[pompous]

Working with a 2013 328i RWD Sedan
19" M Replica 437s with 235/35 Front and 265/30 Rear

I am wanting to make the gap between the wheel/tire and the fender closer to the gap of a sport line F30 without going so far as the car looks lowered. I'd like to maintain a pretty close to factory look, but improve the gap i've created with these new wheels/tires and maybe even improve handling a little bit while i'm at it.

The current gap is about the width of three fingers (slightly more).

The Dinan springs lower the car 20mm or ~3/4" all around. (Maybe 30mm since I think I have a true BASE suspension).
The H&R springs drop the car 1.5" front and 1" rear
The Suspension Techniques springs drop the car 1.2" all around

[anotheran]

get 20 inch rims and tires, style 404

[perryo91]

Originally Posted by anotheran

get 20 inch rims and tires, style 404

I like how you completely ignored his question

[anotheran]

Originally Posted by perryo91

I like how you completely ignored his question

Thx! my wife says i'm good at that

[pompous]

I think part of the problem with mine is it's not the sport suspension. So, it looked and continues to look like I'm driving a SUV. I'm wondering if somebody's used sport springs would give me the look I'm after, or if I maybe need the Dinan. Problem is, I cannot figure out if it will drop it 20mm or 30mm

[anotheran]

H&R sports


Dinan


I haven't heard of Suspension Techniques springs.

You decide what you like. H&R look lower and filled better in the front

[perryo91]

Originally Posted by anotheran

H&R sports

Dinan


I haven't heard of Suspension Techniques springs.

You decide what you like. H&R look lower and filled better in the front

I'd probably go for dinan just because I have the front lip and hate stressing about scratching it.

I really wish the performance suspension was cheaper because that's the perfect mix for me. only a 10mm drop and not extremely aggressive and developed strut/spring combo

[zcspec]

One item to consider, is your current tire setup's aspect ratio. 235/35 and 265/30 is a very low profile sidewall which actually increases your fender gap. I remember running the same setup on my VMR 810s and thinking how much of a wheel gap I had. Then I changed to 245/35 and 265/35 and saw an immediate improvement on how the wheels and tires "filled" out the gaps. Just something for your consideration...

[pompous]

What i'm stuggeling with is there is about a 2.5-3" gap in between the fender and tire (there was even before i switched to the new wheels/tires...it just sat absurdly high in its stock form). I look at plenty of other f30 and it looks pretty decently tight in there and I'm not sure they could fit wheels/tires this size stock. I'm simply trying to achieve that look with a lowering kit without going too far. Its like an SUV gap (and was with the fat tires)...not a BMW sports sedan.

[pompous]

Here's how it sits in the front currently. Do you think the Dinan or the H&R would bring the gap back to a factory sport look?

[RedSectorA]

I have Dinan's spring and sway bars on a 340ix MPPSK. Front gap at 1 in and rear at 1 1/8 in.

Hope that helps,

Dan

[alohasurftoad]

Originally Posted by zcspec

One item to consider, is your current tire setup's aspect ratio. 235/35 and 265/30 is a very low profile sidewall which actually increases your fender gap. I remember running the same setup on my VMR 810s and thinking how much of a wheel gap I had. Then I changed to 245/35 and 265/35 and saw an immediate improvement on how the wheels and tires "filled" out the gaps. Just something for your consideration...

exactly...

here's the same wheels, stock susp., appropriately sized tires. notice how it lessened the fenderwell gap from the stock 18" setup. stock setup is 26" diameter. 235/40/19, 265/35/19 is 26/4"/26.3" diameters. 235/35/19, 265/30/19 is 25.5"/25.3" diameters, which contributes to 4x4 unless lowered.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1422327

[pompous]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

exactly...

here's the same wheels, stock susp., appropriately sized tires. notice how it lessened the fenderwell gap from the stock 18" setup. stock setup is 26" diameter. 235/40/19, 265/35/19 is 26/4"/26.3" diameters. 235/35/19, 265/30/19 is 25.5"/25.3" diameters, which contributes to 4x4 unless lowered.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1422327

I see what you are saying and I absolutely LOVE the fit of those wheels, but I think my stock suspension is quite a bit higher than that car. Here's a pic of my car prior to the wheels/tires installed. Notice the large gap in there as well.

