Best suspension for Daily Driver / Backroads Dancer 135i

[hokejka]

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.

whats aweful? the car is low it just has higher arches so when you put real meat on it doesnt rub like our cars.

[tjswarbrick]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Yes, and check out all the parts you get. Just add the springs, and they're tuned for your car.

Edit: I think (but not sure) there are like 4-6 different sets of the yellow Performance springs.

That's a good point.
But how are the shocks really? "Better than the stock ones" good? or Actually really good, quality, properly-valved, durable dampers able to compete with Koni and Bilstein for function and dependability?
Like, could they be paired with the whole raft of aftermarket springs (H&R, Eibach, Dinan, Swift) that people put with Koni Yellows? Or are the PS / Dinan springs kind of the limit for this system?

And that's a 26.5mm / E92 M3 Front Sway Bar in the kit, right?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

That's a good point.
But how are the shocks really? "Better than the stock ones" good? or Actually really good, quality, properly-valved, durable dampers able to compete with Koni and Bilstein for function and dependability?
Like, could they be paired with the whole raft of aftermarket springs (H&R, Eibach, Dinan, Swift) that people put with Koni Yellows? Or are the PS / Dinan springs kind of the limit for this system?

And that's a 26.5mm / E92 M3 Front Sway Bar in the kit, right?

I believe the front sway bar in the BMWPS is 26.5mm. I'd say the shocks in the kit are good, probably not the greatest, but don't really have any experience with other shocks for the 135i. They are better than the stock M Sport shocks. As far as the other shocks you mentioned, again I can't say because I have no experience with them. The only springs I know that have been paired with the BMWPS are the BMW Performance springs and the Dinan springs.

[Esteban]

tjswarbrick, you should give Harold at HP Autowerks a call. He supposed to be very knowledgeable regarding the 1er and suspensions available for the car. Tell him what you want and that you have a vert, and I'm sure he'll steer you in the right direction.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

That's a good point.
But how are the shocks really? "Better than the stock ones" good? or Actually really good, quality, properly-valved, durable dampers able to compete with Koni and Bilstein for function and dependability?
Like, could they be paired with the whole raft of aftermarket springs (H&R, Eibach, Dinan, Swift) that people put with Koni Yellows? Or are the PS / Dinan springs kind of the limit for this system?

Skip the Performance shocks.

If you do not want go the coilover route - B8 or more expensive & adjustable Yellows. You cannot go wrong with neither of them.

Bilstein B12 is a proven and praised kit; Bilstein B8 and Koni Yellow & BMWP springs, too.

Since you seem to steer away from coilovers, I would do the Yellows.

BMW makes different springs for one model depending on the level of equipment (DCT, moonroof, nav), FYI. So in the case you decide to buy P springs, be sure to get the ones for fully loaded 135i's.

Originally Posted by tjswarbrick

And that's a 26.5mm / E92 M3 Front Sway Bar in the kit, right?

NO.

And a thicker anti-roll bar is NOT always an upgrade.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Esteban

tjswarbrick, you should give Harold at HP Autowerks a call. He supposed to be very knowledgeable regarding the 1er and suspensions available for the car. Tell him what you want and that you have a vert, and I'm sure he'll steer you in the right direction.

This.

[Esteban]

Only thing about the Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit is that it uses the Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Which Eibach says lower the car by approx. 1.2 inches, which will probably be even lower on a vert. If you want to go that low.

[asbrr]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Only thing about the Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit is that it uses the Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Which Eibach says lower the car by approx. 1.2 inches, which will probably be even lower on a vert. If you want to go that low.

True - but remember that's from stock/non-Msport. So it would be less from Msport since Msport is already 15mm lower than non-sport. So that means the actual amount of lowering vs m-sport is probably closer to 0.6 inches.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by asbrr

True - but remember that's from stock/non-Msport. So it would be less from Msport since Msport is already 15mm lower than non-sport. So that means the actual amount of lowering vs m-sport is probably closer to 0.6 inches.

Is that right? I thought it was approx. 1.2 inches on a 135i, Which has the M Sport suspension stock. Do you have a link?

[Esteban]

Just went to the Eibach site and it shows 1.2 inch drop front and rear for a 135i, but shows .08 front, .05 rear drop for a 135i convertible. That can't be right. Somebody please check that.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Is that right? I thought it was approx. 1.2 inches on a 135i, Which has the M Sport suspension stock. Do you have a link?

