[Woody80]

On the verge of ditching the run flats and getting a set of M359s in the process. From what everyone has said the ride will be better with less tramlining etc.

Is there also a suspension option to improve the ride, I'm not interesting in dropping the car (a little might be nice ) and want it to handle being honed but with a bit more composure. All the threads about coilovers seem to be about slamming the car and less about improving the ride (from my skimming). I don't want it to be any more crashy than it currently is!

What are my options (I have searched but just got lost in decked cars which looked good.......)

[whizzkid11]

Originally Posted by Woody80

On the verge of ditching the run flats and getting a set of M359s in the process. From what everyone has said the ride will be better with less tramlining etc.

Is there also a suspension option to improve the ride, I'm not interesting in dropping the car (a little might be nice ) and want it to handle being honed but with a bit more composure. All the threads about coilovers seem to be about slamming the car and less about improving the ride (from my skimming). I don't want it to be any more crashy than it currently is!

What are my options (I have searched but just got lost in decked cars which looked good.......)

Coilovers can be adjusted as needed, so its not just about 'slamming' the car - from a suspension perspective a decent set of coilovers with correct wheels and tyres will set it up nicely.

With all being adjustable, you can set it up as you like.

[Josh1a1h]

Eibach springs don't lower the car much but definitely help the car in the corners. People out these springs on stock shocks. But I recommend you upgarde the shocks to some Koni yellows.
So at the end of the day you may as well get some coilovers.

[Bee Pee]

Op,

Here's an iphone photo of my BSM touring with Birds B3S kit which has eibach springs.

Car is a tad lower but not by much.

Still able to deal with speed bumps in the burbs and rutted lanes in the countryside !!

[doughboy]

Dave, were you pi##ed when you took that?

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by Pave Dew

Op,

Here's an iphone photo of my BSM touring with Birds B3S kit which has eibach springs.

Car is a tad lower but not by much.

Still able to deal with speed bumps in the burbs and rutted lanes in the countryside !!

Looks good (through the blur ) How does it ride compared to stock?

[Woody80]

Is anyone able to list out the options in preference? I've seen Konis, BC, KW3, Birds and Ohlins all recommended in different ways but I'm not sure how they compare in terms of bias as I'm guessing some will be more track orientated rather than road?

[Billyray911]

Z

[andyrap]

Originally Posted by Billyray911

I'll throw another combination into the mix for your consideration.Have you thought about a mixture of Koni FSD's and Eibach pro springs?
Nice and comfy on our roads,with none of the 'crashiness' of Msport suspension.But the way the shocks are designed,with the frequency selective damping,they tighten up nicely for fast road use.
Very slight drop in height and no fouling with 19"s

Absolutely love those wheels and their colour What are they?

Ride height looks good and particularly interesting to read comfy as well. I've got M Sport at the moment and would really only consider a change if the comfort could be maintained / improved (family car, shitty roads).

[Billyray911]

Z

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by Woody80

Looks good (through the blur ) How does it ride compared to stock?

Woody,

Ride is much improved c/w non RFT all round compared stock Msport and RFT's

DB,

Not brahms & List, just big mitts fumbling with blooming iphone !!!

Dave

[doughboy]

Woody, I've also got the birds b3 kit and it is fantastic. It has springs made by Eibach and bespoke revalved Bilstein dampers, B6 I think?

I would say it is the most complete and best resolved kit available as it has been designed, tuned, tested & retested, all bespoke by a world renowned suspension consultant for E9x and UK roads specifically, no Ring testing or any of that BS. The consultants also design for Jag and Lotus.

This means the springs match the dampers perfectly, only then do you get a coherent setup.

You'll never get that with a mix and match setup.

The way the B3 doesn't jar at low speeds makes you think it's soft, but press on and the way it controls the car is remarkable, all done with properly judges damping. It actually has softer rear springs.

Mines a family car too, and this kit is equally happy on a track day or going to Morrisons.

Have you read the BMWcar mag review of the B3 kit?

Re coilovers, a lot of insurers now separate 'coilovers' from 'lowered suspension' charging a lot more for coilovers as a mod.