[alohasurftoad]

ahh, yes, i agree your car is pretty high.

if springs only, i would go with the "highest drop" and bump stop kit, since your base shocks will likely blow out quickly if you lower it too much.

if you can afford it, it'd be better if you could obtain bilstein b8 or koni yellow struts/shocks with your lowering springs.

and if you go that far you may consider an entry level coilover such as bilstein B14 PSS. pre set damp and adjustable ride height

sorry, not trying to make you spend money. but if you go just springs and it blows out quickly you'll end up spending more in the end...

[sevalley]

I had suspension techniques springs on my Mustang about 10 years ago. They were good. I haven't seen them for sale for any car since though. Where are you buying those for the BMW? Ebay?

[pompous]

Originally Posted by sevalley

I had suspension techniques springs on my Mustang about 10 years ago. They were good. I haven't seen them for sale for any car since though. Where are you buying those for the BMW? Ebay?

ECS Tuning

...I picked up both a set of springs from a M and a set of Dinan. I'm going to put the appropriate tires on and try the M springs to see how I like it. If not, I'll try Dinan, and if that's not enough I'll buy the ST or H&R springs and try those. One way or another I will get the right stance lol

[alohasurftoad]

Originally Posted by pompous

ECS Tuning

...I picked up both a set of springs from a M and a set of Dinan. I'm going to put the appropriate tires on and try the M springs to see how I like it. If not, I'll try Dinan, and if that's not enough I'll buy the ST or H&R springs and try those. One way or another I will get the right stance lol

With all that effort you should just get an entry level coilover such as Bilstein B14 PSS. Preset damp adjust height at each corner

[pompous]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

With all that effort you should just get an entry level coilover such as Bilstein B14 PSS. Preset damp adjust height at each corner

You may be right. I'm annoyed that I'm having to put any effort in to it at all, but from what I can see, it looks plenty simple enough to swap everything out in a couple hours. I think I'm going to be happy after the first setup with the M springs. I may be wrong on both parts however.

Btw...thank you for your help and thoughts in both this thread and the other one.

[alohasurftoad]

my friend put in my M-performance suspension for me. i helped him by watching ^^ and observed it is above my skill/tool level. while it is not difficult it is tedious and any time you work with spring compressors you have to be careful. it took about 3.5 hours. the rears are reasonable however the fronts dampers are a bitch to remove from and install into its mount.

glad to be of help

[torkles]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

my friend put in my M-performance suspension for me. i helped him by watching ^^ and observed it is above my skill/tool level. while it is not difficult it is tedious and any time you work with spring compressors you have to be careful. it took about 3.5 hours. the rears are reasonable however the fronts dampers are a bitch to remove from and install into its mount.

glad to be of help

starting to look in to suspension options on my 335 m sport. the dinan sport springs and bilstein b6 combo seems to be a popular approach. i was originally leaning toward the m perf suspension but the 1600 dollar price tag is giving me second thoughts. i can't seem to figure out what's included in the m perf suspension setup other than new springs and shocks. are there other bits included?

[7iM3less]

I say go Dinan springs. A few folks have confirmed that you get almost an inch drop which gets you to the M Sport suspension height. Any other spring will drop you even lower.

I've been reading about it for months. I plan to go the Dinan route as I too don't want to mangle my front (CF) lip. Would love some H&R's but up where I am it's not practical. I have to admit though I don't find my current stock suspension offensive. It all depends on the angle of the photo you take.

I have always found the 437m style rim to be one of those designs that look out of place on the F30 unless you lower the car.

[alohasurftoad]

Originally Posted by torkles

starting to look in to suspension options on my 335 m sport. the dinan sport springs and bilstein b6 combo seems to be a popular approach. i was originally leaning toward the m perf suspension but the 1600 dollar price tag is giving me second thoughts. i can't seem to figure out what's included in the m perf suspension setup other than new springs and shocks. are there other bits included?

i believe you want the bilstein b8(not b6) with the dinan springs. i think the b6(is taller) for strut/shock swap with stock springs.

sometimes springs only or combo springs/struts/shocks drops have uneven wheel gaps between front and back which you are basically stuck with. although it'll cost a little more, i'd do Bilstein B14 PSS entry coilover before the b8/dinan springs combo, since the front spring installs require dis and re-assembly anyway.

re: m-perf
in addition to the struts/shocks and red springs, the m-perf susp comes with strut mounts(top hats), some nuts and bolts, bump stops and misc pieces so you can assemble it off the car. it did not come with ALL the replacement nut and bolts, so i re-used the old ones in that case, although it is not recommended. at 10mm lower than m-sport the drop is very mild but the suspension is very good and i feel it is worth it if you can afford it.

Polo08816 has much more info on m-perf susp if you care to PM him or he responds here.