[Jchan112]

Thanks!! I didn't know it was a min of 50mm drop at the highest setting... That would definitely be too low for me since I have the front splitter

[AdiSinghV12]

Please post some pics!! Can't wait to see the F30 with H&R Sports + B8.

[richb811]

Originally Posted by Jchan112

Im on h&r sports but for the cost of the bilsteins + install again I'm debating if I should sell my springs and just get bc coilovers.. Haven't seen any bad reviews about them yet, and it'll just be about $200 more...? What do you guys think??

I'd be concerned about how well $800 coilovers would hold up to be perfectly honest.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by AdiSinghV12

Please post some pics!! Can't wait to see the F30 with H&R Sports + B8.

A photo was already posted (..page 3, post #52). If you want to see what the drop will be like, look for photos of any F30 on H&R Sports. The B8 shocks won't change the visual profile of the car.

[rxander]

Originally Posted by SD_F30

@Infamouz627


@rxander
Work was done at TAGmotorsports. They have a brand new shop in Vista. Very cool shop. They work on some very high end cars that put mine to shame.

The Bilstein Kit you linked to looks very cool. Coil overs up front and standard in the rear. I like that it's a set and has been matched by Bilstein from the get go. Price is seems reasonable. Maybe slightly more expensive than the shock strut combo. I had no idea this kit was out there.

Many thanks for the info. Tag Motosports has a solid rep. Did your labor cost include alignment?

Originally Posted by Jchan112

Im on h&r sports but for the cost of the bilsteins + install again I'm debating if I should sell my springs and just get bc coilovers.. Haven't seen any bad reviews about them yet, and it'll just be about $200 more...? What do you guys think??

Vs the Bilsteins, owe it to yourself and your car to not get the BC. Not saying they're are bad but Bilstein is a better quality brand. If anything I would go with the Bilstein coilovers I linked for a little over 1k. I'm sure you can get it bargained down at a reputable local shop.

[DVC]

This thread is getting me thinking more and more about suspension options...
I have DHP, so the suspension in the Sport setting is not bad, but I'd definitely like something a little firmer to control body roll.

I've been patiently waiting for the Dinan Shockware option (basically EDC tuning and stiffer springs), but I'm losing patience as I'm getting the feeling that Dinan isn't as close to releasing this as they've initially indicated...
Plus, I'm wondering whether adjustable dampers are really what I'm looking for. Based on the premise that spring rates should be matched to a specific damper curve, how could any one particular spring work well with different damper firmness settings? (@Sedan_Clan, since you've owned a few cars with coilovers as well as M3s with EDCs, what are you thoughts on this?)

At this point, in lieu of continuing to hold out for the Dinan Shockware kit, I'm considering Bilstein shocks / H&R springs, or the M Performance Suspension kit

Or possibly just splitting the difference for the time being and trying M Performance springs on my current EDC Sport dampers.
@shivaswrath, you upgraded to MPS, correct? Was this coming from DHP dampers? What are your thoughts?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by DVC

Based on the premise that spring rates should be matched to a specific damper curve, how could any one particular spring work well with different damper firmness settings? (@Sedan_Clan, since you've owned a few cars with coilovers as well as M3s with EDCs, what are you thoughts on this?)

At this point, in lieu of continuing to hold out for the Dinan Shockware kit, I'm considering Bilstein shocks / H&R springs, or the M Performance Suspension kit

It's definitely possible. If you look at your traditional coilover kit with adjustable rebound/dampening, that spring is designed to work within the range of adjustability of that shock/strut. Custom choosing the spring rates (...an option when you're buying kits from Ground Control, etc.) allows you to fine tune the amount of chassis stiffness you want, but the adjustable shock/strut is still designed to work with the fixed spring rate. I will be able to offer my feedback on the Bilstein/H&R combo on Friday.

[DVC]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

If you look at your traditional coilover kit with adjustable rebound/dampening, that spring is designed to work within the range of adjustability of that shock/strut.

Good point... so I guess the spring rate/damper curve matching doesn't need to be super precise

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I will be able to offer my feedback on the Bilstein/H&R combo on Friday.

I look forward to this. Have you ever driven on an MPS setup? Would be great to have a comparison of these two...

I'm starting to seriously consider getting a set of M Performance springs to go with my DHP dampers as an interim measure... minimal expense, and with a little bump stop trimming, the travel should be equal to stock but at a firmer spring rate (which would hopefully be more attuned to the firmer "Sport" setting range of the EDC damper curve.)

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by DVC

Good point... so I guess the spring rate/damper curve matching doesn't need to be super precise

I don't believe that it needs to be needle-point precise, however I do feel that there is a "sweet spot" with any shock/strut/spring combo, which is why shocks/struts that are developed along with a set spring (..as it seems to be with Bilstein/H&R) seem to work really, really well. I believe that shock/strut adjustability is analogous to rev limits. Sure, the shock/strut can be adjusted along a range (..and an M3 can rev to 8000 RPM's), but the sweet spot for that shock/strut mated to a spring will likely not need to exploit the full range of adjustability (..much like the sweet spot for shifting may be at 7800 RPM despite the fact that the car can muster an additional 200 RPM; shifting at 8000 may provide no additional gain). I feel like I'm rambling. LOL!

Originally Posted by DVC

I look forward to this. Have you ever driven on an MPS setup? Would be great to have a comparison of these two...

