Birds suspension m140i

[SBN]

So my 140i doesn’t have adaptive and after picking it up from new it has done 1500 miles now and my back is suffering.

I have always had sporty cars... hard suspension is ok but the 140i is the harshest and bumpiest I have ever had.

Read the article on hear about the birds suspension upgrade and how it’ll iron out a lot of the roads ups and downs etc. Seems a good choice but keen to hear if anyone else is running ther suspension upgrade that has been tailored for the 140i?

[Tea Pot One]

Interesting ... they must play about with the standard passive suspension as I have an M240i convertible and for me it is soft !

[LocoBlade]

Are you sure they've not left the transport blocks in the dampers at PDI because although the passive setup isn't great, the fact you say you're used to stiffly suspended cars but this is the harshest you've experienced doesn't sound right to me, the one I test drove was more compliant and comfortable than a mate's E90 MSport 330i so I'm sure would be significantly softer than things like hot Meganes and JCW Minis etc.

Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 30th December 22:48

[Mr Whippy]

I thought the M140i was way softer than Fiesta ST and my Z4.

It was more like a comfy GT than a very fast sports hatch in my experience.

[Sticks.]

If the OP's is anything like my 235 it's not too hard but too bouncy.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Runflats? If you have those, that’s the only thing you need to fix

[Smuler]

You sure it’s the suspension, or at least entirely to blame.

I have a bad back and only BMW that troubled me were 1 Series including M135i ; something about seats which was not quite right.

Check out any lumbar support, side bolster adjustments first.
Only other causes of back issues I’ve had was with RFTs on 19s.

[jan8p]

My M135 (non adaptive) is fine for my back, not too harsh at all.

[SBN]

Sorry it’s the bouncy suspension that really is becoming irritating.

Wrong use of words.

It doesn’t have fun flats.

[SBN]

Sticks. said:

If the OP's is anything like my 235 it's not too hard but too bouncy.

This

[SBN]

Is birds suspension upgrade the fix?

[LocoBlade]

I'm sure Birds is a solution and probably a good one, but unlikely to be the best bang for your buck. It's worth having a read through threads like this on BabyBMW to see what options people recommend

http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=10...

[SBN]

So they appear to recommend the bilstein b12 kit as this is what the birds kit is based upon

[Smuler]

SBN said:

So they appear to recommend the bilstein b12 kit as this is what the birds kit is based upon

I considered Birds' kit as a way of improving my 335i ; but when they said they offered demonstrations it was with them driving their car. I said it's too much money to spend without me driving their car!

[gareth h]

I've got it on my 335d, decent suspension, not best for the money, and their installation is a bit rubbish.

[SBN]

I’m gonna buy the b12 pro kit and then get installed at a bmw specialist near me who also have a hunter machine. Looks like it’ll all be done for less a grand...

[JackReacher]

How did you get on with the B12 kit? I was set on getting this, but I've read a few comments that suggest low speed ride is harsher than standard? Which brings me back to Birds, and their more expensive kit but feedback seems to be that its better on the road, and it's mostly improved B-road ride and handling that I'm looking fir. I had a ride in their demo car, and seemed impressive but they wouldn't let me drive it.

Trouble is most of the press reports on the birds kit seem relatively sponsored, so any real life feedback would be good. I guess the main question for anyone with the birds kit is was it worth the cost and would you get it again?

[R1 Dave]

Also very interested to hear the verdict on this.

I've also read that KW Street Comforts are an alternative to the Bilstein, less harsh. I just want to get rid of the 'wheels not actually connected to each other ' feeling that the standard dampers give!!

[HM-2]

R1 Dave said:

I've also read that KW Street Comforts are an alternative to the Bilstein, less harsh.

This is the route I've been considering going once my warranty is up, along with some lighter wheels and either Dinan monoballs or adjustable top mounts.
xjay1337 on here seems to have a good handle on F20 suspension tweaking.

[thatdude]

If you're having back trouble, you need to take some steps with a physiotherapist to sort that out. You should also consider your seating position, not just in the car but everywhere. Poor posture really does affect things, along with incorrectly lifting items, also sleeping on a bad / old matress so on so forth. If you dont exercise, get out and get working. I put my back out early on in 2018 (not for the first time) and after a couple of days of barely being able to move I struggled quater of a mile down the road to just get moving.

It might not be the fact the car is so harshly sprung, but you might need some other input to strengthen the back as well as other muscle groups so your back is better supported.