[chuckc]

Hello. I just picked up a 2012 335is. Great car. Has anyone just put the dinan springs on without changing the shocks? Looking for your experiances on ride height and over all handling. The stock suspension seems fine, but I wouldn't mind a bit more buttoned down ride without being too harsh or too slammed. I am thinking just doing the springs might work well.

[cvc 22349a]

Congrats on your new car. Don't change springs w/o changing dampers. You'll f..k up the handling and ride quality. Spend some time reading this forum.

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

Congrats on your new car. Don't change springs w/o changing dampers. You'll f..k up the handling and ride quality. Spend some time reading this forum.

Yes, in many cases that is correct. However, this is the Stage 1 kit offered by Dinan which has been tested with the stock shocks. I used Dinan full suspension kits on my e39 m5 and e38 740i and have good confidence in their suspensions.

[cvc 22349a]

I'll be interested to see your findings then. Most reviews of Dinan's susp on E9x have been less than stellar

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

I'll be interested to see your findings then. Most reviews of Dinan's susp on E9x have been less than stellar

I am actually impressed on how this car sticks in the corners and the somewhat compliant ride and overall composure of the car. I am still on the stock RFTs which seem ok for the local roads. I drove the 328i F30, and it didn't quite do it for me. The electric steering, and all the drive settings, comfort, eco boost etc seem to be over engineered concepts, but maybe that is the wave of the future.

Here is the product description of the Stage 1 suspension from the Dinan site.

Product Description
The 335is comes from the factory with some upgraded components over its little brother the 335i. One of these factory upgrades is the suspension system. More specifically the shocks and struts have been improved so much that they now meet Dinan standards. However the springs needed some help and are replaced with proprietary Dinan springs lowering the front end by 1/2" while the rear remains at stock height. The Dinan Rear Shock Mount Kit is used to provide an additional 10mm of shock travel in the rear. The Stage 1 Suspension Kit decreases body roll and improves handling while still providing a stock like ride.

Benefits:

Vehicle is lowered 1/2” in front

Decreased body roll from higher spring rates

Compatible with stock shocks

Additional 10mm of shock travel for improved ride quality and performance

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by chuckc

Hello. I just picked up a 2012 335is. Great car. Has anyone just put the dinan springs on without changing the shocks? Looking for your experiances on ride height and over all handling. The stock suspension seems fine, but I wouldn't mind a bit more buttoned down ride without being too harsh or too slammed. I am thinking just doing the springs might work well.

Jumpin' Jeez....more Dinan talk.

Your education begins. As you have a 335i suspension, given what you want, you'll need:

Coilovers - Koni Yellows + linear springs >or< Koni FSD + BMW Performance or Sport springs
LSD
Rear M subframe bushings
M sway bars
M control arms, including M rear camber arms
Rear toe arms

As Dinan won't do, for instance, a LSD for your car, and everything else is significantly more expensive than competitors, you should look around.

Or, you will pay accordingly.

And please, do the suspension + drivetrain before adding power.

Good luck with it!

[DallasBoosted]

Doing just the springs will do nothing but lower the car moderately and make it more bouncy.

[CJ421]

More specifically the shocks and struts have been improved so much that they now meet Dinan standards.

I find this quite amusing ... what "standards"? Sorry but I find the whole marketing swing for those springs misleading. Remember their goal is to make money by selling you stuff.

The damper slows down the spring's movement which is why it has to be matched to the spring rate. A stiffer spring like Dinan model you're considering is going to be able to store more energy. Maybe Dinan's "standard" is that the stock damper can control the energy from the spring and if the 335is has different dampers ... something like that.

The people that responded to this thread saying springs only are a bad idea are right on the money. You can't change one component and still expect the suspension to maintain the same balance of ride quality and handling characteristics, especially when it's one of the two primary suspension components. You said you used full Dinan suspension kits in the past, but this is far from a full kit. Just one piece.

[DallasBoosted]

Also I just looked up the part numbers and the E92 335i and the 335is have the same part # struts anyway. So any inference from Dinan that the 335is "had some improvements" over the 335i is just nonsense.

[cvc 22349a]

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Jumpin' Jeez....more Dinan talk.

Your education begins. As you have a 335i suspension, given what you want, you'll need:

Coilovers - Koni Yellows + linear springs >or< Koni FSD + BMW Performance or Sport springs
LSD
Rear M subframe bushings
M sway bars
M control arms, including M rear camber arms
Rear toe arms

As Dinan won't do, for instance, a LSD for your car, and everything else is significantly more expensive than competitors, you should look around.

Or, you will pay accordingly.

And please, do the suspension + drivetrain before adding power.

Good luck with it!

He might want to keep riding on rft's in which case most of those components would make the ride too hard.
Dinan does sell a quaife or wavetrac lsd. They package it in a box with a big D on it and mark it up nicely for those who are trying to get points for a dinan trunk badge

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Jumpin' Jeez....more Dinan talk.

Your education begins. As you have a 335i suspension, given what you want, you'll need:

Coilovers - Koni Yellows + linear springs >or< Koni FSD + BMW Performance or Sport springs
LSD
Rear M subframe bushings
M sway bars
M control arms, including M rear camber arms
Rear toe arms

As Dinan won't do, for instance, a LSD for your car, and everything else is significantly more expensive than competitors, you should look around.

Or, you will pay accordingly.

And please, do the suspension + drivetrain before adding power.

Good luck with it!

You have the coolest Avitar

It is true, the car would be enhanced significantly with all those proposed components, but for the intended use of the car (commutes, road trips, 4-5 track days a year and backroad driving) it just isn't worth it to me. The car is plenty capable for all of that stock. I am interested, however, in taking a small amount of the float out of the suspension without going overboard, hence my interest in the Dinan springs.

