Suspension done...PICS and First impression!

seis-speed · 03-19-2011, 06:00 PM

Shock/Srping update? It has been about year, how is everything holding up. I plan on doing this combo soon.

MeeTsenPu · 03-24-2011, 02:05 PM

Everything has held up great but I think it took somewhere near 3 months before it settled to its final ride height. I can only assume that this is because I put in the Bilstein shocks at the same time as the springs. The Bilstein shocks are A LOT more stiff then stock. Winter was a little brutal as I switched back to my 17" RFT. Next year that will be resolved by replacing them with dedicated snow non-RFT!

nets52791 · 03-24-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick3237

still seems kind of high, it probably hasn't fully settled yet.

^true

CrimsonIvy35i · 03-24-2011, 07:51 PM

I liked your previous wheels 100 times better, change them back... ASAP.

MeeTsenPu · 03-25-2011, 10:10 AM

Here is a link to another discussion in the Pics forum. I posted some shots of my car from around August last year. As you can see it does look lower then the pics from this thread.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=18

MassBimmer · 03-28-2011, 07:43 PM

Ride quality still good?

Babydragon · 03-28-2011, 07:51 PM

Also if you could do a quick measure. I'm contemplating these or the b

Ph0zenstone · 03-28-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeeTsenPu

Everything has held up great but I think it took somewhere near 3 months before it settled to its final ride height. I can only assume that this is because I put in the Bilstein shocks at the same time as the springs. The Bilstein shocks are A LOT more stiff then stock. Winter was a little brutal as I switched back to my 17" RFT. Next year that will be resolved by replacing them with dedicated snow non-RFT!

+1, now that you mention it, i thought the bilsteins were harsher than oem shocks as well. I am back to oem suspension now with 17" RFT and it feels SOOOOOOO smooth compared to bilstein/eibachs with 17" RFT.

MeeTsenPu · 03-29-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phozenstone

+1, now that you mention it, i thought the bilsteins were harsher than oem shocks as well. I am back to oem suspension now with 17" RFT and it feels SOOOOOOO smooth compared to bilstein/eibachs with 17" RFT.

Yeah after feeling the stock shocks in my hand it was no question that they were designed that way with RFT in mind. Bottom line is dont bother lowering your car if you plan on driving with RFT unless you like an uber stiff ride. Thats what she said!

MassBimmer · 03-29-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeeTsenPu

Yeah after feeling the stock shocks in my hand it was no question that they were designed that way with RFT in mind. Bottom line is dont bother lowering your car if you plan on driving with RFT unless you like an uber stiff ride. Thats what she said!

How is it with non-runflats though?

MeeTsenPu · 03-29-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

How is it with non-runflats though?

Stiffer but very smooth (if you know what im trying to say), personally I think its a better ride then stock shocks with RFT.

MassBimmer · 03-29-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeeTsenPu

Stiffer but very smooth (if you know what im trying to say), personally I think its a better ride then stock shocks with RFT.

Awesome thanks. I just ordered Bilsteins to pair with the H&R Sports I already have installed. I'm tired of the bouncy ride.

MeeTsenPu · 03-29-2011, 10:45 AM

Nice, keep us posted as to how it turns out. Don't freak out if your car sits higher for a while too! Has anyone else used the H&R/Bilstein combo?

MassBimmer · 03-29-2011, 10:55 AM

Hear's to hoping it settles quickly...I know of a couple guys running H&R's with Bilsteins

MeeTsenPu · 03-29-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

Hear's to hoping it settles quickly...I know of a couple guys running H&R's with Bilsteins

What has been their general reaction to the combo?

MassBimmer · 03-29-2011, 03:50 PM

Overall it's been positive, but that was when they initially installed...haven't heard a recent update

MeeTsenPu · 03-29-2011, 03:59 PM

I cant wait to take my winter setup off because of the RFTs but as you are aware being in the NE, winter is not giving up easily to spring this year!

seis-speed · 03-30-2011, 06:01 AM

So was the stiffer ride just from the shocks....I am running springs and it is much harsher than oem ,but the tradeoff is worth the stiff ride IMO.

MeeTsenPu · 03-30-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seis-speed

So was the stiffer ride just from the shocks....I am running springs and it is much harsher than oem ,but the tradeoff is worth the stiff ride IMO.

When I mean stiffer Im generally referring to no more boaty/floating feel to the suspension. Although not purposely designed together I think the Bilsteins do a great job with dampening any unwanted bounciness from the lowered springs.

teamadobo · 05-14-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeeTsenPu

Yeah after feeling the stock shocks in my hand it was no question that they were designed that way with RFT in mind. Bottom line is dont bother lowering your car if you plan on driving with RFT unless you like an uber stiff ride. Thats what she said!

