Best suspension for Daily Driver / Backroads Dancer 135i

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by swagon

...BMW Performance springs have a guaranteed 10mm lowering since their springs are different for each model and you give BMW your VIN code I think.

As a side note, I did a before/after height measurement when installing the PS and oddly I saw an average drop of ~15 mm (see attached). Can't really explain why.

Pics in the Square 264s link in my signature...

Karl.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by wjk_glynn

As a side note, I did a before/after height measurement when installing the PS and oddly I saw an average drop of ~15 mm (see attached). Can't really explain why.

Karl.

Don't know either, but I think you should be happy about the additional 5 mm because the car looks great.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by swagon

Don't know either, but I think you should be happy about the additional 5 mm because the car looks great.

I would be. TBH, I didn't really notice much of a difference in height when I had the BMWPS installed. Maybe I was expecting too much.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I would be. TBH, I didn't really notice much of a difference in height when I had the BMWPS installed. Maybe I was expecting too much.

Spent an hour going around the car with a measurement tape and figured out a 15 mm would be perfect, but I ended up lowering it by approx. 20-23 mm IIRC. It now looks perfect to me.

Honestly, the BMW PS should have been standard... Just to differentiate it from the rest of the line up.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by swagon

Spent an hour going around the car with a measurement tape and figured out a 15 mm would be perfect, but I ended up lowering it by approx. 20-23 mm IIRC. It now looks perfect to me.

Honestly, the BMW PS should have been standard... Just to differentiate it from the rest of the line up.

Thanks, nice to hear... sorry, I don't feel that way! The BMWPS should've been lower IMO.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Thanks, nice to hear... sorry, I don't feel that way! The BMWPS should've been lower IMO.

Yes, I agree, but it is still better than the stock garbage (exaggerating, but you know what I mean).

F-gen M Sport suspension now have only 10mm drop from stock - while the stock suspension is even higher than before.

And look what they are doing now to the M cars... Absolutely awful.

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by Esteban

The BMWPS should've been lower IMO.

And I'm at the other end of the spectrum in that I think the PS drop is the maximum I'd ever want...

Horses for courses...

Karl.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by wjk_glynn

And I'm at the other end of the spectrum in that I think the PS drop is the maximum I'd ever want...

Horses for courses...

Karl.

I might've felt that way too if I noticed a difference in the height... didn't really.

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I might've felt that way too if I noticed a difference in the height... didn't really.

Steve, what suspension are you running currently?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

Steve, what suspension are you running currently?

It's in my sig. The BMW Performance suspension.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by swagon

Yes, I agree, but it is still better than the stock garbage (exaggerating, but you know what I mean).

F-gen M Sport suspension now have only 10mm drop from stock - while the stock suspension is even higher than before.

And look what they are doing now to the M cars... Absolutely awful.

Dang - looks like an IX version or something.
Needs a 2" drop and some 30mm spacers...

[CRYA]

Originally Posted by Esteban

It's in my sig. The BMW Performance suspension.

Anyone point me to the vendor with best pricing on this?

[swagon]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

Dang - looks like an IX version or something.
Needs a 2" drop and some 30mm spacers...

i think of it as an xi on shipping blocks...

It looks purdy with spacers and a drop.

Originally Posted by CRYA

Anyone point me to the vendor with best pricing on this?

This or use Google

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by CRYA

Anyone point me to the vendor with best pricing on this?

Check turnermotorsports.com, getbmwparts.com, etc. ecstuning.com is not currently showing that part, not sure why.

I believe BMW is discontinuing the Performance parts.

Part #33-50-0-444-831

Springs are VIN specific.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by CRYA

Anyone point me to the vendor with best pricing on this?

I forget how this forum feels about "dealspotting" - I'm just doing a quick search but will remove info if needed.

~$877 at ECS, but it looks like springs are extra. Weird.
I see it for $1275 at getbmwparts,
but BR Racing lists the complete kit for 942.
If going that way it might be worth calling to check availability and make sure everything in the kit is included from the supplier of your choice.

[CRYA]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

I forget how this forum feels about "dealspotting" - I'm just doing a quick search but will remove info if needed.

~$877 at ECS, but it looks like springs are extra. Weird.
I see it for $1275 at getbmwparts,
but BR Racing lists the complete kit for 942.
If going that way it might be worth calling to check availability and make sure everything in the kit is included from the supplier of your choice.

Cool thanks. Is dealspotting verbotten or something??
This is confusing. It appears some vendors sell "half" the kit, without the springs. But if you add in 4 springs at roughly 100 bucks a pop, you're back to 1200-ish.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

I forget how this forum feels about "dealspotting" - I'm just doing a quick search but will remove info if needed.

