H&R Springs

[BayX5]

Has anyone tried these?

http://gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?...ID=345634&VS=1

I got a really good deal on a pre-built 15 that had everything I wanted but M-Adaptive suspension. The car can definitely lean a little less especially when I came from an e70 x50 that handled and steered much more like a car than the new generation.

I think something like thicker sway bars would be ideal but I can't seem to find anything like that.

I might do 22's with non RFT which might help out the handling quite a bit but I wouldn't know until its done.

[r33_RGSport]

@BayX5 , yea, I have been running H&R spring.
Look up my mods thread on how it looks.
How low do you want to go?
It does help the handling. Since my X5 is back to stock, the ride is back to a lot of body roll.

[dubsesd]

did u have m apdative?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

did u have m apdative?

No I don't.

[BayX5]

It would be important for the ride to not be rough and to not have to take every speed bump or driveway at an extreme angle. I did notice that the H&R seem to lower the car more than some other brands. If I get 22" I also don't want any risk of rubbing.

[dubsesd]

ac schnitzer springs have a more conservative drop and ride very well even with air equipped cars. IND installed a set of their f85 x5m and it looks great

[r33_RGSport]

H&R springs is the lowest. H&R always known to have the lowest drop of lowering spring.
AC Schnitzer is the same drop as Eibach, since their spring is a rebrand of Eibach the last time I have heard.
Even with H&R, I don't have rubbing issues with my 22".

[BayX5]

How much do the Eibach or AC springs lower the vehicle. Are they substantially more comfortable than the H&R? Are the H&R a rough ride?

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by BayX5

How much do the Eibach or AC springs lower the vehicle. Are they substantially more comfortable than the H&R? Are the H&R a rough ride?

@Cy07 is in Eibach. I believe it is about 1" drop.
Ride wise H&R is a bit bouncy as always known.

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by BayX5

Has anyone tried these?

http://gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?...ID=345634&VS=1

I got a really good deal on a pre-built 15 that had everything I wanted but M-Adaptive suspension. The car can definitely lean a little less especially when I came from an e70 x50 that handled and steered much more like a car than the new generation.

I think something like thicker sway bars would be ideal but I can't seem to find anything like that.

I might do 22's with non RFT which might help out the handling quite a bit but I wouldn't know until its done.

If you want better handling, 22 inch rims are exactly the wrong way to go. This is why Formula 1 cars use 13 inch wheels - reduce rotating mass for quicker acceleration and faster turn-in. Think of a large gyroscope spinning, then think of pushing it over. A smaller gyroscope is easier to push over than a larger one. No difference on spinning wheels. Larger wheels are for looks, not performance. It's also why larger (19") true performance wheels are extremely expensive.

You are spot on with the sway bar thing. I even called a couple of my track friends to see if someone would build me a custom set, but no one has an F15 laying around as a test machine.

And if you are serious about performance handling and a good ride, you should look for a spring builder that offers NON-PROGRESSIVE rate springs. While they help a bit on a track when paired with proper anti-sway bars, on the road with bumps, pot holes and other imperfections, you will get a bouncy ride once your shocks start showing pre-mature wear. Progressive springs used on the road will store energy going over a dip in the road, then release it immediately thereafter giving you kick. Kind of counter-intuitive and more for marketing. Constant rate springs, paired with properly valved shocks, smaller light-weight wheels with short sidewall tires (my favorite wheels for track/performance and road are Fikse - the mass of the wheel is in the center of the wheel/hub) and lowering the car to the max bump-steer limit will give you an amazing performance driving car. But its not cheap - it is a system. I learned this by teaching high-speed driving at Road Atlanta for 11 years and setting up Porsches for the track.

[BayX5]

22's would be purely for looks, although it would be with non RFT and some have commented on how even with low profile 22" tires they find the ride slightly more comfortable. I hope that will offset the roughness the spring will introduce just a little bit. Any non progressive springs in the works for the f15? I'm not really looking for track performance since it's my wife's daily. Really just something that gets me close to what M-adaptive would of given me.

Bouncy would not be an option. That's what I was worried about. It's been over 10 years since I did H&R springs on a car and that was the case back then. I haven't done anything but coilovers on a car since. Any other suspension options?

[42pilot]

Originally Posted by BayX5

22's would be purely for looks, although it would be with non RFT and some have commented on how even with low profile 22" tires they find the ride slightly more comfortable. I hope that will offset the roughness the spring will introduce just a little bit. Any non progressive springs in the works for the f15? I'm not really looking for track performance since it's my wife's daily. Really just something that gets me close to what M-adaptive would of given me.

