[Hugrov]

I'm considering getting the ACS dampers fitted to my car which is a 430d F36 X-Drive. I've already had the ACS springs fitted and that has improved the look/stance of the car and improved handling. I'm able to take advantage of the free fitting offer through Lorcan on the dampers because I've already got the ACS springs.

If I'm honest, I do find the ride of the F36 a bit fidgety, especially at lower speeds on urban roads but it's also easily unsettled at higher speeds too and can feel almost crashy. I'm planning on keeping this car for a long time as it's got a great spec so I'm thinking whether the dampers would improve it further. I don't really thrash my car about and aren't one for getting the back end out at every opportunity so would it be pointless to get the dampers fitted? They'll cost about £1200 which I think is pretty reasonable to be fair, it's just whether I'll see any real benefit from fitting them, I'd appreciate your opinions.

Cheers

[Jeff123]

Are you on run flats? If so I would imagine that’s where some of the negative driving experiences are coming from.

[Hugrov]

Originally Posted by Jeff123

Are you on run flats? If so I would imagine that’s where some of the negative driving experiences are coming from.

Yeah sorry, I should have mentioned, car is running MPS4S (none RFT)

[teaston]

At £1200 in one hit it seems a lot for a mod that will give less improvement than the springs, but if you can take advantage of their 0% finance and just pay £100pm for a year then that sounds like great value.

[pdk42]

I'm a long way from being an expert, but what I do know is that to get the best out of a suspension the springs and dampers need to be considered as a matched pair. I upgraded my springs fairly early in the life of my (passive) 335i f31 and in general I've been pretty happy but I do still think the ride on the car is jittery and at times I can feel lack of traction over uneven surfaces that should not be phasing the car as it does. So, I reckon adding the dampers will probably be worthwhile.

I'd have liked to have taken a drive in the demo car, but work kept me busy so I'm going to have to take a punt. My car's now four years old and 50k miles so I guess it's someway into the lifetime of the existing dampers anyhow so it's not a completely crazy thing to take a gamble on.

Finally - I was a rear-seat passenger in a colleague's F36 recently and I found the ride absolutely appalling. That was a bog-standard setup with RFTs, but by the time I got out from a Heathrow to Midlands trip I was feeling pretty ragged!

[Hugrov]

Originally Posted by pdk42

I'm a long way from being an expert, but what I do know is that to get the best out of a suspension the springs and dampers need to be considered as a matched pair. I upgraded my springs fairly early in the life of my (passive) 335i f31 and in general I've been pretty happy but I do still think the ride on the car is jittery and at times I can feel lack of traction over uneven surfaces that should not be phasing the car as it does. So, I reckon adding the dampers will probably be worthwhile.

I'd have liked to have taken a drive in the demo car, but work kept me busy so I'm going to have to take a punt. My car's now four years old and 50k miles so I guess it's someway into the lifetime of the existing dampers anyhow so it's not a completely crazy thing to take a gamble on.

Thanks for your reply, I agree with what you're saying about considering the dampers and springs as a matched pair to get the best from the suspension. My car has only done 5000 miles but like I mentioned before, I'm definitely thinking this one is going to be a long termer so I want to make the most of it and enjoy it as much as possible. I've read whatever reviews I can find from people who've fitted the ACS dampers and they all seem very positive, I suppose it's just a question of whether I can justify the spend?

Lorcan did mention in his post regarding the ACS dampers that the F36 seems to be particularly affected when it comes to ride quality, it's a cracking car overall but the ride quality could definitely be improved.

[Tengocity]

Yes you should. The dampers will make more difference than the springs did. I say this because you said you will be keeping the car for quite a long time, in which case it's a no brainer for me. I don't know anyone who fitted better dampers to their car and regretted it!

At the weekend I took my dad out in my M4, which now has ACS RS coilovers fitted and after 10 mins he said it was amazing compared to before and he was ordering new dampers for his car! His M135i is standard just now, so he's mulling over the Birds option, or the ACS sports springs and dampers, but one way or another he's fitting a matched spring and damper set up.

[devil84]

I am in the same boat and agree with everything that Hugrov has to say.

only difference with mine is that its has adaptive - so reluctant to lose an option which cost £600 (i bought my car second hand)

my understanding is the ACS dampers are just B8 (revalved). Blistein do a B12 kit with eibach pro springs (B8 dampers)

Works out cheaper?

[Hugrov]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes you should. The dampers will make more difference than the springs did. I say this because you said you will be keeping the car for quite a long time, in which case it's a no brainer for me. I don't know anyone who fitted better dampers to their car and regretted it!

At the weekend I took my dad out in my M4, which now has ACS RS coilovers fitted and after 10 mins he said it was amazing compared to before and he was ordering new dampers for his car! His M135i is standard just now, so he's mulling over the Birds option, or the ACS sports springs and dampers, but one way or another he's fitting a matched spring and damper set up.

Thanks for your reply, sounds like you're really pleased with the difference the change in suspension components has made to your M4.

Yes, I'm definitely thinking this car is gonna be long term, the GC is a great car for me personally and the spec on mine is fantastic so it makes no sense for me to think about another car for a number of years (most unlike me). I do feel it's let down by the way it handles the lumps and bumps on our roads so if I could improve that it would be an absolute bonus, sounds like the ACS dampers would do exactly that from the reviews I've read so far.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Hugrov

Thanks for your reply, sounds like you're really pleased with the difference the change in suspension components has made to your M4.

