Fed up, f*cked off (and about to throw the towel in)

Fed up, f*cked off (and about to throw the towel in)

Author
Discussion

foxsasha

1,416 posts

134 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
I managed to order an Alpina rear spoiler for my E90 335D off Sytner without a chassis number, would I be able to order a set of springs and dampers without one too ?

I ran Ohlins 3 way adjustables on my Mk1 996 GT3 (they're specially rebuilt ex 996 RS race car items), forget bigger brakes, increased horsepower, even stickier tyres, top quality dampers (and springs) are the biggest single mechanical factor in improving the majority of road cars IMO. The damper control at high speed was otherwordly, and as close to the mythical magic carpet ride as you could get
You might be surprised just how cheap the Road and Track kit is for your BMW, a fraction cost of the GT3 set up. Less than £1500 inc vat.

Totally agree that suspension is often overlooked and that the performance improvement for the money can be dramatic smile

sickspot nutter

2 posts

97 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Interesting thread, if a little old. Mmmm Continentals.

Had a Volvo (actually I've still got it) 15 yrs ago with unmanageable vibs. Volvo kindly tried everything under warranty as it was under 3 years old & only 50k miles then. New shocks, new discs, new bushes, balancing, tracking, all for £0. Would a BMW Main Stealer do that? Finally we trace it to a faulty, eccentric, rear tyre by swapping the set with a brand new car. Once we'd identified which wheel it was easily visible in the tread, like a wallet sized lump. Continental refused to even look at it. A new tyre cured it but stupidly replaced it with another conti. Problem recurred twice more, same tyre issue but Conti still refused to look saying it must have been damaged by kerbs or potholes.

So I am now up to 250,000 and have used Firestone, Pirelli, Goodyear and Hankook, plus winter Fuldas since then. Not a single issue over the past 15 years and 200,000 miles. Maybe my driving has improved!!

Make your own conclusions.

Slippy I admire your perseverance with BMs. I'm on my second and last. I thought the first 328i was just a T break model but my new 335D is equally as poor.

Slippydiff

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

222 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
sickspot nutter said:
Slippy I admire your perseverance with BMs. I'm on my second and last. I thought the first 328i was just a T break model but my new 335D is equally as poor.
In truth I've struggled to find anything that get remotely close to the driving dynamics of the six pot petrol/diesel 3 Series.
I dislike the Audi driving experience (I had a TTRS Plus for six months last year, fast but dull), all the other Audis I've tried have left me cold ; nice build quality, but hopeless (for which read dull and uninspiring) driving dynamics.

Mercs ? I'm 52, not 72.

Jaguar " " " "

In truth I'm about to ditch the F30 330d M Sport and go back to an E90 335D M Sport auto saloon. I love the chunky hydraulic steering, the six speed auto 'box makes the car feel more long legged than the 330 with it 8 speed ZF 'box. I think the old twin turbo engine sounds nicer too.

And whilst the newer car is more refined, has slightly better economy and rides better, I prefer the chassis of the older car, it provides a better connection between the driver and the road, in short it feels more honest and less contrived.

I'd like to build the diesel equivalent of an E90 Alpina B3 Bi-Turbo : http://www.alpina-archive.com/?page_id=167
a car that was just crying out to built by the artisans at Buchloe IMO.

Maybe a bit of Q car and thus not as overt as the Alpina, but with decent brakes, better suspension, 350hp and 500 torques. Watch this space ....

smile






ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
In truth I've struggled to find anything that get remotely close to the driving dynamics of the six pot petrol/diesel 3 Series.
I dislike the Audi driving experience (I had a TTRS Plus for six months last year, fast but dull), all the other Audis I've tried have left me cold ; nice build quality, but hopeless (for which read dull and uninspiring) driving dynamics.

Mercs ? I'm 52, not 72.

Jaguar " " " "

In truth I'm about to ditch the F30 330d M Sport and go back to an E90 335D M Sport auto saloon. I love the chunky hydraulic steering, the six speed auto 'box makes the car feel more long legged than the 330 with it 8 speed ZF 'box. I think the old twin turbo engine sounds nicer too.

