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      03-28-2017, 07:34 AM   #1
Joebie
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Suspension Advice: I want an agressive street suspension setup with no lowering

Hey fellas, I have an LCI e90 328i and the stock sport suspension's dampers are wearing out at 84k miles. I can feel the back end especially bounce around over bumps as though the suspension is severely under-damped. The car just floats and boats its way around corners and over bumps instead of hugging and adsorbing the road like it should.

I'd like new dampers and springs, but I don't want to lower the car much at all. I'd like a nice firm ride, but this is my DD so nothing too crazy harsh.

What are my options? It sounds like most or even all coilovers will lower the car a little bit. A half an inch isn't too big a deal, I guess, but an inch or more and I don't think I will like how the car looks. I think how it sits on its OEM sport suspension is perfect from an aesthetic and functional standpoint.

Is there an OEM option that is stiffer than the sport suspension? It looks like BMW makes the performance suspension option that might be what I want, but also lowers the car another half inch. I've got to do some reading about that kit.


EDIT: I've read up on the BMW perf suspension and it seems like half the people that install it love it and the other half despise it.

I'm still lost, lol.
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      03-28-2017, 09:36 AM   #2
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I went thru the same thing with my 128i a while back. Wanted better and firmer handling but not much drop. Check out the Suspension section on the 1er site. Last post on the thread was in Feb of this year.
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      03-28-2017, 09:59 AM   #3
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Thanks. Here's the thread for others that are curious

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1280819
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      03-28-2017, 10:36 AM   #4
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PSS10 can be run at stock height.
Alternative is to keep the stock springs and run Bilstien B8 or Koni Sports.
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      03-28-2017, 12:27 PM   #5
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You could keep the stock springs and upgrade other areas.

Easiest to do would be performance shocks and upgraded rear shock mounts, especially the rear upper mounts. Monroe makes some harder rubber ones that are cheap. Upper are part # 907984 and lower are part # 907985. In the front, you could upgrade to M3 control arms.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-trw-part...3322283547kt4/

You could also add camber kits in front (these replace the stock upper shock mounts) to dial in an alignment with more negative camber which will improve steering response and grip.

More labor involved would be to replace the rear subframe bushings, which are also part of the cause of rear end floatiness. You have to drop the subframe to do this. Whiteline makes a kit (part # KDT917) cheaper and easier to install than M3 subframe bushings while also being stiffer. I have it on my car. The rear end is much more consistent feeling than stock.

Replacing the rear sway bar also requires lowering the subframe so if you do the subframe bushings, it's a good time to also do the sway bars. If you want the car to be more tail-happy you would go for a larger relative increase of rear sway bar vs. front, so personally I would not just add a rear sway bar to a rwd E9x. From most to least tail-happy of the front & rear sway bar combos, you have H&R and Whiteline at 27mm F/20mm R, Eibach at 28mm/15mm, and Hotchkis at 32mm/16mm. With stock springs, I would probably go with H&R or Whiteline sway bars, or Eibach if you want a bit more conservative setup. The Hotchkis front bar is huge so their set is a better match for springs or coilovers which have relatively stiffer rear springs.

Point being, if you like your stock sport package ride height and spring rates, you could do plenty of upgrades while keeping the stock springs.
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      03-28-2017, 12:44 PM   #6
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Bilstein B8 and Dinan springs.
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      03-28-2017, 12:53 PM   #7
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Here is a Dinan spring kit (on Koni Yellow) for reference... if you replace your shocks/springs, make sure you also replace the strut mounts, spring pads, and get new, shortened bumpstops, etc.

Name:  koni dinan.jpg
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      03-28-2017, 01:38 PM   #8
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Running Bils HD's with sport suspension is a perfect match, in my opinion. I would also suggest upgrading(not just new) shock mounts and installing either subframe inserts or m3/aftermarket subframe bushings.

This alone will transform your car and solve all the 'bounciness' issues. Down the road you can decide on things like sway bars, control arms etc. I also think as a daily you don't need a stiffer spring than the sport spring. The Bilstein hd damping quality will outperform any lower to mid range coilover out there, IMHO.

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      03-29-2017, 12:22 AM   #9
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Bilstein like mentioned above is a great choice. Koni yellows would also fit the bill while keeping your stock springs. The Koni will have a slightly cushier ride at lower speeds but likely will lack the bilsteins high speed performance. Very slight trade off.

By the way, I'm totally on board with where you're going. I want the same with my car.

Other great add ons:
Whiteline subframe insert (mentioned above)
Monroe rear shock mounts
Front M3 control arms

Likely most important: non run flat tires.
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      03-29-2017, 01:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris@strutmonkey View Post
Here is a Dinan spring kit (on Koni Yellow) for reference... if you replace your shocks/springs, make sure you also replace the strut mounts, spring pads, and get new, shortened bumpstops, etc.

Attachment 1596845
Hey Chris, do you by chance know what the spring rates are for those Dinans? I'm thinking pretty much comparable if not the same to the BMWPS yellow springs, 195F/505R? Any other advantage to running those vs. the yellows?