Yes, I'm definitely thinking this car is gonna be long term, the GC is a great car for me personally and the spec on mine is fantastic so it makes no sense for me to think about another car for a number of years (most unlike me). I do feel it's let down by the way it handles the lumps and bumps on our roads so if I could improve that it would be an absolute bonus, sounds like the ACS dampers would do exactly that from the reviews I've read so far.

Yes, I'm ecstatic quite frankly. I had ACS RS on my 335d before, and I've got Bilstein B8 damptronics on my Boxster... All fitted by me as the owner. Once you've had good suspension on your car it's hard to go back to the standard crap that's fitted to cars these days.

When I drive our 330e (company car, so no mods) and feel its combination of run flat brittleness, with standard damper crashiness, and weak body control it feels very weird indeed.

[E60525d]

How much are the ACS dampers?

[Hugrov]

Originally Posted by E60525d

How much are the ACS dampers?

Around £1250 for my passive damped F36 X-drive.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by devil84

I am in the same boat and agree with everything that Hugrov has to say.

only difference with mine is that its has adaptive - so reluctant to lose an option which cost £600 (i bought my car second hand)

my understanding is the ACS dampers are just B8 (revalved). Blistein do a B12 kit with eibach pro springs (B8 dampers)

Works out cheaper?

if you bought second hand then it didn't really cost you £600 though surely?

And besides, it just gives you 2 versions of rubbish, when you can have one right setting instead!

I'm not sure which hardware is used by ACS for the dampers, I know they use KW for the coilovers as base hardware.

The B12 kit might be better for you if you're completely standard, but if someone already has the ACS springs then the current offer of free fitting would make that a better option.

Bilstein do a B6 or B8 damptronic for some cars, might be worth checking if that's available for yours, then you can keep adaptive suspension. I have the B8 sprint damptronic on my Boxster as it had the PASM adaptive suspension option. It works very well.

[devil84]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes, I'm ecstatic quite frankly. I had ACS RS on my 335d before, and I've got Bilstein B8 damptronics on my Boxster... All fitted by me as the owner. Once you've had good suspension on your car it's hard to go back to the standard crap that's fitted to cars these days.

When I drive our 330e (company car, so no mods) and feel its combination of run flat brittleness, with standard damper crashiness, and weak body control it feels very weird indeed.

i wish they had a Blistein B8 DT for the 430D x drive.

is adaptive still the way forward though as the top end M4 Competition and CS has adaptive

[devil84]

Originally Posted by teaston

At £1200 in one hit it seems a lot for a mod that will give less improvement than the springs, but if you can take advantage of their 0% finance and just pay £100pm for a year then that sounds like great value.

1500 if you have adaptive as you need to code it out!

agreed lot of money.

[Hugrov]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes, I'm ecstatic quite frankly. I had ACS RS on my 335d before, and I've got Bilstein B8 damptronics on my Boxster... All fitted by me as the owner. Once you've had good suspension on your car it's hard to go back to the standard crap that's fitted to cars these days.

When I drive our 330e (company car, so no mods) and feel its combination of run flat brittleness, with standard damper crashiness, and weak body control it feels very weird indeed.

If it improves the general ride quality on our shocking roads then I'm all for it. Like I mentioned before, I'm not really into chucking the car about too much but I don't think changing the dampers is just about that, it will hopefully improve everyday driving comfort too.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by devil84

i wish they had a Blistein B8 DT for the 430D x drive.

is adaptive still the way forward though as the top end M4 Competition and CS has adaptive

I mulled over fitting some Eibach springs and Damptronic dampers to my M4, but I couldn't find a single person across numerous forums who had done this. In the end I got the option of a set of used but relatively new ACS RS coilovers and just went for them.

I really don't miss the adaptive option as used to use sport mode 90% of the time anyway. Comfort mode was too lacking in control for my liking.

[ryanwarriors9]

Originally Posted by devil84

I am in the same boat and agree with everything that Hugrov has to say.

only difference with mine is that its has adaptive - so reluctant to lose an option which cost £600 (i bought my car second hand)

my understanding is the ACS dampers are just B8 (revalved). Blistein do a B12 kit with eibach pro springs (B8 dampers)

Works out cheaper?

This is what i would be opting for. . . . and will be going for when i get my f31, just sold my f30 which just had eibach springs if i was to keep it i would have added b8 shocks.

I will be coding out the adaptive too at the same time if my new car has it that is

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by Hugrov

Around £1250 for my passive damped F36 X-drive.

For that price i would rather go for KW V2 as you can adjust the dampers to suit.

[devil84]

Kw Ddc is an option. Can add vdc too as a retrofit and change settings over phone

[ryanwarriors9]

again all depends on budget you can get a b12 kit for around £600 keep an eye out on auto doc or ebay german companies, I have researched and looked into coding out too

Module is in the boot needs to be un plugged and then coded out will save you a fortune over electronic dampers

[devil84]

Originally Posted by ryanwarriors9

again all depends on budget you can get a b12 kit for around £600 keep an eye out on auto doc or ebay german companies, I have researched and looked into coding out too

Module is in the boot needs to be un plugged and then coded out will save you a fortune over electronic dampers

600 for b12 kit which includes springs and dampers??

That's a bargain!!