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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > BMW Perf & M3 suspension review



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      02-20-2009, 11:58 AM   #45
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Alright guys,
Even though I said that I was happy with my ride height with the ZSP springs, I bit the bullet and ordered the Performance Springs.
I just feel like I'm missing out on the full performance of this system.

I guess I can give you a review of the before and after performance springs though.
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      02-20-2009, 02:10 PM   #46
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Nice, and pics too. Looking at Docs pics (now that we ones big enough to see ), his rear seems to sit higher than mine. Im starting to think the shop messed something up with the install. Ive always trusted the guy before, but on the day of the install he had some "new" guy working with him, and it just makes me wonder....
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      02-27-2009, 10:10 PM   #47
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I just got the "new" Performance set up installed on my car. I have only driven about 10 miles but the change is very noticeable in a good way! One thing i did notice is that the springs did not lower the car as i thought it would based on what you guys found. my car has stock sport wheels and run flats but maybe it needs a few days to settle. The rear seems a little lower but not so much in the front. I did the finger test before i got it installed. 3 fingers in front and 2 in the rear. now its still 3 in front but 2 fingers are snug in the rear.

didnt mean to thread jack but still on topic. i will post a new thread since i think i am the first to get the "new" set up from tischer.

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      02-27-2009, 10:30 PM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottmc129 View Post
I just got the "new" Performance set up installed on my car. I have only driven about 10 miles but the change is very noticeable in a good way! One thing i did notice is that the springs did not lower the car as i thought it would based on what you guys found. my car has stock sport wheels and run flats but maybe it needs a few days to settle. The rear seems a little lower but not so much in the front. I did the finger test before i got it installed. 3 fingers in front and 2 in the rear. now its still 3 in front but 2 fingers are snug in the rear.

didnt mean to thread jack but still on topic. i will post a new thread since i think i am the first to get the "new" set up from tischer.

Scott
Everybody has said that it will lower over a couple weeks.
The springs will settle.

I'm installing the springs next Wednesday and I will wait 2 weeks before I make any judgement or comments about the lowering.
I'll be sure to make actual measurements instead of the 2 or 3 finger stuff.
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      02-27-2009, 11:28 PM   #49
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I just measured from the center of the center cap to the wheel well edge using a straight edged measuring level and another level to make sure I'm taking a horizontal measurement.
These were my measurements:

Driver's Front: 14"
Driver's Rear: 14 1/8"
Passenger's Front: 14 3/16"
Passenger's Rear: 13 15/16"

I'm sure that all cars have there own nominals but it would be nice for those to take some measurements of the Performance springs using the same method that I've described.
No matter what, I'll doing the same thing in a couple weeks from now.
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      02-28-2009, 06:51 AM   #50
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post
All the suspension work, including oil change for the differential and a hi-tech alignment, for under 1k. This does not include the LSD which I did at Metric Mechanics.

To say that I highly recommend this dealer (Machens) is a mild understatement. They have the tools and the info to do it right. And the warranty. Anyone considering this work in the midwest should think about trekking to Columbia, MO to get this done.
Wow that seems like a great deal, is that parts too?

If so would you mind posting up the itemized list - I might take it to my dealer and just hand them your list and say "Do This"
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      02-28-2009, 09:49 AM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. 5 View Post
I just measured from the center of the center cap to the wheel well edge using a straight edged measuring level and another level to make sure I'm taking a horizontal measurement.
These were my measurements:

Driver's Front: 14"
Driver's Rear: 14 1/8"
Passenger's Front: 14 3/16"
Passenger's Rear: 13 15/16"

I'm sure that all cars have there own nominals but it would be nice for those to take some measurements of the Performance springs using the same method that I've described.
No matter what, I'll doing the same thing in a couple weeks from now.
Excellent info. I'm pretty sure I am going to get the performance suspension kit for the E92 in April at the latest. Will do the same measurements.
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      02-28-2009, 09:10 PM   #52
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Ill go measure right now!
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      02-28-2009, 10:24 PM   #53
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Im not a happy camper. Im sure my measurements are not as precise as Mr.5s, but close enough. Drivers front 14" from just like his, but the crappy part is 13 1/8" or so in back. There is NO way judging from stressdocs pics that his is that low in the rear which leads me to think my rear must have been installed wrong, if thats even possible, but it must be, what else can explain the difference then? Wrong parts from Tisher?, possible, but not likely, he used my VIN.

Agh, modding is such a bitch sometimes.
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      03-01-2009, 10:51 AM   #54
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If I remember correctly, center hub to fender was about 13.5 front and a little less rear, with left/right within .1". I will go check again. Car sat for awhile in airport parking when I was in Salt Lake City -- great place, U Utah.

OK, I went out and remeasured, definitely about 13.5" all around. Keep measuring tape vertical, have to hold it out away from center hub so it's not at an angle. Gas tank and WW fluid both nearly empty, car otherwise empty and as light as possible.

