very happy as this isn't possible on the E36.

Old top was 13 years old, and the folding points, became creases, and did not look good. I decided to replace it to give the car a fresh look.

[Fishee]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

OK, how are you supposed to access that?

Turbo out... no other access.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by Fishee

Turbo out... no other access.

It looks like that 90 degree pipe was braised in place after the torx bolt was tightened. I'm missing how you can use anything other than vise grips to try and spin it.