I personally think 17" wheels are enough, and big wheels and lowering are more for looks. From what I've read and understood, I think for street use, to improve handling, shocks and springs are the 1st thing to change (with tires) but perhaps not with too aggressive settings, and maybe the sway bars next.

 

I take it your on runflats

 

Actually they are regular all season tires. Not sporty but quite comfortable.

 

When I got my 530i it was non-sport all stock. After putting H&R sport springs on, 19" OEM 166's, 30 profile tires, and Koni sport shocks & struts on the car it felt like a new vehicle. Yes, it was much less of a comfortable drive going over bumps, but on the turns its amazing, even without sway bars. There was a big difference in performance, not to mention looks.

 

The reason I've looked into Dinan suspension and Koni FSD is that these supposedly keep the ride quality while improve handling.

 

I personally am very happy with my sport suspension and have no plans on swapping them out. I don't see the point in going all out with V3 coil overs and such on a car that does not have a LSD.

 

I agree. the Koni FSD isn't coilover, and the price with the Eibach spring is only about 1K. Dinan stage 1 suspension is 1.5K, so all cheaper than the coilovers.

Einstein57 - what do you have on your car?

 

MY e60 just has the sports package. My other BMW has H&R race springs, bilstein sports, ST sway bars (a subsidiary of KW), KMAC camber plates, urethane subframe bushings, aluminum and urethane rear shock mounts, Ireland Engineering stress bar, and adjustable sway bar links. I've tried several suspension set ups and this is a nice compromise. Once you stiffen up your suspension the sidewall flex in your tires becomes very noticeable.
(2008 receipts on parts)





My VW has Neuspeed stress bars, complete prothane urethane bushing kit, FK 60/40 cup kit and some other stuff i can't remember.