Alignment recommendations? Using Dinan specs as a baseline?

SnapCoupe · 05-08-2018, 03:33 PM

Hey guys, I plan on doing M3 control arms, front E93 sway bar, and ST coilovers next month. Currently I am trying to figure out what alignment specs I should set the car up with. I DD the car 15-20k miles a year, but most of those are country road miles with a lot of fun twisties. I plan on doing *some* track days and autoX this summer, but the car is primarily a street car.

I have had a few customers set up their cars with the Dinan spec alignments and I haven't heard anything but praise, so I figured I would start there.

Here is the Dinan alignmnet spec sheet for a 335i with stock suspension: http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...1c0cc5a2c5.htm

And here is the Dinan Alignment spec sheet for a M3: http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...d77cd7d233.htm

Considering the I will be using M3 control arms, should I go with the M3 alignment specs? Also, how significant of a difference is there between Dinan's Stage 1,2,3? Is it worth it to go aggressive?

Thanks!

05-08-2018, 05:56 PM

Camber plates, or nah?

SnapCoupe · 05-08-2018, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCobra94

Camber plates, or nah?

Nah, didn't want to go too crazy

05-08-2018, 10:51 PM

What do you consider "crazy?"

cvc 22349a · 05-09-2018, 11:27 AM

I'd shoot for -1d front camber, -1.8d d rear camber. Any more on a DD will result in excessive inner tire tread wear.

feuer · 05-09-2018, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

I'd shoot for -1d front camber, -1.8d d rear camber. Any more on a DD will result in excessive inner tire tread wear.

05-09-2018, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

I'd shoot for -1d front camber, -1.8d d rear camber. Any more on a DD will result in excessive inner tire tread wear.

False.

SnapCoupe · 05-09-2018, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCobra94

False.

This is why I was asking. I want to get the car as sharp as possible without going overkill on the daily-drivability aspect.

Blown95ImpalaSS · 05-09-2018, 05:57 PM

Well, every car/driver is different, but here are my specs and a good link to some camber/toe fundamentals that should help you out:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...21&postcount=2

My car is a daily driver (~10k miles a year) that never gets tracked. Most all miles are driven gingerly and spirited driving is sporadic.

From a "daily-drivability aspect" my alignment setup has been working great so far and the car drives WAY better than it did with stock -0.4* front camber, -1* front camber, and even -1.5* front camber. Tires have ~55k miles on them and are continuing to wear completely even.

CN: don't be afraid to add camber to a daily

Blown95ImpalaSS · 05-09-2018, 06:31 PM

For a daily driver i'd go with as much equal negative camber as you can in front, should be -.8 to -1.5 with alignment pins pulled, equal negative camber in rear around -2, zero toe all around. You could do 1/16th toe in up front for more highway stability but most people won't notice the difference. This will be fun and not kill tires. Good luck

atmosphericM · 05-10-2018, 11:04 AM

Why so much neg. camber in the rear, guys? I'm just starting to look into alignment specs for my 328i. Coming from Japanese RWD cars, I've always liked neg. 1.5 up to neg. 3 in the front, and always less (by about 33%) in the rear. I'd rather my car oversteer.. I know how to drive unlike the rando sheep that BMW sets the car up for at the factory.

05-10-2018, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atmosphericM

Why so much neg. camber in the rear, guys?

Exactly...peeps will recommend -2* of camber in the rear, but after asking why not run that up front instead, you either get a cross eyed look or a reply referencing excess tire wear lol

SnapCoupe · 05-11-2018, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCobra94

Exactly...peeps will recommend -2* of camber in the rear, but after asking why not run that up front instead, you either get a cross eyed look or a reply referencing excess tire wear lol

So I take it as max out the camber on the front (by removing the pins), and dial in around -1.6 to -1.8 camber in the rear? Then toe to taste?

Blown95ImpalaSS · 05-11-2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

So I take it as max out the camber on the front (by removing the pins), and dial in around -1.6 to -1.8 camber in the rear? Then toe to taste?

Bingo

SnapCoupe · 05-11-2018, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blown95ImpalaSS

Bingo

Sweet. Thanks everyone for the info. Looking forward to dialing the car in.

cvc 22349a · 05-11-2018, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCobra94

False.

