[dreamwonder]

Hi Guys,

I currently drive a 06 330i with sport package. I was wondering what can be done to improve handling with a budget of $1000 (includes parts and labor)?

Thanks.

[Broken1]

Are you joking? What on earth for?

I can bet you, that unless you are a race track driver - you don't use even 60% of the handling capablities of your car. The only thing you can spend the $1000 is to make the ride unbearably comfortable and perhaps make your car look like it's touching the ground.

The 330's best attirubte is that it's balanced, and handles like a dream.

[Frank_NJ]

Give me the $1k and I will show you how to drive the car to the fullest limits.

[YYimports]

dreamwonder, $1000 can almost get you coilovers (if you want full height adjustability), but if that's too much for your needs, you can probably get a nice set of matched springs/shocks... maybe H&R Springs and Bilstein shocks. There's a whole list of what's out for the e90 in this thread - http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=613

Hope that helps.

[dreamwonder]

I am planning to track and autocross next season.
Last 3 events in my area is ending in Oct., doing them with my stock car. So most likely I will do the mods as soon as spring comes.

Will I get better benefit from:
1. Coil Covers or,
2. Springs + sway bar.

Assuming the 2 options is around the 1k ballpark.

[JBOO]

Other BMW/Mini owners have seen improvements with handling and ride by putting non-runflats tires on. Haven't seen too much of this with the E90 yet, but it's still fairly new.

Also agree on the coilovers and sway bar.

[dreamwonder]

I already got a set of track wheels with all non runflats (M3 rims). Going to try them out this weekend at the autocross. On the street the ride feels softer. I kind of like the runflat feel more because I like the ride to be stiff so that I can feel the road more.

[obLu]

I was going to say, best $1000 spent would be on grippier tires.

Next up would be adjustable sways so that you can add a little to the back or take a little off to balance the car to your style.

Adjustable shocks are great if you've got time to adjust the rebound for each track, but I'd doubt you'd have that kind of time between autocross runs. Having coilovers to lower and raise the car isn't going to make too much difference since the spring rates aren't changing and the center of grav change would be negligible. Plus having to re corner balance it takes too much time.

Although a properly corner balanced setup feels mighty nice.

[ward]

swaybars are probably the most under rated improvment you could make

it doesn't hurt ride quality (much much less than springs would)

and you can dial out some of the understeer that the factory puts in to make a more neutral handling car.

I'd say go for the swaybars alone, you'll pay about 3-400 for parts plus install and you won't have to worry about tire clearance or bottoming out on speedbumps.

[MCS]

Check out bimmerworld and the modifications that they are doing to their e90 project car - specifically for autocross. It looks like they make some brake line and pad changes.

[iDrive-E90]

Originally Posted by Frank_NJ

Give me the $1k and I will show you how to drive the car to the fullest limits.

Unless you are an experienced racing driver, spending money on finding out how to use what you have got is probably more effective (and a lot more fun) than spending it on upgrading the car. And you don't lose your investment when you sell the E90, it stays with YOU!

[Squawks]

Tower braces. Sway bars, as someone mentioned.

If you're hardcore, a rollcage is unbeatable.

Some people change the dampers and/or springs for a different feel or for an improvement the makers preach about.

[dreamwonder]

Originally Posted by iDrive-E90

Unless you are an experienced racing driver, spending money on finding out how to use what you have got is probably more effective (and a lot more fun) than spending it on upgrading the car. And you don't lose your investment when you sell the E90, it stays with YOU!

I totally agree with you, but its a addictive hobby...

[ward]

do the sways as 1st priority

it's not a flashy mod, doesn't make the car look better

but being able to get the car to rotate (oversteer just a bit) will help you tremendously on the autocross track

[ben1364]

[QUOTE=dreamwonder]Hi Guys,

I currently drive a 06 330i with sport package. I was wondering what can be done to improve handling with a budget of $1000 (includes parts and labor)?
__________________________________________________ __
Broken1 is right. The car is more capable than at least 95% of the people who own them right out of the box. The best way to spend $1000 on improving the performance of your E90 is to take a driving school or several. Join the local BMW CCA chapter. Club members can steer you to the best school value in your area.

[kans]

Get some racing tires, difference is night and day

[lwongveros]

Originally Posted by dreamwonder

I already got a set of track wheels with all non runflats (M3 rims). Going to try them out this weekend at the autocross. On the street the ride feels softer. I kind of like the runflat feel more because I like the ride to be stiff so that I can feel the road more.

not surprised - the E90 was designed specifically to be run with runflats. Runflats are normally harder (obviously due to the stronger sidewalls to handle the load without air), so the handling characteristics, suspension etc. of the E90 have all been setup with runflats in mind...

[ACZakka325i]

tires are a great upgrade.

i think that the tires equipped on my sports package are great, not to mention how freakin wide that are. i came from an e46 325xi with sports packaga and the tires were 205 all around. i always thought them to be really narrow. i guess it was part of the 4 wheel drives required clearance inside or somthing. but the 255s in the rear of my new car are outstanding. they grip like hell and look so sporting