[Noir]

Time is drawing near for a new suspension set up. Just want a quick and sweet input from those who are willing, as to what brand I should be going for. I like the m-sport, but if Im dropping a pretty penny, might as well drop a lil bit more for something that could be alot better..

For those who help, thanks for your time!

[Emilime75]

That's pretty open ended and can result in all kinds of suggestions. What are your goals? Stock height? Lowered a bit? Slammed? Daily driver? Spirited daily driver? Track time? Do you need adjustability...ride height or damping/compression? What do you like about your stock suspension? What don't you like? Comfort? Budget? In other words, help us help you.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

That's pretty open ended and can result in all kinds of suggestions. What are your goals? Stock height? Lowered a bit? Slammed? Daily driver? Spirited daily driver? Track time? Do you need adjustability...ride height or damping/compression? What do you like about your stock suspension? What don't you like? Comfort? Budget? In other words, help us help you.

Yeah, you're right... Sorry about that!
(please bear with me, very much a scrub when it comes to this kinda stuff...)
I like the stock height, a half inch lower might be cool, but I think it is good where it sits. Spirited daily, I enjoy taking some fast turns have a couple winding roads near home that I like to enjoy as well. I am unsure as to what damping/compression is all about, please enlighten me! I like how my car handles with the current suspension. I dont mind feeling the road, I like how responsive my current suspension is and the stiffness. It is comfortable the way it is when I cruise as well. Budget is not an issue, if a good set is up there in price, I can definitely hold off and stack some chips to acquire said setup. And stepping away from just shocks/struts/springs, what else should I be looking for whilst I am down there? I know there are many components that encompass the suspension system, just not very privy on what is good to replace and all that...

Sorry for such a general initial post, was on the app and the laziness took over.. Hopped on my computer for this response.

Thanks for your time/patience!

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Noir

Yeah, you're right... Sorry about that!
(please bear with me, very much a scrub when it comes to this kinda stuff...)
I like the stock height, a half inch lower might be cool, but I think it is good where it sits. Spirited daily, I enjoy taking some fast turns have a couple winding roads near home that I like to enjoy as well. I am unsure as to what damping/compression is all about, please enlighten me! I like how my car handles with the current suspension. I dont mind feeling the road, I like how responsive my current suspension is and the stiffness. It is comfortable the way it is when I cruise as well. Budget is not an issue, if a good set is up there in price, I can definitely hold off and stack some chips to acquire said setup. And stepping away from just shocks/struts/springs, what else should I be looking for whilst I am down there? I know there are many components that encompass the suspension system, just not very privy on what is good to replace and all that...

Sorry for such a general initial post, was on the app and the laziness took over.. Hopped on my computer for this response.

Thanks for your time/patience!

Bilstein b12 kit with Hotchkiss adjustable swaybar endlinks. New surrounding hardware for the shocks & struts.

Couple that with at least m3 front control arms and new tie rods, and you will fall in love with your car all over again.

[Emilime75]

There you go, that's a good suggestion right there. Some others that are popular are H&R or Eibach lowering springs, with Koni or Bilstein shocks/struts. H&R sport springs lower the car a bit more than the Eibachs. As to which shock/strut or spring is better, you'll have to search and read to see people's opinions on them. There's no "best" here, only what's best for the individual. Are you on run flat tires? Switching those to non run flats can offset the slightly stiffer ride you get with a sportier suspension while still increasing handling.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

There you go, that's a good suggestion right there. Some others that are popular are H&R or Eibach lowering springs, with Koni or Bilstein shocks/struts. H&R sport springs lower the car a bit more than the Eibachs. As to which shock/strut or spring is better, you'll have to search and read to see people's opinions on them. There's no "best" here, only what's best for the individual. Are you on run flat tires? Switching those to non run flats can offset the slightly stiffer ride you get with a sportier suspension while still increasing handling.

definitely run with runflats.. only because the "TPMS" on my 06 is weird. there's not a real sensor within the tires, just feel safer with em on.

[joeinsd]

I went with Ohlins, but haven't had time to install them yet.

[dsjr2006]

Sounds like Koni/Bilstein shocks & struts along with the spring of your choice is the way to go. Might get flamed for this, but good coilovers for street duty are overkill and low cost coilovers are full of compromises to the point that you’d be better off with a quality spring and shock upgrade.

[chris@strutmonkey]

If you like the current feel and stiffness, but would like to be a little bit firmer and lower, then get a kit with Bilstein OEM sport shocks and Dinan springs. Get a kit that replaces all the wear and tear parts at the same time, so you do it once, and do it right. Here is the kit:

Originally Posted by Noir

Yeah, you're right... Sorry about that!
(please bear with me, very much a scrub when it comes to this kinda stuff...)
I like the stock height, a half inch lower might be cool, but I think it is good where it sits. Spirited daily, I enjoy taking some fast turns have a couple winding roads near home that I like to enjoy as well. I am unsure as to what damping/compression is all about, please enlighten me! I like how my car handles with the current suspension. I dont mind feeling the road, I like how responsive my current suspension is and the stiffness. It is comfortable the way it is when I cruise as well. Budget is not an issue, if a good set is up there in price, I can definitely hold off and stack some chips to acquire said setup. And stepping away from just shocks/struts/springs, what else should I be looking for whilst I am down there? I know there are many components that encompass the suspension system, just not very privy on what is good to replace and all that...

Sorry for such a general initial post, was on the app and the laziness took over.. Hopped on my computer for this response.

