2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
 

2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Wheels / Tires / Suspension / Brakes To drop or not to drop
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-03-2015, 10:39 PM   #1
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

To drop or not to drop

Still debating if I should lower my car or not. What do you guys think? Only thing is my 3 teenagers are 70% riding in my car. Thanks for the input
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 02:31 AM   #2
duglas
New Member
2
Rep
8
Posts

Drives: 520d black
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Norway

iTrader: (0)

My experiense with drop on my earlier bmw is that it puts a lot of stress on the components in front suspension and steearing and they wear out fast. Also the springs have broken several times.The ride also got more sensitive to bad roads.
I dont know how the f10 will be affected but i guess its the same.
I have desided not to drop my f10 based on my experienses.
Your car looks really good with that wheels what size are your tyres and rims?
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 06:14 AM   #3
dadysev
Captain
dadysev's Avatar
Montenegro
169
Rep
687
Posts

Drives: Man
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada

iTrader: (0)

Do you have the Electronic Damper control system? if so, leave it alone.
Just remember, everyone, well most people drop their cars for looks. BMW tends to make a 50/50 balanced car with the OEM suspension. When you lower your car you now change that as you are pointing the car usually downward to the front throwing more weight to the front, cause the back to be lighter. That now causes more oversteer.
Secondly, your shocks are designed to work at the OEM spring height. when you lower the car you have changed that working area, as well as the spring rate which can prematurely wear your shocks. I have seen this time after time, as i get asked that "should i lower my car, i just got rims.." from my friends.

I'm 45 now, i used to lower my other cars growing up in my 20s for looks. didn't care how the car handled. If you want to keep your car for a long period and like your comfortable suspension, leave it alone.

My old e46 has over 300,000 miles on it now and i changed the OEM sport shocks at about 260,000. (now my winter car) Thats all on OEM sport springs.

i just add more people in the my f10 550i to lower it now! lol!

I find that the F10 body has to much gap in the wheel arch, making it seem like its hight. its not that the car isn't low. check your front guard right in front of the front wheel. look how low it is off the ground! The e60 appeared lower, well less wheel well gap.

Just my 2 cents and reality. However the car does look a lot nicer with less gap. I"m not that old ! lowered cars always look sick!
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 06:14 AM   #4
dadysev
Captain
dadysev's Avatar
Montenegro
169
Rep
687
Posts

Drives: Man
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada

iTrader: (0)

PS, the image of your car looks perfectly fine!
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 09:14 AM   #5
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by duglas View Post
My experiense with drop on my earlier bmw is that it puts a lot of stress on the components in front suspension and steearing and they wear out fast. Also the springs have broken several times.The ride also got more sensitive to bad roads.
I dont know how the f10 will be affected but i guess its the same.
I have desided not to drop my f10 based on my experienses.
Your car looks really good with that wheels what size are your tyres and rims?
They are forgestar cf10 on 245/40 and 275/35
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 09:19 AM   #6
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dadysev View Post
Do you have the Electronic Damper control system? if so, leave it alone.
Just remember, everyone, well most people drop their cars for looks. BMW tends to make a 50/50 balanced car with the OEM suspension. When you lower your car you now change that as you are pointing the car usually downward to the front throwing more weight to the front, cause the back to be lighter. That now causes more oversteer.
Secondly, your shocks are designed to work at the OEM spring height. when you lower the car you have changed that working area, as well as the spring rate which can prematurely wear your shocks. I have seen this time after time, as i get asked that "should i lower my car, i just got rims.." from my friends.

I'm 45 now, i used to lower my other cars growing up in my 20s for looks. didn't care how the car handled. If you want to keep your car for a long period and like your comfortable suspension, leave it alone.

My old e46 has over 300,000 miles on it now and i changed the OEM sport shocks at about 260,000. (now my winter car) Thats all on OEM sport springs.

i just add more people in the my f10 550i to lower it now! lol!

I find that the F10 body has to much gap in the wheel arch, making it seem like its hight. its not that the car isn't low. check your front guard right in front of the front wheel. look how low it is off the ground! The e60 appeared lower, well less wheel well gap.

