[colorado.e9x]

I'm fairly certain my 06 330xi is on it's original suspension at 135k miles. The body roll is horrendous on any semi-sharp to sharp turns even at a moderate speed. There's this one turn with a manhole cover right in it and every time I hit it my rear end gets all loose, scary feeling especially with potholes on the highway. Also, my front passenger side strut appears to be leaking..

This car is of course my daily driver. I live in Colorado (duh) so I need something that will do well in all forms of weather.

I'm not a huge fan of my current wheel gap, I'd prefer to be a tad lower, enough to look low but not scrape on every drainage dip in the road.

TL;DR - I need a new suspension setup for my daily dricen xdrive e90. I need it to perform in all seasons and I would like to lower the car a bit as well.

Fellow owners with xdrive, what do you recommend?

[S65Hunter]

Bilstein struts and lowering springs. Then replace ALL bushings within your suspension. That's what I'd do.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by AlpineE93

Bilstein struts and lowering springs. Then replace ALL bushings within your suspension. That's what I'd do.

I've been looking into those. B8? B12? I'm not at all knowledgeable in this field

[Bmw_Crazy]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

I've been looking into those. B8? B12? I'm not at all knowledgeable in this field

Bilistein B12 prokit I did about a week ago I also replaced front and rear strut mounts and the endlinks rides perfect

[Bmw_Crazy]

I put up some pics so you get an idea go to realoem.com enter your Vin and lookup your part numbers I ordered my oem parts from Fcp...As for the wheel gap I couldn't tell you my car is still settling

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by Bmw_Crazy

I put up some pics so you get an idea go to realoem.com enter your Vin and lookup your part numbers I ordered my oem parts from Fcp...As for the wheel gap I couldn't tell you my car is still settling

So far I'm leaning towards the B12s. Seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. Assuming all of my suspension components are original, is there anything else I should replace?

[Bmw_Crazy]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

So far I'm leaning towards the B12s. Seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. Assuming all of my suspension components are original, is there anything else I should replace?

Don't forget the end links front and back I went with Meyle HD endlinks I was told they are stronger
you can order from fcp they sell oem parts

[rick100]

Im not a big fan of lowering springs , for a little more you can have coilovers, adjust the height the wait you wanted. ST coilovers would be around the same price as lowering/strut combo ... Colorado winters are not even that cold compare to canadian winters, so if ST coilovers can handle canadian winters , I really do not see a problem handling it colorado winters.

Read up other forums , a lot of people being with lowering springs/ strut combo and end up moving to coilovers, very rarely you see someone moving the other way around

For me it came on handy once I picked up my new wheels, the car was sitting a bit low and rubbing, I was able to adjust the height right and its good now. Its just about perfect, keep in mind that is not just the gap , once you lower the car the wheels are going to be tucked in , so you would either want a new set of rims or add spacers , this is where it gets tricky , as the car may rub with the fenders or again the gap may seem the same as before just because the wheels are sitting flusher with the fender . With lowering springs you wouldn't be able to do it , it sits where it sits.

[joeinsd]

I went with Öhlins.

Not one complaint.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by rick100

Im not a big fan of lowering springs , for a little more you can have coilovers, adjust the height the wait you wanted. ST coilovers would be around the same price as lowering/strut combo ... Colorado winters are not even that cold compare to canadian winters, so if ST coilovers can handle canadian winters , I really do not see a problem handling it colorado winters.

Read up other forums , a lot of people being with lowering springs/ strut combo and end up moving to coilovers, very rarely you see someone moving the other way around

For me it came on handy once I picked up my new wheels, the car was sitting a bit low and rubbing, I was able to adjust the height right and its good now. Its just about perfect, keep in mind that is not just the gap , once you lower the car the wheels are going to be tucked in , so you would either want a new set of rims or add spacers , this is where it gets tricky , as the car may rub with the fenders or again the gap may seem the same as before just because the wheels are sitting flusher with the fender . With lowering springs you wouldn't be able to do it , it sits where it sits.

I was reading up on STs earlier. A lot of people seem to love the KW V1s. Apparently the STs are the same other than the KWs are stainless steel and the STs are galvanized steel by the looks of it. I'd just need clear coat if I went the ST route.

I haven't found a lot about their ride quality compared to the B12 kit. So far these are my two options. I plan on getting 19" summer wheels (running 18" x 8.5" on all seasons at the moment) so adjustability would be a plus

[rick100]

Grease them before the winter. There is a video in youtube with someone doing a review on st coilovers after 3 years in the winter and they held up well

Plus winter in colorado are not real winters... i think it barely snows ...

Ride is not hardh at all... that was my biggest fear and im glad i went that route.

I had to get my height adjusted 3 times so i m glad i went that route. I wouldnt been able to do it with lowering springs. Plus u can lowered more in the summer and raise it in the winter

[rick100]

Here is a review after 3 winters

[colorado.e9x]

I've settled on the Bilstein B12 ProKit. Is there anything worth replacing/upgrading while I'm in there? Aside from bushings and shock/strut mounts

[Ozzie335i]

You won't be disappointed with the B12 kit. There is a rubber bushing at the top of the rear shocks. Dont laugh, but get the Monroe one. Is better, and cheaper than the stock BMW piece. As far as all the bushings, stick to stock, as you don't need to go all out on your baby. With the B12 setup, and a refresh, it'll handle better than when new.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by Ozzie335i

You won't be disappointed with the B12 kit. There is a rubber bushing at the top of the rear shocks. Dont laugh, but get the Monroe one. Is better, and cheaper than the stock BMW piece. As far as all the bushings, stick to stock, as you don't need to go all out on your baby. With the B12 setup, and a refresh, it'll handle better than when new.

Thanks for the info! I saw the monroes show up in a couple other subforums I'll be picking those up.

[pizza_nightmare]

Please let us know how it turns out!

I should have went with the B12, instead I got the eibach pro kit springs mated to new Bilstein touring shocks. Also have FCP bushing kit and new front control arms/bushings. Overall I'm not crazy about this setup

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by pizza_nightmare

Please let us know how it turns out!

I should have went with the B12, instead I got the eibach pro kit springs mated to new Bilstein touring shocks. Also have FCP bushing kit and new front control arms/bushings. Overall I'm not crazy about this setup

The install won't be till later in the year is my plans but I'll try and make a review thread for sure

[dakine_surf]

Have you looked into the Koni Special Active?

Don't know if they fit the xdrive, but I hear good things about how they perform.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Have you looked into the Koni Special Active?

Don't know if they fit the xdrive, but I hear good things about how they perform.

Nope I haven't, though I've heard a lot of people like them. Someone around here mentioned that they were more comfortable at highway speeds while bilsteins were more comfortable at in-town speeds (99% of my driving is in town). I've already purchased a set of bilsteins but thank you for the recommendation!

[colorado.e9x]

Passenger vs drivers side front strut..