M sport suspension (european) vs. aftermarket kit (for e90)

neo871 · 01-07-2008, 04:21 PM

considering that i'm looking for a minimal drop and a good level of confort would it be wiser to go for an aftermarket suspension kit (KW, H&R, Koni, etc.) or opt for the M sport suspension that is available for europe (code 704)?
thanks!

stressdoc · 01-07-2008, 05:46 PM

If it were me I would opt for the factory M sport for several reasons:
1. It's a complete package, designed by the best suspension engineers to work together.
2. Resale will be much higher on a factory option than aftermarket.
3. You can always swap into coilovers later, and have the M sport sways

The problem is the tradeoff with "ride comfort" -- you might want to consider Bilstein Ride Controls or some other EDC system that allows you to switch from normal/comfort setting to performance at the push of a button inside your car.

neo871 · 01-07-2008, 06:09 PM

you're right, i'm also for the M sport suspension being that it's a complete package and it also comes with the M sways too...
are you saying that i should consider the Bilstein Ride Controls just to be sure i can get the optimum ride comfort when i want to or just because the M sport suspension is way stiffer the the stock one?

stressdoc · 01-07-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo871

you're right, i'm also for the M sport suspension being that it's a complete package and it also comes with the M sways too...
are you saying that i should consider the Bilstein Ride Controls just to be sure i can get the optimum ride comfort when i want to or just because the M sport suspension is way stiffer the the stock one?

The M sport tuning is close to the sport tuning in terms of ride comfort. Coilovers provide flexibility; edc provides instant change. I would go with the M sport and see if you like it. Tires can have a big effect on ride comfort (and handling, usually at somewhat of a trade off). If your wife/mistress is chipping her teeth, then consider the ride controls.

neo871 · 01-08-2008, 05:53 PM

Thanks for the info...i currently have sport suspension on my opel astra; it's 15mm lower and stiffer than regular; my wife says it's ok this way but when i push the sport button (which stiffens the suspension eaven more) she really starts chipping her teeth...and i do too!
it would have been nice if the e90 had this option

i'm really concerned for making a good choice; i would like to have a lower suspension setup but also a good level ride confort...
i'm thinking that with the M sport suspension and some aftermarket 18" rims with non-RFT tires the ride shouldn't be too stiif, what do you say?

deltree · 01-08-2008, 10:40 PM

you would not get to lower your ride though with the M package. I was pondering the same thing too.

stressdoc · 01-08-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo871

Thanks for the info...i currently have sport suspension on my opel astra; it's 15mm lower and stiffer than regular; my wife says it's ok this way but when i push the sport button (which stiffens the suspension eaven more) she really starts chipping her teeth...and i do too!
it would have been nice if the e90 had this option

i'm really concerned for making a good choice; i would like to have a lower suspension setup but also a good level ride confort...
i'm thinking that with the M sport suspension and some aftermarket 18" rims with non-RFT tires the ride shouldn't be too stiif, what do you say?

That is my plan, except I may get the Bilstein PSS10 or Ride controls instead of the M-sport dampers. Switching to non-rfts (18" Pirelli P-0 on M 193 rims) greatly improved ride and handling. My current set up -- sport + nonrfts -- is very comfortable, I would think that the M-sport would only be a little stiffer. I plan to tighten mine up further with the M-sport rear sway + Bilsteins. Nice thing about coilovers is you can adjust them how you like. For me the cost is not that much different because I have to pay for labor either way. But if I could have ordered the OEM M-sport as a factory option that is definitely the choice I would have made. Unfortunately we can't order it in the USA.

neo871 · 01-09-2008, 06:40 PM

aha ....now i get it ...you currently have US stock sport suspension with 193 and nonrfts...very nice, can i see some profile pics please?

Black Pig · 01-10-2008, 02:05 AM

Does the M-Sport package come with all these stuffs?
1) M-sport springs
2) M-sport Shocks
3) Front and rear sway bars

If yes, then M-Sport package sounds a very good deal since it should be a perfect match!!!!

hkj · 01-10-2008, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo871

aha ....now i get it ...you currently have US stock sport suspension with 193 and nonrfts...very nice, can i see some profile pics please?

+1.. he's one of the rare E90s here in US with M193 wheels.. how about some more pics of your 335 doc?

-hkj

neo871 · 01-10-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Pig

Does the M-Sport package come with all these stuffs?
1) M-sport springs
2) M-sport Shocks
3) Front and rear sway bars

If yes, then M-Sport package sounds a very good deal since it should be a perfect match!!!!

yes it does and yes it really is the perfect match, i was just wondering about the stiffness

!Xoible · 01-10-2008, 02:41 AM

Black Pig · 01-10-2008, 03:51 AM

So does a non-sport package E90 comes with "stock sway bars"....

Since I never have chance to see from the bottom of my car....

stressdoc · 01-10-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Pig

So does a non-sport package E90 comes with "stock sway bars"....

Since I never have chance to see from the bottom of my car....

Yes, they are just thinner than the ZSP (sport) and M-sport sway bars.

stressdoc · 01-10-2008, 12:01 PM

My apologies to the OP for the OT. And for the winterized (muck) car and boring photo settings. I think I posted these up somewhere before...

