Suspension for xdrive E90 lci Msport?

mex2309 · 01-20-2016, 09:16 AM

My thrust arm bushings are shot so I've spent last 2 days and hours getting some knowledge on this side of the forum. This lead me to start reading about suspensions.

So many options but I'm after what most people want: more comfort for rough roads/potholes, keeping same ride height and maybe a little more control.

I'm riding 18" non runflats w/ spacers and I don't want to lower anymore.
These are my findings:

I'm leaning towards Bilstein HDs w/ stock springs.

KW V1's seem that they run low on the rear?

Eibach Pro w/ Koni Yellows...I've read good things but I don't know if I'll be able to achieve stock ride height.

Other options?

CantCatchMe · 01-20-2016, 10:42 AM

Replace your whole control arms, cheap to do so when replacing the whole suspension. Go with Koni Yellows and Eibach, it'll lower the car slightly an inch. You'll have great comfort and you won't complain trust me. I live in pothole city so we'll see how my KW V1's hold up when they're installed next week.

cgrizzly888 · 01-20-2016, 12:28 PM

How can you tell when you need new control arms?

CantCatchMe · 01-20-2016, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgrizzly888

How can you tell when you need new control arms?

Vibration at 45mph+ on the steering wheel.

cgrizzly888 · 01-20-2016, 02:23 PM

Thanks!

soldado331 · 01-20-2016, 03:45 PM

I have the same car as you and wanted to achieve the same as you. Last summer I went with Koni Yellows and kept the stock springs. It gave me exactly what I wanted, stock height with improved handling. It's only a bit more bumpy but well worth it. I feel more confidence in the stability of the car. I also added an m3 rear sway and Powerflex rear subframe bushings to top it off. I'm very happy with the new set up.

mex2309 · 01-21-2016, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CantCatchMe

Replace your whole control arms, cheap to do so when replacing the whole suspension. Go with Koni Yellows and Eibach, it'll lower the car slightly an inch. You'll have great comfort and you won't complain trust me. I live in pothole city so we'll see how my KW V1's hold up when they're installed next week.

I was planning on doing the arms instead of just bushings. Seems like xdrive doesn't have a lot of options. I was either gonna go OE or Lemforder.

You have koni yellows and moving to KW V1's?

CantCatchMe · 01-21-2016, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mex2309

I was planning on doing the arms instead of just bushings. Seems like xdrive doesn't have a lot of options. I was either gonna go OE or Lemforder.

You have koni yellows and moving to KW V1's?

I bought lemforders. It's the exact same thing as the OE.

I had Koni yellows on my past car. I have KW V1's, but I haven't installed it yet.

driver_02 · 02-05-2016, 03:40 PM

I put Koni yellows on with H&Rs last week. love the new set up. No weird rake either like some other folks had reported...

Neil07 · 02-05-2016, 08:23 PM

I did the Koni yellow and H&R Sport springs, no weird rake and improved handling. Up next for me is UUC front sway bar to reduce body roll at higher speeds.

mex2309 · 02-06-2016, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil07

I did the Koni yellow and H&R Sport springs, no weird rake and improved handling. Up next for me is UUC front sway bar to reduce body roll at higher speeds.

Same ride height as before? Is the ride comfort much improved? bumps and small potholes less noticeable?

matteblue3er · 02-18-2016, 03:36 PM

Your springs more or less determine ride height.

OEM xDrive springs should be paired with Bilstein B4 or B6s. B8s are for lowering springs. Make sure you get get the correct version that is valved for your xDrive application.

Wingnut335 · 02-18-2016, 05:49 PM

I'm actually quite surprised so many people here like the stock ride height of the xi. I thought it was way too 4x4 looking. I don't like the slammed look either, but dropping the ride height about an inch and a quarter made a world of difference in the appearance. Not to mention with coilovers, I reduced that whole negative rake look.

Bours · 03-19-2016, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CantCatchMe

I bought lemforders. It's the exact same thing as the OE.

I had Koni yellows on my past car. I have KW V1's, but I haven't installed it yet.

Hve you installed it yet hows the v1 ??

CantCatchMe · 03-19-2016, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bours

Hve you installed it yet hows the v1 ??

Yes I have. They're good, no complaints.

pavproch · 03-19-2016, 03:08 PM

I used to ride KW V1´s for a season (40k kms) to mixed feelings . Freshly mounted it gave me a lot of smile and joy, but shortly the struts started to deteriorate rapidly (and NOT uniformly) what lead to erratic handling response at turns under brakes.... moreover I realised unacceptable temperature-related changeability in stiffnes (hard as a rock at below zero, while unbearably soft at over +30degC)

So I would strongly discourage you going for V1´s.... sorry for breaking your cloud No. 9....

Got rid of them, replaced with Koni Yellows and HR sport springs. Much better (and uniform) behaviour, smoother, but very firm ride. The only unknown seems to be this combo durability - not more than 20k kms ridden so far.

EDIT: ooops, forgot to mention - e91 xDrive MY2011 m-paket

Herakles · 03-30-2016, 06:44 PM

You guys like the koni yellow and hr spring sets up vs the bilstein sport and eibach ?