Thanks for your time/patience!

[Noir]

Originally Posted by dsjr2006

Sounds like Koni/Bilstein shocks & struts along with the spring of your choice is the way to go. Might get flamed for this, but good coilovers for street duty are overkill and low cost coilovers are full of compromises to the point that you’d be better off with a quality spring and shock upgrade.

I appreciate the input! Gives me more options to look in to! Thanks!

[david in germany]

My wife's e90 328i has the stock m-sport suspension it rides great, sporty and refined. My 335i has the BMW Performance suspension. It is a totally different level. It sits around 1" lower and is perfect for a daily driver but is amazing in the curves and high speeds. In my opinion, BMW got it right with the performance suspension.

[steifan]

The H&R Cup Kit Touring or Sport might be something to look into. Tried the B12 kit on my E46 but I'm thinking about getting the H&R kit with springs and dampers for my E90 M-Sport.

Example:
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/BMW...mw-hr-cup-kits

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Noir

definitely run with runflats.. only because the "TPMS" on my 06 is weird. there's not a real sensor within the tires, just feel safer with em on.

Dude, I've run over 320,000 miles on non-runflats with the '06 speed-sensor based TPMS and have had no issues (used it 3 times BTW). You have a false concern. The speed-sensor based TPMS is way better than the pressure sensor version IMO because it is just as accurate (I have the pressure sensor version in my Z4) and has no extra electronics to worry about.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Dude, I've run over 320,000 miles on non-runflats with the '06 speed-sensor based TPMS and have had no issues (used it 3 times BTW). You have a false concern. The speed-sensor based TPMS is way better than the presser sensor version IMO because it is just as accurate (I have the pressure sensor version in my Z4) and has no extra electronics to worry about.

Music to my ears...
Thank you!
Seriously, barely figured the nature of our particular sensors last year when I put my 313s on! I told the guys to go ahead and swap the sensors into the new wheels and upon pickup: "uh, sir... There were no sensors in your old set nor the new set" I was pretty baffled!

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

I went from the stock M-sport to Bilstein B12 & love it. I kept my factory brings in place though & grabbed every OEM E9X M3 compatible part off the shelf, along with H&R front & rear anti-roll bars & Power Flex business for the rear subframe...

[blau iii]

I just went through this on my 2008 335i with the msport.. I replaced with OEM shocks/struts, reused the springs. and all new mounts and hardware.

I splurged and did the m3 control arms. This car is perfect now. Can be driven daily and handles everything I can throw at it.. I wouldn't worry about lowering it or doing anything crazy unless you really want a slammed car. save your money and do upgrades that really enhance the performance. I had an e46 that was on h&r race springs with bilstein dampers and while it felt like it was on rails, it was brutal on a daily basis.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by blau iii

I just went through this on my 2008 335i with the msport.. I replaced with OEM shocks/struts, reused the springs. and all new mounts and hardware.

I splurged and did the m3 control arms. This car is perfect now. Can be driven daily and handles everything I can throw at it.. I wouldn't worry about lowering it or doing anything crazy unless you really want a slammed car. save your money and do upgrades that really enhance the performance. I had an e46 that was on h&r race springs with bilstein dampers and while it felt like it was on rails, it was brutal on a daily basis.

Thanks for the input!
and yeah, definitely happy with the stock height!

[=C=]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

Bilstein b12 kit with Hotchkiss adjustable swaybar endlinks. New surrounding hardware for the shocks & struts.

Couple that with at least m3 front control arms and new tie rods, and you will fall in love with your car all over again.

I ordered the M3 front control arms and the only thing visually different between what I have now and the M3 kit is:
- Front M3 upper control arm, bushing is not as wide as the original ie it's much shorter in width. The shape, side and length of the control arm is identical.
- Front M3 lower control arm, a bit thicker than OEM and slightly different in shape and size.


Based on the above observation, I am trying to understand why the upper control arm is better with a smaller (less wide) bushing than OEM. Maybe it's just worth getting the lower control arm and save $.

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by joeinsd

I went with Ohlins, but haven't had time to install them yet.

I have! And they are outstanding (IMHO).

[Dan Bilzerian]

+1 For ohlins

But you should do a some homework before jumping into anything.
Personally I went with Koni FSD's and Eibach Pro lowering springs that drop the car just about an inch all around. Very modest in my opinion! I also have polyurethane bushings in the stock control arms, they make a difference forsure in turn in response. Planning to go for poly in the rear too when I find the time.
Over all I'm very happy with the Koni's - super comfortable and very sporty when you want it.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by =C=

I ordered the M3 front control arms and the only thing visually different between what I have now and the M3 kit is:
- Front M3 upper control arm, bushing is not as wide as the original ie it's much shorter in width. The shape, side and length of the control arm is identical.
- Front M3 lower control arm, a bit thicker than OEM and slightly different in shape and size.


Based on the above observation, I am trying to understand why the upper control arm is better with a smaller (less wide) bushing than OEM. Maybe it's just worth getting the lower control arm and save $.

I would have bought the TRW kit from FCP Euro. I think it's around $325 or so. The bushings are different in the control arms. The lower, rear control arm is longer; thus it creates the .75 negative camber.

[dleccord]

Originally Posted by chris@strutmonkey

Koni Yellow / Dinan Sport kit .... mmmmm:

Attachment 1829521

you included the spacer kit with this purchase. does it go on top of the rear spring?