I'm starting to seriously consider getting a set of M Performance springs to go with my DHP dampers as an interim measure... minimal expense, and with a little bump stop trimming, the travel should be equal to stock but at a firmer spring rate (which would hopefully be more attuned to the firmer "Sport" setting range of the EDC damper curve.)

I've never been in a car with MPS, but I've been in a car with DHP. Compared to my M-Sport dampers, I'd take DHP any day of the week. I'd be curious to know how a DHP/H&R combo would fare. I performed something similar on my most recent E9X M3's. Both were equipped with EDC and were mated to H&R's. I used E36 M3 bump stops and trimmed the top part of the two front shocks (..required a bit of grinding to remove some material). The combo worked extremely well and maintained OEM travel. The differences between the EDC modes were much more apparent.

[DVC]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I'd be curious to know how a DHP/H&R combo would fare. I performed something similar on my most recent E9X M3's. Both were equipped with EDC and were mated to H&R's. I used E36 M3 bump stops and trimmed the top part of the two front shocks (..required a bit of grinding to remove some material). The combo worked extremely well and maintained OEM travel. The differences between the EDC modes were much more apparent.

Cool... I'm thinking I'll try this approach first - except with the MPS springs, as the drop is only about 10mm, versus over 30mm (front) for the H&R sports. I have the MPerf front splitter, so I'm already pushing it in terms of clearance : /
The springs that Dinan sells to match up with their Shockware are also about 10-12mm lower (based on what they currently offer for the 550s), so they're probably very similar to the MPS springs if I do eventually get their Shockware tune... or, I could always go the full MPS route and get the matching dampers.

[vip]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

That would be an option too, and I also considered it briefly. I guess it depends on whether or not you adjust height often. In all my years of owning C/O kits, never once have I adjusted height once set the first time, and rarely did I change the rebound/compression (..the latter was easiest with the TEIN set-ups, but even then I rarely touched it). I like the way the H&R's sit, so I see no point in paying the extra money for adjustment features that I'll never use. For what I need, the H&R/Bilstein combo is perfect.

when do you get yours installed? post the review asap! ha.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by vip

when do you get yours installed? post the review asap! ha.

Friday afternoon. Three days and counting.

[vip]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Friday afternoon. Three days and counting.

Awesome!

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by DVC

My first choice for DHP upgrade is still the yet-to-be-released Dinan shockware with matching springs and bump stops. The guys at Dinan say they really like the stock EDC dampers, and that the results with their kit are so good that they will no longer offer upgraded dampers for cars with EDC shocks.

Originally Posted by DVC

The springs that Dinan sells to match up with their Shockware are also about 10-12mm lower (based on what they currently offer for the 550s), so they're probably very similar to the MPS springs if I do eventually get their Shockware tune...

You probably already know this but Dinan has said that they're also happy with the OE sport springs as well as the dampers, so they'll just be adding/coordinating bump stops and sway bar. I wonder how much they'll charge if they don't offer springs or dampers with stage 1? I'm sure they have to charge for reprogramming the stock dampers.

[DVC]

Originally Posted by stevehecht

You probably already know this but Dinan has said that they're also happy with the OE sport springs as well as the dampers, so they'll just be adding/coordinating bump stops and sway bar. I wonder how much they'll charge if they don't offer springs or dampers with stage 1? I'm sure they have to charge for reprogramming the stock dampers.

I believe it's just the dampers they're happy with; they plan to offer springs and bump stops to start in January until they get the ECU encryption sorted out for Shockware. (No reason to offer a new bump stop unless shortening the spring/travel range.) Haven't heard anything about stiffer sway bars... that'd be cool though

[stevehecht]

Yeah, my memory got that mixed up.

[BradSCantor]

I think this is my first time posting on this site but because my name got dropped I guess I gotta jump in. All I know about the whole Dinan thing is what the rep told me on the phone. I think his name is Scott. He said they were about 60 days from releasing a suspension tune and that they really liked the springs that come in the DHP cars. Thats pretty much all he said...

[stevehecht]

Presumably the release date for stage 1 is only about 60 days away, so time will tell!

[AdiSinghV12]

A bit off topic, but will the H&R Sports be compatible with the *B6* shocks? Will the car sit higher if I use the B6 with H&R Sports?

[Geezer]

Any word on B8s for xi being available?

[juanma428i]

cool

[DesertSmokeBBQ]

Originally Posted by SD_F30

I didn't say it above but that's what I was thinking. This is absolutely the way the car should have come stock, as a SPORT LINE. I have not driven an M-Sport. I have not driven the base suspension. This is without a doubt what a SPORT LINE should have felt like from the get go. I am definitely a little bitter that I had to spend extra funds to make this car what it should have been, but I am equally annoyed at myself for buying it when I knew it wasn't exactly the way I thought it should be.

@VIP, I don't know how this car would handle with coilovers but I can tell you I am very satisfied with the way the car drives with this set up. If you're really on the fence come on down to SD and we'll go for a drive! As far as comparisons go. It feels like a slightly larger version of my old e46 325i. The e46 sat a little lower but my new setup on the F30 is just as flat in the curves. I'll tell you what it's not. It's nothing like Scion FRS I just test drove. I liked the sporty handling of that little beast. I liked how flat it was in the curves, but it was just too harsh and really quite bouncy when the road was anything but smooth. Fun car though!

All this being said, my biggest complaint on my baby has been fixed. On to the next issue...

I'm IN SD and trying to decide what set-up to go with for my '14 M-Sport. Would love to go for a ride to see if the H&R+B8 is what I'm looking for. You avail? (I'm going to do AutoX Sunday if you're around