18" wheels or suspension upgrade?

matts335 · 04-11-2009, 08:11 AM

Hi everyone. I'm relatively new to this forum, but have not formally introduced myself yet...largely becuase I'm too lazy to take pictures of my car and post them here. You all know what a stock 2009 335i xdrive looks like anyway...so i'll assume you'll give me a pass on the whole "post pics" thing.

I was interested in doing something to enhance both the handling and the appearance. My car has the base 17" wheels, with that new spoke design they have for the '09s (sorry, don't know the style #). I really don't like the way those wheels look, I don't like the big wheel gap, and I wish the handling was a little sharper. yes, i know, should have ordered a RWD sport package car. My wife wanted AWD, so that was that. I'm sure the married guys can understand.

ANYWAY, as the title indicates, my question is this:
Assuming I have to choose between getting the 18" wheels (keeping runflats...let's try not to get into that discussion) or getting some sort of suspension upgrade (Dinan stage 2 perhaps?), which do you think would be the best bang for my buck?

Would simply upgrading to 18" wheels with summer tires make much of a difference in the handling department? Would I be wasting my time getting a suspension upgrade if i'm keeping the stock 17s?

Obviously the best choice would be to do both, but I think upgrading the tires and wheels alone would cost a small fortune.
Thanks for any input.

Saintor · 04-11-2009, 08:27 AM

I would lower it (Xi need that). 17" are no problem.

Craig@SupremePower · 04-11-2009, 08:35 AM

19's and a drop...

Exacc · 04-11-2009, 08:38 AM

Lower it first, and when the 17s eventually wear out, then get 18s. In terms of performance I would think, a properly set up suspension would give you a bigger improvement on handling and feel of the car. Upgrading to 18s, may not give a gain because of the added weight (if you do get heavier rims as 18s are generally heavier) but may improve if you remove the RFT and get wider section rims and wider tires with it.

But to make this a better and more detailed conversation...what exactly don't you like about the handling of your current car? Have you actually drive it close to its limits? What did you notice that you did not like?

matts335 · 04-11-2009, 11:15 AM

No, i've never driven anywhere near the limits, and probably never will (no track plans in the near feature). But I do like to go flying through some twisty back roads from time to time. I would prefer a slightly sharper steering response (it feels somewhat vague and isolated), and little less of a "floaty" feel you get with the xi. I'm guessing a simple lowering would improve the floating aspect.

As a point of reference, my other car is an 07 acura TL. Suprisingly, that feels noticeably sharper and has less body roll. Of course, you also feel every bump, but it's far from uncomfortable.

I see the mods decided to move this to the wheel and tire section. I though it would be a better fit it in the general section because it spans both wheels and tires as well as suspension. Not to mention it would get more traffic in the general. I guess the powers that be decided otherwise. Oh well.

Saintor · 04-11-2009, 12:56 PM

Think twice before "upgrading" to 18".

Those tires are makes the car feel more nervous, for the good... and the ugly. You'll develop a 3rd eye for potholes, believe me.

04-11-2009, 08:11 AM	#1
matts335 Private First Class 8 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 335ixdrive Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: virginia iTrader: (0)	18" wheels or suspension upgrade? Hi everyone. I'm relatively new to this forum, but have not formally introduced myself yet...largely becuase I'm too lazy to take pictures of my car and post them here. You all know what a stock 2009 335i xdrive looks like anyway...so i'll assume you'll give me a pass on the whole "post pics" thing. I was interested in doing something to enhance both the handling and the appearance. My car has the base 17" wheels, with that new spoke design they have for the '09s (sorry, don't know the style #). I really don't like the way those wheels look, I don't like the big wheel gap, and I wish the handling was a little sharper. yes, i know, should have ordered a RWD sport package car. My wife wanted AWD, so that was that. I'm sure the married guys can understand. ANYWAY, as the title indicates, my question is this: Assuming I have to choose between getting the 18" wheels (keeping runflats...let's try not to get into that discussion) or getting some sort of suspension upgrade (Dinan stage 2 perhaps?), which do you think would be the best bang for my buck? Would simply upgrading to 18" wheels with summer tires make much of a difference in the handling department? Would I be wasting my time getting a suspension upgrade if i'm keeping the stock 17s? Obviously the best choice would be to do both, but I think upgrading the tires and wheels alone would cost a small fortune. Thanks for any input.
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04-11-2009, 08:27 AM	#2
Saintor Banned 79 Rep 2,446 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MTL, Canada iTrader: (1)	I would lower it (Xi need that). 17" are no problem.
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04-11-2009, 08:35 AM	#3
Craig@SupremePower G.O.A.T.! 1000 Rep 74,998 Posts Drives: '18 GMC Yukon XL Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (14)	19's and a drop...
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04-11-2009, 08:38 AM	#4
Exacc First Lieutenant 10 Rep 312 Posts Drives: BMW E46 325i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Asia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 E46 325i [0.00]	Lower it first, and when the 17s eventually wear out, then get 18s. In terms of performance I would think, a properly set up suspension would give you a bigger improvement on handling and feel of the car. Upgrading to 18s, may not give a gain because of the added weight (if you do get heavier rims as 18s are generally heavier) but may improve if you remove the RFT and get wider section rims and wider tires with it. But to make this a better and more detailed conversation...what exactly don't you like about the handling of your current car? Have you actually drive it close to its limits? What did you notice that you did not like? __________________ 2008 E92 335i Sapphire Black 2005 E46 M3 ZCP Silver Grey
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04-11-2009, 11:15 AM	#5
matts335 Private First Class 8 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 335ixdrive Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: virginia iTrader: (0)	No, i've never driven anywhere near the limits, and probably never will (no track plans in the near feature). But I do like to go flying through some twisty back roads from time to time. I would prefer a slightly sharper steering response (it feels somewhat vague and isolated), and little less of a "floaty" feel you get with the xi. I'm guessing a simple lowering would improve the floating aspect. As a point of reference, my other car is an 07 acura TL. Suprisingly, that feels noticeably sharper and has less body roll. Of course, you also feel every bump, but it's far from uncomfortable. I see the mods decided to move this to the wheel and tire section. I though it would be a better fit it in the general section because it spans both wheels and tires as well as suspension. Not to mention it would get more traffic in the general. I guess the powers that be decided otherwise. Oh well.
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04-11-2009, 12:56 PM	#6
Saintor Banned 79 Rep 2,446 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MTL, Canada iTrader: (1)	Think twice before "upgrading" to 18". Those tires are makes the car feel more nervous, for the good... and the ugly. You'll develop a 3rd eye for potholes, believe me.
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