Thanks for your input bud!

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by DallasBoosted

Also I just looked up the part numbers and the E92 335i and the 335is have the same part # struts anyway. So any inference from Dinan that the 335is "had some improvements" over the 335i is just nonsense.

That could be very true. I wonder why the Stage 1, 2 and 3 suspension for the 335is still uses the stock struts/shocks while the Stage 1, 2 and 3 suspension for the 335i uses Konis? Did the 335i non-sport come with different shocks/struts than the M-sport? If so, maybe Dinan figures they have it covered for the non-sport and m-sport by having the Konis included.

[DallasBoosted]

Originally Posted by chuckc

That could be very true. I wonder why the Stage 1, 2 and 3 suspension for the 335is still uses the stock struts/shocks while the Stage 1, 2 and 3 suspension for the 335i uses Konis? Did the 335i non-sport come with different shocks/struts than the M-sport? If so, maybe Dinan figures they have it covered for the non-sport and m-sport by having the Konis included.

Yes the E92's all came with sport suspension by default. The E90 sport suspension was an option.

Either way; just replacing springs is a bad idea.

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by DallasBoosted

Yes the E92's all came with sport suspension by default. The E90 sport suspension was an option.

Either way; just replacing springs is a bad idea.

Here is one example that didn't turn out too bad.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=632303

[cvc 22349a]

You've got a couple people here who've modded an E9x's suspension giving you the straight scoop. No one here is trying to make a buck off of you. Hate to tell you the E9x susp is soft, floaty and bouncy to make ride comfort acceptable with rft's (your susp is no different except for the rear guide rods and motor mounts). It'll get more so if you get rid of the rft's and then you can embark on the slippery slope many of us have to tighten it back up.
You seem to have your mind made up, so go for it

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

You've got a couple people here who've modded an E9x's suspension giving you the straight scoop. No one here is trying to make a buck off of you. Hate to tell you the E9x susp is soft, floaty and bouncy to make ride comfort acceptable with rft's (your susp is no different except for the rear guide rods and motor mounts). It'll get more so if you get rid of the rft's and then you can embark on the slippery slope many of us have to tighten it back up.
You seem to have your mind made up, so go for it

LOL. You got that right. The RFTs can either be a blessing or a curse. Watch out for those pot holes...eek I do a lot of travel for business (as a matter of fact the car is leased through my business, hence the reluctancy to go all out with the mods) and the last thing I need is to deal with is a flat tire when trying to get somewhere quickly. I will stick with the RFTs for now along with the somewhat compromised e90 M-sport suspension.

If I do anything more, I will report back

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

He might want to keep riding on rft's in which case most of those components would make the ride too hard.
Dinan does sell a quaife or wavetrac lsd. They package it in a box with a big D on it and mark it up nicely for those who are trying to get points for a dinan trunk badge

True. Back in '09, nobody really liked 'em. Truth was, if tire pressure was exactly as recommended and temp was, preferably, over 60 deg F, they were tolerable but a cut or two below PS2's. Bets off, you hit a pothole.

Now 3's suspension is improved and PS2's are replaced by PSS's. OP should replace RFT's w/same if adding delrin [M] bushings/ball joints or simply to improve his ride & handling.

Dinan does OEM a Quaife LSD, last I heard, but only for MT - no DCT's allowed. Odd - LSD's readily available for DCT.

I assumed 335is suspension has all the deficiencies of a 335i; maybe not entirely so.

Not entirely wrong either....e-diff....those subframe bushings & sways....steel arms fitted w/rubber baby bumpers....yikes!

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by chuckc

You have the coolest Avitar

Ha! Pic of inventor o'world's first wearable TV, an early virtual reality device if you like, now evolved to Google Glasses.

The world turns.

[CALWATERBOY]

Originally Posted by chuckc

It is true, the car would be enhanced significantly with all those proposed components, but for the intended use of the car (commutes, road trips, 4-5 track days a year and backroad driving) it just isn't worth it to me. The car is plenty capable for all of that stock. I am interested, however, in taking a small amount of the float out of the suspension without going overboard, hence my interest in the Dinan springs.

Then the time's come to be good to yourself! Install Koni FSD's for a sweet sport ride with excellent pothole control. Widely used - lots of installs to read about. Designed to use stock springs.

[chuckc]

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Then the time's come to be good to yourself! Install Koni FSD's for a sweet sport ride with excellent pothole control. Widely used - lots of installs to read about. Designed to use stock springs.

Yes, I have been reading good things about those. Do you think they will fare well with the 19 inch RFTs? I would like to keep them because of lots of late night travel on freeways.

[cvc 22349a]

Originally Posted by chuckc

Yes, I have been reading good things about those. Do you think they will fare well with the 19 inch RFTs? I would like to keep them because of lots of late night travel on freeways.

I ran FSD's with rft's; good combo.
Gotta add: FSD's are designed to dampen OE springs; they may not dampen Dinan's springs any better than oe shocks/struts.

[Dymag]

Hi, Did you end up with the Dinan springs ? If so, I was curious about your experience with them. I really like this 335is, but want to tighten up the suspension just a bit, and lower the front that ~1/2' .

Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, - Ray -

Originally Posted by chuckc

Hello. I just picked up a 2012 335is. Great car. Has anyone just put the dinan springs on without changing the shocks? Looking for your experiances on ride height and over all handling. The stock suspension seems fine, but I wouldn't mind a bit more buttoned down ride without being too harsh or too slammed. I am thinking just doing the springs might work well.