[j2m]

I am having Dinan Stage 2 suspension installed today on my 335i X-Drive. Stage 2 loses the front camber plates and drops an additional 1/2" on the front verses the stage 3 (comes with camber plates on front)
When I dropped off my car at Calgary BMW this morning I saw a new 2011 335i X-Drive with stage 3 Dinan Suspension, and 19" BMW performance wheels (225/35/19 on front & 255/30/19 on rear). Pics below

[cabophisher]

Admittedly, this needs sport springs in front and rear.

VMR V710 Gunmetal 19x8.5 245/265 Hankook

[Ctm309]

Originally Posted by *********

Yes with sport shocks. Xi shocks are valved for xi springs. Lowering an xi using the oem xi shocks and oem zsp springs WILL give a rougher ride. The xi shocks will be loaded at all times because they will sit lower than a xi with xi springs.

I'm no suspension expert but I also think this will make the rebound really high because the xi has alot of rebound to begin with and because the car will sit even lower, the rebound will be even higher. And the damper will be really low.....which = rough ride.

+1

[howiedds]

i have Eibachs. However, if you get snow...like large amounts...you're gonna be a snow plow....you'll sorta get stuck because you have no clearance, and you'll probably lose your plastic liner on the bottom (like i did), Just my experience.

[cabophisher]

I have a 2009 xi with OEM sport package. I added 19" wheels and the gap still looks horrible. I am contemplating adding H&R sport springs with no change to the OEM shocks. Below is a picture of the gap. I don't race, nor do I care about giving a little (not a lot) on the ride quality.

I am encouraged about G-MAN2011's comments.

Anyone else who added aftermarket sport springs with no change to the OEM shocks?

Topic 2: Is anyone else disappointed with the performance of the XI? I sold my 2007 E90 RWD and bought a 2009 AWD. Same setup - JB4, aFe DCI, FMIC. My XI seems significantly slower.... Very disappointed.

[E36graduate]

I have bilstein sports with HR sport springs on my front xi.....the HR sport springs are for the i, not the xi.......the ride is quite nice...a little bumpy on bumpy roads but overall, i like it.

If you want, buy my old (march 2010) KW V1's for $ 250, send them to KW to be rebuilt and you will have a front set of coil overs at a fraction of the cost for new. I also have a set of rear HR sport springs for an i, as I kept the KW adjustable coil overs in the rear.

[fdriller9]

Your xi is about 300 lbs heavier...that's why it feels slower.

A lot of people run aftermarket springs on the xi.

I didn't end up installing the sport springs on my xi. I have a set of zsp springs if anyone wants to buy them.

[E36graduate]

i've got a rear pair of new HR i springs for E90, never mounted sitting in my KW V1 boxes....willing to sell. I also want to sell the used, spent KW V1 front struts/coil overs too......anyone interested?

[pits200]

Originally Posted by cabophisher

Topic 2: Is anyone else disappointed with the performance of the XI? I sold my 2007 E90 RWD and bought a 2009 AWD. Same setup - JB4, aFe DCI, FMIC. My XI seems significantly slower.... Very disappointed.

Like stated, there is the weight and also the parasitic drag of the awd so ya it will feel a little slower at speeds over 30mph.

But overall, the speed shouldnt be a drastic difference from those two factors listed above.

[kansas83]

I just swapped out my xi springs on my '07 328xi (54,000 miles) for oem zsp springs from a 325i. Side by side, the sport springs were only .5 inches or so shorter but I think the rate is a little lower. Overall it dropped the car about 1" all around. Still more gap than H&Rs but looks much better to me.

The ride is a little better in that the center of gravity is lower but a little worse in that the rebound is a little higher. I think once my existing tires wear out, I'll put on some non-runflats and probably some bilstien sport shocks.

I followed the diy for the H&R spring swap and it was really helpful. However, I fully compressed 3 coils to remove the front springs and still had a little tension on the strut cap when I removed it (it shot off a foot or two...stand back if you do this!) For the other side, i threw a towel over it so it didn't fly off. Since you can only compress 3 coils on the new springs, I really struggled to get them tight enough to get the strut caps back on. I ended up spending a total of 12hrs on this project with the biggest chunks of time being spent figurring out how to fully compress the springs and working around the exhaust on the back right spring.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by kansas83

I just swapped out my xi springs on my '07 328xi (54,000 miles) for oem zsp springs from a 325i. Side by side, the sport springs were only .5 inches or so shorter but I think the rate is a little lower. Overall it dropped the car about 1" all around. Still more gap than H&Rs but looks much better to me.