Thanks
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      04-05-2017, 08:32 AM   #11
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I believe the Dinan springs are 30% higher spring rates than stock. Not sure if that is compared to non-sport or sport springs. Dinan and BMW PS are pretty similar. Dinan are less expensive. Neither drop your car very much.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BdSM n54iS View Post
Hey Chris, do you by chance know what the spring rates are for those Dinans? I'm thinking pretty much comparable if not the same to the BMWPS yellow springs, 195F/505R? Any other advantage to running those vs. the yellows?

Thanks
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      04-05-2017, 09:06 AM   #12
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I was in the same situation; didn't want to lower my car and wanted to upgrade my suspension from the oem sport suspension (155k kms on mine). I bought the bmw performance yellow springs and bilstein B8. Haven't installed them yet l so I can't comment on ride quality.

I considered the full bmw performance suspension because it appeared to be such a good value but was concerned about the longevity of the struts / shocks.
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      04-05-2017, 09:48 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donutz View Post
I was in the same situation; didn't want to lower my car and wanted to upgrade my suspension from the oem sport suspension (155k kms on mine). I bought the bmw performance yellow springs and bilstein B8. Haven't installed them yet l so I can't comment on ride quality.

I considered the full bmw performance suspension because it appeared to be such a good value but was concerned about the longevity of the struts / shocks.
Install them so that you can tell me how they feel!
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      04-05-2017, 10:21 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joester View Post
The car just floats and boats its way around corners and over bumps instead of hugging and adsorbing the road like it should.
Just a suggestion, I would put your car up on some ramps or a lift and inspect all of the suspension bushings. My previous sport pack E90 did not do what you described at all, I thought that the OEM sport suspension, if anything, was a little harsh.

I just don't want you to go and pimp out your shocks and still have suspension wallow.
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      04-06-2017, 02:54 PM   #15
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Check out the Tein S-tech. Their spring rates are well matched and only further lower the factory sport suspension by about half an inch. I have had them for almost a year and they have works marvelously with my Bilstein B8s. Especially at higher speed.
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      04-18-2017, 10:31 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donutz View Post
I was in the same situation; didn't want to lower my car and wanted to upgrade my suspension from the oem sport suspension (155k kms on mine). I bought the bmw performance yellow springs and bilstein B8. Haven't installed them yet l so I can't comment on ride quality.

I considered the full bmw performance suspension because it appeared to be such a good value but was concerned about the longevity of the struts / shocks.
So..... have you installed them?? Haha
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      04-19-2017, 01:13 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BdSM n54iS View Post
So..... have you installed them?? Haha
Unfortunately I have not, and it looks like I won't be installing the springs. There is a lot of misinformation on this forum and around the interwebs about which part numbers to buy; the lesson I learned is PM Jason or Evan at Tischer (good dudes) and ask them the correct part numbers for your VIN. I used information from BMWUSA's website, which is inaccurate (and I failed at reading), when I bought my springs. I will soon be listing them for sale locally.
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      04-20-2017, 10:07 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Donutz View Post
Unfortunately I have not, and it looks like I won't be installing the springs. There is a lot of misinformation on this forum and around the interwebs about which part numbers to buy; the lesson I learned is PM Jason or Evan at Tischer (good dudes) and ask them the correct part numbers for your VIN. I used information from BMWUSA's website, which is inaccurate (and I failed at reading), when I bought my springs. I will soon be listing them for sale locally.
Wow that sucks, sorry to hear. I would think bmw usa site would be accurate, it has been for me in the past. Yes Tischer I like a lot, if those springs fit my car I would buy them off of you in a heartbeat.
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      05-30-2017, 08:55 AM   #19
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So after reading more and deliberating, I'm really leaning towards Bilstein B8s on my stock sport suspension springs.

There have been a few in this very thread that have said that this is a good combo, can anyone else comment on it?

Also, is there a full list out there somewhere of parts that need to be replaced along with the struts? Like mounts, bushings, bolts, etc.
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      05-30-2017, 10:11 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris@strutmonkey View Post
Here is a Dinan spring kit (on Koni Yellow) for reference... if you replace your shocks/springs, make sure you also replace the strut mounts, spring pads, and get new, shortened bumpstops, etc.

Attachment 1596845
Is the Koni yellows more comfortable than the B8s? or B8s are more comfortable than koni yellows?
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      05-30-2017, 06:43 PM   #21
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I got the B12 kit, which comes with B8 struts and Eibach Springs, and my car has not lowered from the factory MSport setup I originally had. Been driving on them for about 1000miles so far. Cost me $743 shipped for the kit.

As for the list of other parts that need to be replaced....here are the RealOEM links for the front and rear:

Front
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=31_0716

Rear
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=33_1263

For the rear upper strut mount, go with the Monroe Kit:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-monroe-907984
You'll need two kits

All will make a huge difference. I replaced everything when I installed my B12 kit, and the car is super smooth.
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      05-30-2017, 10:07 PM   #22
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Eibach pro-kit is nearly the exact same rates as my OEM sport springs, is there any reason to purchase them besides the ride height?
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