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      07-02-2016, 08:14 PM   #1
etinifni
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Base suspension upgrade options ITT

I'd like to lower my MY '12 328i but I don't want an overly aggressive stiff ride quality. On my e36 328i I went with H&R lowering springs & Bilstein Sport shocks/struts and regretted it almost every day as the car was a DD and the roads around here suck.

On my f30 id like to lower it a bit, nothing crazy. What are my options for doing this that will still give me a decent ride quality?
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      07-02-2016, 08:22 PM   #2
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I use h&r sport springs. I also have a 12 328i. I think a lot of people can vouch for h&r unless you want go coilovers.
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      07-02-2016, 08:23 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthirty
I use h&r sport springs. I also have a 12 328i. I think a lot of people can vouch for h&r unless you want go coilovers.
What shocks & struts did you go with? Did you have base suspension?
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      07-02-2016, 08:38 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etinifni View Post
What shocks & struts did you go with? Did you have base suspension?
Mine are stock. According to h&r it's suppose to work with the stock shocks and struts because the drop is not too low.
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      07-02-2016, 08:57 PM   #5
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H&R Sport, DINAN or Eibach or the less aggressive drop springs. They should work with stock struts well, but you would be better suited using an aftermarket strut as well.

I have Sportline suspension and I just picked up H&R Sports, but I'm also going to go with Koni Yellows for the added adjustability of dampening.
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      07-02-2016, 09:08 PM   #6
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I'll have to look into these. The Konis you're talking about, you can adjust hard stiff they are?
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      07-05-2016, 12:13 PM   #7
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Bilstein B6s on my 2013 328i....they ARE significantly stiffer but they are really really good....standard springs....I did not want lower...NY roads are punishing enough...also I can easily swop the OEM shocks back when I sell the car...(but boy are they god awful soft)
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      07-05-2016, 01:28 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by pjkbrit
Bilstein B6s on my 2013 328i....they ARE significantly stiffer but they are really really good....standard springs....I did not want lower...NY roads are punishing enough...also I can easily swop the OEM shocks back when I sell the car...(but boy are they god awful soft)
I need to find someone with a similarly equipped car before I make my decision. After I did the suspension swap on my e36 it sucked driving around my area.
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      07-05-2016, 11:40 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etinifni View Post
I'll have to look into these. The Konis you're talking about, you can adjust hard stiff they are?
Koni's are rebound damping adjustable.
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      07-06-2016, 11:57 AM   #10
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I've just installed Koni Sport (Yellow) with stock springs- ride quality almost unchanged in the 90 degrees rear and 135 degree front settings from the softest position.
Amaizingly improved handling and highway stability.
Highly recommend.
PS
Others who used same dampers with H&R also do not have complaints on the ride quality.
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      10-17-2016, 01:30 PM   #11
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How hard is it to change the rear damping settings. Remove the shock entirely?
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      10-17-2016, 02:22 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFan View Post
How hard is it to change the rear damping settings. Remove the shock entirely?
Yes, with the Koni's, the rear shock would have to be removed to adjust damping.
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      10-20-2016, 11:41 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmitry83 View Post
I've just installed Koni Sport (Yellow) with stock springs- ride quality almost unchanged in the 90 degrees rear and 135 degree front settings from the softest position.
Amaizingly improved handling and highway stability.
Highly recommend.
PS
Others who used same dampers with H&R also do not have complaints on the ride quality.
Any particular reason going half turn from full soft in the rear?
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      10-21-2016, 05:56 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etinifni View Post
I'd like to lower my MY '12 328i but I don't want an overly aggressive stiff ride quality. On my e36 328i I went with H&R lowering springs & Bilstein Sport shocks/struts and regretted it almost every day as the car was a DD and the roads around here suck.

On my f30 id like to lower it a bit, nothing crazy. What are my options for doing this that will still give me a decent ride quality?
If your car is RWD, then opt for the M Performance Suspension kit. Why even take a chance on mismatched springs and struts?
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      10-21-2016, 09:23 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFan View Post
Any particular reason going half turn from full soft in the rear?
Yes- with full soft the stock rather stiff springs will cause wobbling and vibration.

Now with 3000km passed, the dampers had broken in and settled finally, so week by week I've been increasing rebound on the front, having stopped at 270 degrees.
The reas should now also be increased to 180 degrees from current 90.

Actually it is the most important to know which setting is needed at the rear, and then the front should be adjusted according to what steering character you want to have.
With front that is around twice stiffer than the rear, you get slight oversteering, which is perfect.

Now the front runs perfectly- the ride quality is great, the grip is fantastic, the steering response is times quicker compared to the stock dampers.
So I consider this combination to be perfect for those who want either to keep the stock height or mild lowering (Koni claims Yellows work good with both stock springs and -30 H&Rs).
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Last edited by Dmitry83; 10-21-2016 at 09:49 AM..
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      10-21-2016, 01:20 PM   #16
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Thanks for the update. I was thinking a full 360 degrees (1 full turn) from full soft on the rear from the beginning.Think it's a bit much? I would hate having to remove the shocks and stiffen rebound after a couple hundred miles.
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Last edited by BimmerFan; 10-21-2016 at 01:26 PM..
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      11-22-2016, 10:13 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFan View Post
Thanks for the update. I was thinking a full 360 degrees (1 full turn) from full soft on the rear from the beginning.Think it's a bit much? I would hate having to remove the shocks and stiffen rebound after a couple hundred miles.
I think 360 is too much- actually this adjustment is made for wear-out compensation, but also gives the possibility to fine-tune the rebound initially.
I made it 90 degrees first, and came to 180 only after 3000km, when they broken in (say settled) completely.
Tightening rebound too much means the shock (and the wheel) will stretch back slower after the suspension is compressed after hitting a bump or taking a corner at its outer side- it can cause the body to repeat the road profile too much.
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      11-22-2016, 10:46 AM   #18
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Thanks for your response. I'll start with 90 degrees then increase to 180 degrees in the rear.
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      11-22-2016, 11:20 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BimmerFan View Post
Thanks for your response. I'll start with 90 degrees then increase to 180 degrees in the rear.
I would recommend 180 degrees at the rear from the beginning.
With the front- right now, for winter, I've softened it to 180 degrees as well, while in Summer had reached 270 to make the steering response sharper- those are easily adjusted from the engine compartment.
But you have 335i- probably you will have to go even up to 360 degrees at the front.
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      11-28-2016, 10:21 AM   #20
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Thanks. I was more concerned with the rear since it requires removal to adjust it. I'll go with 180 degrees rear off the bat. Hope to have the parts installed in a couple weeks.
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