[Knifeedge2k1]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

I'm looking at these MSS springs currently. My problem is I am ridiculously happy with the ride quality of my car right now since I took off the run flats. I also need ground clearance and 4WD as I live in the country and the roads/lanes are pretty bad.

However, I keep thinking that there is a little bit of arch gap that could be gotten rid of and a bit too much pitch and squat on acceleration & braking.

I think these springs set to -10mm front and -5mm rear would do the trick. I don't know what the spring rate is. Ideally they would be 10% stiffer at a mild drop for me to want to buy them but this is a secret according to the website.

Worst case I leave the OEM springs and dampers alone. I have M5 roll bars and camber arms to set the car up with a bit more corner grip and roll resistance, which in theory would make the car handle well on the roads I drive, without making it uncomfortable (I bought the M550i over an M5 for a reason!)

Stiffer sways will flatten your cornering but I'm not sure how it will affect balance since the M5 has different spring rates and dampers

You won't feel any benefit in pitch and squat unless the spring rates get significantly higher

If you need ground clearance and are happy with the ride don't do anything. The fact you bought a 550 over an M5 already shows that you prioritize comfort more highly than ultimate performance

10mm and 5mm drop is hilariously tiny for such expensive units

You can achieve filling out of wheel arches with slightly oversized wheel and tire combo.

MSS is a progressive spring design which is for sure going to feel comfortable over light bumps (given the soft initial rate) but for actual performance, progressive springs are a terrible idea. Even excluding the fact that you can't really set up dampers to work well with progressive springs (let alone using OEM dampers which are designed for fixed rate springs), the fact that the front and rear will ramp up their spring rates differently means you you will move dynamically from understeer to oversteer or vice versa as you load up the outside tires in a non intuitive way (more likely it will move from understeer to slightly more /less understeer or oversteer to slightly more /less oversteer)

This isn't really something you'll ever notice unless you're driving at 9/10ths or 10/10ths pace where you're on the limit often enough that you can feel this taking place. If you're just putting around and not near the limit of grip and only doing highway pulls for dragy numbers none of the things I'm describing will impact you.

[Boosted_8]

I think I'm going to leave the MSS springs out. I emailed them on Monday and Im yet to get a reply. If that's the sales side of house,I really don't know what the support side is like!

[I3LaZeN]

I got MSS for about 8-9 months now on my G30.. very comfortable ride, gives it a great look and im very happy with it - no complaints.
Its not bouncy like typical springs which is great.

[Boosted_8]

This was the basis of my question to them. They have one part number for the whole G30 range. A 520d has very different mass and balance to a 550i.

[Knifeedge2k1]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

This was the basis of my question to them. They have one part number for the whole G30 range. A 520d has very different mass and balance to a 550i.

Yeah. This is something that you would expect from a 300 USD product, but not a 1200 USD one.

As far as I can tell doing a quick look at RealOEM it seems that all the G30s (not the M5) have the same rear damper (for non-variable damper) but they nearly all have different front dampers (B48/B58/N63). Interesting that MSS also market their MSS kit for the G31 (the wagon 5er) as well but as far as i can tell from realoem (bimmercat is down) all the wagons have airbag rears.

How MSS managed to think they could have one spring for 3 dampers (in reality it's more like 9 different dampers ? because 3 engines and they each have a fixed and variable rate damper option and msport dampers differ from the standard fixed rates) is beyond me.

Again, if it's a product to simply get controllable ride height, it does the job. As a package for performance, it's a joke. It might work for some people but by definition the same "thing" can't work equally well for a B48 4 cyl and an N63 V8 AND the fact there's probably 9 different spec dampers that exist.

If all you care about is looks and all you ever do is street driving, go ahead and get these, especially if you have variable rate dampers. If you have the regular fixed rate dampers, I think ST suspension coilovers will be much better because they're well matched with adjustability and cost is exactly the same (in reality you'll save on labor as you can just toss the OEM assembly instead of rebuilding it.

I'm not sure if ST does it (or KW for that matter) but there are coilover manufacturers that will custom build you a set of coilovers (valving & selected spring rates) if you tell them about your car and what you're looking to achieve.

[PetieD 7]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

I think I'm going to leave the MSS springs out. I emailed them on Monday and Im yet to get a reply. If that's the sales side of house,I really don't know what the support side is like!

My experience reaching out to MSS was fair. I ended up sending a couple of emails in order to get the response back from them.

[Boosted_8]

I think I will copy Dinan and use 265/35 and 295/30 tyres for more ground clearance before lowering the car


15mm would be perfect in my eyes (I think their springs are -20mm all around)

[Knifeedge2k1]

Originally Posted by Boosted_8

I think I will copy Dinan and use 265/35 and 295/30 tyres for more ground clearance before lowering the car


15mm would be perfect in my eyes (I think their springs are -20mm all around)

=)

That my friends is called two birds with one stone

You'll get a bit of additional ride comfort with the thicker sidewalls too

[Scotty B]

I'm getting MSS springs installed next week. I'll report back with my results. I drive the Tail of the Dragon a few times a month, so I'll put them through a proper test. From the videos I've watched from Evolve, they do in fact improve handling and comfort to a certain degree. I'll confirm though. The fronts are 2 variable spring rate with 1 spring and the rears are 3 with 2 springs. Should be 30mm or 1 inch drop at all corners. That in itself will improve handling due to lower center of gravity. These will be going on a M550i so will test out the vehicle difference theory. Going to do a baseline test this weekend on US421 and US129, then head back up next weekend and do the same. I'm going to take a G meter and some sort of gyroscope measuring tool.

[Scotty B]

Installed today. Definitely stiffer in all drive modes, but very very close to stock comfort. Uneven pavement feels better with these though. Quick thoughts. It completely transformed the car. No bounciness or major floatiness and almost completely eliminated body roll so I can feel the limits of my tires without getting thrown around in my seat so much. IMO, well worth it. Went 25mm in front and 20mm in rear.

[I3LaZeN]

Originally Posted by Scotty B

Installed today. Definitely stiffer in all drive modes, but very very close to stock comfort. Uneven pavement feels better with these though. Quick thoughts. It completely transformed the car. No bounciness or major floatiness and almost completely eliminated body roll so I can feel the limits of my tires without getting thrown around in my seat so much. IMO, well worth it. Went 25mm in front and 20mm in rear.

Told ya lol. I'm definitely happy with mine.

[PunkMan215]

Originally Posted by I3LaZeN

Told ya lol. I'm definitely happy with mine.

Hey wondering how are the MSS after a year and some change? Any comments or concerns?

[I3LaZeN]

Originally Posted by PunkMan215

Hey wondering how are the MSS after a year and some change? Any comments or concerns?

No concerns or issues. Running great!

[bigscore]

Originally Posted by PunkMan215

Hey wondering how are the MSS after a year and some change? Any comments or concerns?

I'm in a over a year and some change and the ride still feels amazing!