2011 E90 335d Suspension Upgrade Results

335dFan · 03-20-2013, 11:41 AM

I recently upgraded my 335d base model suspension (except for Bilstein B6 install at just under 5k miles). I now have just under 12k miles. Please don't expect a pro review like some of the forum members are capable of. It will be seat-of-the-pants commentary as I encounter differences. No track time planned yet to assess track differences compared to last Sept at Summit Point; earliest HPDE for me might be May. I got the car back on 18 Mar and then went out-of-town until 4 April.

Work done: AC Schnitzer M3 Sport Springs, JRZ RS1 dampers set right in the middle of stiff-soft range, Quaife LSD, M3 rear subframe bushings, M3 sways front and rear, all bits except strut brace from M3 OEM Suspension Kit, Ground Control plates (sits at top of dampers to allow further adjustments). Camber set at minus 1.8. No change to diff bushings. Still running on OEM 17" wheels and winter RFT Blizzak LM-25. Also had Goodrich stainless steel brake linings done at same time and ATE 200 fluid put in. Also car is about 1/2-3/4" lower at the moment. Running same size all corners.

Initial One-Day Impressions
1. In Philly streets heading to I-95S the first thing I noticed was a different feeling at the steering wheel on slow speed turning.
2. Hit a big Philly pothole at mercifully slow speed in the first 5-minutes. Just as jarring. [see next post]

335dFan · 03-20-2013, 11:50 AM

3. Drive back on I-95 in rain no profound impressions, but different to be sure.
4. First difference I noticed in a quick left turn on slippery street is that the rear end slipped out to the right but it caught itself and was more controlled than before.
5. Next similar experience was turning right at red light in wet with hard acceleration while not yet straight to blend into traffic approaching from left. It grabbed and held traction much better than it would have before. Felt much more controllable and predictable.
6. Lastly for now, and not sure this is necessarily a good thing. Meaning on public roads. It is a lot more fun to drive in a spirited way. Tangible difference.
7. Some minor new noises front and rear that I need to assess more to see if adjustments are needed.

More later after 4 April.

FormerRotor · 03-21-2013, 09:19 AM

dFan, you're my hero! Everything I want to do and more. I'm dying to hear more about it once you get the chance to really put the new setup to the test.

How hard was it to garage the like-new diesel and head out of town?

335dFan · 03-21-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerRotor

dFan, you're my hero! Everything I want to do and more. I'm dying to hear more about it once you get the chance to really put the new setup to the test.

How hard was it to garage the like-new diesel and head out of town?

Not so hard, but am looking forward to getting it out on the road. Was thinking about the Delaware HPDE in April or the NCC one in May if openings remain but want to get the new wheels and tires on first.

It would help my review process if forum members have any specific questions they want me to check out.

sutter2k · 03-21-2013, 11:14 AM

re: Still running on OEM 17" wheels and winter RFT Blizzak LM-25

When do the summer shoes go on?

335dFan · 03-21-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sutter2k

re: Still running on OEM 17" wheels and winter RFT Blizzak LM-25

When do the summer shoes go on?

Probably mid to late April or so dependent on the procurement and logistics process and my ability to get to the actual changeover.

CJ421 · 03-21-2013, 12:35 PM

Nice feedback!

Turn the wheel quickly at highway speeds to change lanes, it'll bring a smile to your face pretty much instantly.

The JRZ RS1 dampers are never harsh due to how JRZ handles compression. Every click counts on the single adjustment knob - I ran them at 19/24 towards stiff on the street with no issues, and sometimes I'd run them at 9/24. The primary difference between stiff/soft is that the car body will be allowed to move more if the dampers are set less stiff; the beauty of it is the ride quality doesn't change.

I bet the Quaife ATB makes an even bigger difference on your 335d than it did on my 335i, since you have so much torque.

chenry · 03-21-2013, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerRotor

dFan, you're my hero! Everything I want to do and more. I'm dying to hear more about it once you get the chance to really put the new setup to the test.

How hard was it to garage the like-new diesel and head out of town?

What he said

FormerRotor · 03-21-2013, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ421

Nice feedback!

