E9X Best 335i suspension mods

Asbjorn

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Mar 10, 2018
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I had the same concerns when I first got my 2010 e90 335 LCI M Sport in 2013. Going fast around sweepers and corners were never confidence inspiring. It didn't help at all it had an open diff and spun the inside wheel. The car had a ton of under-steer from the factory, and for some people it's a safety thing, but for us driving enthusiasts, can be down right frustrating.

What I did to dial it in was I went with Ohlins's DFV Road and Track coil-over suspension to set the ride height along with it's excellent valving (Coming from the Sport Bike/MotoGP world, Ohlins is the creme de la creme. I lowered my lap times and increased my cornering confidence at the tracks with my Ducati Race bike, so I went with what I was familiar with ymmv), M3 control arms and guide rods for front and rear to enhance traction when cornering (along with e90 m3 alignment specs, had to slot the shocks for more negative camber) , installed ECS's rear trailing arms along with Whiteline's RTAB polyurethane bushings for more grip and less deflection, installed m3 sway bars from Eibach on front and rear to reduce side to side weight transfer (rear sub-frame was going to be lowered so I might as well, I'm too lazy to do the job twice), went with Turner Motorsport's Aluminum Sub-frame Bushings to reduce rear sub-frame deflection that causes that confidence killing floaty/disconnected feeling when increasing speed mid corner, esp hitting a bump, replaced the differential bushings with MFactory's solid diff bushings(since the diff was coming out anyways), dropped the rear open diff pumpkin and replaced it with a fully re-built MFactory 3.46 LSD, and called a tow truck to tow it to an alignment shop to get my specs on the car. Took me the entire day including cussing breaks and lost time from recharging dead impact wrench batteries (ran out of juice removing the sub frame bushings using my special tools).

The car is a whole new beast. I had to re-learn it all over again as I fell in love with it all over again lol.

It handles really well and just wants to go faster around corners. It feels really connected to the road and provides the feedback you need. There isn't a slop on the rear end, it stays nice and tight. When entering an S turn or chicane, the side to side weight transfer roll is significantly reduced. In corners, you can feel the outside wheel driving the car forward as corner speed increases. On corner exit, you have to completely relearn the car as it wants to drift if you get greedy on the throttle, the back-end just wants to step out, but its a predictable type of feeling, you steer with the gas pedal and be quick to counter-steer with the hands, etc. in the event the rear steps out to just be smooth with the throttle.

Why did I add these parts in one project? Well because for one, I don't like doing the job twice and I see the opportunity to install things while the opportunity is there, and two, I severely disliked how my car sucked going around corners. The diff was coming out and so was the rear sub-frame, I might as well install the parts while they are both out. for example, if you plan on installing sway bars for the rear, the rear sub-frame needs to be lowered, if that's the case, you might as well do the rear sub-frame bushings, vice versa. I have the QuickJack so it made the project a whole lot easier. As far as for NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) it's a tad a bit more on driver feedback (a good thing), but on smooth roads, hardly can feel a thing. I do a lot of canyon carving in the twisties as I find joy in it more than going fast in a straight line, it's also my daily driver as well. I didn't go with a diff lock-down brace, I'm having no issues with wheel hop when launching and I dislike how some of it covers the rear diff drain bolt since I swap fluids every 15k miles.

I know it's a long post but I hope this helps.

I am curious if you also got some of NVH from your diff after above mods? I "just" have powerflex subframe inserts and diff poly bushings, and my quaife diff starts to produce clicking noises as soon as I engage D, and then there's a whine depending on speed. It is especially loud around 140-160km/h.
 

Rob09msport

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Oct 28, 2017
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I belive the mfactory are solid rubber and less nvh then poly but the real issue is when you do diff and subframe together. If you just do diff the stock sfb give enough isolation that's why I stayed stock on my diff but went poly on sfb and I get no wheel hop or nvh.
 
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N54rsenal

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Dec 11, 2018
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2010 335i M Sport LCI
Just what I was looking for I have 255/285 wheels/tires but the handling feel lacks compared to a M car. The struts/shocks are pretty worn out for performance on my 10 335i M Sport nearing 80k and it has some roll, when applying throttle without LSD in cornering it feels unsettling and unpredictable. If I had do it I would get all the components needed and knock it all out and that's not going to be cheap. Could of brought a E90 M3 but I like my N54 more which can be as fast as the F80 M3 with a few more mods.
 

Asbjorn

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Mar 10, 2018
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European, based in China
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I am curious if you also got some of NVH from your diff after above mods? I "just" have powerflex subframe inserts and diff poly bushings, and my quaife diff starts to produce clicking noises as soon as I engage D, and then there's a whine depending on speed. It is especially loud around 140-160km/h.

It turns out my diff bearings were failing causing the noise. With a nrw diff in all noises are gone. I now run solid subframe bushings and poly diff bushings with almost no whine.
 

hellokitty

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May 23, 2018
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2012 335iS DCT E93
Just went through this process (took me about 5 months to research, source parts, installation, alignment, dialing-in). Here is my build and process made thus far:


Vorshlag camber plates going in next week. MFactory LSD in near future + diff bushings (likely from AKG since I like AKG's build quality).
 