Bouncy would not be an option. That's what I was worried about. It's been over 10 years since I did H&R springs on a car and that was the case back then. I haven't done anything but coilovers on a car since. Any other suspension options?

22s riding more comfortable than my non run flat Conti DWS 06 in OEM 20's doesn't sound right. It makes no sense as sidewalls on tires are part of the suspension system - shorter sidewall on 22s = less compliant ride. Again, look at the 13 inch tires on F1 cars - tall ass sidewalls and they can do 5g turns AND use the sidewalls as part of the suspension. 22 inch wheels are heavier than OEMs and do not work as well with the OEM suspension, therefore bumps and potholes will be transmitted to the cabin and not the suspension (it's overwhelmed by the additional rotating mass and weight).

Anyway, I'm not here to talk you out of anything, just trying to state the facts based on your original post.

I only looked at Dinan who makes some of the best non-progressive performance springs for road performance BMWs and they are not listed yet for our cars. I bought them for my 550i and they worked perfectly - lowered the car by 1 inch and reduced body roll without sacrificing the ride at all.

Unfortunately, there really isn't a replacement for the adaptive suspension, but it also has its share of pros and cons.

[BayX5]

I meant non RF 22's vs. stock 20" RF Contis

[dubsesd]

You'll be fine on 22's. They ride great with no issues. My wife drives our x5 with 22's as her daily and had no problems

[JNoSol]

Don't ruin a BMW with springs. You'll shorten your OEM strut life and if you have adaptive, those struts cost more than a set of K&W V3s.

Everytime someone use springs to lower a BMW, they regret it and wish they've gone coilovers. Springs are not long term solutions.

http://stage.kw-store.com/products/k...t-v3-3710.html

Looks like K&W released the V3. If you have EDC, just code it off. BMW spent thousand of man hours perfecting the springs for performance and comfort, $300 springs aren't going to "improve" it.

[BayX5]

I'm leasing and usually only drive 7-8k miles a year. Should be ok on the shocks for at least 40-50k miles no?

If I were to purchase at lease end, I would consider the KW's. Had V3's on an S4 in the past. Good suspension.

[Alan l.]

I second KW's. I've been modding cars for a long time and i've always heard rave reviews about KW for bmws. I finally had a chance to try out a set of KW V1 for my F10 550 and they were simply amazing. Handled great but what surprised me was also how well they road.

I've always heard H&R's were too firm and bouncy so I always went with Eibach or ACS in the past. Now with my X5 with adaptive M suspension its just low enough that i don't want to mess with it because its the best of both worlds imo.

Alan

[r33_RGSport]

I second on coilover, unfortunately KW only have V3 for the self-leveling suspension.
I did contact them in early 2014 and they are not interested in developing one for F15 X5 at all.
I got one company that is interested in making coilover, he needed a minimum of 25 sets order.
But then, somehow someway, he never got back to me.
Alan, I personally hates European style coilover since I used to work at a japanese coilover company. The european style coilover changed the shock travel and spring rate when you adjust the ride height. Also they used progressive spring.
While the Japanese coilover, you adjust the length of the shock body to adjust the height. Therefore the suspension still have a full compression and rebound travel at any height.
Also, they uses linear spring. The most, they add a helper spring.
I was about to ask them to make a coilover for the X5, but long story short, it won't be done in the next 5 years.
They still owe me a coilover for my F10 which I don't have anymore,

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

I second on coilover, unfortunately KW only have V3 for the self-leveling suspension.
I did contact them in early 2014 and they are not interested in developing one for F15 X5 at all.
I got one company that is interested in making coilover, he needed a minimum of 25 sets order.
But then, somehow someway, he never got back to me.
Alan, I personally hates European style coilover since I used to work at a japanese coilover company. The european style coilover changed the shock travel and spring rate when you adjust the ride height. Also they used progressive spring.
While the Japanese coilover, you adjust the length of the shock body to adjust the height. Therefore the suspension still have a full compression and rebound travel at any height.
Also, they uses linear spring. The most, they add a helper spring.
I was about to ask them to make a coilover for the X5, but long story short, it won't be done in the next 5 years.
They still owe me a coilover for my F10 which I don't have anymore,

Are you able to quote me on Eibach springs?

Im in Canada, and my car is M Sport, not sure if I have adaptive or not. Car should be here within a month or so

[dubsesd]

if you have msport in canada, you have adaptive

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by SlammedR8

Are you able to quote me on Eibach springs?

Im in Canada, and my car is M Sport, not sure if I have adaptive or not. Car should be here within a month or so

Nope, Eibach don't bring them to the US.
I only can get you AC Schnitzer.

[SlammedR8]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Nope, Eibach don't bring them to the US.
I only can get you AC Schnitzer.

how much are those?