Quaife and M3 Bush Upgrade review

martin26 · 01-30-2010, 02:45 AM

Birds installed a Quaife and M3 bush upgrade to my 335i yesterday. All I can say is what were BMW thinking about ? This is how the car should have left the factory. The rear end is noticably more stable over bumps. The M3 bushes have removed that undamped vibration when hitting bumps, and the feeling in corners is that the throttle pedal and the steering wheel are now connected to the rear of the car for the first time. There is none of the clunking or banging others have reported. I think the car is actually a little quieter now because the crashing and twanging caused by the original void bushes has gone.

As for the Quaife. It feels like an M car now. Proper traction, and long sideways drifts are easily held. It also feels very "OEM".

A great upgrade package which I cant recommend highly enough. My first trip to Birds, and I was very impressed. They have a very balanced view of the value of all of the upgrades available and my experience with them was top class.

Cant wait to get the car on a track day....

dlbrooks18 · 01-30-2010, 02:52 AM

Congratulations, nice mod!

willhollin · 01-30-2010, 03:29 AM

Did you get the ARB's replaced as well?

E92Fan · 01-30-2010, 03:47 AM

Excellent news Martin

I335 · 01-30-2010, 07:54 AM

I think I might have to get an M3 Mulberry bush for my car soon too - sounds like it really helps...

a1reader · 01-30-2010, 08:10 AM

How much did it all cost you. And also was your original differential the welded or the screwed on version??

martin26 · 01-30-2010, 09:29 AM

I didnt do the ARBs. I know many people are very impressed by the Hartge ARBs but had to draw the line somewhere. The law of diminishing returns applies to all tuning IMO. Next mod will be to wear out my unfortunately rather new ish RFTs and replace them with something more appropriate. One track day should do it! Oh and plug in the JB3 again.

BTW - Diff was a bolted in version, and the prices are all at www.birdsauto.com

Dave_3 · 01-30-2010, 10:38 AM

How do you find the NVH with the switch of the bushesd while retaining the RFTs ? Any deteriation in ride ?

By the sounds of it the improvement on rear "axle" location seems worth it.

D.

Yahoo · 01-30-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin26

BTW - Diff was a bolted in version, and the prices are all at www.birdsauto.com

Said in the voice of a constipated robot . . . . . . "M U S T N O T C L I C K L I N K , M U S T N O T C L I C K L I N K , M U S T N O T C L I C K L I N K "

Hotcoupe · 01-30-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yahoo

Said in the voice of a constipated robot . . . . . . "M U S T N O T C L I C K L I N K , M U S T N O T C L I C K L I N K , M U S T N O T C L I C K L I N K "

Maybe you should.

There's a performance package for the 335i -auto £1770 ish and manual £1950ish.

Package includes a LSD and remap, seems quite a good deal when you know how much the Quaife is fitted.

Yahoo · 01-30-2010, 12:33 PM

That makes the remap £400, less than 1/2 price - now that is worth knowing

martin26 · 01-30-2010, 06:27 PM

"How do you find the NVH with the switch of the bushesd while retaining the RFTs ? Any deteriation in ride ?

By the sounds of it the improvement on rear "axle" location seems worth it."

NVH is surprisingly slightly improved with the M3 bushes even on RFTs. Birds showed me the stock bushes and I could deflect them easily using finger pressure! Over bumps and rough roads there was a shudder from the rear with the stock bushes which has gone now. Of course with 30 series RFTs and (IMHO) shocks that are too stiff in bump, its never going to be described as comfortable, but its a huge improvement.

There really isnt a downside to these mods - except that 300hp doesnt feel like its enough any more......

jke11y · 01-31-2010, 04:35 AM

I was out in mine in the 1degree dry last night, so roads were that greasy horrible way where there is grip sometimes but not others. It really behaves sh1te out of corners as std, the way the power chops about and cuts does my head in. As does the traction light coming on at motorway speeds!

I think I will wait and see if I am going to keep the car for a while (6months plus) before going LSD route. I love it so probably will, but worth seeing before going ahead. This time of year highlights the only prob for me which seems to be getting traction.

zltm089 · 01-31-2010, 06:10 AM

good stuff!!!...

Dave_3 · 01-31-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin26

NVH is surprisingly slightly improved with the M3 bushes even on RFTs. Birds showed me the stock bushes and I could deflect them easily using finger pressure! Over bumps and rough roads there was a shudder from the rear with the stock bushes which has gone now. Of course with 30 series RFTs and (IMHO) shocks that are too stiff in bump, its never going to be described as comfortable, but its a huge improvement.

There really isnt a downside to these mods - except that 300hp doesnt feel like its enough any more......

Thanks for the feedback.

I am not too concrened with the extra traction offered with an LSD, but I am interested in tightening up of the rear end, and getting a more faithful steering response. If it comes without any downside ....

D.

doughboy · 01-31-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin26

There is none of the clunking or banging others have reported

Great stuff mate.

Is yours an auto?

Mines a manual, and the big 'thump' i get when engaging 1st or reverse seems only to apply to manuals from what I can gather....

Glad you like the mods, I'm still well impressed with my diff/ rear bushes.

