[iqraceworks]

I picked up an 07' 335i a few weeks ago with around 90K miles on it. As far as I can tell, it's got the original suspension on it. I'm in the process of going through the car top top bottom, and getting it all back to good working order.

One of the things that needs done is a new suspension. I would like a slightly lower stance, but nothing crazy. This will be a daily driver, it's not going to see any track time. I will be running 235/265 tires on the stock 189 style wheels. If possible, I would like to stay away from spacers.

I've been reading and researching on the forums for a while....and when it comes to lowering springs and good shocks vs. coilovers...I'm finding lots of conflicting opinions. I want a nice ride that's a little firmer than stock...and a little lower. If possible, I would like to keep this suspension upgrade under $1000.

Right now I'm going back and forth between the Bilstein B14 coilovers (summer racing has them on sale for $773), or a set of good shocks like the KONI FSD's and a set of lowering springs like the Ebiach Pro's. I want the car to set a little lower in the front, but the rear is about where I want it...I've heard the Ebiach springs will lower the front, but keep the rear where it is...pretty much what I want. I've also heard that the H&R springs drop it way to much, and ride really harsh...not what I want.

As far as ride goes....what setup will handle rough roads better? I've heard that coilovers can be really harsh, but I've also heard they ride really nice.....so I don't know what to think about them.

Any tips, info, advice on a nice "slightly lowered" setup for a daily drive 335i would be great. Thanks!!!!

[colorado.e9x]

I'll chime in and vouch for my B12 ProKit I just installed for my 330xi. I haven't noticed any substantial drop from my rideheight with blown shocks, but as far as comfort it's great. It can be on the stiff side when at speeds below 40mph, it's very good at 40 and above. Paired with the monroe strut mounts in the rear, the car is very planted. Initial thoughts for the first week so far is reduced body roll, no more air hissing on bumps, takes larger bumps (where a road might have sank or is just uneven in general) much better than stock. Grip is much improved. On my original suspension if I were to accelerate hard from a 90° turn you would hear the tires start chirping. With these, the worst I can get it to do is get the tires to semi lose grip (on a road with dirt or gravel debris, does not make the tires chirp just the sound of sliding on a loose surface. which is miniscule) They've removed the bounciness I used to get, I now feel very planted to the road at all times. Once again this is my impression within the first week. It's already breaking in and getting less harsh. Stiffer than my original suspension but still retains a comfort while increasing the 'sportiness'

Not sure if the ride height matters being an xi, but I've seen people with great fitment using the B8s (included in the prokit) and some H&R Sport springs. For example I love the way @unrulyteach's car sits

[MIL.SPEC]

I second the Bilstein B12 kit. I have a set of Moton's on my Evo, and wanted none of that hassle. No camber plates. No shock rebuilds. Nothing.

One thing to keep in mind is installing reinforcement plates on the front strut towers because of potential mushrooming over big impacts/bumps.

They sell them pretty cheap. Nothing but good things to say about the B12 kit. Had them on for 5 years. Just had to replace the front struts after I hit a massive pothole, but that's pretty good for 50+ thousand miles.

[mweisdorfer]

I'd say b12 Kit, but if check on your 265 rear tires. 255 would work no problem.

[cvc 22349a]

I'm happy with sport susp springs and Koni Sport dampers. B12 kit sounds great too.
New shock, strut mounts and possibly control arm bushings too.

[iqraceworks]

Are the B12 going to ride better that the Koni FSD and the Koni sports? I can get a set of the B14 coilovers for under $800........bad idea?

[flgfish]

I just put Koni special actives on my e91. Same springs, same height, much better ride.
It's a road trip and highway car, for the most part - didn't want it any lower.

[iqraceworks]

I think at this point I'm leaning towards the Koni Yellow shocks with the Eibach Sport springs. From everything I've read, that's a pretty common setup that works very well.

It sounds like the Eibach pro's lower the car just a little bit......unlike the H&R's that really drop it, and the ride with the Eibachs is better.

I got close to ordering the Bilstein B14 coilovers for under $800......but it looks like they drop the car too much for me, even at the highest settings.

[iqraceworks]

Here is a before and after picture. I've put a few hundred miles on the B12 ProKit.....the back has dropped around 1/4", and the front around 13/16".

BEFORE......




AFTER......

[eppson977]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Here is a before and after picture. I've put a few hundred miles on the B12 ProKit.....the back has dropped around 1/4", and the front around 13/16".

BEFORE......




AFTER......

Sorry its been a long time since this post. Looks great! How do they ride? I’m in the same position. I have fairly frequent 3hr drives and I’m not trying to be miserable haha. I appreciate your input!