He is right. It's on Bilstein's website.

Officially, there is no B12 kit for convertibles, but you can get the parts separately.
.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Just went to the Eibach site and it shows 1.2 inch drop front and rear for a 135i, but shows .08 front, .05 rear drop for a 135i convertible. That can't be right. Somebody please check that.

"30-35 mm" for E82
"ca. 30 mm" for E88

Front springs are same for both, rears have a higher weight rating.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by swagon

He is right. It's on Bilstein's website.

Officially, there is no B12 kit for convertibles, but you can get the parts separately.
.

Thanks for finding that.

[asbrr]

Interesting, I went to the Bilstein site and it shows a B12 pro-kit for 128i convertible and coupe , I used my car as an example.

http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mm.../drivetype=RWD

But yea, there doesn't seem to be a kit for the convertible 135i....

http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mm.../drivetype=RWD

[swagon]

125i on Pro-Kit.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by swagon

"30-35 mm" for E82
"ca. 30 mm" for E88

Front springs are same for both, rears have a higher weight rating.

Guess I should stick to jokes and opinions, and avoid facts.

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Only thing about the Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit is that it uses the Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Which Eibach says lower the car by approx. 1.2 inches, which will probably be even lower on a vert. If you want to go that low.

Originally Posted by asbrr

True - but remember that's from stock/non-Msport. So it would be less from Msport since Msport is already 15mm lower than non-sport. So that means the actual amount of lowering vs m-sport is probably closer to 0.6 inches.

This is exactly what I've been trying to figure out. its one of the options I've considered. Just did some looking around and apaprently there are two different kits for the Billstein B12.

Sportline = lower up to 2 inches
Pro-Kit = lower between 1 and 1.5 (30-35mm and if that's based on the 128 then the Msport would be 20-25mm).

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

This is exactly what I've been trying to figure out. its one of the options I've considered. Just did some looking around and apaprently there are two different kits for the Billstein B12.

Sportline = lower up to 2 inches
Pro-Kit = lower between 1 and 1.5 (30-35mm and if that's based on the 128 then the Msport would be 20-25mm).

M Sport Fahrwerk is 15 mm lower on E8x/E9x cars, 10 mm on Fxx.

Sportlines are not for coupes and verts.

[Gangplank]

Here's a good write up re: Koni w/ Swift Spec-R

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=873692

[tjswarbrick]

Thanks for al the great tips and responses, guys. Too many to reply to.
I called Harold before Christmas - he recommended Koni's with 350/600 Swift, essentially same as TCK - but I don't want to bug him again until I'm ready to move.
(I'd rather bug all of you!)

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.

I'd happily chose TCK- or Dinan-tuned Koni's with a set of Swift springs if I could figure out what the best riding combination is without giving up anything in handling.

Failing that, reviews of the Ohlins R/T's are looking darn positive.

I'll spend the money if it'll get me real gains, but I hate throwing it away. And I'm NOT going to get the chance to do it again if I'm not happy with my selection. So I don't want to screw up.

IE: Tokico shocks with (I think) Eibach springs on '91 SE-R were great on mountain passes but excessively harsh around town.
H&R Springs over Eibach Pro's on '96 Jetta GLX was great up to ~ 8/10ths, but fell apart when really pressed, and were a little clangy on patchy surfaces.
I wasn't 100% pleased, but I kept both until I parted with the cars.

Now that I'm in the BMW I've wanted since high school (OK, so then it was an E30 M3) I want to make it the best it can be.

I really appreciate the help!

Can anyone speak to on-road response of TC Kline and/or Dinan Koni's compared to off-the-shelf Koni Yellows? Have they been worked on for a little better ride? Or just valving tweaked to match the paired springs? I do see that TC had his reworked to adjust in the trunk, but I'm not sure that holds in a convertible installation. (I pinged them yesterday but haven't heard back.)

[Gangplank]

Originally Posted by swagon

I would not bother with the KW V1's. They are not a quality kit from what I have heard.

My V2's, set up as high as possible, actually raised the ride height although they claim a 15mm min. drop.

I thought the V1 and V2 were the same except for the added rebound dampening adjustment? (i.e. the ability to control how fast the shock rebounds from compression back to ride height). So same compression but the V1 is preset rebound, basically just a shock & spring combo.

[k04]

I'm between bilstein b12 or koni str.t paired with swift spec-r. Both sub 700$ setups. I just want something practical regarding height. I feel the eibach may be too low.