Best suspension for Daily Driver / Backroads Dancer 135i

[Willortiz]

Looking for advice and opinions on to lower my car about 1-1.5 all around but i dont want to be bouncing with every dip or hump on the road. I have the m-sport i would mind some stiffening but the car is mainly a dd but with 530wtq (sig outdated) im looking into coilovers but not really happy spending $800+install fee. Anyone can advise on good spring cup kit or coilovers around 500-600ish price ranges? Thanks in advance.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by Willortiz

Looking for advice and opinions on to lower my car about 1-1.5 all around but i dont want to be bouncing with every dip or hump on the road. I have the m-sport i would mind some stiffening but the car is mainly a dd but with 530wtq (sig outdated) im looking into coilovers but not really happy spending $800+install fee. Anyone can advise on good spring cup kit or coilovers around 500-600ish price ranges? Thanks in advance.

The suggestions in this thread for that kind of pricing are Bilstein B12 or the Koni based "cup" kits. Note that in most cases the lowering of 1.2" is from NON M-Sport, so you'd only be lowering about 0.5" to 0.75" from M-SPort with these kits. To go lower you're probably going to have to look at coilovers.

You can go up a bit in price and do the custom valved Konis (externally adjustable in the rear) from TC Kline and pair them with Swift Spec R springs which might be a tiny bit lower than the B12 or other cop kits.

Some examples here, not much feedback on H&R kits, some have seen uneven lowering with front biased "rake" from H&R springs, not sure if you want that:

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E82-13...sion/Cup_Kits/

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by Willortiz

Looking for advice and opinions on to lower my car about 1-1.5 all around but i dont want to be bouncing with every dip or hump on the road. I have the m-sport i would mind some stiffening but the car is mainly a dd but with 530wtq (sig outdated) im looking into coilovers but not really happy spending $800+install fee. Anyone can advise on good spring cup kit or coilovers around 500-600ish price ranges? Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure exactly how much travel we have, but 1-1.5" lower than M-Sport seems awfully low to me.
JOM Blueline and Megan EZ Street both offer what you're asking for, in your price range to "slam your car on a budget." But I wouldn't drive with 'em on, on a road or a track. If you've really got 530tq and all that other good stuff on your car, it would be a shame to cheap out when putting it to the ground.


I am wondering, though, at 50k miles if I should invest in ECS' pre-packaged Coilover Install Kit to use all new hardware installing my coils, or is the BMW stuff pretty stout and the truly necessary pieces included? Anybody experience issues upgrading the suspension at 50-60k mi?

[tjswarbrick]

Well, I've begun. And I'm well on my way to a huge DIY.

Ordered the front sway bar upgrade (to E90/E92 26.5mm unit), coilovers install kit, spring compressor, strut nut socket and Powerflex Race Black RSFB Inserts. Oops - forgot to order extra PCG1 Grease. I'll see if that's available where I get the Dinan cabmer plates.
No-go on grease at the camber plate supplier, but I got the first guy to add after the fact and bundle it with the big order for free shipping. Feel better now.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

Well, I've begun. And I'm well on my way to a huge DIY.

Ordered the front sway bar upgrade (to E90/E92 26.5mm unit), coilovers install kit, spring compressor, strut nut socket and Powerflex Race Black RSFB Inserts. Oops - forgot to order extra PCG1 Grease. I'll see if that's available where I get the Dinan cabmer plates.

Nice! I don't see a suspension choice in that list though

[135ivert]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

Wasn't addressed to me - but, the convertible has the short left and right braces to the firewall.
Will a 1M or M3 bar fit?
Will it offer additional benefit?
I haven't seen anybody running one, so was not planning to do so.

First I'm hearing about it. RealOEM says the braces are the same for E82 and E88. For example:

51617167643-Spring dome strut, left
Part 51617167643 was found on the following vehicles:
1' E81   (02/2006 — 12/2011)
1' E87   (02/2003 — 02/2007)
1' E87 LCI   (01/2006 — 06/2011)
1' E88   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
1' E82   (11/2006 — 10/2013)

I think the 1M or M3 brace would have the same benefit on an E88 as it would on an E82. Maybe even more so.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by asbrr

Nice! I don't see a suspension choice in that list though

Not yet!
Still leaning heavily toward the R&T set. Just waiting for funds to settle before hitting the PayPal button.

Originally Posted by 135ivert

First I'm hearing about it. RealOEM says the braces are the same for E82 and E88. For example:

51617167643-Spring dome strut, left
Part 51617167643 was found on the following vehicles:
1' E81   (02/2006 — 12/2011)
1' E87   (02/2003 — 02/2007)
1' E87 LCI   (01/2006 — 06/2011)
1' E88   (11/2006 — 10/2013)
1' E82   (11/2006 — 10/2013)

I think the 1M or M3 brace would have the same benefit on an E88 as it would on an E82. Maybe even more so.

Thanks!

[Willortiz]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

I'm not sure exactly how much travel we have, but 1-1.5" lower than M-Sport seems awfully low to me.
JOM Blueline and Megan EZ Street both offer what you're asking for, in your price range to "slam your car on a budget." But I wouldn't drive with 'em on, on a road or a track. If you've really got 530tq and all that other good stuff on your car, it would be a shame to cheap out when putting it to the ground.


I am wondering, though, at 50k miles if I should invest in ECS' pre-packaged Coilover Install Kit to use all new hardware installing my coils, or is the BMW stuff pretty stout and the truly necessary pieces included? Anybody experience issues upgrading the suspension at 50-60k mi?