I think that the drop with perf springs is about 10 - 15 mm from ZSP (25mm from standard). Not much, so you keep suspension travel and ground clearance.

Fraggy you need to take that dead body out of your trunk.
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      03-02-2009, 05:28 PM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post

Fraggy you need to take that dead body out of your trunk.

That's a good one!
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      03-02-2009, 05:38 PM   #56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post

I think that the drop with perf springs is about 10 - 15 mm from ZSP (25mm from standard). Not much, so you keep suspension travel and ground clearance.
Same springs for the e92? If so, maybe no drop on the coupe?
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      03-02-2009, 10:56 PM   #57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottp999 View Post
Same springs for the e92? If so, maybe no drop on the coupe?
I would guess that there is a 10-15mm drop for E92 as well.
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      03-02-2009, 11:27 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post
I would guess that there is a 10-15mm drop for E92 as well.
since you said the gap is 13.5" all around, does that mean the springs dropped the front more than the rear? since stock is higher in front...
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      03-03-2009, 09:11 AM   #59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gen_E92 View Post
since you said the gap is 13.5" all around, does that mean the springs dropped the front more than the rear? since stock is higher in front...
This is to get an idea.
I will know exactly once i get the yellow springs installed.
All cars are a little different so since I am the only one that did the measurement before, I will get one after.
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      03-14-2009, 04:53 PM   #60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post
All the suspension work, including oil change for the differential and a hi-tech alignment, for under 1k. This does not include the LSD which I did at Metric Mechanics.

To say that I highly recommend this dealer (Machens) is a mild understatement. They have the tools and the info to do it right. And the warranty. Anyone considering this work in the midwest should think about trekking to Columbia, MO to get this done.
Maybe I need to drive to STL from Chicago... The first quote I've received to do all this is just over $2k (labor only!). I'm going to keep shopping first.
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      03-14-2009, 10:18 PM   #61
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Columbia is another 1 3/4 hr drive from STL. But I would make the drive.
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      03-14-2009, 10:30 PM   #62
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      03-16-2009, 04:38 PM   #63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post
I am especially interested in analyzing what suspension balance is best suited to the 335 with a LSD. I was a little surprised that BMW Performance went the other way with their new version (I got the old version) of the suspension package, opting to change the front sway a little bit, and leaving the 13mm rear sway as is. Moreover, to reaffirm that the 13mm bar is what they want in the rear with the Perf kit, they specify going from the 14mm rear to the 13mm rear for M-sport cars!!! That is a surprise. My guess is that the spring balance for the Perf package changed the under/over steer balance enough that BMW wanted to put some more safety (read: understeer) into the mix. My thought is that with a LSD (and experience controlling power oversteer) the thicker rear sway is desirable. Without the LSD the inside wheel lift is a problem.

With all these new threads of sway bars being installed, I was re-reading previous threads and didnt really read this paragraph thoroughly until now...

stressdoc, if bmw really thinks that the new 26.5mm front sway bar thats included in the new performance package is all thats needed, then i wont get the 14mm M rear sway anymore.
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      03-16-2009, 05:24 PM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LaYzEe View Post
With all these new threads of sway bars being installed, I was re-reading previous threads and didnt really read this paragraph thoroughly until now...

stressdoc, if bmw really thinks that the new 26.5mm front sway bar thats included in the new performance package is all thats needed, then i wont get the 14mm M rear sway anymore.
Think twice about this. If you're doing the suspension install, it won't cost that much more to do the sway.
The new sway that comes with the kit is the same exact sway that the e93 uses. So, guess what the e93 uses for the rear sway? A 15mm bar.
I knew that the xi used the 15mm bar and was seriously thinking about this, but chose the 14mm bar instead.
There's a part of me that wishes that I would have gone with the 15mm bar just because it would have been more of an impact.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still happy with the 14mm bar but I'm curious about how much different it would have been.

The bottom line is that our cars tend to have understeer. Why? Because understeer is better and safer for the general public than oversteer.
Going with a bigger rear bar will decrease the understeer, but go too big will lead to snap oversteer. In other words...13 to 15 would have been a happy medium IMO.
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      05-12-2009, 07:17 PM   #65
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Update on this system: I am still really happy. If I had more $ I would consider the elegant system that HPAutowerks has put together. But for a street-friendly set up at a bargain price, I am very content. What a great car the 335 is!
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      05-25-2009, 01:54 PM   #66
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Further update after getting summer rubber (Dunlop direzza Z1 race for rear and leftover Pirelli P0 on front). With sticky tires and warm termperatures I can get the car to move (sway). For a summer set up I would prefer something stiffer.

The BMW perf set up is a fine compromise for a more sporty Daily Driver. But it is not close to a full on race set up. Spring rates of about 200 front/500 rear are pretty tame. As are the sway bar and damper rates.

I would prefer getting the Swift springs, M3 sways, and better dampers. Might regret it on long trips and during the winter though.
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