Ok, it's 2019, what springs are my best bet (2011 M-Sport 328xi)

fiveightandten · 10-08-2019, 07:43 PM

I just bought a 2011 M-Sport 328xi. It's a nice car, but coming from E36 and E46 sport package and M cars, this thing handles like a Caddy. BMW calls this M-sport suspension? It's a DD, so I'm not looking to slam it. I just want it to handle like a BMW with sport suspension should. Not to mention the 4 finger gap between the tire and fender.

Anyways, I've had great luck with Koni yellows on my cars, so I was planning on that. I've read H&R sports (50494) are overly stiff. It seems the Eibach Pro springs aren't right for Xi cars, so I'm not sure where else to turn.

What do people run in M-sport Xi cars to get the car to handle like it should have out of the factory? Photobucket's foolery makes it tough to dig up pics from old threads, and info on XI cars is hard to find.

drawz · 10-11-2019, 10:22 PM

Even though you have the M sport package, BMW only offered one suspension setup from the factory on xdrive cars. So you really have stock non-sport suspension. Wheel gap is increased on the xdrive cars to try to make up for some of the last travel due to the space taken by the front axles. There's a suspension compatibility sticky at the top of the subforum. I don't think H&R or Eibach officially support xdrive, but lots of people have used those setups.

fiveightandten · 10-15-2019, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawz

Even though you have the M sport package, BMW only offered one suspension setup from the factory on xdrive cars. So you really have stock non-sport suspension. Wheel gap is increased on the xdrive cars to try to make up for some of the last travel due to the space taken by the front axles. There's a suspension compatibility sticky at the top of the subforum. I don't think H&R or Eibach officially support xdrive, but lots of people have used those setups.

Thanks for the reply. I did a lot more searching and Googling and I ordered Koni yellows and European Eibach xi springs from Germany. Everything should be here this week.

4 Doors · 10-22-2019, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveightandten

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawz

Even though you have the M sport package, BMW only offered one suspension setup from the factory on xdrive cars. So you really have stock non-sport suspension. Wheel gap is increased on the xdrive cars to try to make up for some of the last travel due to the space taken by the front axles. There's a suspension compatibility sticky at the top of the subforum. I don't think H&R or Eibach officially support xdrive, but lots of people have used those setups.

Thanks for the reply. I did a lot more searching and Googling and I ordered Koni yellows and European Eibach xi springs from Germany. Everything should be here this week.

I currently run Eibach Sport Springs (RWD version) over KONI Yellows on an E90 335xi and love them.

spak888 · 10-22-2019, 02:36 PM

First Picture: 2011 335i xDrive with Eibach 2092.140 springs and Koni Yellow Shocks. The fronts settled fine but rears settled a bit too much for rear passenger transport.

Second Picture: Same car with 2092.140 front springs only and OEM ZSP D5 rear springs and Koni Yellow. Current setup.

Third Picture (not the best quality picture): 2007 355xi with OEM ZSP D7 front and D6 rear and Koni Yellow.

I hope this helps!

4 Doors · 10-22-2019, 04:15 PM

Another big factor and piece of suspension to change out are the bump stops. By putting on lowering springs and different shocks/struts you need to change out the bump stops because of travel. Usually the E36 M3 bump stops in the front and Z4M bump stops in the rear work great! That is what I run.

nicked8 · 10-23-2019, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveightandten

Thanks for the reply. I did a lot more searching and Googling and I ordered Koni yellows and European Eibach xi springs from Germany. Everything should be here this week.

How did you go about getting the Euro spec springs? I'd like to do this combo with the Koni yellows in the future but don't want to use the RWD springs as I think they will lower the rear too much for my liking.

Blaze439 · 10-24-2019, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicked8

How did you go about getting the Euro spec springs? I'd like to do this combo with the Koni yellows in the future but don't want to use the RWD springs as I think they will lower the rear too much for my liking.

+1

4 Doors · 10-24-2019, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicked8

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveightandten

Thanks for the reply. I did a lot more searching and Googling and I ordered Koni yellows and European Eibach xi springs from Germany. Everything should be here this week.

How did you go about getting the Euro spec springs? I'd like to do this combo with the Koni yellows in the future but don't want to use the RWD springs as I think they will lower the rear too much for my liking.

You can search extensively for companies that hold them. Some get them off EBay, others contact Eibach to see what Euro-Suppliers hold them and order that way as well. Obviously you pay a little more for shipping.

I do not have the Euro-version of the Eibach springs. I have the RWD version and they work great. Many others on here use them as well with no issues. Again, the big piece to remember is travel and switching bump stops helps greatly.

HawkeyeGeoff · 10-25-2019, 12:26 PM

Dinan springs w/ Bilstein B8's. I switched from the eibach pros to the dinans when I got the car because it was crashing over bumps.

colorado.e9x · 11-15-2019, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveightandten

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawz

Even though you have the M sport package, BMW only offered one suspension setup from the factory on xdrive cars. So you really have stock non-sport suspension. Wheel gap is increased on the xdrive cars to try to make up for some of the last travel due to the space taken by the front axles. There's a suspension compatibility sticky at the top of the subforum. I don't think H&R or Eibach officially support xdrive, but lots of people have used those setups.

Thanks for the reply. I did a lot more searching and Googling and I ordered Koni yellows and European Eibach xi springs from Germany. Everything should be here this week.

I currently run Eibach Sport Springs (RWD version) over KONI Yellows on an E90 335xi and love them.

pics?

colorado.e9x · 11-15-2019, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff

Dinan springs w/ Bilstein B8's. I switched from the eibach pros to the dinans when I got the car because it was crashing over bumps.

How's the ride quality compared to the pros? And do you have pics as well?

Soravia · 11-16-2019, 01:03 AM

Do what I did, get bigger 18" wheel and fatter tire 235/45/18.
You can even do 235/40/18 and look flushed.

Your car will FEEL sporty just by using Bilsterin HD/6 dampers.
Xi springs are stronger than other, made to handle the boat weight of 3770 on wagon xi I wouldn't down grade to other weaker springs.
But I hear E93 has same weight and it sits low, so perhaps you can use those springs.

If you want to FEEL sportier, what you need are solid (not hollow, not liquid) suspension arm bushings for front and sub frame bushing inserts for the back.

10-08-2019, 07:43 PM	#1
fiveightandten Private 111 Rep 81 Posts Drives: F22 M235, E36 M3, E30 325, E90 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Ok, it's 2019, what springs are my best bet (2011 M-Sport 328xi) I just bought a 2011 M-Sport 328xi. It's a nice car, but coming from E36 and E46 sport package and M cars, this thing handles like a Caddy. BMW calls this M-sport suspension? It's a DD, so I'm not looking to slam it. I just want it to handle like a BMW with sport suspension should. Not to mention the 4 finger gap between the tire and fender. Anyways, I've had great luck with Koni yellows on my cars, so I was planning on that. I've read H&R sports (50494) are overly stiff. It seems the Eibach Pro springs aren't right for Xi cars, so I'm not sure where else to turn. What do people run in M-sport Xi cars to get the car to handle like it should have out of the factory? Photobucket's foolery makes it tough to dig up pics from old threads, and info on XI cars is hard to find.
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10-11-2019, 10:22 PM	#2
drawz Second Lieutenant 87 Rep 264 Posts Drives: 06 330xi 6MT, 08 535xiT 6MT Join Date: May 2009 Location: Newton, MA iTrader: (0)	Even though you have the M sport package, BMW only offered one suspension setup from the factory on xdrive cars. So you really have stock non-sport suspension. Wheel gap is increased on the xdrive cars to try to make up for some of the last travel due to the space taken by the front axles. There's a suspension compatibility sticky at the top of the subforum. I don't think H&R or Eibach officially support xdrive, but lots of people have used those setups.
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10-22-2019, 02:36 PM	#5
spak888 Private First Class 165 Rep 110 Posts Drives: '19 M2C,'07 335xi, '11 335ix Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [10.00] 2011 BMW 335i xDrive [0.00] 2007 BMW 335xi [0.00]	First Picture: 2011 335i xDrive with Eibach 2092.140 springs and Koni Yellow Shocks. The fronts settled fine but rears settled a bit too much for rear passenger transport. Second Picture: Same car with 2092.140 front springs only and OEM ZSP D5 rear springs and Koni Yellow. Current setup. Third Picture (not the best quality picture): 2007 355xi with OEM ZSP D7 front and D6 rear and Koni Yellow. I hope this helps! Attached Images
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10-22-2019, 04:15 PM	#6
4 Doors Major 1181 Rep 1,505 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i (E91) Touring Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Michigan iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW 335xi [10.00]	Another big factor and piece of suspension to change out are the bump stops. By putting on lowering springs and different shocks/struts you need to change out the bump stops because of travel. Usually the E36 M3 bump stops in the front and Z4M bump stops in the rear work great! That is what I run. __________________ Instagram: @4doors Current: 2011 E91 328i M-Sport Touring Past: 2008 E90 335xi 1996 E36 328i Sport
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10-25-2019, 12:26 PM	#10
HawkeyeGeoff Captain 264 Rep 620 Posts Drives: E90 335XI MSport, S2000 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Waterford, MI iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i XDrive [0.00] 2001 Honda S2000 [0.00]	Dinan springs w/ Bilstein B8's. I switched from the eibach pros to the dinans when I got the car because it was crashing over bumps.
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11-16-2019, 01:03 AM	#13
Soravia Captain 116 Rep 598 Posts Drives: 2011 E91 Silver xDrive 6MT Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kentucky iTrader: (0)	Do what I did, get bigger 18" wheel and fatter tire 235/45/18. You can even do 235/40/18 and look flushed. Your car will FEEL sporty just by using Bilsterin HD/6 dampers. Xi springs are stronger than other, made to handle the boat weight of 3770 on wagon xi I wouldn't down grade to other weaker springs. But I hear E93 has same weight and it sits low, so perhaps you can use those springs. If you want to FEEL sportier, what you need are solid (not hollow, not liquid) suspension arm bushings for front and sub frame bushing inserts for the back.
	Appreciate 0 Quote