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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > What next?



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      12-03-2013, 11:39 AM   #1
BenġrTheBMW
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I've got a 2006 330i w/65k with sports suspension and Eibach pro springs(8k miles). Right now I have Michelin PSS on all fours and through corners it holds very well but wallows and rolls from side to side.. body roll? . For Christmas I'm looking at sways, strut bar, and shocks. I've seen stuff about M3 lower control arms too but I really don't know whats recommended. I'm about to replace lower control arm bushings but I don't want to spend the money if changing to the M3 control arms is really worth it.

Basically I'm just a little confused on what things it should get first, and what things will give me the greatest improvement. thanks!
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      12-03-2013, 12:04 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BenġrTheBMW View Post
I've got a 2006 330i w/65k with sports suspension and Eibach pro springs(8k miles). Right now I have Michelin PSS on all fours and through corners it holds very well but wallows and rolls from side to side.. body roll? . For Christmas I'm looking at sways, strut bar, and shocks. I've seen stuff about M3 lower control arms too but I really don't know whats recommended. I'm about to replace lower control arm bushings but I don't want to spend the money if changing to the M3 control arms is really worth it.

Basically I'm just a little confused on what things it should get first, and what things will give me the greatest improvement. thanks!

Your best result is:

LSD first - required for rear M3 sway anyway

Do rear subframe bushings when M3 sway installed. Vital! Your rear no longer disconnected....
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      12-03-2013, 12:07 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenrTheBMW View Post
I've got a 2006 330i w/65k with sports suspension and Eibach pro springs(8k miles). Right now I have Michelin PSS on all fours and through corners it holds very well but wallows and rolls from side to side.. body roll? . For Christmas I'm looking at sways, strut bar, and shocks. I've seen stuff about M3 lower control arms too but I really don't know whats recommended. I'm about to replace lower control arm bushings but I don't want to spend the money if changing to the M3 control arms is really worth it.

Basically I'm just a little confused on what things it should get first, and what things will give me the greatest improvement. thanks!

Your best result is:

LSD first - required for rear M3 sway anyway

Do rear subframe bushings when M3 sway installed. Vital! Your rear no longer disconnected....
I don't want to throw that much down for an LSD. I was thinking about sways already made for non-M e90s
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      12-03-2013, 12:53 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BenġrTheBMW View Post
I've got a 2006 330i w/65k with sports suspension and Eibach pro springs(8k miles). Right now I have Michelin PSS on all fours and through corners it holds very well but wallows and rolls from side to side.. body roll? . For Christmas I'm looking at sways, strut bar, and shocks. I've seen stuff about M3 lower control arms too but I really don't know whats recommended. I'm about to replace lower control arm bushings but I don't want to spend the money if changing to the M3 control arms is really worth it.

Basically I'm just a little confused on what things it should get first, and what things will give me the greatest improvement. thanks!
If your going to replace the bushings it is worth just replacing with the M3 arms. I was in the same situation (trailing arm bushing was shot) and the labour to pop the old bushing, buy the new bushing and install it, was almost half of what the cost of the whole M3 kit. Now you still need to pay a few hours of labour to install but what you get is better/stiffer M3 bushing and more camber for better handling. Plus you get all new bushings so you won't have to touch your front end for a while. When doing the swap I would get a stiffer front sway bar to help with roll.

Strut bar won't fix roll issues and from what I heard from many different BMW mechanics is the strut bar is mainly for looks as our cars are very stiff already.

I would skip the LSD because our cars don't put down the same power as a tuned 335i so traction issues isn't such a big deal with our cars.
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      12-03-2013, 01:04 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Volasko
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenrTheBMW View Post
I've got a 2006 330i w/65k with sports suspension and Eibach pro springs(8k miles). Right now I have Michelin PSS on all fours and through corners it holds very well but wallows and rolls from side to side.. body roll? . For Christmas I'm looking at sways, strut bar, and shocks. I've seen stuff about M3 lower control arms too but I really don't know whats recommended. I'm about to replace lower control arm bushings but I don't want to spend the money if changing to the M3 control arms is really worth it.

Basically I'm just a little confused on what things it should get first, and what things will give me the greatest improvement. thanks!
If your going to replace the bushings it is worth just replacing with the M3 arms. I was in the same situation (trailing arm bushing was shot) and the labour to pop the old bushing, buy the new bushing was almost half of what the cost of the whole M3 kit. Now you still need to pay a few hours of labour to install but what you get is better/stiffer M3 bushing and more camber for better handling. When doing the swap I would get a stiffer front sway bar.

Strut bar won't fix roll issues and from what I heard from many different BMW mechanics is the strut bar is mainly for looks as our cars are very stiff already.

I would skip the LSD because our cars don't put down the same power as a tuned 335i so traction issues isn't such a big deal with our cars.
Do you have a link to the "m3 kit" you were talking about?
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      12-03-2013, 02:31 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BenġrTheBMW View Post
Do you have a link to the "m3 kit" you were talking about?
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-330...Arm/ES2586480/
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      12-03-2013, 02:46 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Volasko
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenrTheBMW View Post
Do you have a link to the "m3 kit" you were talking about?
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-330...Arm/ES2586480/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.ecstuning...ES2586480/</a>
How much does it help in the real world?
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      12-03-2013, 04:02 PM   #8
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65k on shocks. Get new shocks.

