[martin26]

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]

Congratulations, nice mod!

[willhollin]

Did you get the ARB's replaced as well?

[E92Fan]

Excellent news Martin

[I335]

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

[a1reader]

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

[martin26]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[martin26]

"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]

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]

good stuff!!!...

[Dave_3]

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]

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...