Turn the wheel quickly at highway speeds to change lanes, it'll bring a smile to your face pretty much instantly.

The JRZ RS1 dampers are never harsh due to how JRZ handles compression. Every click counts on the single adjustment knob - I ran them at 19/24 towards stiff on the street with no issues, and sometimes I'd run them at 9/24. The primary difference between stiff/soft is that the car body will be allowed to move more if the dampers are set less stiff; the beauty of it is the ride quality doesn't change.

I bet the Quaife ATB makes an even bigger difference on your 335d than it did on my 335i, since you have so much torque.

...must...resist...MODbug....have...child...and... college fund...needs...

335dFan · 03-21-2013, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerRotor

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJ421

Nice feedback!

Turn the wheel quickly at highway speeds to change lanes, it'll bring a smile to your face pretty much instantly.

The JRZ RS1 dampers are never harsh due to how JRZ handles compression. Every click counts on the single adjustment knob - I ran them at 19/24 towards stiff on the street with no issues, and sometimes I'd run them at 9/24. The primary difference between stiff/soft is that the car body will be allowed to move more if the dampers are set less stiff; the beauty of it is the ride quality doesn't change.

I bet the Quaife ATB makes an even bigger difference on your 335d than it did on my 335i, since you have so much torque.

...must...resist...MODbug....have...child...and... college fund...needs...

LSD is a hallucinogenic drug you know. It's pointless to resist. Let the force be with you.

corbin · 03-21-2013, 08:59 PM

nice work dfan. congrats on the new gear.

GreekboyD · 03-22-2013, 04:50 PM

This is some serious "baller" upgrades my man.

Love it!

The GC plates up front will definitely add some noise for sure.

Are you waiting for everything to settle before doing an alignment?

335dFan · 03-22-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreekboyD

This is some serious "baller" upgrades my man.

Love it!

The GC plates up front will definitely add some noise for sure.

Are you waiting for everything to settle before doing an alignment?

Good to know about the GC noise. VAC did the alignment same day. Am guessing that part is mandatory. We shall see about the settling phenomenon. They said the alignment should work even after the big change in wheel and tire size, but admitted that a need for another alignment after settling was hard to forecast.

jjellyneck · 03-23-2013, 10:42 AM

Those are fantastic suspension upgrades. You'll have so much fun once you get the summer tires on!

cvc 22349a · 03-23-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335dFan

Good to know about the GC noise. VAC did the alignment same day. Am guessing that part is mandatory. We shall see about the settling phenomenon. They said the alignment should work even after the big change in wheel and tire size, but admitted that a need for another alignment after settling was hard to forecast.

CJ421 says zero nvh with the GC street camber plates and I'm sure VAC installed them correctly

CJ421 · 03-23-2013, 02:10 PM

Yeah the GC plates are silent for all intents and purposes. You'll feel more with them, but not hear more ...

I have full race camber plates now and they are definitely noisier than GC Street, not due to install but just the way the spring sits on them. I only notice an increase in noise over over rougher pavement (it's road noise, not mechanical; think like having louder tires).

GreekboyD · 03-23-2013, 02:19 PM

I assumed 335dFan went with the full racing camber plates like Charles did, hence why I said more noise.

Brian_VACsales · 03-24-2013, 01:41 PM

Jack - thanks again for bringing your baby to us.

335dFan · 04-10-2013, 09:16 AM

First let's see some pictures, a little bit at a time. This time the rear springs and dampers.

335dFan · 04-10-2013, 09:20 AM

Front RS1s before the goop was cleaned off.

335dFan · 04-10-2013, 09:30 AM

The four RS1 adjustment bits. More later.

FormerRotor · 04-10-2013, 05:24 PM

I can attest to the beauty of dFan's setup. I'm settling in for a birthday party at the moment, but will be sure to put a complete review up in the next day or so. Obviously I didn't take my friend's car anywhere near the limits on public streets, but I can truly say that this setup is amazing.

Details to follow.