Huh? That was my experience when I ran more than -1d up front and ever so slightly toed in.

Blown95ImpalaSS · 05-13-2018, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

Huh? That was my experience when I ran more than -1d up front and ever so slightly toed in.

Likely something else was going on then (worn bushings, tie rods, ball joints, etc.). That little bit of camber ain't gonna hurt nothin.

05-08-2018, 03:33 PM	#1
SnapCoupe BMW Portland 224 Rep 524 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe/E90 335i Join Date: May 2015 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	Alignment recommendations? Using Dinan specs as a baseline? Hey guys, I plan on doing M3 control arms, front E93 sway bar, and ST coilovers next month. Currently I am trying to figure out what alignment specs I should set the car up with. I DD the car 15-20k miles a year, but most of those are country road miles with a lot of fun twisties. I plan on doing some track days and autoX this summer, but the car is primarily a street car. I have had a few customers set up their cars with the Dinan spec alignments and I haven't heard anything but praise, so I figured I would start there. Here is the Dinan alignmnet spec sheet for a 335i with stock suspension: http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...1c0cc5a2c5.htm And here is the Dinan Alignment spec sheet for a M3: http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...d77cd7d233.htm Considering the I will be using M3 control arms, should I go with the M3 alignment specs? Also, how significant of a difference is there between Dinan's Stage 1,2,3? Is it worth it to go aggressive? Thanks! __________________ 2011 335i N55/6MT/M-Sport MHD Stage 2+, VRSF Downpipe, VRSF 7" FMIC, BMS Intake, BMS Chargepipe, Performance Exhaust Mod, F10 550i Clutch, BMS CDV, BMW Performance SSK, M3 Control Arms, ST Coilovers, Apex ARC-8 wheels, Michelin PS4S
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05-08-2018, 05:56 PM	#2
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	Camber plates, or nah?
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05-08-2018, 10:51 PM	#4
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	What do you consider "crazy?"
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05-09-2018, 11:27 AM	#5
cvc 22349a Colonel 164 Rep 2,556 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (11)	I'd shoot for -1d front camber, -1.8d d rear camber. Any more on a DD will result in excessive inner tire tread wear. __________________ 2007 E90 335i, TiAg, 6AT, ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, 6FL, HD Quaife lsd, ETS fmic, GIAC s/w, Dinan intake/exhaust/oc, Koni/M3 susp, Apex Arc 8, Mich PSS
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05-09-2018, 05:57 PM	#9
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	Well, every car/driver is different, but here are my specs and a good link to some camber/toe fundamentals that should help you out: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...21&postcount=2 My car is a daily driver (~10k miles a year) that never gets tracked. Most all miles are driven gingerly and spirited driving is sporadic. From a "daily-drivability aspect" my alignment setup has been working great so far and the car drives WAY better than it did with stock -0.4* front camber, -1* front camber, and even -1.5* front camber. Tires have ~55k miles on them and are continuing to wear completely even. CN: don't be afraid to add camber to a daily
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05-09-2018, 06:31 PM	#10
Blown95ImpalaSS First Lieutenant 72 Rep 365 Posts Drives: s54 e36 m3/4/5 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (5)	For a daily driver i'd go with as much equal negative camber as you can in front, should be -.8 to -1.5 with alignment pins pulled, equal negative camber in rear around -2, zero toe all around. You could do 1/16th toe in up front for more highway stability but most people won't notice the difference. This will be fun and not kill tires. Good luck
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05-10-2018, 11:04 AM	#11
atmosphericM Basic Bimmer 518 Rep 935 Posts Drives: E92 328i 6MT ///M Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: B'ham iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 BMW 328i Coupé ... [10.00]	Why so much neg. camber in the rear, guys? I'm just starting to look into alignment specs for my 328i. Coming from Japanese RWD cars, I've always liked neg. 1.5 up to neg. 3 in the front, and always less (by about 33%) in the rear. I'd rather my car oversteer.. I know how to drive unlike the rando sheep that BMW sets the car up for at the factory.
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