Still like the wheels, but I like the M sport interior stuff even more. Bit of a pain to put an M-sport package together piecemeal on this side of the pond.

neo871 · 01-10-2008, 04:43 PM

very very nice! do you think that the European m package sits lower?what size are the rears 225 or 255?

stressdoc · 01-10-2008, 08:45 PM

Yes, the euro M-sport is another cm lower. The winter tires are 235/265 F/R. My summer tires, which I really like although they are wearing quickly, are 225/255 Pirelli P-O non-rfts -- the ones standard on Audi A8, Lamborghini, and some other high end cars. They made a big difference in ride (smoother, no jarring) and handling (like gum rubber, very sticky).

neo871 · 01-11-2008, 04:33 AM

you mean that you have these babies: http://www.pirellipzero.com/ ??

i was thinking that the best choice for summer tires is Goodyear Eagle F1 ...

01-07-2008, 04:21 PM	#1
neo871 Major 144 Rep 1,399 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive MPPSK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania iTrader: (0)	M sport suspension (european) vs. aftermarket kit (for e90) considering that i'm looking for a minimal drop and a good level of confort would it be wiser to go for an aftermarket suspension kit (KW, H&R, Koni, etc.) or opt for the M sport suspension that is available for europe (code 704)? thanks!
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01-07-2008, 05:46 PM	#2
stressdoc Moderator 660 Rep 10,865 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	If it were me I would opt for the factory M sport for several reasons: 1. It's a complete package, designed by the best suspension engineers to work together. 2. Resale will be much higher on a factory option than aftermarket. 3. You can always swap into coilovers later, and have the M sport sways The problem is the tradeoff with "ride comfort" -- you might want to consider Bilstein Ride Controls or some other EDC system that allows you to switch from normal/comfort setting to performance at the push of a button inside your car. __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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01-07-2008, 06:09 PM	#3
neo871 Major 144 Rep 1,399 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive MPPSK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania iTrader: (0)	you're right, i'm also for the M sport suspension being that it's a complete package and it also comes with the M sways too... are you saying that i should consider the Bilstein Ride Controls just to be sure i can get the optimum ride comfort when i want to or just because the M sport suspension is way stiffer the the stock one?
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01-08-2008, 05:53 PM	#5
neo871 Major 144 Rep 1,399 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive MPPSK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info...i currently have sport suspension on my opel astra; it's 15mm lower and stiffer than regular; my wife says it's ok this way but when i push the sport button (which stiffens the suspension eaven more) she really starts chipping her teeth...and i do too! it would have been nice if the e90 had this option i'm really concerned for making a good choice; i would like to have a lower suspension setup but also a good level ride confort... i'm thinking that with the M sport suspension and some aftermarket 18" rims with non-RFT tires the ride shouldn't be too stiif, what do you say?
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01-08-2008, 10:40 PM	#6
deltree Private 4 Rep 99 Posts Drives: 06 330i jet black Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	you would not get to lower your ride though with the M package. I was pondering the same thing too.
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01-09-2008, 06:40 PM	#8
neo871 Major 144 Rep 1,399 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive MPPSK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania iTrader: (0)	aha ....now i get it ...you currently have US stock sport suspension with 193 and nonrfts...very nice, can i see some profile pics please?
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01-10-2008, 02:05 AM	#9
Black Pig Private 5 Rep 77 Posts Drives: E90 320i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	Does the M-Sport package come with all these stuffs? 1) M-sport springs 2) M-sport Shocks 3) Front and rear sway bars If yes, then M-Sport package sounds a very good deal since it should be a perfect match!!!!
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01-10-2008, 02:41 AM	#12
!Xoible Banned 881 Rep 46,010 Posts Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 M3 [4.00] 2007 335i [9.00] 2008 528i [8.00] 2006 Infiniti - G35 ... [8.00]
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01-10-2008, 03:51 AM	#13
Black Pig Private 5 Rep 77 Posts Drives: E90 320i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	So does a non-sport package E90 comes with "stock sway bars".... Since I never have chance to see from the bottom of my car....
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01-10-2008, 12:01 PM	#15
stressdoc Moderator 660 Rep 10,865 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	My apologies to the OP for the OT. And for the winterized (muck) car and boring photo settings. I think I posted these up somewhere before... Still like the wheels, but I like the M sport interior stuff even more. Bit of a pain to put an M-sport package together piecemeal on this side of the pond. Attached Images __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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01-10-2008, 04:43 PM	#16
neo871 Major 144 Rep 1,399 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive MPPSK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania iTrader: (0)	very very nice! do you think that the European m package sits lower?what size are the rears 225 or 255?
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01-10-2008, 08:45 PM	#17
stressdoc Moderator 660 Rep 10,865 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Yes, the euro M-sport is another cm lower. The winter tires are 235/265 F/R. My summer tires, which I really like although they are wearing quickly, are 225/255 Pirelli P-O non-rfts -- the ones standard on Audi A8, Lamborghini, and some other high end cars. They made a big difference in ride (smoother, no jarring) and handling (like gum rubber, very sticky). __________________ My recent ED photos: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1026808 my not-so-recent ED: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31829 Please join BMWCCA http://bmwcca.org/index.php?pageid=c...&ref_by=300279
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01-11-2008, 04:33 AM	#18
neo871 Major 144 Rep 1,399 Posts Drives: 340i xDrive MPPSK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bucharest, Romania iTrader: (0)	you mean that you have these babies: http://www.pirellipzero.com/ ?? i was thinking that the best choice for summer tires is Goodyear Eagle F1 ...
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