I'm having the M3 front end wishbones/control arms fitted next Monday, so that will remove the sloppy bushes from the front end too...

01-30-2010, 02:45 AM	#1
martin26 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 33 Posts Drives: M5 (E60) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: london iTrader: (0)	Quaife and M3 Bush Upgrade review Birds installed a Quaife and M3 bush upgrade to my 335i yesterday. All I can say is what were BMW thinking about ? This is how the car should have left the factory. The rear end is noticably more stable over bumps. The M3 bushes have removed that undamped vibration when hitting bumps, and the feeling in corners is that the throttle pedal and the steering wheel are now connected to the rear of the car for the first time. There is none of the clunking or banging others have reported. I think the car is actually a little quieter now because the crashing and twanging caused by the original void bushes has gone. As for the Quaife. It feels like an M car now. Proper traction, and long sideways drifts are easily held. It also feels very "OEM". A great upgrade package which I cant recommend highly enough. My first trip to Birds, and I was very impressed. They have a very balanced view of the value of all of the upgrades available and my experience with them was top class. Cant wait to get the car on a track day....
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01-30-2010, 02:52 AM	#2
dlbrooks18 Brigadier General 161 Rep 3,736 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	Congratulations, nice mod! __________________ 2008 E90 335
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01-30-2010, 03:29 AM	#3
willhollin Major General 268 Rep 9,915 Posts Drives: VW T5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worcestershire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 330d SE [10.00] 2010 Transporter T5 ... [0.00]	Did you get the ARB's replaced as well? __________________
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01-30-2010, 03:47 AM	#4
E92Fan Moderator 322 Rep 5,493 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Excellent news Martin __________________ ... ... ... DMS Remap Review ----- Quaife LSD Review ----- Hartge Antiroll Bars Review ----- Bilstein PSS10 B16 Ride Control Review ----- Detail by ShineOn ----- Paintshield Review
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01-30-2010, 07:54 AM	#5
I335 Brigadier General 123 Rep 4,249 Posts Drives: '08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (11)	I think I might have to get an M3 Mulberry bush for my car soon too - sounds like it really helps...
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01-30-2010, 08:10 AM	#6
a1reader Evolve tuned... 9 Rep 291 Posts Drives: E93 335i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wilts, England iTrader: (-1)	How much did it all cost you. And also was your original differential the welded or the screwed on version??
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01-30-2010, 09:29 AM	#7
martin26 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 33 Posts Drives: M5 (E60) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: london iTrader: (0)	I didnt do the ARBs. I know many people are very impressed by the Hartge ARBs but had to draw the line somewhere. The law of diminishing returns applies to all tuning IMO. Next mod will be to wear out my unfortunately rather new ish RFTs and replace them with something more appropriate. One track day should do it! Oh and plug in the JB3 again. BTW - Diff was a bolted in version, and the prices are all at www.birdsauto.com
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01-30-2010, 10:38 AM	#8
Dave_3 Brigadier General 652 Rep 3,445 Posts Drives: G22 M440D Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: CH / SCO iTrader: (0) Garage List 1973 Escort RS2000 MK1 [10.00]	How do you find the NVH with the switch of the bushesd while retaining the RFTs ? Any deteriation in ride ? By the sounds of it the improvement on rear "axle" location seems worth it. D. __________________ Escort Mk1 RS2000 (2.1 2x44IDFS, BVH, Kent FR32, 5spd, 180 BHP) : M440D ¦ Previously : F32 435D : F32 430D M Sport sDrive, 335D E92 2006
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01-30-2010, 12:33 PM	#11
Yahoo Captain 42 Rep 822 Posts Drives: 335i e91 LCI msport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lincolnshire iTrader: (3)	That makes the remap £400, less than 1/2 price - now that is worth knowing
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01-30-2010, 06:27 PM	#12
martin26 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 33 Posts Drives: M5 (E60) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: london iTrader: (0)	"How do you find the NVH with the switch of the bushesd while retaining the RFTs ? Any deteriation in ride ? By the sounds of it the improvement on rear "axle" location seems worth it." NVH is surprisingly slightly improved with the M3 bushes even on RFTs. Birds showed me the stock bushes and I could deflect them easily using finger pressure! Over bumps and rough roads there was a shudder from the rear with the stock bushes which has gone now. Of course with 30 series RFTs and (IMHO) shocks that are too stiff in bump, its never going to be described as comfortable, but its a huge improvement. There really isnt a downside to these mods - except that 300hp doesnt feel like its enough any more......
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01-31-2010, 04:35 AM	#13
jke11y Private First Class 5 Rep 124 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I was out in mine in the 1degree dry last night, so roads were that greasy horrible way where there is grip sometimes but not others. It really behaves sh1te out of corners as std, the way the power chops about and cuts does my head in. As does the traction light coming on at motorway speeds! I think I will wait and see if I am going to keep the car for a while (6months plus) before going LSD route. I love it so probably will, but worth seeing before going ahead. This time of year highlights the only prob for me which seems to be getting traction.
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01-31-2010, 06:10 AM	#14
zltm089 Banned 244 Rep 7,690 Posts Drives: 335i SE Coupe Space Grey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LONDON iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 335i [10.00]	good stuff!!!...
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