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Woody, I've also got the birds b3 kit and it is fantastic. It has springs made by Eibach and bespoke revalved Bilstein dampers, B6 I think?

I would say it is the most complete and best resolved kit available as it has been designed, tuned, tested & retested, all bespoke by a world renowned suspension consultant for E9x and UK roads specifically, no Ring testing or any of that BS. The consultants also design for Jag and Lotus.

This means the springs match the dampers perfectly, only then do you get a coherent setup.

You'll never get that with a mix and match setup.

The way the B3 doesn't jar at low speeds makes you think it's soft, but press on and the way it controls the car is remarkable, all done with properly judges damping. It actually has softer rear springs.

Mines a family car too, and this kit is equally happy on a track day or going to Morrisons.

Have you read the BMWcar mag review of the B3 kit?

Re coilovers, a lot of insurers now separate 'coilovers' from 'lowered suspension' charging a lot more for coilovers as a mod.

+1 on DB's review of B3 kit.

My e91 is a daily driver, dad's taxi, occassional track day and regular w/end schelps to N Wales to see the out-laws.

My insurer was sympathetic re loading of annual premium as it was a package as opposed separate components add-ons.

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Woody, I've also got the birds b3 kit and it is fantastic. It has springs made by Eibach and bespoke revalved Bilstein dampers, B6 I think?

I would say it is the most complete and best resolved kit available as it has been designed, tuned, tested & retested, all bespoke by a world renowned suspension consultant for E9x and UK roads specifically, no Ring testing or any of that BS. The consultants also design for Jag and Lotus.

This means the springs match the dampers perfectly, only then do you get a coherent setup.

You'll never get that with a mix and match setup.

The way the B3 doesn't jar at low speeds makes you think it's soft, but press on and the way it controls the car is remarkable, all done with properly judges damping. It actually has softer rear springs.

Mines a family car too, and this kit is equally happy on a track day or going to Morrisons.

Have you read the BMWcar mag review of the B3 kit?

Re coilovers, a lot of insurers now separate 'coilovers' from 'lowered suspension' charging a lot more for coilovers as a mod.

I haven't read the review, I'll have a google. Is it a night and day mod rather than a subtle improvement?

[doughboy]

I've got the article in pdf at home, I'll try and post it later.

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I've got the article in pdf at home, I'll try and post it later.

[doughboy]

can't do file insertions on my stupid ipad.

but found the original Birds thread with the article attached. enjoy.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401537

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by doughboy

can't do file insertions on my stupid ipad.

but found the original Birds thread with the article attached. enjoy.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401537

Good man! I'll have a proper read

[AlanYoro35i]

Depends how much you want to spend?

[Woody80]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

Depends how much you want to spend?

Think that'd depend on how much better it could be £1-1.5k would be tops if it was truly brilliant.

[doughboy]

agree, it depends what your objective is.

If you just want slammed for taking cool pics in car parks, or doing 5mph cruzin past the local McD's, then any low cost mix and match kits will do.

Make it stiffer and lower will help handling to a certain extent. But If you want it to drive well at speed, and be stable, controlled and still comfortable then you need a well coordinated and designed setup.

Think sporty jag etc, comfortable, firm, well balanced, more GT than sports car but can still hussle it with the best, that's the best you could want for an E9x due to the weight, it's never going to be a Lotus....

A few points:

1. adjustable dampers are pointless on the road, because as soon as you adjust them the they don'y match the spring rate any more, so any coordination will be lost. Sure it may feel different, but thats just pub points, "my car's stiffer than yours".

2. no amount of springs and dampers will change the factory designed understeer dictated by the spindly rear ARB, this needs changing (and the front) together with new suspension matched to it for best results.

Sure you can just fit the suspension, but its a lot of money to just make the car ride better, when to make it truly handle better you need ARBs too.

[E92Dan]

I have the Bilstein B12 kit on my car, its Billie dampers that are matched to Eibach pro springs. I chose it for several reasons
1 The kit is designed to work together
2 The car sits nicely
3 It's more comfortable than BMW suspension
4 It handles well
5 Cost