03-20-2013, 11:41 AM	#1
335dFan Jumping Jack Flash 321 Rep 1,692 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California (east of Sacramento) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Toyota Prius [0.00]	I recently upgraded my 335d base model suspension (except for Bilstein B6 install at just under 5k miles). I now have just under 12k miles. Please don't expect a pro review like some of the forum members are capable of. It will be seat-of-the-pants commentary as I encounter differences. No track time planned yet to assess track differences compared to last Sept at Summit Point; earliest HPDE for me might be May. I got the car back on 18 Mar and then went out-of-town until 4 April. Work done: AC Schnitzer M3 Sport Springs, JRZ RS1 dampers set right in the middle of stiff-soft range, Quaife LSD, M3 rear subframe bushings, M3 sways front and rear, all bits except strut brace from M3 OEM Suspension Kit, Ground Control plates (sits at top of dampers to allow further adjustments). Camber set at minus 1.8. No change to diff bushings. Still running on OEM 17" wheels and winter RFT Blizzak LM-25. Also had Goodrich stainless steel brake linings done at same time and ATE 200 fluid put in. Also car is about 1/2-3/4" lower at the moment. Running same size all corners. Initial One-Day Impressions 1. In Philly streets heading to I-95S the first thing I noticed was a different feeling at the steering wheel on slow speed turning. 2. Hit a big Philly pothole at mercifully slow speed in the first 5-minutes. Just as jarring. [see next post] __________________ 2021 X3 M40i: M Sport Differential, Adaptive M Suspension. Previous BMWs: 1971 BMW 2002, 1973 BMW R75/5, and 2011 BMW 335d Previous Other Vehicles: '67 Cougar, '70 911e, '86 Jetta Diesel, '05 and '12 Foresters, et al.
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03-20-2013, 11:50 AM	#2
335dFan Jumping Jack Flash 321 Rep 1,692 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California (east of Sacramento) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Toyota Prius [0.00]	3. Drive back on I-95 in rain no profound impressions, but different to be sure. 4. First difference I noticed in a quick left turn on slippery street is that the rear end slipped out to the right but it caught itself and was more controlled than before. 5. Next similar experience was turning right at red light in wet with hard acceleration while not yet straight to blend into traffic approaching from left. It grabbed and held traction much better than it would have before. Felt much more controllable and predictable. 6. Lastly for now, and not sure this is necessarily a good thing. Meaning on public roads. It is a lot more fun to drive in a spirited way. Tangible difference. 7. Some minor new noises front and rear that I need to assess more to see if adjustments are needed. More later after 4 April. __________________ 2021 X3 M40i: M Sport Differential, Adaptive M Suspension. Previous BMWs: 1971 BMW 2002, 1973 BMW R75/5, and 2011 BMW 335d Previous Other Vehicles: '67 Cougar, '70 911e, '86 Jetta Diesel, '05 and '12 Foresters, et al.
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03-21-2013, 09:19 AM	#3
FormerRotor Lieutenant Colonel 96 Rep 1,592 Posts Drives: 2011 335d, M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW 335d [0.00] 2017 BMW X5 xdrive35d [0.00]	dFan, you're my hero! Everything I want to do and more. I'm dying to hear more about it once you get the chance to really put the new setup to the test. How hard was it to garage the like-new diesel and head out of town? __________________ My Picture Threads (Oldest to Newest): 1 2 3 Join BMW CCA! (Use my link and I get credit )
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03-21-2013, 11:14 AM	#5
sutter2k Banned 12 Rep 248 Posts Drives: 2010 335i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Willow Grove, PA iTrader: (4)	re: Still running on OEM 17" wheels and winter RFT Blizzak LM-25 When do the summer shoes go on?
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03-21-2013, 12:35 PM	#7
CJ421 Brigadier General 1559 Rep 4,109 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	Nice feedback! Turn the wheel quickly at highway speeds to change lanes, it'll bring a smile to your face pretty much instantly. The JRZ RS1 dampers are never harsh due to how JRZ handles compression. Every click counts on the single adjustment knob - I ran them at 19/24 towards stiff on the street with no issues, and sometimes I'd run them at 9/24. The primary difference between stiff/soft is that the car body will be allowed to move more if the dampers are set less stiff; the beauty of it is the ride quality doesn't change. I bet the Quaife ATB makes an even bigger difference on your 335d than it did on my 335i, since you have so much torque. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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03-21-2013, 08:59 PM	#11
corbin Enlisted Member 4 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 335d 2010 & x5d 2012 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: san diego ca iTrader: (0)	nice work dfan. congrats on the new gear.
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03-22-2013, 04:50 PM	#12
GreekboyD Brigadier General 411 Rep 3,049 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 335d Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335d [8.00]	This is some serious "baller" upgrades my man. Love it! The GC plates up front will definitely add some noise for sure. Are you waiting for everything to settle before doing an alignment?
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03-23-2013, 10:42 AM	#14
jjellyneck First Lieutenant 9 Rep 337 Posts Drives: 2008 335i MT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	Those are fantastic suspension upgrades. You'll have so much fun once you get the summer tires on!
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03-23-2013, 02:10 PM	#16
CJ421 Brigadier General 1559 Rep 4,109 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	Yeah the GC plates are silent for all intents and purposes. You'll feel more with them, but not hear more ... I have full race camber plates now and they are definitely noisier than GC Street, not due to install but just the way the spring sits on them. I only notice an increase in noise over over rougher pavement (it's road noise, not mechanical; think like having louder tires). __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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03-23-2013, 02:19 PM	#17
GreekboyD Brigadier General 411 Rep 3,049 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 335d Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335d [8.00]	I assumed 335dFan went with the full racing camber plates like Charles did, hence why I said more noise.
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03-24-2013, 01:41 PM	#18
Brian_VACsales Captain 194 Rep 933 Posts Drives: E92 M3 VF Supercharged, 135i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (0)	Jack - thanks again for bringing your baby to us. __________________ Brian Casella Sales Representative, VAC Motorsports Office: 215.462.4666 \| Fax: 215.462.4667 EXT 13 \| Email: brian@vacmotorsports.com
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04-10-2013, 09:16 AM	#19
335dFan Jumping Jack Flash 321 Rep 1,692 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California (east of Sacramento) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Toyota Prius [0.00]	First let's see some pictures, a little bit at a time. This time the rear springs and dampers. Attached Images __________________ 2021 X3 M40i: M Sport Differential, Adaptive M Suspension. Previous BMWs: 1971 BMW 2002, 1973 BMW R75/5, and 2011 BMW 335d Previous Other Vehicles: '67 Cougar, '70 911e, '86 Jetta Diesel, '05 and '12 Foresters, et al.
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04-10-2013, 09:20 AM	#20
335dFan Jumping Jack Flash 321 Rep 1,692 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California (east of Sacramento) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Toyota Prius [0.00]	Front dampers Front RS1s before the goop was cleaned off. Attached Images __________________ 2021 X3 M40i: M Sport Differential, Adaptive M Suspension. Previous BMWs: 1971 BMW 2002, 1973 BMW R75/5, and 2011 BMW 335d Previous Other Vehicles: '67 Cougar, '70 911e, '86 Jetta Diesel, '05 and '12 Foresters, et al.
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04-10-2013, 09:30 AM	#21
335dFan Jumping Jack Flash 321 Rep 1,692 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: California (east of Sacramento) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Toyota Prius [0.00]	The RS1 Adjustment Knobs The four RS1 adjustment bits. More later. Attached Images __________________ 2021 X3 M40i: M Sport Differential, Adaptive M Suspension. Previous BMWs: 1971 BMW 2002, 1973 BMW R75/5, and 2011 BMW 335d Previous Other Vehicles: '67 Cougar, '70 911e, '86 Jetta Diesel, '05 and '12 Foresters, et al.
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04-10-2013, 05:24 PM	#22
FormerRotor Lieutenant Colonel 96 Rep 1,592 Posts Drives: 2011 335d, M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2011 BMW 335d [0.00] 2017 BMW X5 xdrive35d [0.00]	I can attest to the beauty of dFan's setup. I'm settling in for a birthday party at the moment, but will be sure to put a complete review up in the next day or so. Obviously I didn't take my friend's car anywhere near the limits on public streets, but I can truly say that this setup is amazing. Details to follow. __________________ My Picture Threads (Oldest to Newest): 1 2 3 Join BMW CCA! (Use my link and I get credit )
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