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      11-07-2017, 11:50 PM   #1
garrito_burrito_
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Best way to soften up the ride?

Anybody have any tips for this?
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      11-08-2017, 03:21 AM   #2
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Put bags of cement in the boot?
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      11-08-2017, 02:16 PM   #3
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Run 18" wheels for a beefier tire side wall. This should help a bit.
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      11-08-2017, 02:26 PM   #4
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I've been told by quite a few members that Dinan's kit is a great way to go to achieve a smoother ride.

Here's the link:

https://www.dinancars.com/product/d1...or-bmw-f87-m2/
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      11-08-2017, 11:59 PM   #5
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I went with an adjustable system; Ohlins R&T with slightly softer spring rates; they come standard with 90N/mm front and 190N/mm rear....I had them installed with 80N/mm front and 160N/mm rear. When they are set to 17 clicks they are slightly firmer than OEM and at the same time more planted/less bouncy on bigger bumps. I can then easily (lying down by the car and reaching in to the adjustment knobs; 2 minutes later they are reset) adjust the valving to 10 clicks which is a tiny bit stiffer than stock and super planted; more responsive/quick.....and 5 clicks is a bit too firm for the street; really the race setting (I anticipate 2 track days per year). Anyhow, that is what I decided in my effort to have my cake and eat it too. Probably easier to go with the Dinan set up....
edit note: I changed this comment after driving my car back to back with a friend M2 with stock suspension and realized that my Ohlins set at 18 clicks was still more firm than stock....
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Last edited by Saanen; 05-12-2018 at 01:43 AM.. Reason: correction
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      11-11-2017, 11:34 AM   #6
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I just got performance snow tires on 18" wheels. The 245-40-18 tires should provide a softer ride due to the taller sidewall.
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      11-11-2017, 12:34 PM   #7
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Dinan springs. They're magical.
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      11-21-2017, 10:07 PM   #8
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High quality dampers with proper spring rates will soften the ride for you.
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      11-21-2017, 11:44 PM   #9
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Does anyone know what the M2 stock/oem spring rates are?
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      11-22-2017, 01:44 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrKevM5 View Post
Dinan springs. They're magical.
I assume you have the Dinan springs on your car. Tell us more about your setup.
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      01-04-2018, 05:19 PM   #11
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Why spend thousands on coilovers...

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      01-04-2018, 06:47 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LSB --> LBB View Post
Why spend thousands on coilovers...

Isn’t that what people sit on when they have hemmroids
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      01-04-2018, 06:48 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bt12 View Post
Isn’t that what people sit on when they have hemmroids
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      01-05-2018, 08:34 AM   #14
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Why buy an M2 then. Perhaps a Cadillac would have been more suited.
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      01-05-2018, 09:11 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MZWIE View Post
Why buy an M2 then. Perhaps a Cadillac would have been more suited.
I agree. should've gotten M235i or M240i.
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      01-05-2018, 07:10 PM   #16
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I'm just getting smaller wheels for tires with thicker sidewalls, thinking 513s from the M3 on Michelins.

Thanks to the guys who had actual advice, and took this seriously as opposed to the ever growing troll population on here..
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      01-06-2018, 02:01 PM   #17
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Or airride...
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      01-12-2018, 08:36 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrKevM5 View Post
Dinan springs. They're magical.
Indeed, I wonder why. The Smoking Tire guy found them more comfortable. How can stiffer lowering springs with stock, non-adjustable shocks be more comfortable?
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      01-12-2018, 11:05 PM   #19
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OK..I gotta get in on this....first, ride quality is a subjective thing...like wine, beer, or sound systems....people with lots of knowledge and experience can have differing opinions...and they are all correct.

As an M2 owner who loves the car and has had a 2002 with Konis and CN36s (for those of you who were driving back when Pirelli was selling CN36 tires!?!), an Alpina suspension in a gray market 323i E30 a E36 M3 and a E90 335i with Konis I have a had a bit of experience. My assessment of the M2 is that the suspension is unnecessarily harsh and bounces a bit. So I went with the Ohlins R&T with a lighter spring rate(80NmmF/160NmmR)....it is now slightly stiffer than stock at 20 clicks, but very responsive and does not get unsettled over road irregularities and large bumps....I might eventually switch wheels to 9.5 x 18" Apex and will then consider swapping to 70/140N/mm spring rates.,....

While some of you guys are goofin...it is a legit issue....and by the way I rented a Cadillac last weekend, well built but a whole different beast...I'll take my M2 any day of the week.....

just sayin....
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2007 BMW 335i (sold); 1997 BMW E36 M3 (sold);
1988 BMW 535is (sold); 1984 BMW 323i Alpina (can't believe I sold),1969 BMW 2002 Ti (spec'd as Ti; and yes I sold this too...).

Last edited by Saanen; 05-12-2018 at 01:46 AM.. Reason: correction
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      01-13-2018, 09:58 AM   #20
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I was serious about airride. Put some bags in your car and you’ll see the difference. Even my x5 has factory bags I believe
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      01-13-2018, 01:32 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ryem3 View Post
Indeed, I wonder why. The Smoking Tire guy found them more comfortable. How can stiffer lowering springs with stock, non-adjustable shocks be more comfortable?
I don’t think they’re actually more compliant, it just seems that way bc Dinan uses linear rate springs vs OEM progressive.

This removes a lot of the bounciness of the stock suspension and the car absorbs small to medium sized bumps better. Big bumps are a little harsher than OEM.

Also depends on how much you lower the car. I’m 3/4” in the back, 1/2” front.
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      01-23-2018, 01:47 AM   #22
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I would like to share some thoughts on the Dinan suspension after installing it for 2 weeks. It echos many others' comments here, which is the reason I bought Dinan instead of KW or Ohlins.

Roads: filled with manhole covers, pot holes, and repairs from years of tropical rain & typhoon. Expansion joints on expressways and land bridges.

Setup: stock Conti tires on stock-sized BBS LM, lowered to -0.75" front / -0.5" rear. No "packers" used because I wanted maximum suspension travel before hitting bumpstops.

Ride:
Small surface imperfactions - great! Impacts are more "heard" than "felt"
Medium bumps - good. I would say about 20-30% noticeable improvement. No more pogo stick bounciness.
Large bumps & Speed bumps - still stiff. It seems same or worse than stock once the suspension travel / compliance runs out. Just slow down for these and you'll be fine.

Handling: because of the softer feel, there seems to be a small increase in body roll during turn-in. Not making it into a boat or anything but it's there. The lack of the pogo stick effect actually allows better mid-corner steering corrections. It feels a little less like a stiffly-sprung go-kart now, more of a firm sport suspension.

Overall: I wish the stock suspension was like this from the factory.
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