handling and sway suggestions

[rrajbhan]

I've got a 2014 xdrive28 sportline stock. I live in Nashville, so the roads tend to be much smoother than up North where I grew up. I'd like the x1 to be as flat as possible during cornering and will give up ride to achieve it. any suggestions? springs? sway bars? strut tower brace?

I'm not going all out on expense either, so replacing everything is not an option.

[Chris Pringle]

I find my stock X1 to be the best SUV for cormering -- I testdrove a whole bunch. It just excels at it. A sports sedan it will never be, but chose this car because it offers many other advantages that a sports sedan doesn't. Having said this, there are some sports packages (re: springs & suspension) that BMW offers, but need to be factory installed, IIRC. I'm sure there are aftermarket ones to achieve the same purpose. Do you have a budget? There is always a premium for BMW parts and installation.

[Twix]

Throw in some KW V3. They'll give you the ability to set shock absorber settings.

As for the sways, only the rear is a good choice. An M3 bar works if you use Subaru WRX end links.

[Mr Kleen]

Best "bang for the buck" mod is H&R springs IMHO.

[rrajbhan]

I guess when I bought the x1, I wanted a great handling sports wagon; I wanted hydraulic steering and something turbocharged; and I didn't want to spend a lot. Hence the x1. But I wish it was more like e90 with sports package. It's not justified for me to spend a lot on a new car, so I guess it's going to be the HR springs. any other suggestions?

[PrematureApex]

Either H&R springs w/ Bilstein HDs, or KWV3s. You shouldn't be skimping on shocks/struts...far more important than springs.

Next would be rear subframe bushings. About $150 bucks (whiteline) and a few hours to install with a hand torch/heat gun and a couple jack stands. WORLDS better. No more rear-end windup.

[BeemerX1]

I am very happy with my Bilstein (Eibach) B12 Pro-kit.

[Archibald Donnington]

Originally Posted by Twix

Throw in some KW V3. They'll give you the ability to set shock absorber settings.

As for the sways, only the rear is a good choice. An M3 bar works if you use Subaru WRX end links.

I've read about this on a few posts. However, has anyone done this and can attest that it is effective?

What model M3? What model STI?

[Twix]

Paradoxial has done it.

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

You shouldn't be skimping on shocks/struts...far more important than springs.

In his case, where he drives on flat good roads and is concerned about the cornering sway, I would say springs are far more important for him.
He doesn't want to spend a lot, so I'd say go with springs first.
If he had a bigger budget, I'd say lowering the car just a tad would help too.

Up here in frostheave country, where my commute is like a rally cross run, tougher shocks and smaller wheels is the key.

[PrematureApex]

I could never agree that aftermarket springs with stock shocks is a smarter buying move than buying good shocks. Not even close. And if you can't afford to spend $250 on springs to go with your shocks/struts, can you afford the car in the first place? Let alone modding it?

This is a BMW forum isn't it? Where historically, great handling is achieved via shock tuning, rather than upping spring rates?

Buy good shocks to pair with your springs. In the long run, you'll be much happier vs. putting springs on shocks they were not designed for, both in stroke length and valving. You'll wear them out, resulting in crappy control and a horrible ride.

With something like a Bilstein HD (which effectively increase your spring rates), or even Konis, the firmer valving alone will translate into better transitional response overall, reducing initial roll/steering feel. The car will ride better, handling better, etc. Add your $200 springs with them, or down the line.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by Archibald Donnington

I've read about this on a few posts. However, has anyone done this and can attest that it is effective?

What model M3? What model STI?

Search on the E90 forums. Remember, your X1 is just a 335 underneath for all intents and purposes. Pretty much anything they do you can do.

[Mr Kleen]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

I could never agree that aftermarket springs with stock shocks is a smarter buying move than buying good shocks. Not even close.

The H&R springs are a very mild mod and are designed to work with the stock shocks/struts. You don't even modify the stock bump stops after installation. Once the stock shocks and struts need to be replaced I'll go with up-rated aftermarket ones (likely from Koni, I've had very good experiences with Konis on 3 different cars), but it's really not necessary to throw out perfectly good shocks/struts when installing the H&R springs.
I'm not trying to "cheap out" but I'm also not "gilding the Lily."

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by Mr Kleen

The H&R springs are a very mild mod and are designed to work with the stock shocks/struts. You don't even modify the stock bump stops after installation. Once the stock shocks and struts need to be replaced I'll go with up-rated aftermarket ones (likely from Koni, I've had very good experiences with Konis on 3 different cars), but it's really not necessary to throw out perfectly good shocks/struts when installing the H&R springs.
I'm not trying to "cheap out" but I'm also not "gilding the Lily."

I mean, with that logic, it's really not necessary to throw out perfectly good springs either.

You swapped them out for a performance improvement. Shocks/struts will offer a significant performance increase over the stock units, as well as an increase in ride comfort. Ask anyone in motorsports what's more important, springs or dampers, and they'll all give you the same answer.

But anyway, don't overlook the Bilstein's either. I was a Koni sport (yellow) guy for a decade until I tried my first set of HDs. Now I think I'm a convert.

[webspoke]

Turner Motorsports carries UUC swaybars for the e90 Xi cars that will fit the X1. Around $500 for a front and rear set.