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.
Yeah it gives the perfect 2 finger gap all round. Everyone loves a good 2 finger job.
FWIW, I got the B8 shocks and Eibach springs separately from AutoDoc for less cash than what most places charge for them together as the 'B12' kit.
Doing it that way also let me experiment with different dampers with the Eibachs, including stock, and I can without a shadow of a doubt state (imo) that BMW's standard M sport suspension on the F platform is utter dog poop. Crashy at low speeds around town and floaty and uninspiring at speed. The worst of both worlds. I don't know how they got it so wrong tbh.
The B12 fixes all of that, and remarkably, rides better around town given how much stiffer the dampers are. You do feel everything on the road though, and I mean everything, but not in a jarring or harsh way. Just firm, planted, controlled and way, way more communicative than standard M sport...even the normally numb steering gets a little life injected into it!
Obviously things can be taken further with some M bolt ons and expensive coilovers, monoball arms etc etc, but quite honestly, you don't need it. The B12 undos BMWs wrong doings and from there is diminishing returns and you may as well sell up and buy an M.
FWIW, I got the B8 shocks and Eibach springs separately from AutoDoc for less cash than what most places charge for them together as the 'B12' kit.
Doing it that way also let me experiment with different dampers with the Eibachs, including stock, and I can without a shadow of a doubt state (imo) that BMW's standard M sport suspension on the F platform is utter dog poop. Crashy at low speeds around town and floaty and uninspiring at speed. The worst of both worlds. I don't know how they got it so wrong tbh.
The B12 fixes all of that, and remarkably, rides better around town given how much stiffer the dampers are. You do feel everything on the road though, and I mean everything, but not in a jarring or harsh way. Just firm, planted, controlled and way, way more communicative than standard M sport...even the normally numb steering gets a little life injected into it!
Obviously things can be taken further with some M bolt ons and expensive coilovers, monoball arms etc etc, but quite honestly, you don't need it. The B12 undos BMWs wrong doings and from there is diminishing returns and you may as well sell up and buy an M.
FWIW I would say the Birds B1 kit is the best suspension for UK roads. Broadly that is echoed by motoring journalists, ie not people on forums (like me) but people that review cars for a living. Have a look at the Autocar review on YouTube.
That said, it isn’t a good fit for anybody wanting a car that is very low. It’s also not stiff enough for proper track work but it isn’t supposed to be. Just compliant suspension that is well judged for UK roads.
I’m older (mid 40s) and have fitted lots of suspension kits over the years. Honestly thinking back a lot of it was just too stiff for the road. It feels fast but it just isn’t. That is a general point by the way, not anything specific about the kits mentioned above.
That said, it isn’t a good fit for anybody wanting a car that is very low. It’s also not stiff enough for proper track work but it isn’t supposed to be. Just compliant suspension that is well judged for UK roads.
I’m older (mid 40s) and have fitted lots of suspension kits over the years. Honestly thinking back a lot of it was just too stiff for the road. It feels fast but it just isn’t. That is a general point by the way, not anything specific about the kits mentioned above.
Also, do be aware that the suspension fitted to the F20 M135i and M140i wasn’t the same from the factory. The aftermarket kits are the same, but the starting point is different.
In broad terms, I the M135i has front springs that are slightly too soft (which led to a bit of a mini-GT rather than hot hatch feel). The M140i has rear springs which are considered way too stiff, which leads to a very bouncy rear.
In broad terms, I the M135i has front springs that are slightly too soft (which led to a bit of a mini-GT rather than hot hatch feel). The M140i has rear springs which are considered way too stiff, which leads to a very bouncy rear.
Thanks for the replies guys
I had noticed that myself that it was cheaper buying the shocks and springs seperate to create a B12 kit and save a few hundred quid if there's no other difference.
I'd looked at the birds prices and it's basically £2k fitted, I didn't see anymore details than that, is that anything more than springs and shocks as it seems dear?
Serviced and MOT done today, clean bill of health, need to decide now whether to do the gearbox service first (sensible) or the B12 kit
I'm looking at the different stereo options too as I'd like android auto
Cheers
Matt
I had noticed that myself that it was cheaper buying the shocks and springs seperate to create a B12 kit and save a few hundred quid if there's no other difference.
I'd looked at the birds prices and it's basically £2k fitted, I didn't see anymore details than that, is that anything more than springs and shocks as it seems dear?
Serviced and MOT done today, clean bill of health, need to decide now whether to do the gearbox service first (sensible) or the B12 kit
I'm looking at the different stereo options too as I'd like android auto
Cheers
Matt
Yes Birds is expensive, because it was developed for the UK. It will drive the best. Do watch the YouTube video if you can.
Alternatively, you could look at the grey Evolve Bilstein shocks with your existing springs. That is circa £500 IIRC. Like the Birds kit, they are Bilstein dampers revalved for the UK albeit Evolve based on a cheaper model shock than Birds.
Alternatively, you could look at the grey Evolve Bilstein shocks with your existing springs. That is circa £500 IIRC. Like the Birds kit, they are Bilstein dampers revalved for the UK albeit Evolve based on a cheaper model shock than Birds.
kiethton said:
Watching with interest as our LCI M135i is on 130k (mainly suburban) miles and original suspension/bushes, it's feeling "lose" to say the least....
You d probably find dampers alone make a massive difference. Mine were 110k ish and basically dead.Edited to say: Definitely fit rear subframe bushes or inserts (much easier) if you haven’t already.
Edited by Tommie38 on Tuesday 5th August 18:44
Thanks everyone
A bit of digging shows that Birds use reworked bilstein dampers and Eibach springs (albeit to their spec)
I think Tommie is right as mines on roughly 109k and it feels like the original BMW dampers are about extinct.
I think for me the B12 is probably the best option, probably not as good as the Birds, but realistically it can't be a million miles away if they're the same manufacturer.
The price difference between birds and B12 suits the Yorkshire in me.
Money no object I'd send it to birds and get them to do everything.
But unless I win the premium bonds I have to compromise somewhere
Cheers
Matt
A bit of digging shows that Birds use reworked bilstein dampers and Eibach springs (albeit to their spec)
I think Tommie is right as mines on roughly 109k and it feels like the original BMW dampers are about extinct.
I think for me the B12 is probably the best option, probably not as good as the Birds, but realistically it can't be a million miles away if they're the same manufacturer.
The price difference between birds and B12 suits the Yorkshire in me.
Money no object I'd send it to birds and get them to do everything.
But unless I win the premium bonds I have to compromise somewhere
Cheers
Matt
Dinosaur juice said:
I'm looking at the different stereo options too as I'd like android auto
Cheers
Matt
If you have the v4 iDrive with the NBT radio, I can 100% attest to this being the best MMI box for the car: https://www.mr12volt.com/en-gb/products/p2000-nbtm...Cheers
Matt
It doesn't use the quadlock aux-in for audio transport, but instead uses the MOST fibre optic loop, so sound output quality is as good as the source device.
Not cheap tho, for an MMI box but is the most factory-feeling integration imo.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff