[Tengocity]

I don't post much outside the UK forum but thought some appreciate this on here. I have recently installed AC Schnitzer RS coilovers to my 335d xdrive tourer. I don't think it's a car that's available in the US but there does seem to be some desire to improve the handling and looks on these cars all round the world!

For those that don't know the RS suspension is based on the KW v3 hardware but with settings and valving as specced by ACS. I see it as KW v3 but with more effort put in to finding the optimal settings for each car. So it's adjustable for ride height, compression and rebound. I didn't want it too low as its a daily driver, just filling the arches nicely. ACS have recommended settings for rebound and then suggest 2 recommended options for the bump setting- 1 for road and wet track and the other for dry track use. I have mine on the softer set up just now but will play around and try out other settings over time.

Anyway here's some pics of my car. It's also on spacers 12mm front and 15mm rear.

[Tengocity]

Some close ups

[.BMW.]

Looks great!

OEM size on the Michelin PSS tires?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by .BMW.

Looks great!

OEM size on the Michelin PSS tires?

Thanks!

Yes, exact same sizes as the RFTs it came on. Also have the MPerformance discs and EBC pads.

[Tengocity]

I should also add the ride and handling are superb! It's firm but all the sharp or harsh edges to bumps and potholes are rounded off, and the body control is quite superb. Big compressions and bumps are all dealt with immediately and without any fuss. No matter how bad the road is you can trust the suspension to absorb and manage it all.
It handles with a really neutral feel, much much flatter than the standard car.

[ClartVader]

Tengocity still happy with these mate? Where did you have them fitted?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by ClartVader

Tengocity still happy with these mate? Where did you have them fitted?

I absolutely love them. When I drive the 330e rather than the 335d it's the suspension I miss most, and not the power difference.

Once you've had top notch dampers it's hard to go back to the sub standard kit that BMW fits as standard.

The way the car can soak up and absorb absolutely whatever our crappy roads throws at it with ease is very very satisfying.

I had them fitted by ACS in kings Lynn.

[Triharderken]

I have the ACS springs for my 328i xDrive F31 m-sport and the reverse rake (lower in back than front) drives me nuts. I also installed Dinan Shockware to firm up the EDC dampeners, and it's...hmmmm...now acceptable in Sport. Secondary suspension motions are cancelled out, but it's still not enough for a sport-oriented auto. I just fit Pilot A/S3+ vs. the standard RFT and it's absolutely changed the way the car drives. It now feels like a luxury-sport auto, and in the process has inspired me to firm up the chassis more. If I had $3700US plus install, I'd jump on this setup in a heartbeat.

Thank you for sharing this from across the pond, and I look forward to any other feedback you have after you firm it up to the "dry track" setting for your city streets.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Triharderken

I have the ACS springs for my 328i xDrive F31 m-sport and the reverse rake (lower in back than front) drives me nuts. I also installed Dinan Shockware to firm up the EDC dampeners, and it's...hmmmm...now acceptable in Sport. Secondary suspension motions are cancelled out, but it's still not enough for a sport-oriented auto. I just fit Pilot A/S3+ vs. the standard RFT and it's absolutely changed the way the car drives. It now feels like a luxury-sport auto, and in the process has inspired me to firm up the chassis more. If I had $3700US plus install, I'd jump on this setup in a heartbeat.

Thank you for sharing this from across the pond, and I look forward to any other feedback you have after you firm it up to the "dry track" setting for your city streets.

Been running this set up for over 2 years now and very happy. For track use I go full hard and it's very impressive for heavy diesel estate.

The standard bmw dampers are not great, so anyone really serious about having a great handling car really needs to do dampers.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by Triharderken

I have the ACS springs for my 328i xDrive F31 m-sport and the reverse rake (lower in back than front) drives me nuts. .

I wonder if this is just due to the allowable tolerance of the springs since some pictures of ACS F31s seem to have reverse rake, and others don't.

I suspect the ACS rear spring is the same as the Eibach rear spring for the F34, which is slightly shorter than what Eibach uses for their F31 kit (not by much though). The front ACS/Eibach springs seem to be the same looking at the specs though. With the spread of allowable tolerance for the rear spring rate, the range in compressed length can be 10mm (.394inches). I have the Eibach kit on my F31, and have a slight forward rake.

Eibach F31 front spring 11-20-031-02-VA:
-Max load 1020kg
-Linear spring
-156mm outer diameter
-13mm wire diameter
-247mm unsprung length
-4.5 coils
-Spring rate 29 +/- 1.45 N/mm

ACS F31 front spring 3130231310:
-Max load 1020kg
-Linear spring
-156mm outer diameter
-13mm wire diameter
-247mm unsprung length
-4.5 coils

Eibach F31 rear spring 11-20-014-14-HA:
-Max load 1285kg
-Linear spring
-100mm outer diameter
-14.75mm wire diameter
-307mm unsprung length
-9 coils
-Spring rate 95 +/- 4.75 N/mm

Eibach F34 rear spring 11-20-031-03-HA:
-Max load 1310kg (original rating was for 1280kg, revised 11/2017)
-Linear spring
-94mm outer diameter
-14.25mm wire diameter
-300mm unsprung length
-9.75 coils
-Spring rate 95 +/- 4.75 N/mm

ACS F31/F34 rear spring 3353231130:
-Max load 1280kg
-Linear spring
-94mm outer diameter
-14.25mm wire diameter
-300mm unsprung length
-9.75 coils

[eleven11]

Nice F31. Really good drop/stance. I wasn't that familiar with the ACS coilovers, and the fact they are based on the KW v3. I'm getting my KW DDC Plug and Play coilovers installed this week on my F31.

[Triharderken]

Originally Posted by eleven11

Nice F31. Really good drop/stance. I wasn't that familiar with the ACS coilovers, and the fact they are based on the KW v3. I'm getting my KW DDC Plug and Play coilovers installed this week on my F31.

How did the install go? How do you like the ride/handling balance? Would you recommend to a fellow EDC xDrive F31er?

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by Triharderken

How did the install go? How do you like the ride/handling balance? Would you recommend to a fellow EDC xDrive F31er?

Install went well. This is my first coilover install, so my comparisons are limited. The stance looks perfect. It feels planted nicely, and confident when you want to push it. On rough roads (e.g. downtown potholes, etc.) it can be quite jarring. I think I was getting coilbind at first, which seems to have worked its way out after a few hundred miles. My installer expressed that there's limited travel for the front corners, once it is dropped. Something inherent to xDrive. The EDC changes are obvious.

[cfm56d7b]

Thanks for sharing. Very nice suspension stance. Incidentally, the rear appears to be a bit low in the picture. It all is well, no worries.