[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by rallybull

Shiva.... it has been quite some time since you made the above comments. After having had driven the car for a few months with these M-Perf coilover set, do you still feel that the ride has remained comfortable in general? Still feel the ride is 20% lesser stiff than M3? In one of your recent posts I thought you mentioned somewhere that this kit is not for the faint-hearted.... that seemed a bit contradicting to your original impressions on the kit.

My install is scheduled next Thursday and I'm crossing my fingers that the ride is not going to be nauseous -- classical example of having second thoughts about going ahead with this install. (hint: I hate roller coasters!!)

I would say about 15% less stiff than an M3....but if you daily drive with a WIFE, it's not for the faint of heart. She has started to relentlessly bitch about it now all the time, because we've moved to NJ and the roads are horrible.

So, would i do it again?
YES.
Would I go on a road trip with my wife in the car?
NO.

It's a great package and VERY well balanced, I was doing circular 8's on a track for a CCA day trying to skid out, and yes the tires helped, but the suspension is so tight and well composed, I'd need race car seats to real explore the far-reaching ends of the system. It's that good...

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

I would say about 15% less stiff than an M3....but if you daily drive with a WIFE, it's not for the faint of heart. She has started to relentlessly bitch about it now all the time, because we've moved to NJ and the roads are horrible.

So, would i do it again?
YES.
Would I go on a road trip with my wife in the car?
NO.

It's a great package and VERY well balanced, I was doing circular 8's on a track for a CCA day trying to skid out, and yes the tires helped, but the suspension is so tight and well composed, I'd need race car seats to real explore the far-reaching ends of the system. It's that good...

Thanks! While the roads here in Phoenix are not made of glass, but I would say they are still pretty damn good... I have no doubts about the performance aspect, was just a bit concerned about the comfort aspect since I use the car as a DD.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by rallybull

Thanks! While the roads here in Phoenix are not made of glass, but I would say they are still pretty damn good... I have no doubts about the performance aspect, was just a bit concerned about the comfort aspect since I use the car as a DD.

In Phoenix you should be fine, I've driven those roads and they are in FAR better condition than what we have out here for sure...

[rallybull]

I just got the car back after the M-Perf suspension install. Compared to my base suspension it is so much stiffer and the car is noticeably lower. You can easily make out all the "fine vibrations" from even a relatively smooth road on the steering wheel. I will not call it uncomfortable but at the same time this is really not "comfortable territory". I just can't imagine how people can run this suspension with 20" Run Flats !!

I have a question about the sway bars. Since I did not have the sports suspension originally, they were supposed to change out my sway bars too. After install they put the sway bars back in my car's trunk and they look so similar to the sport suspension sway bars. They look the same thickness to the eye and both are black in color. Could someone confirm that the sway bars for the sports and base suspension "visually look" the same? Is there any way I could confirm that the sway bars were indeed changed by the technician (other than asking the technician of course)?

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by rallybull

I just got the car back after the M-Perf suspension install. Compared to my base suspension it is so much stiffer and the car is noticeably lower. You can easily make out all the "fine vibrations" from even a relatively smooth road on the steering wheel. I will not call it uncomfortable but at the same time this is really not "comfortable territory". I just can't imagine how people can run this suspension with 20" Run Flats !!

I have a question about the sway bars. Since I did not have the sports suspension originally, they were supposed to change out my sway bars too. After install they put the sway bars back in my car's trunk and they look so similar to the sport suspension sway bars. They look the same thickness to the eye and both are black in color. Could someone confirm that the sway bars for the sports and base suspension "visually look" the same? Is there any way I could confirm that the sway bars were indeed changed by the technician (other than asking the technician of course)?

Measure the width of the bars in millimeters...

[Jamesons Viggen]

Your eye will not spot a couple of MM's, you would need to measure with a caliper.

Originally Posted by rallybull

I just got the car back after the M-Perf suspension install. Compared to my base suspension it is so much stiffer and the car is noticeably lower. You can easily make out all the "fine vibrations" from even a relatively smooth road on the steering wheel. I will not call it uncomfortable but at the same time this is really not "comfortable territory". I just can't imagine how people can run this suspension with 20" Run Flats !!

I have a question about the sway bars. Since I did not have the sports suspension originally, they were supposed to change out my sway bars too. After install they put the sway bars back in my car's trunk and they look so similar to the sport suspension sway bars. They look the same thickness to the eye and both are black in color. Could someone confirm that the sway bars for the sports and base suspension "visually look" the same? Is there any way I could confirm that the sway bars were indeed changed by the technician (other than asking the technician of course)?

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

Your eye will not spot a couple of MM's, you would need to measure with a caliper.

Believe me you can. Easily. I'll go home and measure though.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by rallybull

Believe me you can. Easily. I'll go home and measure though.

You still talking about sway bars?

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

You still talking about sway bars?

lol....no I was not, but I get it now !!!
cool thanks, that gives me a bit of reassurance that the technician did the right job.

took it out for a spin again for about an hour, already started getting used to stiffness.... and have started enjoying it... always wanted a nice and tight suspension

I'll still replace my RFTs though to get back a bit of comfort.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

You still talking about sway bars?