Just my 2 cents and reality. However the car does look a lot nicer with less gap. I"m not that old ! lowered cars always look sick!
Thanks for the good input. And no, I don't have EDC
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 11:56 AM   #7
lsturbointeg
Lieutenant General
lsturbointeg's Avatar
United_States
9149
Rep
14,522
Posts

Drives: 2011 535i Jet Black
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Asian lost in OH

iTrader: (0)

Are you running a taller aspect ratio on your tires cause there's not much of a wheel gap?
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 04:22 PM   #8
VMRWheels
General
VMRWheels's Avatar
2037
Rep
25,989
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Anaheim, CA

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2013 BMW M3  [10.00]
2015 BMW M4  [0.00]
2013 BMW F30  [0.00]
2014 BMW F22  [0.00]
2013 BMW F06  [0.00]
I usually tend towards drop, but your car still looks really good at its current state. The meaty tires definitely help in eliminating some of the wheel gap.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 04:59 PM   #9
Bobby_Drake
Major
Bobby_Drake's Avatar
389
Rep
1,150
Posts

Drives: '16 X5M
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Diego, CA -> Honolulu, HI

iTrader: (0)

Are you on 19s or 20s? Looks like 20s from the pic, but your tire sizes are for 19s. I have 19s with same tire specs. I didn't want to drop the car at first but after test driving MWPos car on AC Schnitzer springs, I was sold. Better handling and a bit more sporty ride but still comfortable. Yes, I know that the struts, etc. will wear out faster with the lower springs. This is the trade off I'll have to deal with later. I understand that the 2014 LCI has the 704 suspension, and this is different than my 2013. It's really all personal preference. However, based on the pic, your car doesn't seem to have that much of a wheel gap.
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 05:01 PM   #10
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg
Are you running a taller aspect ratio on your tires cause there's not much of a wheel gap?
Yes. Tires are a little meaty. Only issue is its rubbing a little bit on the sidewalls when I'm turning or hitting a lite dip
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 05:03 PM   #11
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by VMRWheels
I usually tend towards drop, but your car still looks really good at its current state. The meaty tires definitely help in eliminating some of the wheel gap.
Thanks. The back tires rub a little bit when I hit a dip when I have my kids in the back lol
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 10:09 PM   #12
lsturbointeg
Lieutenant General
lsturbointeg's Avatar
United_States
9149
Rep
14,522
Posts

Drives: 2011 535i Jet Black
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Asian lost in OH

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider_Nation View Post
Yes. Tires are a little meaty. Only issue is its rubbing a little bit on the sidewalls when I'm turning or hitting a lite dip
How about the speedometer? Any changes or does the computer throw a code or anything?
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 10:10 PM   #13
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raider_Nation View Post
Yes. Tires are a little meaty. Only issue is its rubbing a little bit on the sidewalls when I'm turning or hitting a lite dip
How about the speedometer? Any changes or does the computer throw a code or anything?
Nope. No code or any error message
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 10:15 PM   #14
rmastale
Lieutenant
60
Rep
438
Posts

Drives: F10 535i MSport, F15 X5 MSport
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

iTrader: (0)

I have thoroughly enjoyed KW V3 coilovers. The ride, handling, everything about the car is so different. And in a suprememely better manner.

There is a little headache that comes with it though... Large curbs and strip mall parking lots are to be avoided.

ok maybe the strip mall is perfectly ok to bypass.
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 11:16 PM   #15
Roswell
Second Lieutenant
87
Rep
235
Posts

Drives: 2012 535xi
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

If u are now rubbing at stock height, don't go lower it will make it worst.
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2015, 11:17 PM   #16
6SPD_S58
Second Lieutenant
United_States
267
Rep
299
Posts

Drives: '22 540i xdrive ; '23 G80 MT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Anaheim/Buena Pak

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Roswell
If u are now rubbing at stock height, don't go lower it will make it worst.
The only reason it's rubbing (I think) it's because my tires are really meaty
Appreciate 0
      03-05-2015, 07:53 AM   #17
Roswell
Second Lieutenant
87
Rep
235
Posts

Drives: 2012 535xi
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

Correct, either go back to 35f & 30r or stay at stock height.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:28 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST