[NC335d]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

Absolutely not...they are fantastic. I never go to the track, but appreciate really great handling. (It is kind of shocking how bad the base suspension and even the sport suspension is on this car for small BMW.) Moreover I am too old to want to be pounded in my car with an overkill suspension setup. What makes the Ohlins so damn good is you get both...killer handling, great ride. Frankly I am surprised more folks on this board aren't running Ohlins giving our demonstrated willingness to dump money into this beast. There is a reason why these things cost more than twice as much as Koni FSDs. By the way, the fact that you can rebuild the Ohlins makes the high price easier to stomach.

I finally got my car back today. HUGE DIFFERENCE!!! Why did I not do this before?? $$$ WELL SPENT!! Can't wait until the spring when I can throw my 19" wheels running Michelin PSS and really see what this setup can do.

[Chief Orman]

Awesome experience isn't it. Let's hear it for the Swedes at Ohlins. Cannot believe I never heard of these guys until six months ago.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by QUIKDZL

Are you running these on stock wheels? Will 255 40 17 tires fit on the stock wheels?

yes...they're stock wheels

[NC335d]

Originally Posted by QUIKDZL

Are you running these on stock wheels? Will 255 40 17 tires fit on the stock wheels?

Which stock wheels are you running? Base model, Sport or M-Sport?

[QUIKDZL]

That's my question, too. The base wheels are 8" wide. Not sure how that would work with 255s.

[NC335d]

Originally Posted by QUIKDZL

That's my question, too. The base wheels are 8" wide. Not sure how that would work with 255s.

I don't think it will. I believe the max you will probably be able to get away with is a 225 width tire.

[Persian Whisperjet]

Originally Posted by NC335d

I don't think it will. I believe the max you will probably be able to get away with is a 225 width tire.

Alright -- I love my 225s!

Anyone know what it takes to rebuild one of these suckers?

[335dFan]

Originally considered Öhlins in Mar 2013 when I did the work on my car. Largely due to the speed shop I used and their preferences, I went with AC Schnitzer M3 Sports Springs and JRZ RS1 dampers. I have been very happy with them and the performance, although I did have the front dampers replaced under warranty once.

Now 40,000 miles on, it's not too long before I will need to think about rebuilding the dampers. So, why not throw some more money at the car and get some Öhlins? I guess they would just replace my existing springs and dampers.

Probably a financially stupid thing to do, but wasn't the car purchase the same? I have a tad over 50,000 miles on the beast, and recently bought the extended warranty from BMW up to 84 months or 100k miles. But it would be so much fun!

[shnaggs]

Does anyone know how long the ohlins coil overs would last before a rebuild? I only know ohlins from the sport bikes/MX world, and there your not really worried about longevity, cause you are rebuilding the shite anyways or tuning them.
Always been impressed with ohlins, but just have no experience with them on cars. Not really sure if I want to spend 3k on suspension that needs rebuilding in 20k miles.

[shnaggs]

Basically since I'm cooped up in the house, I'm thinking of stupid ways to spend money I don't have!!!

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by NC335d

Which stock wheels are you running? Base model, Sport or M-Sport?

Guys I am running the 17 inch stock rims on a 335d with a sport suspension...my 225 45s / 255 40s fit with no problem. That said, I might be missing something with the thread here.

[QUIKDZL]

Wheel and tire manufacturers don't recommend running a 255 tire on an 8" wide wheel. I'm not sure what the repercussions are.

[Nadir Point]

The rule of thumb for section/wheel width compatibility is a max of 2". That's the point at which bead seating might be compromised and most tires will start to wear faster in the middle no matter how much air you run in them. The rule applies to standard passenger car tires. 255mm is just over 10"

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by QUIKDZL

Wheel and tire manufacturers don't recommend running a 255 tire on an 8" wide wheel. I'm not sure what the repercussions are.

I am running the BMW style 286 rim. rears are 8.5 width; fronts are 8 width. The 255 on the back are NOT a problem at all.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by mob17

Looks very nice chief, glad you are enjoying your new set up. Have you played around with the damper settings yet?

I wish we had more scenic roads in England.

Mob got the car aligned and the dampers tightened up. damn this just keeps getting better and better. Little bit of negative toe and camber and the goddamn car is on rails. Barrett at Sonic MS in San Jose is a ninja with Ohlins if you live In the bay area.

Get your Ohlins before the LSD.

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

Mob got the car aligned and the dampers tightened up. damn this just keeps getting better and better. Little bit of negative toe and camber and the goddamn car is on rails. Barrett at Sonic MS in San Jose is a ninja with Ohlins if you live In the bay area.

Get your Ohlins before the LSD.

Thanks for the tip on the San Jose shop. I'll be down that way in a few weeks. I might go buy and talk to them.

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

Thanks for the tip on the San Jose shop. I'll be down that way in a few weeks. I might go buy and talk to them.

quick update... MS Sonic in San Jose had me come back after driving with my Ohlins for a week to let the shocks settle and do the final alignment. per my post above I had them tighten the Ohlins and make the toe and camber more aggressive. Andrew who runs the shop in San Jose had his guy Barrett work on my car. Barrett has a ton of experience putting Ohlins on BMWs. This is the first time I've really had a tuning shop where I felt like they really knew what they were doing. The car is now unfuckingbelieveable. It handles three times as good as it did before. I didn't think life could get any better after I had the Ohlins installed. However now the handling is just ridiculously good. With the Ohlins dialed stiffer and the more aggressive setup dialed in by Barrett I practically want to burst into tears every time I go through a fast turn. The handling is now totally unbelievably perfect and magical. If you live in the Bay Area go down to MS Sonic and ask for Andrew. By far and away the best mod I have ever made to my car hands down. Thanks to Mob17 for encouraging me to tighten up the Ohlins.

[Persian Whisperjet]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

By far and away the best mod I have ever made to my car hands down. Thanks to Mob17 for encouraging me to tighten up the Ohlins.

Chief, just approximately what does the install and dial-in cost?

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by Persian Whisperjet

Chief, just approximately what does the install and dial-in cost?

150...for the alignment and toe in/camber adjustments. Sorry shop name is Sonic MS. Ask for Andrew Fang.

All in the whole thing was like $2,400.

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by Chief Orman

quick update... MS Sonic in San Jose had me come back after driving with my Ohlins for a week to let the shocks settle and do the final alignment. per my post above I had them tighten the Ohlins and make the toe and camber more aggressive. ... With the Ohlins dialed stiffer and the more aggressive setup dialed in by Barrett I practically want to burst into tears every time I go through a fast turn. The handling is now totally unbelievably perfect and magical. If you live in the Bay Area go down to MS Sonic and ask for Andrew. By far and away the best mod I have ever made to my car hands down. Thanks to Mob17 for encouraging me to tighten up the Ohlins.

Did you ask for or did they volunteer info on how often you need to have the dampers rebuilt? For my JRZ RS1s it was to be about 50-60k miles, depending on how much I punish them.

[335dFan]

These pics are not as good, but here is a comparison shot of my setup with JRZ RS1 and AC Schnitzer springs, and the adjusters in the front shock tower and the trunk about the wheel well. Does the Ohlin setup have adjusting knobs you can do yourself?

[Chief Orman]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

Did you ask for or did they volunteer info on how often you need to have the dampers rebuilt? For my JRZ RS1s it was to be about 50-60k miles, depending on how much I punish them.

no but I'm really curious about this as well. I will ask Andrew Fang the next time I speak with him