Birds B4x suspension

HookJaw · 11-21-2015, 07:09 PM

Last week I went down to Kevin Birds garage in Iver, Bucks to have his B4x sport suspension upgrade fitted.

It was around £1700 all in, so considerably more than just a springs upgrade, but a lot less than say the full ACS setup.( Not knocking the ACS at all, just pointing out where it lies price-wise.)

As I said in Ross' Suspension Woes thread, the difference the Birds setup has made to the car is staggering.

Mine is a 435d xdrive on standard suspension.

Here's how it looked before:

HookJaw · 11-21-2015, 07:21 PM

And here's how it looks now:

HookJaw · 11-21-2015, 07:37 PM

The drop was 20mm front and 25mm rear.
I believe the suspension setup is exactly the same for the 335d/435d.

Here's the info on the upgrade, with an interesting summary of the problems with the standard car as Kevin sees them:

http://www.birdsauto.com/product-inf...5i-435ix-435dx

Here's BMWCars review of Birds upgraded 335dx.

http://birdsauto.com/editorial/edito...-car-june-2015

http://birdsauto.com/editorial/edito...0-335dx-oct-15

teaston · 11-21-2015, 08:18 PM

Looks betterer!

Mattyk · 11-22-2015, 01:35 AM

Now that looks good!

Tengocity · 11-22-2015, 01:55 AM

Looks good Hookjaw! Similar to mine on ACS springs at rear but lower at the front.

The other thing about lowering the cars is I think it makes the addition of spacers have even more impact!

I really think I may change to these in the spring. That's you, Ross and Yeatser going down this route so we will have a few opinions to go on to.

Apl440i or 335d? · 11-22-2015, 01:55 AM

Looks awesome. Great work.

Watsey · 11-22-2015, 02:10 AM

A great improvement - hope you are happy with how the car feels. Spaces all round would finish off the looks

Rbrown · 11-22-2015, 02:12 AM

Looks good. Love the colour!

mcdokika · 11-22-2015, 03:08 AM

Looks really nice. How is ride ?

ZeroFx · 11-22-2015, 04:13 AM

i have to say i didnt realise how bad the suspension was on the 335/435d until i got this loaner from BMW. The car rides worse than my 5 series did it bounces around like its on clown springs. BMW seriously dropped the ball with this car.

....,,,,..,,.. · 11-22-2015, 04:17 AM

Looks great, also nice to an option to the 'standard' upgrade.

Admittedly the forum standard is circa £500 for ACS.

So I guess this sits with the RS setup.

Tengocity · 11-22-2015, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigand

Looks great, also nice to an option to the 'standard' upgrade.

Admittedly the forum standard is circa £500 for ACS.

So I guess this sits with the RS setup.

The difference is less if you get a car without adaptive as then you'd save another £500.

WeaverBeaver · 11-22-2015, 04:39 AM

Looks great!

Yeatser · 11-22-2015, 09:48 AM

Very nice,

Now I see why Kevin was so desperate to get the front offside strut back to his premises!!

They sent me 2 offside struts instead of nearside and offside, unfortunately I had to leave the UK for work before the nearside was sent out to me and fitted so didn't get a chance to test out the new suspension but Kevin was desperate to get the unused offside item back, obviously he had sold a set to yourself and needed it for your fittment day

AndyTo · 11-22-2015, 10:05 AM

Looks good!

How does it ride on the bumpy coastal road heading towards Churchtown?

HookJaw · 11-24-2015, 07:07 AM

Thanks guys!

Andy that coastal road would challenge any suspension, it's like a rollercoaster.
I've seen so many people bottoming their cars going too fast on that road, sparks everywhere!

HookJaw · 11-24-2015, 07:11 AM

Apologies for the repetition (if you read Ross' suspension thread) but for those interested in the handling here are my first impressions:

HANDLING
Before, as many others on here have said, the dx nosedived on the approach, felt wallowy and heavy round the corners... just not confidence-inspiring at all.

But now - the car stays nice and flat - feels low, planted and utterly rock-solid. The traction is just absolutely ridiculous when powering through corners.

Understeer is massively improved. Since the car feels flatter and better balanced now, you can brake more aggressively and then really get the power down through corners. Nose feels like it's pulling you round the corner now, rather than drifting off cos the car is wallowing, if that makes sense.

Also worth noting - I drove over 200 miles in lashing rain to get to Birds, and through equally bad weather on the return journey yesterday, and the handling in the wet is DRAMATICALLY better.
And I don't just mean on corners. On the straight, hitting wet patches at speed, it definitely felt more stable and assured.

This week I've had a chance to get it in Sport mode and really push the car round some very windy country roads (round back of Parbold if you know the area) in VERY wet conditions (last night several sections of road completely flooded!) and I'm pretty stunned at the grip.
No aquaplaning at all and zero loss of grip.

