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      12-10-2017, 10:14 PM   #1
buckybadger
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Best F30 suspension upgrade options

Hi All,

My car has ~38K miles and it is so wobbly and bouncy on the freeway. I got my suspension and alignment checked and all are within spec. I'm running the right pressure as well. I am thinking that its just the F30 suspension that is terrible on the freeway and as the tires wear out the ride gets worse and worse.

What type options do I have? I was looking at the M Performance Suspension and Ohlins R&T. Can anyone recommend a solid setup for the F30? I like the price point of the M Performance Suspension but I'm not sure if it is too stiff. I also carry my family in the same car.

I enjoy a stiff ride which is in control. I really like the M2/M3 ride. Is there a setup that resembles the M2/M3 stiffness? Maybe not as stiff but still close.

The problem with the current suspension is that the car bounces up/down and side to side when it hits imperfections on the road.

Thank you!
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      12-11-2017, 12:21 AM   #2
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Coilovers:

Ohlins

KW Street Comfort , v2 , v3

ST Coilovers (Manufactured by KW) From what I remember these are zinc coated, while the KW is stainless steel. Same thing as KW Street Comfort, built with different material.

Bilstein B14, B16

Fortune Auto 500 fortune-auto.com

BC Racing Br

Lowering Springs: Purpose is to pretty much lower. Downside is that they damage your oem shocks and struts over time.

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Mperformance
H&R Sport & Super Sport

Useful links

Bilstein B14 vs BC BR series coilovers vs.... something else?
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1331123

Need Help: KW Street Comfort vs. KW V2
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=874491

Who is Fortune Auto?
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Last edited by Stlthnmrdrd; 12-11-2017 at 12:34 AM..
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      12-11-2017, 03:53 AM   #3
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IIRC the M performance suspension is a Bilstein made suspension, and generally gets very good reviews.

KW - I often hear they're sitting quite low, as mine are, not incredibly low but I think 20mm lower than stock M adaptive suspension.

Bilsteins seems to be the preferred choice on road cars.

Ohlins get excellent reviews too, although I remember reading they're quite stiff, stiffer than KW or Bilstein from what i read
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      12-11-2017, 07:14 AM   #4
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Very little to add to a very detailed response from @Stlthnmrdrd, other than KW Street Comfort coilovers are a very good option to explore if a reasonable budget is one of the goals. Bilstein B16 PSS10 are a great choice as well.
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      12-11-2017, 08:20 AM   #5
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i'll just parrot what has been stated many times here...

first thing...always, always swap out the run-craps....

almost makes the car livable...i installed the b14 setup ~3wks ago...

fantastic...transforms it...

/story
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      12-11-2017, 05:35 PM   #6
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Thanks everyone, I think I am leaving towards the M performance suspension kit now.
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      12-12-2017, 06:30 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buckybadger View Post
Thanks everyone, I think I am leaving towards the M performance suspension kit now.
Also a great choice. By the way, did you buy or lease your vehicle?
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      12-12-2017, 11:53 PM   #8
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I have the 2-way adjustable KW Club Sport coilovers with built-in camber plates and really love them. I'm planning to post them for sale soon since I'm planning to sell my car.

Would you be interested in them?
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      12-13-2017, 10:47 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buckybadger View Post
Thanks everyone, I think I am leaving towards the M performance suspension kit now.
This is a great option. Lowers it perfectly without being too low and a good price online at bmwpartspros.com

I wish they had the MPS configured for edc too
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      12-22-2017, 08:52 AM   #10
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I just installed the Bilstein B16 PSS10 Coilovers on a Sport line 340i. It's like its not the same car. I hated the orig suspension but now the car is like its on a wire going around turns and on straight aways. I did the suspension along with a M Performance LSD so that helped a lot also. To me the suspension would be first up on the list of mods.
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      12-23-2017, 03:39 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejn1 View Post
I just installed the Bilstein B16 PSS10 Coilovers on a Sport line 340i. It's like its not the same car. I hated the orig suspension but now the car is like its on a wire going around turns and on straight aways. I did the suspension along with a M Performance LSD so that helped a lot also. To me the suspension would be first up on the list of mods.
By how much was the suspension lowered after the installation of B16 PS110 coilovers?
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      12-23-2017, 08:16 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cfm56d7b View Post
By how much was the suspension lowered after the installation of B16 PS110 coilovers?
I wanted to lower the car to take out the fender gap but not to lower to the point where the wheel looked under the fender in any way. I was thinking I would have to go the min lower range spec'd on the B16's eg around 1.25" to achieve this but oddly, the installer had to go almost the full range down on the B16 adjustable range to get to the desired point. If you go by the spec sheet of the B16 then this would mean it was lowered over 2 inches. I know a bit confusing but my car was a sport line version so maybe it sat higher as a starting point then an Msport version. It sits over the tires awesome now with very little gap.
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      12-23-2017, 08:34 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cfm56d7b View Post
By how much was the suspension lowered after the installation of B16 PS110 coilovers?
Here is a pic...
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      12-23-2017, 08:08 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejn1 View Post
Here is a pic...
What spoiler is that?
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      12-23-2017, 09:01 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DSH7 View Post
What spoiler is that?
It's an M3 lip spoiler (non-oem)... Painted.
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      01-17-2018, 09:21 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejn1 View Post
I just installed the Bilstein B16 PSS10 Coilovers on a Sport line 340i. It's like its not the same car. I hated the orig suspension but now the car is like its on a wire going around turns and on straight aways. I did the suspension along with a M Performance LSD so that helped a lot also. To me the suspension would be first up on the list of mods.
Which version of the PSS10 have you got? Komfort (10-30mm drop) or regular (30-50)?
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      01-17-2018, 09:53 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swagon View Post
Which version of the PSS10 have you got? Komfort (10-30mm drop) or regular (30-50)?
Regular
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      01-17-2018, 03:33 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejn1 View Post
Regular
Thanks. Interesting that the coilovers are at their lowest on your car, it is not even slammed at all.

Still satisfied with them?
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      01-17-2018, 08:09 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swagon View Post
Thanks. Interesting that the coilovers are at their lowest on your car, it is not even slammed at all.

Still satisfied with them?
Yeah that was surprising for me also thats why i posted the pic. The rears are basically at lowest settinf but front not fully yet. The bilsteins are my favorite mod. Would do again. Ps there's a reason they have been on backorder and hard to get ahold of.
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      01-17-2018, 11:28 PM   #20
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Initially I was going to splurge on a set of B16's, but I saw the B14s at ECS on sale for $897.xx shipped and pulled the trigger this evening. Couldn't pass it up at that price. I'm sure the damping adjustment is satisfying and effective, but from what I hear, I should be with the 14s and a lot more dough in my pocket too.
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      01-18-2018, 07:26 AM   #21
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Question: when upgrading shocks and springs... are there other items that we should be looking at swapping/upgrading "while we are in there."

The one item that comes to mind are mounts. Are most people using stock mounts with aftermarket shocks/springs? Just wondering peoples opinions on whether the stock mounts are a weak point and if they will last the life of the new suspension components.
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      01-18-2018, 10:26 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sspade View Post
Question: when upgrading shocks and springs... are there other items that we should be looking at swapping/upgrading "while we are in there."

The one item that comes to mind are mounts. Are most people using stock mounts with aftermarket shocks/springs? Just wondering peoples opinions on whether the stock mounts are a weak point and if they will last the life of the new suspension components.
Maybe sway bars and ball joints?
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