[_bdiddyb_]

I installed the Bilstein PSS10 coilovers with 20" rims on 245/35/fr 275/30/rr tires and I can feel every crack and crevices on the road. Moderate drop (1 finger and 1/2 gap); I had the setting dialed in at 4 clicks front and rear.

The PSS10 is great - compression/rebound on dips was immediate, no bouncing around. Cornering was tight, and I feel "planted", but man-o-man, the road cracks and patches are noisy!
During the install of the rear springs, Bilstein instruction stated not to re-use the top rubber piece (it's about 5 times the thickness of the one provided) - could this be the cause of road noise?

Or, could it be cheap tires? I got the Nexen n3000, not up there with Pirelli or nitto but it's not cheap comparing to standard sized tires either.

So what are you fellaz running on your 20's? I've seen a 528 running 40 fronts and 35 rears Pirelli - looks ok. I've so seen on the streets, 45 fronts and 40 rears - too tall for my taste.

[Sedan_Clan]

I think it's neither the tires nor the bushings. The suspension is stiff. That's why we love the Bilsteins!!! I just ordered the Sport B8 shock/strut combo myself. I can't wait to feel every crack/crevice in the road.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I think it's neither the tires nor the bushings. The suspension is stiff. That's why we love the Bilsteins!!! I just ordered the Sport B8 shock/strut combo myself. I can't wait to feel every crack/crevice in the road.

"I can't wait to feel every crack and crevice..."

[F32]

Out of all places to skimp, it's beyond me why people go cheap on tires.

Nexen? Really?

[OC40]

Originally Posted by F32

Out of all places to skimp, it's beyond me why people go cheap on tires.

Nexen? Really?

I'm here

Same could be said for coffee. Why drink Starbucks, mcdonalds, Pete's, etc, when you could enjoy Stumptown, Kean, Portola or Kauai.

[F32]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I think it's neither the tires nor the bushings. The suspension is stiff. That's why we love the Bilsteins!!! I just ordered the Sport B8 shock/strut combo myself. I can't wait to feel every crack/crevice in the road.

It's absolutely the tires. Tires are the single biggest factor in road noise. A stiffer suspension doesn't make a car louder.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by F32

It's absolutely the tires. Tires are the single biggest factor in road noise. A stiffer suspension doesn't make a car louder.

Read!!!!!!!! I said NOTHING about ROAD NOISE. His title may be "Road Noise", but he spent his time talking about feeling every road imperfection, which is characteristic of stiffer suspensions. It doesn't matter which tires he chooses, he's still going to deal with the same issues. Try again!

[F32]

Originally Posted by _bdiddyb_

During the install of the rear springs, Bilstein instruction stated not to re-use the top rubber piece (it's about 5 times the thickness of the one provided) - could this be the cause of road noise? Or, could it be cheap tires? I got the Nexen n3000, not up there with Pirelli or nitto but it's not cheap comparing to standard sized tires either.

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I think it's neither the tires nor the bushings. The suspension is stiff. That's why we love the Bilsteins!!! I just ordered the Sport B8 shock/strut combo myself. I can't wait to feel every crack/crevice in the road.

Sounds like you're talking about road noise, buddy.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by F32

Sounds like you're talking about road noise, buddy.

....and I was specific about what I was referring to in the subject matter of his post (..feeling every imperfection, etc.), NOT his misleading title. Changing his tires is not going to alleviate that. TRY AGAIN!

[_bdiddyb_]

F32, Sedan_Clan
Cracks and crevices, I can hear them and I can feel them - they're related. Don't tell me you can have one without the other. What are you two driving and "riding on"? 20's with the same tire sizes?

I'm looking for real world experiences and not theory or hypothesis. There seems to be a lot of bad ideas floating around. In this forum, there was a poster whom stated replacing the rear shocks is much like an e92 - apparently he has not done this himself. Shit I pulled out my trunk liner to look for the locking nut - wasn't there! Dropping the shock takes 3 upper bolts from the outside and the larger bolt from the bottom.

So please post your coilovers setup, tire makes, and sizes, and let me know how your ride handles in regards to road noise and performance. Just springs (h&r seems most ppl in this forum have), need not response because the top rubber bushing is kept. I would hate to replace with new tires only to find out the noise is attributed to how the coilovers are designed.

[jestopolis]

Put your stock wheels and tires back on and see what happens.

Nexens are junk, fwiw.

[_bdiddyb_]

Really? hot damn! you've experienced them before? What do you have on your 320?

Originally Posted by jestopolis

Put your stock wheels and tires back on and see what happens.

Nexens are junk, fwiw.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by _bdiddyb_

F32, Sedan_Clan
Cracks and crevices, I can hear them and I can feel them - they're related. Don't tell me you can have one without the other. What are you two driving and "riding on"? 20's with the same tire sizes?

I'm looking for real world experiences and not theory or hypothesis. There seems to be a lot of bad ideas floating around. In this forum, there was a poster whom stated replacing the rear shocks is much like an e92 - apparently he has not done this himself. Shit I pulled out my trunk liner to look for the locking nut - wasn't there! Dropping the shock takes 3 upper bolts from the outside and the larger bolt from the bottom.

So please post your coilovers setup, tire makes, and sizes, and let me know how your ride handles in regards to road noise and performance. Just springs (h&r seems most ppl in this forum have), need not response because the top rubber bushing is kept. I would hate to replace with new tires only to find out the noise is attributed to how the coilovers are designed.

Calm down Cowboy! You're the ill-experienced one here. I'll humor you though...


....I've been modding cars since, well, FOREVER. I've run most of the popular aftermarket coilover suspensions at some point in my life (..TEIN's, Ground Control, KW's, TC Klines, among others......) on various BMW's - mostly M3's - and on various Honda Civics, and with the exception of the Civic's, the BMW's were always on 19" or 20" wheels. While I have never personally run the Bilstein PSS10's, I'm aware of their characteristics. Nobody was suggesting that you were imagining things and/or that your observations were unrelated. I don't quite know where you got that from.

I already told you, the car's sensitivity to ROAD IMPERFECTIONS and UNDULATIONS is due to your suspension set-up. You should've done your research if you didn't intend for those attributes to become part and part to your car's road-going behavior. ROAD NOISE can, and often is, attributed to the type of tire that you're riding on, but suspensions play a role in that as well. You will never completely alleviate the road noise with your set-up.

Yes, bad information is regurgitated on forums all of the time. It's unfortunate that you learned the hard way, but we all have been in your position at some point in time. Welcome to the forum!

Chew on that information and tip me later!

[_bdiddyb_]

Sedan, I see you have experience. I was hoping you would share some of your setups. This is my first bimmer, I've only worked on accords and civics.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by _bdiddyb_

Sedan, I see you have experience. I was hoping you would share some of your setups. This is my first bimmer, I've only worked on accords and civics.

Well, I don't remember each specific detail. On my E46 M3's I ran Type 1 & 2 TEIN coilovers with BBS LM's and OEM ZCP wheels mounted to Michelin Pilot Sports. I also ran the Ground Control and TC Kline kits with those wheels as well, and the OEM 19" polished wheel that came with the E46 at that time. Both of my E9X M3's were on EDC shocks with H&R's; 19" OEM polished wheels on the sedan and 19" ZCP and BBS LM's on the coupe. Both sets of wheels had Michelin Pilot Sport tires.

Most of that won't help you though. The Bilstein's are stiff. You are going to feel and hear the road in a much more visceral way. It doesn't help that the F30 isn't as sound proofed and insulated as other cars.