[jacbo]

Originally Posted by CarAbuser

If you want to get rid of the flashing DSC and have a comfy ride try 17" wheels.

My 335i has Eibach springs and M Sport dampers with non runflat tyres and it soaks up shitty UK roads without any traction lights.

I've had a mix of different BMWs and I think the 335i has the best setup so far for doing big miles. The steering isn't as direct and it rolls more in corners than my previous M Sport E92 with 18" wheels but I wince a lot less when driving over rough surfaces.

That's a great idea actually. It's impressive how much more compliant car becomes with more rubber around the wheels. I would do that along with non msport suspension.

[Markos ZimZimma]

Originally Posted by CarAbuser

If you want to get rid of the flashing DSC and have a comfy ride try 17" wheels.

My 335i has Eibach springs and M Sport dampers with non runflat tyres and it soaks up shitty UK roads without any traction lights.

I've had a mix of different BMWs and I think the 335i has the best setup so far for doing big miles. The steering isn't as direct and it rolls more in corners than my previous M Sport E92 with 18" wheels but I wince a lot less when driving over rough surfaces.

Yeah 17's are a good suggestion and they would undoubtedly help... BUT... every car I've owned for the last decade has either come with or been upgraded to 19's, and so sticking with these MV3 18's has been a tough decision but I just couldn't go smaller!

[Rich_D]

Having run 17" winter tyres on my previous E90 330d M Sport, it was like driving a magic carpet in comparison ha ha

18's are the best compromise for looks, ride & handling though.

[CarAbuser]

It's a tricky balancing act. Good suspension can help but most after-market equipment seems to make things even more harsh. I think the low profile tyres are the main cause of the traction control lighting up over poor surfaces, there's just not enough compliance in the tyre.

Maybe you could put fatter tyres on the 18" wheels. That would give the comfort of a 17" wheel but keep the looks of the 18". I fitted a set of 19" 437M wheels off an M2 to my Z4 and they came with much fatter tyres so it rides a lot better and skips less on rough surfaces.

I don't know how much on an increase the E9x wheel arches allow but I'm certain I've seen cars with upsized tyres.

[Rich_D]

The F series cars run the same width tyres, but a higher profile for more comfort, so they're on 225/45 & 255/40 18 rather than 225/40 & 255/35 18 for example.

[Markos ZimZimma]

Originally Posted by Rich_D

The F series cars run the same width tyres, but a higher profile for more comfort, so they're on 225/45 & 255/40 18 rather than 225/40 & 255/35 18 for example.

You'd think that's been done in response to feedback on M Sport E9Xs... wonder if anyone runs an E90X like so, although it must affect the speedo...

[RajB]

Originally Posted by Markos ZimZimma

You'd think that's been done in response to feedback on M Sport E9Xs... wonder if anyone runs an E90X like so, although it must affect the speedo...

As long as you match front to rear then the speedo is negligible tbh.

On my 35i I run 265/35 and 295/30 on my 19's.

[CarAbuser]

Increasing the rolling radius actually helps speedo accuracy. Every BMW I've driven has had a speedo that reads 5% high. After increasing the profile of my Z4 tyres the speedo now reads within 1% of the GPS speed.

[jacbo]

Originally Posted by Markos ZimZimma

You'd think that's been done in response to feedback on M Sport E9Xs....

The real solution here is to fix the horrendous UK roads....

Driving my msport e90 was a joy on french and swiss roads. Makes you upset how terrible we have it here

[nomiS330d]

Originally Posted by jacbo

The real solution here is to fix the horrendous UK roads....

Driving my msport e90 was a joy on french and swiss roads. Makes you upset how terrible we have it here

I agree our road network is in a dire state but I think repairing it might be out of the OPs budget

[jacbo]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

I agree our road network is in a dire state but I think repairing it might be out of the OPs budget

If we all chip in we can sort something out hahha

[Markos ZimZimma]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

I agree our road network is in a dire state but I think repairing it might be out of the OPs budget

Originally Posted by jacbo

If we all chip in we can sort something out hahha

I've had a look down the back of the sofa and in all my pockets of every jacket, and I'm still short of re-tarmaccing my own road never mind the whole of the country!

[Rich_D]

Originally Posted by Markos ZimZimma

You'd think that's been done in response to feedback on M Sport E9Xs... wonder if anyone runs an E90X like so, although it must affect the speedo...

Probably in response to all the cracked alloys LOL

The rolling radius difference will make minimal difference to the speedo, a couple of miles an hour at motorway speeds, but they overread slightly anyway so it will actually be closer to true speed.

Be interesting to see how much difference it makes to ride quality though.

[Markos ZimZimma]

Originally Posted by Rich_D

Probably in response to all the cracked alloys LOL

The rolling radius difference will make minimal difference to the speedo, a couple of miles an hour at motorway speeds, but they overread slightly anyway so it will actually be closer to true speed.

Be interesting to see how much difference it makes to ride quality though.

It would. Got at least another year in my current PS4s though...! Or longer depending on frequency of lockdowns

[Rich_D]

With the minimal mileage I now do, my tyres probably have years left in them ha ha

[Markos ZimZimma]

OK, finally I had the time to go to a recommended local alignment garage. Looks like it did indeed need doing, before and afters attached for reference. I've tried to dial out a bit of the rear camber so there's more tyre on the road although it's still within tolerance. Not really had a chance to fully test how it now feels but perhaps it felt ever so slightly better on the drive home: will update when I've done a few journeys.

Incidentally I regret agreeing to an alignment when I had the new tyres fitted a year ago as I know that particular place is more about fitting tyres than alignment: next time I will only be getting an alignment done at places that actually specialise in them...

[Markos ZimZimma]

Just for completeness of this thread, dialling out some of the rear camber did indeed help matters. Definitely worth doing to quite significantly reduce that rear shimmy that can occur on bad roads/sunken manhole covers.