Yeah I'm with Jameson on this one, you'll need calipers.

But you'll notice the difference immeidately if you had a non Sport/M Sport model, because the bars make that big of a difference from the POS we get stock.

RE: drive, it's like sex and food appreciation, all very personal. I did note I was coming from an Evo VIII and comparing it to an Ex M3 I've been in (where I said about 20-25% less stiff). Feeling the road and it's subtle imperfections might be a tire thing too...I have Jamesons 18" M Sport Rims, and didn't want anything larger for that reason alone.

19's and 20's would be unbearable for a DD with this suspension setup. But tolerable for a 5 mile round trip daily commute (my new commute is about 40 miles round trip, and it's fine)

[newoldbeemer]

@rallybull: has your car stopped
rolling (pitch, squat etc) as much as you expected?

[ronin951]

After getting rid if the rft's my ride improved significantly. Even with lightweight wheels.

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

@rallybull: has your car stopped
rolling (pitch, squat etc) as much as you expected?

In general the car feels rock solid now. Body roll has reduced dramatically. The car is so much closer to a go kart than what it was before.
Can't comment on the pitch/swat yet. I'll take the car out for some aggressive acceleration and braking and will report back. Fast lane changes are super fun now.

[jamesems]

Cool

[OC40]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Yeah I'm with Jameson on this one, you'll need calipers.

But you'll notice the difference immeidately if you had a non Sport/M Sport model, because the bars make that big of a difference from the POS we get stock.

RE: drive, it's like sex and food appreciation, all very personal. I did note I was coming from an Evo VIII and comparing it to an Ex M3 I've been in (where I said about 20-25% less stiff). Feeling the road and it's subtle imperfections might be a tire thing too...I have Jamesons 18" M Sport Rims, and didn't want anything larger for that reason alone.

19's and 20's would be unbearable for a DD with this suspension setup. But tolerable for a 5 mile round trip daily commute (my new commute is about 40 miles round trip, and it's fine)

19's and RF's would make it unbearable? I have both and don't plan on giving up the RF's. I was thinking KW coilovers, but I want to keep everything OEM/warranty and do not want to drop my car by 1.2". We picked up a Mini S with sports suspension and JCW strut braces for my wife last weekend. I've been taking corners at about 90mph...I feel like Mario in Mario Kart except I'm 6'5" and do not have a 'stache!

[bmrm396]

has anybody done the performance springs with the regular msport suspension yet? i think i might be the guinea pig and see what its all about. i want to keep it OEM for warranty sake but not sure im willing to spend 3k on sups just yet ...

i cant see how this would be any diff that puttin on H&R or other lowering spring set

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by ronin951

After getting rid if the rft's my ride improved significantly. Even with lightweight wheels.

What wheels and tires did you get? What wheels and tires did you replace?

[newoldbeemer]

Hi,

I'm wondering what quote others got for the whole thing and how much you were able to beat it down. I know shivaswrath ended up getting a good deal because the dealer messed up first and had to make it up, but ronin and rallybull and others?

I just got license plates for my car - had to take it in to get them fixed, drill a hole ugh - and the first thing I asked about is this upgrade. Dealer quotes around 3k for parts and around 2k for labor. I've ask him to talk o the manager and call me back with a deal. Mine is the base 328i, so that includes the kit, springs (not part of the kit), msport front and rear stabilizer bars.

[newoldbeemer]

Also to add, here are the part numbers I got from the dealer

- Retrofit kit - 33-50-2-320-980 - seems in line with other posts (ending with 80 for 328i, 81 for 335i)

- Stabilizer bars seem correct: 31-35-6-792-125 and 33-55-6-853-474

However, when it comes to the coils I am not sure:
- Rear 33-53-6-860-620 seems in line with what others posted.

But the front coil part number my dealer mentioned is 31-33-6-860-629. Is this correct? Some other posts mention this as the one for 335i Manual, but I am not sure how to validate. Mine is the auto 328i.
EDIT: This is correct according ronin's post on page 14..

Does that sound right?

[ronin951]

Originally Posted by rallybull

What wheels and tires did you get? What wheels and tires did you replace?

Went from stock m-sport w/rft to apex arc-8 18x8.5. Michelin SS's 235/40 front and 245/40 rear.

Road noise seemed to increase. I think that's just a function of the lighter wheels :shrug:

[OC40]

Originally Posted by ronin951

Went from stock m-sport w/rft to apex arc-8 18x8.5. Michelin SS's 235/40 front and 245/40 rear.

Road noise seemed to increase. I think that's just a function of the lighter wheels :shrug:

How was it with the run flats? I don't want to drop the coin on new tires in addition to the suspension. Just bought one new car, leased another one and paid for a wedding.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by OC40

How was it with the run flats? I don't want to drop the coin on new tires in addition to the suspension. Just bought one new car, leased another one and paid for a wedding.

Perfectly fine, I'm running 400Ms with summer S001's and no drama.
All seasons were of course quieter...
Winters, louder.