E92 SE handling upgrades - where to start on a budget
Discussion
Nice work! The part number list is invaluable, thanks a million for sharing. I've been grinding rust out of the E30 getting it ready for welding, this is still on the list but will have to wait 
How are the FSDs in the real world - do they adapt and do they balance comfort / sport? Sounds like it from your F11 comment they do!
After doing the front / rear yourself is it all worth it when you get on the road?
How are the FSDs in the real world - do they adapt and do they balance comfort / sport? Sounds like it from your F11 comment they do!
After doing the front / rear yourself is it all worth it when you get on the road?
The rust has been hiding behind the boot seal, I spotted a patch further up which was isolated and as I pulled the seal away I found this -
More controlled handling sounds good, my E30 is on an SE setup but I notice how much more poised it feels than my rolling E92 SE! I don't think I'll be able to stretch to Koni FSDs but I will be going down the Bilstein / Eibach route. Do you have run flats on your E92 or just the F11? I ditched mine pretty prompt, the tyres were worn when I got the car but I really did not like the ride or the shimmy over white lines with RFTs!
Good work on the setup and for doing it yourself, I think I'll enlist the help of a friend for the fronts and have a go when I've recovered from paying the wedding deposit! One issue more pressing than the shocks / springs is checking the ARB drop links as I've noticed my car is bottoming out at the rear when going over undulations at anything above a crawl.
Give the new setup a little while to bed in, all of the posts I've seen include comments along the lines of, " why is my car sitting higher than M Sport" and after a few weeks all is well with the world. Either way blame it on this and not putting things in upside down - easy to do and reminds me of somebody who installed two left hand headlight cases to an E30 
More controlled handling sounds good, my E30 is on an SE setup but I notice how much more poised it feels than my rolling E92 SE! I don't think I'll be able to stretch to Koni FSDs but I will be going down the Bilstein / Eibach route. Do you have run flats on your E92 or just the F11? I ditched mine pretty prompt, the tyres were worn when I got the car but I really did not like the ride or the shimmy over white lines with RFTs!
Good work on the setup and for doing it yourself, I think I'll enlist the help of a friend for the fronts and have a go when I've recovered from paying the wedding deposit! One issue more pressing than the shocks / springs is checking the ARB drop links as I've noticed my car is bottoming out at the rear when going over undulations at anything above a crawl.
Give the new setup a little while to bed in, all of the posts I've seen include comments along the lines of, "
why is my car sitting higher than M Sport" and after a few weeks all is well with the world. Either way blame it on this and not putting things in upside down - easy to do and reminds me of somebody who installed two left hand headlight cases to an E30 Looking good! The ride height drop looks subtle like you said, no need to be a speed bump worrier.
I've polybushed my E30 and it's made a huge difference so I'm going to start there on the E92 whilst I'm saving up for the springs.
The CDV is the easiest modification in the world and it's something which should never have been bundled with the car.
I've polybushed my E30 and it's made a huge difference so I'm going to start there on the E92 whilst I'm saving up for the springs.
The CDV is the easiest modification in the world and it's something which should never have been bundled with the car.
Please disregard my earlier gripes - the suggestions by folk in the early posts were spot on. Knackered front bushes with plenty of play in them, replaced the front lower arms and the car drives a lot better. Tight and controlled rather than a wallowing boat! Amazing how much difference it makes. Springs and shocks are on the wishlist but nowhere near as important!
Couldn't resist the temptation anymore - I've just ordered B8 Sprint shocks and the Eibach Pro-Kit for fitting next week! Will let you know how it goes. Realised that with new front arms the road feel was better but still had way too much roll and movement (squatting under acceleration etc). Managed to find the parts cheaper by ordering from Germany, £540 all in for the shocks and springs which I'm happy with compared to £750ish retail over here!
Just picked it up. In the space of a week it's had the alloys powder coated, suspension fitted and full four wheel alignment with camber, caster and toe and detailed to tidy up the swirl marks. All I can say is... wow! Turns in sharp, no understeer, much less body roll, can feel the shocks doing their job and dampening so the control is there. My old front nearside shock had leaked and was seized which explains some of the problems. With the new setup there's no loss of comfort, driven on motorways, pothole happy roads, speed bumps at mixed speeds. Feels tight and precise and for the first time since buying it it's FUN to drive. The drop will settle more from what I'm told but it looks spot on, not excessive and I'm really happy. Finally it has the cornering ability to match its pace!
Before (flipped for comparison) -
After -
Before (flipped for comparison) -
After -
I'm chuffed with the setup, I'm not sure what the issue is with Bilsteins and other comments about them being firm but coming from SE suspension they are fine. All that you notice is that the spring oscillation is reduced as the Bilsteins are reducing the travel, it's not jarring. No complaints for comfort and handling has tightened up so much, no longer running wide on corners. A lot of it would be 140k worn suspension and it's not fair to compare old with new but simply put the setup is bloody brilliant. I can go round corners but still drive and approach speed bumps without fear. Going to do the same to my E30 next year!
Swirl marks were buffed out by a detailer, I bought a buffer but was too scared to use it. By no means is it perfect as the previous (company) owner didn't care about scratches but it is a lot better.
To sum up the suspension replacement I no longer want "more" from the car - I'm happy with it as it is. Only thing I would do is get an E90 M3 in a few years and enjoy the last of the NA cars. Very disappointed with modern CO2 constraints and auto boxes, 1.5 litre engines with 4,000 turbos and fake engine noise via speakers!
Swirl marks were buffed out by a detailer, I bought a buffer but was too scared to use it. By no means is it perfect as the previous (company) owner didn't care about scratches but it is a lot better.
To sum up the suspension replacement I no longer want "more" from the car - I'm happy with it as it is. Only thing I would do is get an E90 M3 in a few years and enjoy the last of the NA cars. Very disappointed with modern CO2 constraints and auto boxes, 1.5 litre engines with 4,000 turbos and fake engine noise via speakers!
Anything involving "subframe" = £££. Well done to you for doing it, mine too had a floaty feeling but that was cured by a laser four wheel alignment after the suspension change (drive from garage after suspension overhaul to alignment = unpleasant). A few months in and I'm still chuffed with the Bilstein / Eibach setup, great manners when you want to take it easy and enjoyable when pressing on. I think top end there's still something missing, I can't decide if it's the size of the car and me still missing my former hot hatch but driving my E30 with knackered front shocks and arms then hopping into the E92 it still feels wallowy. It's way better than it was and I don't think there's a quick fix, I think the only way would be to drive a low mileage / fully overhauled E92 and see how my car should be (or if it is normal). Glad to hear yours is sorted.
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