COMFORT
The ride comfort is superb.
A touch stiffer, but not much. Feels sportier which I much prefer anyway.

Kev said it will feel even better after 2k or so, when the dampers have really bedded in.
And of course it'll be better still once I ditch the runflats

On that - Yes, Kevin does recommend ditching the runflats, BUT I'm still on mine and it's brilliant, so if anyone is wanting to keep rft temporarily (or even permanently) I'd still say it's worthwhile.

Lorcan · 11-24-2015, 07:28 AM

Looks great, agree about the spacers

creepy coupe · 11-24-2015, 08:06 AM

Looks great Hookjaw. Mine managed 18mm rear and 16mm front. with the ACS springs.

HookJaw · 12-20-2015, 09:03 PM

Ok so now I want spacers (Damn you guys!)
Should I go same recommendation as for the 335 - ie 15mm rear/12mm front?
Thanks!

Senna · 12-21-2015, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HookJaw

Ok so now I want spacers (Damn you guys!)
Should I go same recommendation as for the 335 - ie 15mm rear/12mm front?
Thanks!

And Michelin PSS tyres

11-21-2015, 07:09 PM	#1
HookJaw Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435dx + Birds B4x suspension Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	Birds B4x suspension - before and after pics! Last week I went down to Kevin Birds garage in Iver, Bucks to have his B4x sport suspension upgrade fitted. It was around £1700 all in, so considerably more than just a springs upgrade, but a lot less than say the full ACS setup.( Not knocking the ACS at all, just pointing out where it lies price-wise.) As I said in Ross' Suspension Woes thread, the difference the Birds setup has made to the car is staggering. Mine is a 435d xdrive on standard suspension. Here's how it looked before: Attached Images
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11-21-2015, 07:21 PM	#2
HookJaw Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435dx + Birds B4x suspension Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	And here's how it looks now: Attached Images
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11-21-2015, 07:37 PM	#3
HookJaw Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435dx + Birds B4x suspension Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	The drop was 20mm front and 25mm rear. I believe the suspension setup is exactly the same for the 335d/435d. Here's the info on the upgrade, with an interesting summary of the problems with the standard car as Kevin sees them: http://www.birdsauto.com/product-inf...5i-435ix-435dx Here's BMWCars review of Birds upgraded 335dx. http://birdsauto.com/editorial/edito...-car-june-2015 http://birdsauto.com/editorial/edito...0-335dx-oct-15
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11-21-2015, 08:18 PM	#4
teaston Banned 10998 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	Looks betterer!
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11-22-2015, 01:35 AM	#5
Mattyk Lieutenant Colonel 591 Rep 1,797 Posts Drives: G20 M340i Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Lancashire iTrader: (0)	Now that looks good! __________________ G20 M340i Gone F36 435d F30 335d
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11-22-2015, 01:55 AM	#6
Tengocity General 8571 Rep 19,982 Posts Drives: 911, Cayenne Turbo, Disco 4 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Looks good Hookjaw! Similar to mine on ACS springs at rear but lower at the front. The other thing about lowering the cars is I think it makes the addition of spacers have even more impact! I really think I may change to these in the spring. That's you, Ross and Yeatser going down this route so we will have a few opinions to go on to. __________________ Current: Porsche 911 991 C4S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Land Rover Discovery 4. Gone...G01 X3 M40i, Cayman S 987, F31 340i, Cayman GT4, F82 M4 CP, Lotus Exige V6, G20 330e, F30 330e, Boxster S 987, F31 335d, Mini Cooper SD, E89 Z4, E90 330d 320d, E60 520d, E46 330d 320d, MX5s, E30 325i
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11-22-2015, 01:55 AM	#7
Apl440i or 335d? Colonel 480 Rep 2,324 Posts Drives: F30 335D Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Walton on Thames iTrader: (1)	Looks awesome. Great work. __________________ E46 Coupe 320d M Sport Gone. E92 320d M Sport Gone. F30 335d M Sport Gone.
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11-22-2015, 02:10 AM	#8
Watsey Major General 6431 Rep 8,503 Posts Drives: F31 330D sDrive M Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: On sabbatical. iTrader: (1)	A great improvement - hope you are happy with how the car feels. Spaces all round would finish off the looks __________________ Current : F31 330sD, remapped, Ohlins Road & Track, Millway camber plates, Quaife LSD, Stoptech brakes + Pagid RSL1 pads all round, Weichers front strut brace, Eibach front & rear anti-roll bars, Michelin MP4S.
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11-22-2015, 02:12 AM	#9
Rbrown Brigadier General 2767 Rep 4,578 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0)	Looks good. Love the colour!
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11-22-2015, 03:08 AM	#10
mcdokika Captain 86 Rep 630 Posts Drives: M5 CP Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Looks really nice. How is ride ? __________________ M5 CP Alpine white
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11-22-2015, 04:13 AM	#11