01-20-2016, 09:16 AM	#1
mex2309 Lieutenant 41 Rep 428 Posts Drives: '10 335i MSport X-Drive AW Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (2)	Suspension for xdrive E90 lci Msport? My thrust arm bushings are shot so I've spent last 2 days and hours getting some knowledge on this side of the forum. This lead me to start reading about suspensions. So many options but I'm after what most people want: more comfort for rough roads/potholes, keeping same ride height and maybe a little more control. I'm riding 18" non runflats w/ spacers and I don't want to lower anymore. These are my findings: I'm leaning towards Bilstein HDs w/ stock springs. KW V1's seem that they run low on the rear? Eibach Pro w/ Koni Yellows...I've read good things but I don't know if I'll be able to achieve stock ride height. Other options? __________________ M-Sport\|OFT Tune\|PE Exhaust\|VRSF CP\|Coded/Alpina Flash\|15% Tint\|Cyba 3.8 Chrome Tips\|Splitters\|Lux H8 160\|M3 Spoiler Lip\|Gloss Black Grille\|12mm Spacers F/R
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-20-2016, 10:42 AM	#2
CantCatchMe Lieutenant Colonel 340 Rep 1,744 Posts Drives: 2012 335i xdrive msport(E92) Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: West Bloomfield, MI iTrader: (2)	Replace your whole control arms, cheap to do so when replacing the whole suspension. Go with Koni Yellows and Eibach, it'll lower the car slightly an inch. You'll have great comfort and you won't complain trust me. I live in pothole city so we'll see how my KW V1's hold up when they're installed next week.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2016, 12:28 PM	#3
cgrizzly888 Private First Class 16 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	How can you tell when you need new control arms?
	Appreciate 1 ssg-omar0.00 Quote

01-20-2016, 02:23 PM	#5
cgrizzly888 Private First Class 16 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2016, 03:45 PM	#6
soldado331 Private 2 Rep 67 Posts Drives: '10 AW e90 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: southern CT iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 335i x-drive [0.00]	I have the same car as you and wanted to achieve the same as you. Last summer I went with Koni Yellows and kept the stock springs. It gave me exactly what I wanted, stock height with improved handling. It's only a bit more bumpy but well worth it. I feel more confidence in the stability of the car. I also added an m3 rear sway and Powerflex rear subframe bushings to top it off. I'm very happy with the new set up. __________________ '10 AW E90 335i X-DRIVE M-SPORT AFE DCI \| UR DPs \| BMW PE \| ALPINA B3 TRANS FLASH \| 10MM FRONT,12MM REAR ECS SPACERS \| M3 REAR SWAY BAR \| POWERFLEX REAR SUBFRAME BUSHINGS \| KONI YELLOWS
	Appreciate 1 ssg-omar0.00 Quote

02-05-2016, 03:40 PM	#9
driver_02 punisher 22 Rep 200 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335xi & 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (4)	I put Koni yellows on with H&Rs last week. love the new set up. No weird rake either like some other folks had reported...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-05-2016, 08:23 PM	#10
Neil07 Enlisted Member 21 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 340 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I did the Koni yellow and H&R Sport springs, no weird rake and improved handling. Up next for me is UUC front sway bar to reduce body roll at higher speeds.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-18-2016, 03:36 PM	#12
matteblue3er Captain 238 Rep 947 Posts Drives: Racecar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	Your springs more or less determine ride height. OEM xDrive springs should be paired with Bilstein B4 or B6s. B8s are for lowering springs. Make sure you get get the correct version that is valved for your xDrive application.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-18-2016, 05:49 PM	#13
Wingnut335 Lieutenant 71 Rep 477 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 335XI Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I'm actually quite surprised so many people here like the stock ride height of the xi. I thought it was way too 4x4 looking. I don't like the slammed look either, but dropping the ride height about an inch and a quarter made a world of difference in the appearance. Not to mention with coilovers, I reduced that whole negative rake look.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2016, 03:08 PM	#16
pavproch Private First Class 9 Rep 184 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i & 330ixT Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: CZ iTrader: (0)	I used to ride KW V1´s for a season (40k kms) to mixed feelings . Freshly mounted it gave me a lot of smile and joy, but shortly the struts started to deteriorate rapidly (and NOT uniformly) what lead to erratic handling response at turns under brakes.... moreover I realised unacceptable temperature-related changeability in stiffnes (hard as a rock at below zero, while unbearably soft at over +30degC) So I would strongly discourage you going for V1´s.... sorry for breaking your cloud No. 9.... Got rid of them, replaced with Koni Yellows and HR sport springs. Much better (and uniform) behaviour, smoother, but very firm ride. The only unknown seems to be this combo durability - not more than 20k kms ridden so far. EDIT: ooops, forgot to mention - e91 xDrive MY2011 m-paket __________________ Daily:330ix 6MT - PBX, HR SportSprings, Koni Yellows, OZ Ultraleggera 18", PI+PE, CDV off, UUC sways, M235i SportBrake (front), Cquence rotors (rear), 3.64 diffs, LSD rear Funcar: Z4 3.0i 6MT - HR SportSprings +sways, OZ Ultraleggera 19", 5.00 diff by Drexler, CDV off, Quaife LSD, M235i SportBrake (front), Cquence rotors (rear) Last edited by pavproch; 03-19-2016 at 03:13 PM..
	Appreciate 1 Quote

03-30-2016, 06:44 PM	#17
Herakles Captain 247 Rep 824 Posts Drives: United States Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Pa iTrader: (0)	You guys like the koni yellow and hr spring sets up vs the bilstein sport and eibach ?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search