And whilst the newer car is more refined, has slightly better economy and rides better, I prefer the chassis of the older car, it provides a better connection between the driver and the road, in short it feels more honest and less contrived.

I'd like to build the diesel equivalent of an E90 Alpina B3 Bi-Turbo : http://www.alpina-archive.com/?page_id=167
a car that was just crying out to built by the artisans at Buchloe IMO.

Maybe a bit of Q car and thus not as overt as the Alpina, but with decent brakes, better suspension, 350hp and 500 torques. Watch this space ....

smile
Change the Exhaust Intercooler & Manifold which will give you a comfortable reliable 350bhp, brakes wise you can go down the Alpina route & use the brakes from a 760I or you could get some HiSpec/Brembo Calipers suspension wise the world is your oyster.

For my cars I use Penske Coilovers but I'm sure you'll find a set up that works for you.

Slippydiff

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

222 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Change the Exhaust Intercooler & Manifold which will give you a comfortable reliable 350bhp, brakes wise you can go down the Alpina route & use the brakes from a 760I or you could get some HiSpec/Brembo Calipers suspension wise the world is your oyster.

For my cars I use Penske Coilovers but I'm sure you'll find a set up that works for you.
Penske sounds expensive smile but as with everything in life, you get what you pay for ! !
"Change the exhaust, intercooler and manifold". I'd most likely go Wagner intercooler and downpipe (as long as it doesn't cause any DPF or check engine lights ?) along with a decent live remap (any recommendations ?) That just leaves the manifold. Inlet or exhaust ? Whose/what do you recommend ?

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Penske sounds expensive smile but as with everything in life, you get what you pay for ! !
"Change the exhaust, intercooler and manifold". I'd most likely go Wagner intercooler and downpipe (as long as it doesn't cause any DPF or check engine lights ?) along with a decent live remap (any recommendations ?) That just leaves the manifold. Inlet or exhaust ? Whose/what do you recommend ?
There are a few companies that make a exhaust manifold, if you're adding the downpipe then you can leave the Exhaust Manifold stock the DPF light you can have mapped out the Wagner Intercooler is a good choice.
Where in the country are you? The Penske stuff isn't cheap but I can't fault there back up.

The best I've seen on the dyno with a Map Intercooler & cat back system on a 335d is 331bhp 512 lbft & a worst of 322bhp 490lbft.

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
the Continentals wore out in less than 9k miles, far,far quicker than any Michelins I've run on my various BMW's)

My tyre supplier sent them back to Continental as they too thought the wear excessive, but Continental deemed the tyres faultless.
Interesting. What did they conclude?

I've been a lifelong fan on Continental tyres, and have had numerous sets, however I recently bought a full car set (fronts and rear different size) and the rears wore out in less than 1000 miles (yes, 1000) whereas the fronts had barely any wear at all. All through gentle driving, and the car has been checked over and found to be perfect (alignment/suspension/diffs etc).

Tyres are currently on their way back to Conti via the supplier. Hopefully I won't get the same short shrift...

Slippydiff

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

222 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
monthefish said:
Interesting. What did they conclude?
HRF syndrome, which wasn't the case, I drove the car no differently from when I ran it on Michelins.
The Sport Contact 5's are getting good reviews, though those seem to be tempered by an all too familiar issue, no prizes for guessing what it is ....... rolleyes

I wouldn't put Contis on a car ever again, nor Pirellis. Albeit with Pirellis, you know they're rubbish, so nothing about them comes as any great surprise ....

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
monthefish said:
Interesting. What did they conclude?
HRF syndrome, which wasn't the case, I drove the car no differently from when I ran it on Michelins.
The Sport Contact 5's are getting good reviews, though those seem to be tempered by an all too familiar issue, no prizes for guessing what it is ....... rolleyes

I wouldn't put Contis on a car ever again, nor Pirellis. Albeit with Pirellis, you know they're rubbish, so nothing about them comes as any great surprise ....
Thanks for that.

I'll see how Conti handle my issue before I decide whether or not to sack them off as a brand. I think they'll struggle to argue that HRF could cause total wear on the rears of a 4wd car after 900 miles when the fronts are intact, but we'll see....