~$877 at ECS, but it looks like springs are extra. Weird.
I see it for $1275 at getbmwparts,
but BR Racing lists the complete kit for 942.
If going that way it might be worth calling to check availability and make sure everything in the kit is included from the supplier of your choice.

Funny, I don't see the BMW Performance suspension kit on the ecstuning.com site. Only the replacement parts for the kit sold separately. Am I blind? Link, please.

[CRYA]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Funny, I don't see the BMW Performance suspension kit on the ecstuning.com site. Only the replacement parts for the kit sold separately. Am I blind? Link, please.

So the previous PN was just the retrofit kit, no springs. These appear to be all the PNs.

BMW Performance Suspension 33500444831
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Front 31336788891
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Rear 33536788898

[Esteban]

Never mind - found it. Took the dashes out of the part # and it popped right up. I'm an idiot!

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E82-13...h/33500444831/

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by CRYA

So the previous PN was just the retrofit kit, no springs. These appear to be all the PNs.

BMW Performance Suspension 33500444831
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Front 31336788891
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Rear 33536788898

The part numbers you listed for the springs may not be the part numbers for your car since the springs are VIN specific.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by swagon

i think of it as an xi on shipping blocks...

It looks purdy with spacers and a drop.

Sure does!



This or use Google

Originally Posted by Esteban

Funny, I don't see the BMW Performance suspension kit on the ecstuning.com site. Only the replacement parts for the kit sold separately. Am I blind? Link, please.

Originally Posted by CRYA

So the previous PN was just the retrofit kit, no springs. These appear to be all the PNs.

BMW Performance Suspension 33500444831
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Front 31336788891
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Rear 33536788898

Originally Posted by Esteban

The part numbers you listed for the springs may not be the part numbers for your car since the springs are VIN specific.

True.

And I don't know what's up with the PS P/N. REALOEM says it's for Retrofit kit. ECS shows it that way. A couple other sites gave the full kit when I plugged that P/N in. Hopefully if you find a suitable supplier you can call 'em and make sure it includes everything you need for your car and configuration.

Back to my configuration - I've noticed that a few race tuners (TCK, Dinan, others?) use custom-valved Koni's to great effect. But none of 'em have spring setting in the area I think I want. Dinan springs only lower 1/2", I can't find specs on the rates, and they are no longer available. BMW PS is less than 1/2" lower and 160lb/in front and 420lb/in rear. But not available for 'vert and rears would probably be a touch light.
COBB gives 148lb front and 457 lb rear, but a full 1.2" drop which may be a bit much.
TC Kline recommends 350/600. Not sure what the drop is but they look awesome.
Swift R-Spec is at 201/502 with a 1" drop, but some have said it might be a hair firm for the street with off-the-shelf Koni's. So where does that put the TCK's? Lightest they go is 300/500, which, on paper, looks a touch unbalanced with too high a rate up front.

I wonder if choosing Dinan or TCK-valved Koni's and running Swift R-Spec springs would yield a perfect compromise for the street, or if it would be a mis-match due to too much shock and not enough spring? I did note that TC himself recommends running as much shock as you can with minimal spring for the tire grip for optimal performance.
I'm planning on 225/40 fr and 245/35 rr MPSS on factory staggered 261 wheels.

Any experience? Opinions? Recommendations?
If I'm spending all that dough on custom-valved shocks should I just get the coilovers? I'm not going to adjust them once I get 'em dialed in, and only want 3/4 to 1" drop so coils seem like overkill for my purposes. And set up the same (same springs, set for same amount of lowering) would they offer ride or handling advantages over springs and shocks?

[John_01]

Originally Posted by CRYA

So the previous PN was just the retrofit kit, no springs. These appear to be all the PNs.

BMW Performance Suspension 33500444831
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Front 31336788891
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Rear 33536788898

That first item for the BMW performance Suspension kit is correct one for the 1 series cars. It includes the dampers, struts, bump stops, all rubber parts, and a front sway bar, but WITHOUT springs.

AFAIK, there are two sets of Performance springs that are sold for the 135i.

LIGHT Set - for N55 cars with few options.
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Front "T2" Part: 31336788892
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Rear "T1" Part: 33536788898

FIRM Set - For heavier N55 and N54 cars.
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Front "T3" Part: 31336788893
BMW Performance Suspension Spring / Rear "T2" Part: 33536788899

I have ordered both sets before. The difference is the thickness of the wire is slightly different, while the length and shape is the same.
The spring rate will be about 10% higher between the T3 vs T2 front springs. Eg, if the T2 front spring is 147lb/in, the T3 front spring would be 162lb/in.