[pkiledj]

I have a f30 335ix 6MT. Love the car but even with Dinan springs, bump stops, Shockware, car still feels as heavy as it is. Any advice on making the car feel more nibble? How about sway bars?

[floridaorange]

It's an xdrive?

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

It's an xdrive?

Yes

[andino]

Replace the tension strut bushing and it'll wake up the steering a lot.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by andino

Replace the tension strut bushing and it'll wake up the steering a lot.

With a new oem part or upgraded part? Car only has 37k miles.

[andino]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

With a new oem part or upgraded part? Car only has 37k miles.

An upgraded one. Something like a PU or monoball tension strut (UCA) bushing will make the front end feel much tighter and more responsive.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by andino

An upgraded one. Something like a PU or monoball tension strut (UCA) bushing will make the front end feel much tighter and more responsive.

Something like this?


https://www.ecstuning.com/b-powerfle...pff5-4102~pfx/

[andino]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

Something like this?


https://www.ecstuning.com/b-powerfle...pff5-4102~pfx/

Yeah but those are for the LCA. I would avoid those as they're known to fail pretty quick for f30. Only a monoball type design would hold up well on this platform in the LCA. You're looking for the UCA bushing to get the best bang for buck in waking up the car. Something like VAC, KMAC, or Turner's tension strut bushing/arms would be what you're looking for.

[cfm56d7b]

Just wanted to confirm whether your vehicle has M Adaptive suspension (since Shockware has been mentioned in the original post).

What attributes of "tossable" are you looking for? Neutral steering response? More responsive compression / rebound cycle?

M Adaptive shocks even with Shockware cannot be improved beyond the initial design which has 2 settings: less than firm and more than firm. Shockware simply makes both of these settings more firm.

My vehicle also has M Adaptive suspension and while I like it it doesn't provide crisp compression / rebound cycle like Ohlins R&T coilovers - not available for xDrive vehicles unfortunately. In other words, the suspension indeed feels "heavy" as a direct consequence of poor compression / rebound cycle response.

Bilstein offers B4 Damptronic shocks which are a direct replacement for OEM adaptive shocks. I haven't yet seen detailed comparison between OEM adaptive shocks and B4 Damptronic shocks.

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by andino

Replace the tension strut bushing and it'll wake up the steering a lot.

This is perfectly safe on a xdrive?

Because to my knowledge, you can't mess with the control arms on the xdrives.

[andino]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

This is perfectly safe on a xdrive?

Because to my knowledge, you can't mess with the control arms on the xdrives.

You can mess with arms on xdrive. Just running a lot of camber using a LCA camber bushing can lead to extending the halfshaft too far causing issues. I was running camber using a LCA bushing for a while without issue and Farkie is still using a KMAC Camber bushing without issues.

Basically, if you want to be low and run more than about -1.2 camber you should avoid LCA camber bushing to be safe. UCA bushings are fine and will only adjust caster if they are adjustable.

[zole2112]

i did a rear sway bar and rear subframe bushing inserts. I still have to do the front sway bar but I like how it handles. My coil overs are set really stiff as well.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by andino

Yeah but those are for the LCA. I would avoid those as they're known to fail pretty quick for f30. Only a monoball type design would hold up well on this platform in the LCA. You're looking for the UCA bushing to get the best bang for buck in waking up the car. Something like VAC, KMAC, or Turner's tension strut bushing/arms would be what you're looking for.

I've been clicking high and low for upgraded UCA (aka tension strut) bushings, but not finding anything, except this:

https://k-mac-camber-kits.com/Catalo...%20Catalog.pdf

Check out page 10. It says "Inner Arm Camber Adjustable Bushes" and "Inner Thrust Arm Caster Adjustable Bushes."

Sorry for the noob question, is an "inner arm" the same thing as tension strut aka UCA?

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

I've been clicking high and low for upgraded UCA (aka tension strut) bushings, but not finding anything, except this:

https://k-mac-camber-kits.com/Catalo...%20Catalog.pdf

Check out page 10. It says "Inner Arm Camber Adjustable Bushes" and "Inner Thrust Arm Caster Adjustable Bushes."

Sorry for the noob question, is an "inner arm" the same thing as tension strut aka UCA?

This is the K-MAC tension strut monoball. PN is 193916-7J.

Additionally, I saw on Bimmerworld that SPL makes one too, but it doesn't have as large of a caster adjustment range or look as well sealed as K-MAC's.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

This is the K-MAC tension strut monoball. PN is 193916-7J.

Additionally, I saw on Bimmerworld that SPL makes one too, but it doesn't have as large of a caster adjustment range or look as well sealed as K-MAC's.

Thanks! So what should be expected after installing these? Mine is a daily driver. Do you think the change will be noticeable in non-track conditions?

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

Thanks! So what should be expected after installing these? Mine is a daily driver. Do you think the change will be noticeable in non-track conditions?

Much quicker steering response, improved steering feedback, and a more "connected" feeling with the car. People always complain about the steering feel on the F3x, and this remedies that to a large degree. You'll easily notice this in daily driving.

[McLaren720s]

I’m getting K-MAC 193616-8H FRONT CAMBER INNER ARM BUSHING and K-MAC 193916-7J FRONT CASTER THRUST ARM ADJ. INNER BUSHING installed on Thursday and hoping for great results.

There are no reports of issues with these 2 parts, correct?

[andino]

Originally Posted by McLaren720s

I’m getting K-MAC 193616-8H FRONT CAMBER INNER ARM BUSHING and K-MAC 193916-7J FRONT CASTER THRUST ARM ADJ. INNER BUSHING installed on Thursday and hoping for great results.

There are no reports of issues with these 2 parts, correct?

There are some issues if you're super low and max out the camber on those LCA bushings. But if you keep your camber around -1* or thereabouts when super low, you should be fine.

[McLaren720s]

Originally Posted by andino

There are some issues if you're super low and max out the camber on those LCA bushings. But if you keep your camber around -1* or thereabouts when super low, you should be fine.

Darn! I’m low to where you can stick a finger between the tire and fender. So not slammed or anything close to that.

Should I not have the shop set to max negative camber? Would -1 degree be a better choice? That’s not that much better over stock.

Kinda disappointing because the that case I should have ordered camber plates instead.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by McLaren720s

Darn! I’m low to where you can stick a finger between the tire and fender. So not slammed or anything close to that.

Should I not have the shop set to max negative camber? Would -1 degree be a better choice? That’s not that much better over stock.

Kinda disappointing because the that case I should have ordered camber plates instead.

What's your hub to fender distance?

I'd also take a look/picture of your LCA and see how parallel it is with the ground. If it's pointing up from the subframe to the knuckle, tread carefully.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by McLaren720s

I'm getting K-MAC 193616-8H FRONT CAMBER INNER ARM BUSHING and K-MAC 193916-7J FRONT CASTER THRUST ARM ADJ. INNER BUSHING installed on Thursday and hoping for great results.

There are no reports of issues with these 2 parts, correct?

What as your motivation to get these parts? Handling? Steering feel? Look?

Yes, please report back! Before/after pics would be great too!

[McLaren720s]

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

What's your hub to fender distance?

I'd also take a look/picture of your LCA and see how parallel it is with the ground. If it's pointing up from the subframe to the knuckle, tread carefully.

I’ll have the shop take your suggestion into consideration. Aren’t you running this exact same setup without issues? That’s your negative camber set to?