[michaelalex17]

Originally Posted by eppson977

Sorry its been a long time since this post. Looks great! How do they ride? I’m in the same position. I have fairly frequent 3hr drives and I’m not trying to be miserable haha. I appreciate your input!

Curious as well and it looked like OP settled on Koni/Eibach but then got the b12 kit so am wondering what made you change your mind.

[iqraceworks]

I really like the B12 kit. The car sits low enough where you can tell it's had something done to it....but it's not slammed to the ground. I scrap the front lip enough as it is, I'd hate to go any lower.

The Bilstein shocks are firm....very firm. On rough roads they really beat you up.....but other than that, they handle and ride great! They really do a great job of keeping the car planted.

If I had to do it again...I would still go with the B12 kit.

[colorado.e9x]

Agreed. Looks wise I wish my car was lower but functionally I'm so glad its not. I still scrape going into my driveway and there's some gnarly dips on the highway that would eat me up if I had the fitment I wanted. Only thing I need now is a new set of adjustable sway bar links, maybe some poly bushings too

[ottereffect]

Thanks for the thread OP, about to pull the trigger on the B12 Pro Kit as well. With the mileage on your 335i, did you replace anything else when you were in there? TurnerMS has a $115 suspension refresh kit that I was thinking about adding in but I'm only at 42k so it might be overkill.

[roblese90]

Originally Posted by ottereffect

Thanks for the thread OP, about to pull the trigger on the B12 Pro Kit as well. With the mileage on your 335i, did you replace anything else when you were in there? TurnerMS has a $115 suspension refresh kit that I was thinking about adding in but I'm only at 42k so it might be overkill.

Thought I’d chime in here. I’ve got a 2010 328i m sport with 103k miles. The front shocks are just about gone so I ordered to b12 pro kit from fcpeuro. I asked them what else I should replace at that mileage and they put together a kit for me that includes shock and strut mounts, bump stops, washers, spring seats, and spring shims. Not sure if you’d need to replace any of that since you’re only at 42k, but I’d definitely ask them what they think should be replaced.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by ottereffect

Thanks for the thread OP, about to pull the trigger on the B12 Pro Kit as well. With the mileage on your 335i, did you replace anything else when you were in there? TurnerMS has a $115 suspension refresh kit that I was thinking about adding in but I'm only at 42k so it might be overkill.

I've got around 108k miles on the car right now, had around 100k when I installed the B12 Prokit. When I did the install, I also did the M3 front control arms, M3 rear control arms, and also dropped the rear subframe and installed hard nylon subframe bushings. It really transformed the handling of the car. With the soft oem rubber rear subframe bushings, the rear end just felt lose and not planted. Now it's solid, with no wheel hop at all.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure I also replaced the front strut mounts with new oem units from FCP.

[Jaronbwall]

I need this B12 kit on my car, but I also need a better job... That's an easy $2k (parts & labor) install.

[ccyccm]

Originally Posted by roblese90

Thought I’d chime in here. I’ve got a 2010 328i m sport with 103k miles. The front shocks are just about gone so I ordered to b12 pro kit from fcpeuro. I asked them what else I should replace at that mileage and they put together a kit for me that includes shock and strut mounts, bump stops, washers, spring seats, and spring shims. Not sure if you’d need to replace any of that since you’re only at 42k, but I’d definitely ask them what they think should be replaced.

Hey dawg, can you post a screenshot of your order from FCP? Anything you didn’t need or anything you wish you had? I have the same car and want to install the same kit.

Thanks

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Jaronbwall

I need this B12 kit on my car, but I also need a better job... That's an easy $2k (parts & labor) install.

The kit is around $750-ish I think......takes an afternoon to install. It's actually a pretty easy job.

[Jaronbwall]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

The kit is around $750-ish I think......takes an afternoon to install. It's actually a pretty easy job.

Well damn that's not bad.

[macloren]

Expect a compliant ride with Bilstein B12.

[ottereffect]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

I've got around 108k miles on the car right now, had around 100k when I installed the B12 Prokit. When I did the install, I also did the M3 front control arms, M3 rear control arms, and also dropped the rear subframe and installed hard nylon subframe bushings. It really transformed the handling of the car. With the soft oem rubber rear subframe bushings, the rear end just felt lose and not planted. Now it's solid, with no wheel hop at all.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure I also replaced the front strut mounts with new oem units from FCP.

Thanks for the info! I was planning on whiteline Subframe inserts and M3 front control arms too. What are your thoughts on the M3 rears?