Best suspension for Daily Driver / Backroads Dancer 135i

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by rowsdower

Yes the OD should be the same. When looking at the car though, the top of the wheel is 1/2" further away from the fender on 17s vs 18s so it looks a little taller.

I think the ride height of your car is just about perfect. Personally, wouldn't want it much lower but I'm pretty conservative when it comes to lowering cars. Great pic, btw.

OP, I guess I missed this earlier today. lol

[tjswarbrick]

No problem, Esteban! You were pretty much following it in the What did you do today thread.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

No problem, Esteban! You were pretty much following it in the What did you do today thread.

This is true, but you didn't write about it in the "What did you do to/for your 1er today?" thread until after I brought it up in that thread, and at that time you had already written about it in this thread yesterday. My fault for not being more observant. No harm, no foul, though.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

I, too, have Dinan camber plates.
And 18's.
17's should provide same tire OD, but perhaps there is some optical illusion work going on there.

I forget to mention that the Eibachs are going to be about 5mm-10mm lower than BMW Performance springs, and the Swift-Rs are going to be about 15mm lower than BMW Perormance springs, IIRC.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by duder13

I forget to mention that the Eibachs are going to be about 5mm-10mm lower than BMW Performance springs, and the Swift-Rs are going to be about 15mm lower than BMW Perormance springs.

The Performance springs are supposed to lower the car 10mm lower than the M Sport suspension, which is very little imo. I think the 135i was already kind of low. With the Performance springs I occasionally scrape those rubber pieces under the front of the car on driveways. How are you doing so far with the Eibach springs? Forgot, you have camber plates, which should help a little with that.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by duder13

I forget to mention that the Eibachs are going to be about 5mm-10mm lower than BMW Performance springs, and the Swift-Rs are going to be about 15mm lower than BMW Perormance springs, IIRC.

I couldn't find specs for BMWP springs ride height - but that sounds about right. (~ 3/8 to 1/2 inch drop.)

Note the Eibach "2097" springs for E82 specify 1.2" lower than stock (M-Sport for 135.)
The "2091" I ordered for the E88 specify .8" lowering in the front, and .5" in the rear on an M-Sport Vert. So, really comparable to a proper BMWP setup.
Those Swift springs say they'll lower a non-sport 135i about an inch. I don't think that car exists...
Couldn't get an accurate measurement on it, but I went from a finger gap to tire inside the wheel well when I put them on. Seems like a solid inch and a half lower than stock M-Sport, to me. Gaining back an inch of ride height back should help clear obstacles and increase travel enough that traction might even improve. We'll see.

[Esteban]

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...on-33500444831

E82 1 Series BMW Performance Suspension Kit - Vehicles with Sport or M Sport suspension. The BMW Performance Suspension delivers an exhilarating yet secure drive. Dynamic handling thanks to new configuration with lower ride height (lower than the M sport suspension SA704 - approx 10mm). Coil springs (sold separately) are painted BMW Performance Yellow to emphasize racing-car characteristics. *Vehicle requires new front and rear springs sold separately. *Please include vin when ordering.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by Esteban

The Performance springs are supposed to lower the car 10mm lower than the M Sport suspension, which is very little imo. I think the 135i was already kind of low. With the Performance springs I occasionally scrape those rubber pieces under the front of the car on driveways. How are you doing so far with the Eibach springs? Forgot, you have camber plates, which should help a little with that.

I’ve only put a tank and a half of gas through it since the upgrades, but I expected it to scrape more. I even took some speed bumps pretty fast today to test it, and it was fine. I think you’re right about the camber plates, and the suspension still may settle a little, so we’ll see.

Stock 135i ground clearance is around 4.9”, so even dropping it 20mm isn’t crazy low and puts it in the range of a lot of stock Porsches. I used to take my Cayman to the mountain for snowboarding without many issues with snow, and it had a ground clearance of around 4.3” IIRC.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

I couldn't find specs for BMWP springs ride height - but that sounds about right. (~ 3/8 to 1/2 inch drop.)

Note the Eibach "2097" springs for E82 specify 1.2" lower than stock (M-Sport for 135.)
The "2091" I ordered for the E88 specify .8" lowering in the front, and .5" in the rear on an M-Sport Vert. So, really comparable to a proper BMWP setup.
Those Swift springs say they'll lower a non-sport 135i about an inch. I don't think that car exists...
Couldn't get an accurate measurement on it, but I went from a finger gap to tire inside the wheel well when I put them on. Seems like a solid inch and a half lower than stock M-Sport, to me. Gaining back an inch of ride height back should help clear obstacles and increase travel enough that traction might even improve. We'll see.