Rob09msport

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Meyle HD rear end links would be better dont need adjustable in back cause they are so short unless the new sway bar requires them I just don't know if the ones you picked would be noisy
 

streetpro

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Mar 2, 2020
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Brussels
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335iA e92
I have replaced front oem 335i swaybar with M3 e93 (thickest from oem solutions) together with upper M3 brace, the positive difference was definitely noticeable... more eager to turn, firmer and more planted feeling behind the wheel... front M3 arms are a must, I almost sold the car at the very beginning just because of how dull the steering/feeling was... once I have switch to M3 front arms, very much improved feedback... rear M ones I have done separately and honestly if yours are fine, dont bother, it has had no impact...
and dont change the rear sway bar, it unsettles the balance and looses the mechanical grip, car spins inside tire almost in any event where there is an increased load on the other wheel - going to a sidewalk, taking off from intersection in an angle in a rain, going on/off ramps in underground parking... it really feels like I have lost let say 70% of traction when the sides are unequally loaded (I went from oem 335i 13mm solid to M3 20mm hollow)...
Car feels nicely balanced when coming on a highway at full speed, almost no body roll but as I stated above... I would have done just the front today...
 

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Rob09msport

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Some guys run no rear bar on the e92and me arms are worth it in rear floor the better shock design
 

Torgus

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Nov 6, 2016
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Just went through this process (took me about 5 months to research, source parts, installation, alignment, dialing-in). Here is my build and process made thus far:


Vorshlag camber plates going in next week. MFactory LSD in near future + diff bushings (likely from AKG since I like AKG's build quality).

As someone who also recently upgraded their suspension and keeps track of it with excel, it's amazing how fast all the pieces add up. I defiantly spent more on my suspension than my single turbo which is insane. But it feels amazing.

You really found the m3 front strut bar made a big difference? I have been holding off as I am unsure of what bar to get.
 
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hellokitty

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May 23, 2018
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2012 335iS DCT E93
As someone who also recently upgraded their suspension and keeps track of it with excel, it's amazing how fast all the pieces add up. I defiantly spent more on my suspension than my single turbo which is insane. But it feels amazing.

You really found the m3 front strut bar made a big difference? I have been holding off as I am unsure of what bar to get.

yes it makes a big difference with turn-in responsiveness. Add some monoballs to the front arms and it feels just as sharp as my F80 M3 :)
 

JohnDaviz

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Jan 6, 2019
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335i E92 DCT
You really found the m3 front strut bar made a big difference? I have been holding off as I am unsure of what bar to get.

It does not matter what you did before. With an M3 or aftermarket race sway bar you have a different car.
BUT if going circuit racing the rear bar should be swapped also.
 

Torgus

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It does not matter what you did before. With an M3 or aftermarket race sway bar you have a different car.
BUT if going circuit racing the rear bar should be swapped also.

I have an aftermarket custom adjustable Eibach front sway and a custom adjustable rear bar both from @barry@3DM.


yes it makes a big difference with turn-in responsiveness. Add some monoballs to the front arms and it feels just as sharp as my F80 M3 :)

I have turner monoballs in the front m3 arms. Guess I will pick up the m3 front strut brace. I've always been on the edge should I use the stock E9x V brace with an across the struts brace for an E9X or pick up an m3 set a strut bars. Unfortunately no one makes a m3 bar that triangulates the 3 points. Except UR racing or whatever but I don't trust that crap.
 

Torgus

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JohnDaviz

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But I could be wrong. Small money I guess but is it just added weight?

From my research the rear strut bar gives the smallest benefit over all modifications and could may be be called negligible. But if being consequent means getting this, as you said small money.
 

Dan335i

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Feb 16, 2020
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Glad i came across this thread. I hope everyone is keeping safe. I have a 06 335i e92 RHD, I didn't do the research at the start and went for power first!(MHD stage 2+ e30 ) its fast enough for now, im not looking for a 10 sec car etc. Trackdays, fast mountain road chases with fellow enthusiasts, ranging from WRX's, integra type R's, Golf R's, S3's, M4's, M3's MX5's we have a diverse group. i need to improve the handling on mine, the car just feels unsettled, when trying to power through the corners, the rear end just feels sloppy and lack of high speed stability, currently i have:

M3 front control arms
Meyle HD outer tie rods
Meister R coilovers(might change to Bilstein B12 kit)

Parts to be fitted:
Powerflex rear subframe inserts

Undecided upgrades:
H&R sway bars?

Wishful thinking:
MFactory LSD

What am i forgetting? :
---
---

Its a daily driver i don't do many miles so im open to suggestions. I'm in Ireland so Europe based options are ideal for parts suppliers and i've done all mods myself so far with access to a car lift so not afraid of some hard work!
 

derekgates

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Feb 23, 2018
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2011 335is
Glad i came across this thread. I hope everyone is keeping safe. I have a 06 335i e92 RHD, I didn't do the research at the start and went for power first!(MHD stage 2+ e30 ) its fast enough for now, im not looking for a 10 sec car etc. Trackdays, fast mountain road chases with fellow enthusiasts, ranging from WRX's, integra type R's, Golf R's, S3's, M4's, M3's MX5's we have a diverse group. i need to improve the handling on mine, the car just feels unsettled, when trying to power through the corners, the rear end just feels sloppy and lack of high speed stability, currently i have:

M3 front control arms
Meyle HD outer tie rods
Meister R coilovers(might change to Bilstein B12 kit)

Parts to be fitted:
Powerflex rear subframe inserts

Undecided upgrades:
H&R sway bars?

Wishful thinking:
MFactory LSD

What am i forgetting? :
---
---

Its a daily driver i don't do many miles so im open to suggestions. I'm in Ireland so Europe based options are ideal for parts suppliers and i've done all mods myself so far with access to a car lift so not afraid of some hard work!

Rear subframe bushings (I went Whiteline) and toe arms will fix the 'rear end slop' the most, at least it did for me.

Make sure no bushings in the rear multi-link are worn. Double check your sway bar bushings...


Are you considering strut upgrades?
 

derekgates

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Feb 23, 2018
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i will order this one next:

Wondering if a rear strut bar is available also somewhere on aliexpress.

Did you try this bar out? I've been looking to triangulate the front struts but am running the M3 strut brace...