ZeroFx Major 454 Rep 1,373 Posts Drives: M4x Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: West Mids iTrader: (0)	i have to say i didnt realise how bad the suspension was on the 335/435d until i got this loaner from BMW. The car rides worse than my 5 series did it bounces around like its on clown springs. BMW seriously dropped the ball with this car.
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11-22-2015, 04:17 AM	#12
....,,,,..,,.. General 6734 Rep 20,651 Posts Drives: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: xxxx iTrader: (0)	Looks great, also nice to an option to the 'standard' upgrade. Admittedly the forum standard is circa £500 for ACS. So I guess this sits with the RS setup.
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11-22-2015, 04:39 AM	#14
WeaverBeaver Captain 440 Rep 968 Posts Drives: F30 335d xDrive M Sport Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Birmingham, UK iTrader: (0)	Looks great!
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11-22-2015, 09:48 AM	#15
Yeatser Second Lieutenant 102 Rep 228 Posts Drives: 435d xdrive Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Very nice, Now I see why Kevin was so desperate to get the front offside strut back to his premises!! They sent me 2 offside struts instead of nearside and offside, unfortunately I had to leave the UK for work before the nearside was sent out to me and fitted so didn't get a chance to test out the new suspension but Kevin was desperate to get the unused offside item back, obviously he had sold a set to yourself and needed it for your fittment day
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11-22-2015, 10:05 AM	#16
AndyTo Second Lieutenant 124 Rep 298 Posts Drives: G21 M340i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Northants iTrader: (0)	Looks good! How does it ride on the bumpy coastal road heading towards Churchtown?
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11-24-2015, 07:07 AM	#17
HookJaw Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435dx + Birds B4x suspension Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys! Andy that coastal road would challenge any suspension, it's like a rollercoaster. I've seen so many people bottoming their cars going too fast on that road, sparks everywhere!
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11-24-2015, 07:11 AM	#18
HookJaw Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435dx + Birds B4x suspension Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	Apologies for the repetition (if you read Ross' suspension thread) but for those interested in the handling here are my first impressions: HANDLING Before, as many others on here have said, the dx nosedived on the approach, felt wallowy and heavy round the corners... just not confidence-inspiring at all. But now - the car stays nice and flat - feels low, planted and utterly rock-solid. The traction is just absolutely ridiculous when powering through corners. Understeer is massively improved. Since the car feels flatter and better balanced now, you can brake more aggressively and then really get the power down through corners. Nose feels like it's pulling you round the corner now, rather than drifting off cos the car is wallowing, if that makes sense. Also worth noting - I drove over 200 miles in lashing rain to get to Birds, and through equally bad weather on the return journey yesterday, and the handling in the wet is DRAMATICALLY better. And I don't just mean on corners. On the straight, hitting wet patches at speed, it definitely felt more stable and assured. This week I've had a chance to get it in Sport mode and really push the car round some very windy country roads (round back of Parbold if you know the area) in VERY wet conditions (last night several sections of road completely flooded!) and I'm pretty stunned at the grip. No aquaplaning at all and zero loss of grip. COMFORT The ride comfort is superb. A touch stiffer, but not much. Feels sportier which I much prefer anyway. Kev said it will feel even better after 2k or so, when the dampers have really bedded in. And of course it'll be better still once I ditch the runflats On that - Yes, Kevin does recommend ditching the runflats, BUT I'm still on mine and it's brilliant, so if anyone is wanting to keep rft temporarily (or even permanently) I'd still say it's worthwhile.
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11-24-2015, 07:28 AM	#19
Lorcan The artist formerly known as AC Schnitzer UK 3610 Rep 4,518 Posts Drives: The Yellow Peril Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	Looks great, agree about the spacers
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11-24-2015, 08:06 AM	#20
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1868 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	Looks great Hookjaw. Mine managed 18mm rear and 16mm front. with the ACS springs. __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- Current car.M240i. Previous.MINI JCW. E92 325i. 435d M235i.M135i. 635d Coupe, E92 M3 manual, E92 M3 DCT Competition Pack. E92 335i, Porsche Cayman S Gen2, 135i Coupe. E92 320d, MK5 R32. MK5 Golf GTi,MK5 Golf GT-TDI,E46 318Ci.
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12-20-2015, 09:03 PM	#21
HookJaw Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435dx + Birds B4x suspension Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	Ok so now I want spacers (Damn you guys!) Should I go same recommendation as for the 335 - ie 15mm rear/12mm front? Thanks!
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