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Suspension Springs, sway bars, shocks.

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Old 11-12-2005, 06:18 AM   #1
robcarync
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Default 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?
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Old 11-12-2005, 10:38 AM   #2
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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.
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Old 11-12-2005, 03:45 PM   #3
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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.
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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




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Old 11-12-2005, 08:51 PM   #4
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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
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Old 11-12-2005, 11:17 PM   #5
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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
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Old 11-13-2005, 12:05 AM   #6
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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.
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Old 11-13-2005, 12:13 AM   #7
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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.
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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
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Old 11-13-2005, 12:26 AM   #8
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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.
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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
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Old 11-13-2005, 01:34 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cali-ti
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.
thats odd. Do any Ti's come with those stock?
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Old 11-13-2005, 01:55 AM   #10
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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?
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Old 11-13-2005, 02:16 AM   #11
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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).
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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
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Old 11-13-2005, 09:57 AM   #12
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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 :-(
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Old 11-13-2005, 03:09 PM   #13
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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.
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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
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Old 11-13-2005, 07:27 PM   #14
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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
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