M135 F20 suspension upgrade
Discussion
Hi all
I'm after a bit of advice with my car, only had it around a month but I find the current setup not the best to be truthful.
Car is 2014 with roughly 109k miles on and by the looks of it standard BMW shocks and bright red lowering springs, which from a quick look might be Direnza?
So at the moment it's just terribly damped, as I wonder if the old shocks have literally passed their best
Do I go for say Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs
I'm not fussed about it being low in all honesty, looks nice but I'd rather have handling and not the risk of it catching anywhere
General consensus is the standard suspension isn't the best from what I've read but I'd appreciate people's input on this due to me buying the car as is
Cheers
Matt
I'm after a bit of advice with my car, only had it around a month but I find the current setup not the best to be truthful.
Car is 2014 with roughly 109k miles on and by the looks of it standard BMW shocks and bright red lowering springs, which from a quick look might be Direnza?
So at the moment it's just terribly damped, as I wonder if the old shocks have literally passed their best
Do I go for say Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs
I'm not fussed about it being low in all honesty, looks nice but I'd rather have handling and not the risk of it catching anywhere
General consensus is the standard suspension isn't the best from what I've read but I'd appreciate people's input on this due to me buying the car as is
Cheers
Matt
Well if it's 11 years old and possibly on original dampers it's due a new set.
The combination you mention gets good reviews, might we worth refreshing the associated mounts and bushes where applicable whilst it's all apart. That'll tighten it all up for sure, just ensure you get a decent wheel alignment done afterwards.
The combination you mention gets good reviews, might we worth refreshing the associated mounts and bushes where applicable whilst it's all apart. That'll tighten it all up for sure, just ensure you get a decent wheel alignment done afterwards.
Dinosaur juice said:
Hi all
I'm after a bit of advice with my car, only had it around a month but I find the current setup not the best to be truthful.
Car is 2014 with roughly 109k miles on and by the looks of it standard BMW shocks and bright red lowering springs, which from a quick look might be Direnza?
So at the moment it's just terribly damped, as I wonder if the old shocks have literally passed their best
Do I go for say Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs
I'm not fussed about it being low in all honesty, looks nice but I'd rather have handling and not the risk of it catching anywhere
General consensus is the standard suspension isn't the best from what I've read but I'd appreciate people's input on this due to me buying the car as is
Cheers
Matt
Bilstein B8s with Eibach springs will be the B12 Pro Kit spring (black springs that will lower c20mm) - the Sportline springs for the B12 kit lower too much IMO at around 40-50mmI'm after a bit of advice with my car, only had it around a month but I find the current setup not the best to be truthful.
Car is 2014 with roughly 109k miles on and by the looks of it standard BMW shocks and bright red lowering springs, which from a quick look might be Direnza?
So at the moment it's just terribly damped, as I wonder if the old shocks have literally passed their best
Do I go for say Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs
I'm not fussed about it being low in all honesty, looks nice but I'd rather have handling and not the risk of it catching anywhere
General consensus is the standard suspension isn't the best from what I've read but I'd appreciate people's input on this due to me buying the car as is
Cheers
Matt
I recently fitted Bilstein B14s to my previous E81 130i and they were superb and would highly recommend them; get them fitted properly and dialled in properly and the car will be a dream to drive
Dinosaur juice said:
Do I go for say Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach springs
Yes. There is nothing better for the money, not by a country mile. Absolutely transforms the F2/3/4x platform.The "M Lite" moniker fast 1s, 2s and 3s have earned is a load of horse droppings imo. M sports are far from 'M' as shipped from the factory. The cars do have hidden potential though, which is unleashed with the B12 kit, more camber, bracing from the M cars and good tyres. Totally different cars after that.
Thank you for the reply everyone
Yeah I was thinking double check all bushes/ arms etc so that it's all as fresh as can be.
Think pro kit is listed as 25mm and 15mm but this might be for standard height cars, if 135 are slightly lower?
Absolutely they're great little cars if taken for what they are, I'm not trying to take it to more than what it is, but lots of fun and useable.
I'd rather run this in good mechanical condition with a few upgrades and then put the money towards something like a M4 etc in the future where the base specification is higher
Thanks everyone
Matt
Yeah I was thinking double check all bushes/ arms etc so that it's all as fresh as can be.
Think pro kit is listed as 25mm and 15mm but this might be for standard height cars, if 135 are slightly lower?
Absolutely they're great little cars if taken for what they are, I'm not trying to take it to more than what it is, but lots of fun and useable.
I'd rather run this in good mechanical condition with a few upgrades and then put the money towards something like a M4 etc in the future where the base specification is higher
Thanks everyone
Matt
B12 Pro on mine for 5 years and 40k miles, still extremely happy with the kit, it s a huge improvement over stock.
You ll need to do the rear bump stops (mine were pretty knackered at 30k), but from memory the B8 front shocks have internal bump stops.
Worth doing spring pads and shock mounts all round at your mileage. Some bolts are supposed to be single use so be aware of that.
Check bushes and arms if you can.
As for lowering, the drop quoted are for base model (without M Sport suspension).
Actual measured drop on my car was approx 9-10mm front, 10-11mm rear. Doesn t sound a lot but it s a perfect compromise for my use.
Wheels are 18 , standard tyre sizes.
You ll need to do the rear bump stops (mine were pretty knackered at 30k), but from memory the B8 front shocks have internal bump stops.
Worth doing spring pads and shock mounts all round at your mileage. Some bolts are supposed to be single use so be aware of that.
Check bushes and arms if you can.
As for lowering, the drop quoted are for base model (without M Sport suspension).
Actual measured drop on my car was approx 9-10mm front, 10-11mm rear. Doesn t sound a lot but it s a perfect compromise for my use.
Wheels are 18 , standard tyre sizes.
The best bit about the Eibach springs is they remove the stock rake. Nice even arch gaps all round.
I used shorter F80 rear bump stops and yep, the front B8s have integrated bump stops.
Yes your ride quality will improve by raising it up. Cars lowered too much handle worse than standard cars, and they look like the suspension has collapsed like an 1970s Allegro.
I used shorter F80 rear bump stops and yep, the front B8s have integrated bump stops.
Yes your ride quality will improve by raising it up. Cars lowered too much handle worse than standard cars, and they look like the suspension has collapsed like an 1970s Allegro.
Just to echo what others have said, I have the B12 kit on my M140i and it was literally night and day difference on ride and handling compared to the standard bricks that the stock suspension was like.
It doesn't drop the car that much from standard, but I quite like it looking a bit OEM+ rather than quite obviously modified.
It doesn't drop the car that much from standard, but I quite like it looking a bit OEM+ rather than quite obviously modified.
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