[Jim1985]

Looking to upgrade my suspension. Car is a E90 335d, 56 plate, 104k miles.

I’d like the car to sit a little lower at the front and I’d also like to improve the handling. Looking to do track days like I used to as well.

Normally in the past I’ve fitted coilovers to my cars. I’ve used a few brands, most recently HSD Monopro’s and Meister Rs (not on BMWs). However looking into it, I’ve seen more people on here leaning towards springs & dampers. Is this because it’s a tried and tested way and people are less keen to go to (what they believe to be) the extremes of coilovers?

If I was to do springs, I’d be doing springs and matched dampers. Which gets the price awfully close to the price of coilovers. Now personally, I’d prefer the infinite adjustability of the coilovers. Spending all that money on springs & shocks and realising the drop/ride isn’t quite right would be too much to stomach. And seeing how close the prices of springs/shocks and coilovers are, I’d be tempted to go towards coilovers. But then I realised, perhaps they springs/shocks combination are the same price because they are superior, and that the equivalent coilovers would perhaps be double the price…

Car will be used for fast road/some track days. I wouldn’t want to slam it, but I want to lower it, especially when I get the 19s fitted. I wouldn’t want to make the ride any harsher, but I’d like it to ride more compliantly over uneven ground.

I was considering Eibach/H&R springs due to cost compared to coilovers, but I don’t like the idea of fitting them with standard shocks so cost becomes a moot point…

Any pointers?...

Budget would be approx £750, preferably lower. Leaning towards Meister R coilovers…

[Digitalize]

For that price I'd go BC coilovers, or stretch it a little, get in touch with Hack Engineering and get some CAtuned ones, supposed to be some of the best available for under £1000. Ride better than M Sport suspension apparently.

[Jim1985]

I was reading up this morning about those CAtuned coilovers. Some conflicting info there. Not convinced TBH. Plus a few hundred more than £1000 is getting into KW territory...
Also on BCs dont people have issues with knocking on the top mounts?...

[Icekube]

for 700quid i would be going for a quality spring and damper setup, rather than some low-mid spec coilovers.

Bilstein B12 kit will give you a sensible ride height, with excellent quality components (Bilstien dampers and Eibach springs) I got mine from German Ebay for about 500£ delivered.

[Jim1985]

Ah thats fantastic - I never knew the kit came with the springs!
Is the damping adjustable on those?
Cheers!
Jim

[Russbmw]

My mate runs Hack Engineering, and they do tend to on distribute decent stuff to be fair.

[Jim1985]

Ah fair enough thats good to know. I didnt notice too much E90 stuff, do they mainly cater for the M3 flavours?

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by Jim1985

Ah thats fantastic - I never knew the kit came with the springs!
Is the damping adjustable on those?
Cheers!
Jim

http://www.ego-autotuning.de/bilstei...coupe-e92.html

[Jim1985]

Cheers! They look perfect!

[JulesM]

I was looking at the B12 Pro kit from Germany but wasn't sure if it would give enough of a drop over standard, also checked out the B14 coilovers, having found out about the H&R touring cupkit the other day I think that's the one I want now.

Looks like that will give enough of a drop without the need and hassle of coilovers.

[Jim1985]

Oooh sounds good - got a link? Any good for spirited driving/infrequent track outings?

[Digitalize]

Ben at Hack Engineering would not sell anything below perfect quality. Runs them on his E36 S54 Touring and is about to fit them to his girlfriends 1 series for daily use.

CAtuned are exactly the same and as such they're probably some of the best on the market. Be looking £1500+ to beat them IMO.

BC's are the cheapest I'd go on a coilover, and they are fantastic too. Some did have issues but haven't heard of any problems in a while.

[Jim1985]

Fair point. I'll do some more reading up on them! Speaking from experience I was highly impressed with my Meister R coilovers, they are specifically specced for UK roads. BUT would they be suited to a BMW... That is the question!

[mob17]

Id recommend B14 if you're looking to track, or B12 if its mostly a DD.

[JulesM]

The drop on B12s seems to be barely more than stock and reading on here a lot of people aren't happy with the drop, the H&R Touring cupkit is about as low as I'd want to go. The H&R sport cupkit gives me of a drop but I don't need the daily that low.

First pic is B12, 2nd is H&R touring cupkit.

[JulesM]

I tracked mine recently as my trackcar wasn't ready, the 335D really needs a diff if it's going to be used on track.

[mob17]

Originally Posted by JulesM

I tracked mine recently as my trackcar wasn't ready, the 335D really needs a diff if it's going to be used on track.

+ 1

And better subframe bushes

[E90325iM-SPORT]

Buy coilovers simple....

[Jim1985]

Originally Posted by JulesM

I tracked mine recently as my trackcar wasn't ready, the 335D really needs a diff if it's going to be used on track.

It's on the shopping list!

[Jim1985]

Originally Posted by mob17

+ 1

And better subframe bushes

M3 OEM ones or polybushes? I'll look into that

[Jim1985]

Originally Posted by RomanWheelman

Buy coilovers simple....

Any recommendations from personal experience?

[Jim1985]

Originally Posted by JulesM

The drop on B12s seems to be barely more than stock and reading on here a lot of people aren't happy with the drop, the H&R Touring cupkit is about as low as I'd want to go. The H&R sport cupkit gives me of a drop but I don't need the daily that low.

First pic is B12, 2nd is H&R touring cupkit.

Touring kit looks ideal! Will look into this. Thanks.