» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 2,015 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 446 Views | | | | | | 11-12-2005, 06:18 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | suspension upgrades well i finally found the trick of getting my pops to fund upgrades for the car...find stuff he wants too! i suggested some suspension upgrades and he wants to buy some stuff! the three things we were thinking about were the x brace, bavauto sport springs, and a front strut bar. now im just looking for any input on the three things...i know there are several people with some of these things... we cant get all three...so im trying to think about pros and cons of each one...right now im thinking about going for the xbrace and the springs....any input? __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | 11-12-2005, 10:38 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,595 | X-brace is good and a cheap mod. If your getting the springs then you must get the sport suspension. If you do not get the suspension then your stock shocks will blow very fast. | | | 11-12-2005, 03:45 PM | #3 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | rather than the front strut brace, i'd go for a set of larger sway bars (they'll do more) and then the x-brace. as viper said, if you drop the car with springs, you're going to take out your stock shocks in a short matter of time. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-12-2005, 08:51 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | alright so general consensus iis that springs and shocks should be replaced together... sounds like x brace is definently possibility... now for sway bar...what exactly is a sway bar...heard the term several times but never really knew what it was/where its located __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | 11-12-2005, 11:17 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: southern CA Posts: 127 | i noticed a slight difference in the corners with my Xbrace. I would say to get bilstein heavy dutys and the oem sport springs and sways before the X brace __________________ 1996 318ti sport model, m3 bumper cover, velocity splitter, AKG shift knob, factory clears, super sprint exhaust, UUC floormats, UUC tranny mounts, UUC clutch bushings, UUC shifter bushings, Powerflex LCABS... replaced with treehouse eyeballs, front sway bar bushings, RTABS, TMS rear shock mounts, Bilsteins, Xbrace, sparco strut brace, AKG subframe bushings, AKG differential mount bushing, M coupe shifter, meyle ball joints and sway bar endlinks | | | 11-13-2005, 12:05 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | so instead of the xbrace...should i replace shocks and springs together and just have that for my big suspension upgrade? or an xbrace isnt too expensive....i could probably just throw that in there too if we'll be dropping lots of money on springs and shocks...i might as well get the xbrace ,especially with those ebay coupons that are going around now! i dont really know a whole lot about suspension upgrades as you guys can tell...im just trying to figure out which things would have the most dramatic improvement. __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | 11-13-2005, 12:13 AM | #7 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | front sway bar: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...20&hg=31&fg=10 rear sway bar: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=33&fg=45 actually, anti-sway bars (most just shorten it to sway bars) - they help keep you flat in the corners. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-13-2005, 12:26 AM | #8 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | Quote: Originally Posted by robcarync so instead of the xbrace...should i replace shocks and springs together and just have that for my big suspension upgrade? or an xbrace isnt too expensive....i could probably just throw that in there too if we'll be dropping lots of money on springs and shocks...i might as well get the xbrace ,especially with those ebay coupons that are going around now! i dont really know a whole lot about suspension upgrades as you guys can tell...im just trying to figure out which things would have the most dramatic improvement. | what's your budget and are you doing the work yourself? some things to think about ... 1) the x-brace is probably the easiest to do and the cheapest 2) springs/struts/shocks will be the most expensive, will require special tools (spring compressors) and you'll need an alignment afterwards 3) sway bars should be pretty easy ... however, you'll need to drop the rear exhaust to get at the rear bar. may want to replace the sway bar links at the same time. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-13-2005, 01:34 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 411 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti | thats odd. Do any Ti's come with those stock? | | | 11-13-2005, 01:55 AM | #10 | Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 91 | Speaking of anti-roll bars, does anyone have a set of aftermarket bars that work well? I'd like to cut down on some of the body roll, but I don't want to upset the balance of the car e.g. create more understeer, etc., or add a 'heavy' feeling. Are the Sport bars a good upgrade over the standard bars? | | | 11-13-2005, 02:16 AM | #11 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | Quote: Originally Posted by Silver00spike thats odd. Do any Ti's come with those stock? | all of them, just a matter of diameter (sports are slightly larger). __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-13-2005, 09:57 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | not quite sure on the budget...but if shocks/strut/springs combo would make the most difference then i could proibably convince my pops to spend more money... we would do the work that we can do...i know xbrace can be done by us...not sure about springs ...i know they do require the spring compressor tool...which i dont have... right now im just trying to figure out which ones are better....then ill take the budget into account... but right now ... i also just kinda ran over something coming back to school and it made a nasty sound as i went over it....seeing as its 4am...i couldnt tell what was damaged underneith the car...but there was definently a strange noise while i was driving it, and something looked wrong from what i could tell in the dark, but i cant really tell what it is...this really concerns me... :-( hopefully its just some plastic from the splash guard or something of that nature....its driving me crazy cause i want to know what it was :-( __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | 11-13-2005, 03:09 PM | #13 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | springs/struts/shocks would probably make the most difference and is usually the first thing upgraded. if it's in your budget, go for that. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 11-13-2005, 07:27 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | alright guys thanks for the input... ill go for th spring/strut/shock combo if i can....if not then comes x brace/sways...or last on the list is the strut brace. i checked the underside of my car this morning...looks like the heat resistant plate from the exhaust system is crunched up :-( only 35 bucks but it isnt too bad...i could have punched a hole in the cat converter or something __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members 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