The stock M-sport suspension on the 135i makes things tricky. I’d be curious if they also say a 1.2” drop from the stock suspension on something like a European 130i, which doesn’t come with the M-Sports suspension as standard. I’m not convinced they’re taking the m-sport suspension into account.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by duder13

I’ve only put a tank and a half of gas through it since the upgrades, but I expected it to scrape more. I even took some speed bumps pretty fast today to test it, and it was fine. I think you’re right about the camber plates, and the suspension still may settle a little, so we’ll see.

Stock 135i ground clearance is around 4.9”, so even dropping it 20mm isn’t crazy low and puts it in the range of a lot of stock Porsches. I used to take my Cayman to the mountain for snowboarding without many issues with snow, and it had a ground clearance of around 4.3” IIRC.

Curious, did you measure your car before you lowered it or did you read somewhere that the ground clearance is around 4.9''? I'd like to go out and measure my car and see what I get with my Performance springs, but I have a very painful knee right now (meniscus tear) and will have to wait til it gets better.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Curious, did you measure your car before you lowered it or did you read somewhere that the ground clearance is around 4.9''? I'd like to go out and measure my car and see what I get with my Performance springs, but I have a very painful knee right now (meniscus tear) and will have to wait til it gets better.

Oh, I was lazy and simply looked it up.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by duder13

Oh, I was lazy and simply looked it up.

Nice...

I'll be saving that pdf for future reference.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by duder13

Oh, I was lazy and simply looked it up.

BTW, since your pdf came from Car and Driver, thought I'd mention that it was a Car and Driver article in 2008 that convinced me to test drive and buy my first 135i.

Don't remember if it was this one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ake-road-test/

Or this one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...35i-road-test/

[duder13]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Nice...

I'll be saving that pdf for future reference.

I should mention that I don’t believe the little flexible flaps under the front lip count in the ground clearance measurement.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by Esteban

BTW, since your pdf came from Car and Driver, thought I'd mention that it was a Car and Driver article in 2008 that convinced me to test drive and buy my first 135i.

Don't remember if it was this one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ake-road-test/

Or this one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...35i-road-test/

I knew in 2005 when I read about the 130i in CAR on a flight to China, then saw a couple there. Actually, I thought a 270hp na 3.0 in a hatch would have been awesome, but they said it wasn't "hooligan" enough. Turbo 6 is plenty hooligan!

[Mandinca]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

I knew in 2005 when I read about the 130i in CAR on a flight to China, then saw a couple there. Actually, I thought a 270hp na 3.0 in a hatch would have been awesome, but they said it wasn't "hooligan" enough. Turbo 6 is plenty hooligan!

One of these days I will post pics of my car with the BMW Performance suspension and 264's. You were pretty instrumental in my decision making. That pic of your car swayed me......

It's a little lower than I had hoped and rubs slightly on left and right lock but I can live with it. I love the look.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by duder13

I should mention that I don’t believe the little flexible flaps under the front lip count in the ground clearance measurement.

Agree...

[duder13]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Agree...

Even with the stock suspension, I’ve hit those things on so many parking space curbs that I’m surprised they’re still there!

[duder13]

Originally Posted by Esteban

BTW, since your pdf came from Car and Driver, thought I'd mention that it was a Car and Driver article in 2008 that convinced me to test drive and buy my first 135i.

Don't remember if it was this one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ake-road-test/

Or this one:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...35i-road-test/

Yeah, those are great articles.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by duder13

Even with the stock suspension, I've hit those things on so many parking space curbs that I'm surprised they're still there!

I broke my car in a few years ago (Perf. springs on) with a parking curb scrape under the front bumper. Felt terrible at the time. Now I don't care. Can't see it unless you look under the car. Out of sight, out of mind. lol

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by duder13

The stock M-sport suspension on the 135i makes things tricky. I’d be curious if they also say a 1.2” drop from the stock suspension on something like a European 130i, which doesn’t come with the M-Sports suspension as standard. I’m not convinced they’re taking the m-sport suspension into account.

This is correct- the drops quoted are from NON m-sport, since m-sport springs are standard on north american 135is but not around the world.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by asbrr

This is correct- the drops quoted are from NON m-sport, since m-sport springs are standard on north american 135is but not around the world.

Okay, so then, the question becomes: How much lower is M-Sport than Non-M-Sport?
And if the Swifts are supposed to bring 'er down 1" from Non-Sport, how come they brought my M-Sport down at least an inch and a half?
Am I going to worry about any of this, at all, once I get the Eibach Pro-Kit installed?