Your right. Ima just get ST coilovers. Im not just "slaming it" for look im trying to lower a bit more for stability and more of a grounded feel (over 90mph feels like car is somewhat starting to float) and more grip on tight corners along with a more stiff ride but not to much. Those coils you mentions have way to much bounce as i hear and i wouldnt really trust reviews from VW drivers since they dont really do performance, theyre more into looks over function and reliability.

[squidge]

Honestly, if you've got 530whp and are cornering hard enough at 90+ for the car to feel floaty, you probably shouldn't be cheaping out on your suspension.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by squidge

Honestly, if you've got 530whp and are cornering hard enough at 90+ for the car to feel floaty, you probably shouldn't be cheaping out on your suspension.

Hey, isn't that what I said?

I'm on my way to Sunnyvale right now...

[Willortiz]

I looked up ST X coilover kit. Got pretty good reveiws dont really to find anything bad on them on bmw fourms so i guess ima shoot for those.

[Gangplank]

Does anyone know what the least amount of drop would be on the ST X coilovers?

[Willortiz]

Anyone know about solo werks apparently it was some of the original guys from kw that broke off and made their own line so far good reviews on e90s. And drop on st are front: 30mm-60mm and rears from:25-55mm

[chris82]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

I guess I have trouble wrapping my brain around the idea that Ohlins R/T's with 400/700 Swift's will ride better than Koni's with 200/500 R-Spec's which may just be a tad harsher than PS on 160/420.

It's about fluid displacement. That's what allows a damper to control the movement of the car and good dampers have this in spades. They can displace a ton of fluid with one compression/rebound stroke, easily controlling the spring, and allowing you to adjust your shocks softer. Spring rate doesn't have much to do with ride comfort in my experience; I had JRZ RS1 on a 600lb/inch front, 700lb/inch rear springs, and the car could hit a large pot hole more comfortably than the stock shocks. Now, I soon got noise issues due to some internal defect in the front dampers, but still, that's what a good shock can do (not the noise part lol).

Tons of good information in this thread. I keep leaning towards to Performance suspension, but can anyone tell me if it is more comfortable than stock? Also, like someone else asked, are the shocks actually good? Do they compare to the similarly priced konis, bilsteins, etc. out there?

My reccomendation to anyone here, Get the M3 RSFB or inserts. It's such a huge difference!

Another good bang for buck upgrade sounds like the Dinan rear shock mount. From a picture posted here, these cars basically ride the rear bump stop and it makes sense because if you hit a decent bump the suspension feels like it has bottomed out, and it has in a way. The Dinan mount adds 10mm to the compression stroke and from what I read, it adds to both comfort and handling.

[hokejka]

Originally Posted by titium

+1

having had mine installed for a few weeks I couldn't be happier. perfect daily setup.

make sure you go for the tckline externally adjustable rear shocks well worth the extra $$. Helps in being able to find the right setting initially.

I installed the dinan rear shock mounts not sure how much of a difference they made.

where do you recommend buying from?

[hokejka]

Im in the same page as OP and half of this thread but this has gotten me more confused haha I was pretty set on ST xtas but learned i need to teplace front springs with short ones so tht the perches dont interfere with the wheel.

OP this is something you should double check (and please let us know) with ohlins. im pretty sure tckr has taken care of that in their coilover sets and already has short front springs.

st xtas are attractive. at 1450 with camber plates and kw v2 dampeners i think its somewhat of a steal. but now adding 200-300 worth of spring conversion im almost at a tckr s/a price. not sure what to do. the bikstein b12 seems attractive as does the koni yellow with swifts but i would probably get negative rake when adding camber plates.

some questions:

are these spring shock combos such as bilatein b12 leaving enough clearance to run a 245 tire on an et40 wheel upfront fine with some camber? they arent interferring any more than stock suspension, correct?

Assuming a concious budget is in place is there really that much of a dramatic imrpvement in the st xta or tckr s/a over a bilstein b12 setup. are these two different worlds of handling or is the biggest dofferent adjustability of height and dampening... which it seems the b12 kit has done a good job with.

what camber plates are u guys running for the spring/shock cup kits?

[swagon]

B12 installed on an E91 since Saturday. Too early to give some impressions, but so far so good.

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by titium

+1

having had mine installed for a few weeks I couldn't be happier. perfect daily setup.

make sure you go for the tckline externally adjustable rear shocks well worth the extra $$. Helps in being able to find the right setting initially.

I installed the dinan rear shock mounts not sure how much of a difference they made.

dont suppose you got a chance to measure the drop on the Koni/Swift set up?

Any pictures?

[hokejka]

Originally Posted by swagon

B12 installed on an E91 since Saturday. Too early to give some impressions, but so far so good.

what are first impressions? Its been 3 days! i would have put a couple hundred mile son if I had a new suspension.

[titium]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

dont suppose you got a chance to measure the drop on the Koni/Swift set up?

Any pictures?

I can provide measurements after work but i don't know the stock measurements. if you could provide those we can work out the drop.

my estimate would be around 3/4 of an inch to an inch.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by hokejka

what are first impressions? Its been 3 days! i would have put a couple hundred mile son if I had a new suspension.

Going on a ski trip this Thursday which is a 400-mile trip there and back.

[markslc1]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

Well, I've begun. And I'm well on my way to a huge DIY.

Ordered the front sway bar upgrade (to E90/E92 26.5mm unit), coilovers install kit, spring compressor, strut nut socket and Powerflex Race Black RSFB Inserts. Oops - forgot to order extra PCG1 Grease. I'll see if that's available where I get the Dinan cabmer plates.
No-go on grease at the camber plate supplier, but I got the first guy to add after the fact and bundle it with the big order for free shipping. Feel better now.

Curious about the PCG1 grease. Is this needed for a suspension install? Where do you use it? And and can you provide some detail on the needed Strut nut socket size? I'm installing my koni's next week and want to make sure I have everything.