The ride is a little better in that the center of gravity is lower but a little worse in that the rebound is a little higher. I think once my existing tires wear out, I'll put on some non-runflats and probably some bilstien sport shocks.

I followed the diy for the H&R spring swap and it was really helpful. However, I fully compressed 3 coils to remove the front springs and still had a little tension on the strut cap when I removed it (it shot off a foot or two...stand back if you do this!) For the other side, i threw a towel over it so it didn't fly off. Since you can only compress 3 coils on the new springs, I really struggled to get them tight enough to get the strut caps back on. I ended up spending a total of 12hrs on this project with the biggest chunks of time being spent figurring out how to fully compress the springs and working around the exhaust on the back right spring.

I had the same problem. I could not for the life of me install the zsp springs on my xi struts.....I gave up. I also damaged my fender in the process.

[kansas83]

If I decide to replace my own struts, I'll probably get 2 sets of spring compressors. Once you fully compress the 3 coils, you could probably put a 3rd compressor on to get the top coil down to get the cap on. Once you've got the nut on the cap, you could wiggle the 3rd compressor out before releasing the other 2 compressors... Or I might just pay someone to do it for me.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by kansas83

If I decide to replace my own struts, I'll probably get 2 sets of spring compressors. Once you fully compress the 3 coils, you could probably put a 3rd compressor on to get the top coil down to get the cap on. Once you've got the nut on the cap, you could wiggle the 3rd compressor out before releasing the other 2 compressors... Or I might just pay someone to do it for me.

I tried using 2 sets of spring compressors. I had a set and borrowed a friends.

Still did not compress them enough...maybe I was doing it wrong but the compressors won't go on the first coil, only the second one from the top or bottom.

[fefo25]

What are zsp springs and where can I get them? Sorry, new to this.

[BRAISKI]

Originally Posted by fefo25

What are zsp springs and where can I get them? Sorry, new to this.

ZSP are the sport springs for the non-xi cars such as the "i".

[clickclickboom]

If anyone wants to lower just the front I have some "i" front springs that I'll sell for cheap. Pm me. They will get rid of the front in the air look.

On a side not I have eibachs on the front and i's on the rear and the gap is the same all around. If I ran the eibachs on the rear it would have sat lower. This is on a 330xi.

I also have the never used eibach rears if anyone is interested.

[gigz]

Originally Posted by clickclickboom

If anyone wants to lower just the front I have some "i" front springs that I'll sell for cheap. Pm me. They will get rid of the front in the air look.

On a side not I have eibachs on the front and i's on the rear and the gap is the same all around. If I ran the eibachs on the rear it would have sat lower. This is on a 330xi.

I also have the never used eibach rears if anyone is interested.

I interested on the eibach springs, where are you located?

[Atsnow]

Originally Posted by howiedds

i have Eibachs. However, if you get snow...like large amounts...you're gonna be a snow plow....you'll sorta get stuck because you have no clearance, and you'll probably lose your plastic liner on the bottom (like i did), Just my experience.

Sorry but I call BS on that, if you got stuck or lost a piece you're driving your car where you should not

BTW I do 25K miles a year and where I live I do get a lot of snow , you can check my sig for a pic of my car

[Atsnow]

To the OP
I invite you to check out this thread http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=432973 (specifically post 1,2,11 and 12)
it talks about the differences I saw going from stock to i springs and OEM shocks with 19s and then 18s and finally to Bilstein

[Atsnow]

Originally Posted by cabophisher

Topic 2: Is anyone else disappointed with the performance of the XI? I sold my 2007 E90 RWD and bought a 2009 AWD. Same setup - JB4, aFe DCI, FMIC. My XI seems significantly slower.... Very disappointed.

Something else is amiss , typically Xdrive is faster on straight line performance

dont forget thought that your 09 was a TT and the 11 is a single turbo so the tune might react differently , If I where you I would check with the guys onthe turbo forum

[n54noob]

going to install the H&R sport spring on my 08xi (non-sport) in a couple weeks and will post pics asap, along with ride quality opinion. I expect the ride to be a little more rigid, but not stupid, will let you know...

[EngineCo52]

just save up the money and buy coils, thats what i did, i have the KW V1's for my XI and i couldnt be happier!!