Bringing this back up. When you say stiff is it the suspension not absorbing bumps at all?

I am in the fence on lowering my car but I cant ditch the RFT

MeeTsenPu · 05-15-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teamadobo

Bringing this back up. When you say stiff is it the suspension not absorbing bumps at all?

I am in the fence on lowering my car but I cant ditch the RFT

I think the setup I have does a great job in absorbing bumps and dampening unwanted oscillation.

The thing is with RFT the sidewall is SOOOO stiff (for obvious reasons) that potholes particularly dont get absorbed and the impact is immediately transferred to the suspension which makes the ride pretty rough.

When you dont have RFT the tire itself absorbs a lot of that initial impact with a pothole therefore less energy is transferred to the suspension and resulting in an over all smoother ride.

Babo335 · 05-16-2011, 01:46 PM

I'm thinking about lowering my car ( 2011 328 Xdrive Sport Pkg) with Just Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set stock shocks. I currently have a set of 19" stagered wheels on it ans the fender gap is about 3" or so, I'm hoping that by usig just the spring will close a bit the gap and provide a more stiffer ride.

Has anyone try this setup? if so, please let me know with recomendations.

Thanks!

03-19-2011, 06:00 PM	#45
seis-speed #savethemanuals 2590 Rep 2,052 Posts Drives: 1M \| GT3 \| J392 \| G80 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Coast iTrader: (0)	Shock/Srping update? It has been about year, how is everything holding up. I plan on doing this combo soon.
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03-24-2011, 02:05 PM	#46
MeeTsenPu Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 09 335i X-Drive Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (3)	Everything has held up great but I think it took somewhere near 3 months before it settled to its final ride height. I can only assume that this is because I put in the Bilstein shocks at the same time as the springs. The Bilstein shocks are A LOT more stiff then stock. Winter was a little brutal as I switched back to my 17" RFT. Next year that will be resolved by replacing them with dedicated snow non-RFT!
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03-24-2011, 07:51 PM	#48
CrimsonIvy35i Captain 49 Rep 675 Posts Drives: X6 M Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central America iTrader: (0)	I liked your previous wheels 100 times better, change them back... ASAP.
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03-25-2011, 10:10 AM	#49
MeeTsenPu Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 09 335i X-Drive Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (3)	Here is a link to another discussion in the Pics forum. I posted some shots of my car from around August last year. As you can see it does look lower then the pics from this thread. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...2&postcount=18
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2011, 07:43 PM	#50
MassBimmer Major General 313 Rep 7,436 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 M50 Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2009 BMW [9.24]	Ride quality still good?
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03-28-2011, 07:51 PM	#51
Babydragon Captain 35 Rep 781 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Chic/ago iTrader: (0)	Also if you could do a quick measure. I'm contemplating these or the b
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03-29-2011, 10:45 AM	#57
MeeTsenPu Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 09 335i X-Drive Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (3)	Nice, keep us posted as to how it turns out. Don't freak out if your car sits higher for a while too! Has anyone else used the H&R/Bilstein combo?
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03-29-2011, 10:55 AM	#58
MassBimmer Major General 313 Rep 7,436 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 M50 Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2009 BMW [9.24]	Hear's to hoping it settles quickly...I know of a couple guys running H&R's with Bilsteins
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03-29-2011, 03:50 PM	#60
MassBimmer Major General 313 Rep 7,436 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 M50 Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2009 BMW [9.24]	Overall it's been positive, but that was when they initially installed...haven't heard a recent update
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03-29-2011, 03:59 PM	#61
MeeTsenPu Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 09 335i X-Drive Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (3)	I cant wait to take my winter setup off because of the RFTs but as you are aware being in the NE, winter is not giving up easily to spring this year!
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03-30-2011, 06:01 AM	#62
seis-speed #savethemanuals 2590 Rep 2,052 Posts Drives: 1M \| GT3 \| J392 \| G80 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Coast iTrader: (0)	So was the stiffer ride just from the shocks....I am running springs and it is much harsher than oem ,but the tradeoff is worth the stiff ride IMO.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2011, 01:46 PM	#66
Babo335 Officer 7 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2014 335 Xdrive Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I'm thinking about lowering my car ( 2011 328 Xdrive Sport Pkg) with Just Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set stock shocks. I currently have a set of 19" stagered wheels on it ans the fender gap is about 3" or so, I'm hoping that by usig just the spring will close a bit the gap and provide a more stiffer ride. Has anyone try this setup? if so, please let me know with recomendations. Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote