[Notic]

I have a 2011 e92 335xi msport and I am currently on stock suspension but I was thinking of lowering the car soon. As presented there is a fork in the path and I really don't know which I should go with. This is my daily driver and I don't plan on bringing it to the track other than the drag strip.

So far I have the option of going with the cheaper H&R lowering springs or save up for a nice set of coilovers.

What suspension did you guys go with and how is the ride/handling quality?

[BM3Rrrr]

Just get the coilovers, you wont regret it

KW makes a nice set

[Boosted12a]

If you are looking for more than an inch of lowering i would get the coilovers. I ordered dinan springs since I only wanted a very minimal lowering. I'm pairing those with koni yellows. It's almost the same price as a good set of coilovers but It won't see much track time and I have my 85 rx-7 for autox and track

[iqraceworks]

If you are not going to be constantly screwing with your ride height, or adjusting weight distribution for the track....I can't see any benefit of going with coil overs.

For the same amount of money...you are going to get a better ride out of shocks with lowering springs. Sure, there are some really nice coilover setups....but they are pricey....and the valving is designed for the track.

Just my thoughts......

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Boosted12a

If you are looking for more than an inch of lowering i would get the coilovers. I ordered dinan springs since I only wanted a very minimal lowering. I'm pairing those with koni yellows. It's almost the same price as a good set of coilovers but It won't see much track time and I have my 85 rx-7 for autox and track

H&R springs will lower the car more than an inch. I think Eibach makes a "race" spring that drops the car even lower than the H&R's....but on the street, unless you want to be dragging over everything...not sure why you would ever want to drop the car that low.

I have the sport Eibach springs that dropped the car about 3/4" .....and I still drag the front lip on my bumper on stuff every now and then.

[Smgs1992]

Well when you go with springs you also need struts so it kind of cancels out most of the cost savings. Youre better off getting coilovers and contacting a company such as BC to get custom spring rates for a softer ride.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

Well when you go with springs you also need struts so it kind of cancels out most of the cost savings. Youre better off getting coilovers and contacting a company such as BC to get custom spring rates for a softer ride.

Isn't a good set of coilovers around $1,800? You can get the Bilstein B22 pro kit with the springs and shocks for under $800. Sure...you can get a set of cheap coilovers for under $1,000.......but why would you want to put a cheap suspension setup on your car that rides like crap?

[Smgs1992]

If youre looking for real high end stuff of course. However a decent set can be had for $1000-1200 like i said BC racing will do custom spring rates for you i believe KW V2 are around that price as well

[hassmaschine]

I've always wondered how "decent" could only cost $1000. I've spent that much on struts/shocks alone. I guess don't expect them to last more than 5 years..

[iqraceworks]

Because most people have never owned good coilovers ......so anything they bolt on they think is "decent" when it's really just junk.

[Smgs1992]

Not everyone can justify spending $2-3k on suspension for a car worth $10k tops. Of course there is better out there but mid level coilovers arent complete shit. Theres guys out there who wont pay for anything more expensive than racelands. Gotta wonder if youve ever tried the brands you criticize or simply try to justify spending $3k on a set of ohlins for a car thats never going to the track?

[hassmaschine]

Well, you're making a lot of assumptions. But I've had lowered cars for a long, long time - and what I found out was that the cheap stuff doesn't last, and I ended up replacing it multiple times, where I should have just got something good to begin with and be done with it. Plus you know, ride quality..

[JingChai]

I got a set of slightly used Koni Special Active shocks/struts and H&R lowered springs for $300. The ride is significantly lower as I use to have the stock springs.

As for ride quality, it's much stiffer but tolerable for daily driving. I have a 2011 E90 328i.

[Leucosticte]

I feel that on an xi it won't be low enough with just lowering springs, I think that coilovers are much better in terms of handling and the look after lowering the car.

[Gamb1t]

It's important to match spring rates to your shock limitations. Many folks install too stiff of a lowering springs only to bust their shocks. Try to get match both for optimal handling and ride quality.

Can't see the value of coilovers unless you are constantly adjusting your ride hide or damper settings. Same $ can put towards a high quality spring & shock set.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

Not everyone can justify spending $2-3k on suspension for a car worth $10k tops. Of course there is better out there but mid level coilovers arent complete shit. Theres guys out there who wont pay for anything more expensive than racelands. Gotta wonder if youve ever tried the brands you criticize or simply try to justify spending $3k on a set of ohlins for a car thats never going to the track?

I spent $800 on a Bilstein B12 pro kit.....because I didn't want to waste my money on crappy coilovers.

[em5ive]

I too am debating between B12 pro kit and KWV1. I am leaning towards the KWV1 as I really would like to get rid of the front end rake on my Xdrive. I believe after B12 there is still some rake.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by em5ive

I too am debating between B12 pro kit and KWV1. I am leaning towards the KWV1 as I really would like to get rid of the front end rake on my Xdrive. I believe after B12 there is still some rake.

This is my 07' 335i right after the B12 pro kit install. It's pretty even front to rear. I've put a couple thousand miles on the car since I installed the kit, and both the front and rear have settled a little more....but they are still even. The front might have just a slight bit more gap than the rear....but not much. I'm glad I didn't do the H&R springs and go any lower....even with the Eibach springs I scrap the front bumper lip on stuff every once in a while.

[tlow98]

Just buy stock sport suspension springs and pair them with koni yellows or bilsteins. But just know the bilsteins will sacrifice a large portion of your comfort.

It I’ll ride extremely well and be perfectly reliable as they are actual BMW parts.

Sorry, you’re already m sport.

To get ride quality and go lower you will need to spend Ohlins RT money.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

This is my 07' 335i right after the B12 pro kit install. It's pretty even front to rear. I've put a couple thousand miles on the car since I installed the kit, and both the front and rear have settled a little more....but they are still even. The front might have just a slight bit more gap than the rear....but not much. I'm glad I didn't do the H&R springs and go any lower....even with the Eibach springs I scrap the front bumper lip on stuff every once in a while.

ST coilovers are the exact same price as the B12 pro kit and they are pretty much kw v1 coil overs. Therefore they are not crappy cheap coilovers. So I do not really see the cost saving .


With coil overs you can adjust the height , get rid of the rake on the XI models. And trust me adjusting the height is huge is your start getting into bigger rims , spacers, , flush look , etc.

I had adjusted my coliovers like 3 times . I had the rear fenders rubbing so bad . It was rubbing bad the very first time with just me on the car , the second time it was rubbing with 2 passengers, the third time it was rubbing with 4 passengers. Now the car is almost at perfect height. I may even go a little bit higher in the future. Its nice to have that option

[tlow98]

ST will be comfier than Bilstein if set up correctly.

[213e90n51]

So is M sport already low? Does any one scrape with M sport suspension? Also anyone with B12 eibach kit think its to low for daily and driveways? Also how does it compare to your previous shocks.