Then go from there. I am firmly in the bilstein camp.

Control arms are very fine. Your bushings will be getting tired. Instead if rebush get new arms. Presto whammo.

Then do sways and sub bushing.

My sport springs interact fine with the bils. In fact, they are great. I did drop hats up front for ~1/2" drop.

At least at would be the order I would go. I did all mine at once.
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      12-03-2013, 08:21 PM   #9
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don't touch sways until you learn more about suspension. If you want to reduce roll get good coilovers. Buy once and be done. You will want to change rear subframe bushings as well. They cause an unsettling feel when going over road bumps. M3 arms are not a must but a nice upgrade. You can get TRW parts a bit cheaper. LSD is very nice to have on wet roads and spirited driving.

GL
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      12-04-2013, 12:31 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smooth 330i View Post
don't touch sways until you learn more about suspension. If you want to reduce roll get good coilovers. Buy once and be done. You will want to change rear subframe bushings as well. They cause an unsettling feel when going over road bumps. M3 arms are not a must but a nice upgrade. You can get TRW parts a bit cheaper. LSD is very nice to have on wet roads and spirited driving.

GL
Curious what springs you paired with the RS1's?
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      12-04-2013, 11:31 AM   #11
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You already have eibachs... put on some Bilstein B8 shocks and you will have the B12 package. Good chance you will be happy stopping there.
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      12-04-2013, 06:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvc 22349a
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smooth 330i View Post
don't touch sways until you learn more about suspension. If you want to reduce roll get good coilovers. Buy once and be done. You will want to change rear subframe bushings as well. They cause an unsettling feel when going over road bumps. M3 arms are not a must but a nice upgrade. You can get TRW parts a bit cheaper. LSD is very nice to have on wet roads and spirited driving.

GL
Curious what springs you paired with the RS1's?
650r and 500f
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      12-04-2013, 06:59 PM   #13
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Right now I'm looking at Bilstein B8's or the H&R cup kit
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-21...t-package.aspx

What do y'all think?
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      12-04-2013, 07:04 PM   #14
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I'd say since you already have the eibachs - get the B8 shocks. So many good reviews about the B12 kit. You can't go wrong with Bilstein shocks, ESPECIALLY on older cars because they improve all other parts of the suspension because they are more resistant to side ways forces.
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      12-04-2013, 07:35 PM   #15
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Agreed with cdgatti above. Dampers (shocks/struts) first, try Bilstein or Koni Yellow. Maybe sways and M3 bushing next.
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      12-05-2013, 11:59 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thegrinchboy
Agreed with cdgatti above. Dampers (shocks/struts) first, try Bilstein or Koni Yellow. Maybe sways and M3 bushing next.
Excuse my idiocy but isn't shocks the same as struts?
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      12-05-2013, 01:36 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by BenġrTheBMW View Post
Excuse my idiocy but isn't shocks the same as struts?
Basically yes!

Struts are on the front of our car, where the spring and the shock are a combined unit and actually part of the structure of the front end suspension. If you look closely at diagrams on realoem.com (http://realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?mo...23&hg=31&fg=10), the front strut actually mounts to the steering knuckle and bolts up to the strut tower above. The strut then becomes an integral structural component of your front suspension.

Where-as the rear uses a standard shock canister mounted between the lower A-arm and the actual car, with the spring mounted in a separate location.
http://realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?mo...23&hg=33&fg=30

Last edited by Volasko; 12-06-2013 at 10:30 AM..
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      12-05-2013, 02:13 PM   #18
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I say the list should be as follows:

1) Replace shocks (Koni yellows)
2) Replace Subframe Bushings
3) Front Control Arms
4) Other M3 bits

For a car with as many miles as you have, it is a good idea to hit maintenance issues that will ALSO improve performance, such as new shocks and subframe bushings. We carry all of those things if you are interested.

-Mike
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      12-05-2013, 02:51 PM   #19
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regarding m3 subframe bushings, there is a budget alternative. Whiteline subframe inserts. Probably not as wonderful as the m3s but only $44 and easier install. Mine are on the way...

There is a DIY and review of them on 1addicts.com
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      12-10-2013, 07:12 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mlifxs View Post
regarding m3 subframe bushings, there is a budget alternative. Whiteline subframe inserts. Probably not as wonderful as the m3s but only $44 and easier install. Mine are on the way...

There is a DIY and review of them on 1addicts.com
I have these on order too. What has your experience with them been?
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      12-11-2013, 04:54 AM   #21
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I have these on order too. What has your experience with them been?
haven't installed yet, won't untill after the holidays
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      01-01-2014, 09:24 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Manxman
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlifxs View Post
regarding m3 subframe bushings, there is a budget alternative. Whiteline subframe inserts. Probably not as wonderful as the m3s but only $44 and easier install. Mine are on the way...

There is a DIY and review of them on 1addicts.com
I have these on order too. What has your experience with them been?
did my install last weekend. In daily driving, rear feels better. Before, on certain bumps, dips and road undulations, rear seemed to have a second or third flexing. Much of that is now gone or muted. Haven't done any spirited driving with them yet.
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