OEM plus AX setup for BMW 128i DD.

Or otherwise called "don't screw up the wife's DD. :).

We have a 128i base model that we autocross with the local BMW / Porsche joint club events. We did one year with it bone stock with Sumimito HTR3 tires, and learned that we loved to fun of the events. Last year I added a E90 M3 convertible front sway bar and Rival S's. we loved the new turn in crispness and grip from the 225/45/17's. this year I wanted to add just a hint more spring and shock control, while not screwing up the comfort of. My wife's DD. So let the light mods begin.

The first step was to actually build the front struts. I bought some Koni single adjustables for the front and rear. I also bought all the parts I needed for each assembly so that I could assemble them in leisure without taking the stock parts apart and then rushing to get them together. A good move as I found out later. I also bought some Dinan fixed camber plates to give me a bit more camber.

First step is to take the stock upper mounts and punch out their studs.

I used a socket and c clamp to do this Assembled the Dinan camber plates to the top mounts with their new studs

Then assembled the shocks as per the part diagram.

Then I ended up with two of these!

A quick sidebar on spring selection. I didn't want to use any of the available Eibach, H&R etc springs, as I feel they add too much lowering for the potholes around here. I did like the "stance" of the 135i, and found BMW offered a performance package for the 128i with the same look of the 135i. So I found some used springs online and bought them. However, on continued research, I found out that while the rear springs were exactly the same for these two models and packages, my 128i was lighter in the front. Therefore those 135i springs would end up raising the front. After much cross referencing various models, I found the 325i with sport suspension (model D4 spring) was what I was looking for. So I bought a second set of used springs. Live and learn I guess.

I love E82s. GL on the build!

Watching! My wife currently has a 128i base that will become my DD once our kiddo arrives and she'll take my A4.

I will say that although the above looks easy, something about the spring compressor I had and how it fits on the springs made it harder than it had to be. I had to position them just right to get adequate squeeze and be able to be released once they were relaxed on the strut. Probably just my rookie self, but give yourself time.

Day two..... the rear shocks. Here I just reused my mounts. We only have 56k miles, and they look good. I did buy new dust covers and bump stops though. Step one... remove all the trim covers and the seat bolsters (they pull off from the top and slide up) to access the shock tops. I bought a set of cheap interior clip removers from Harbor Freight. Priceless!

It'll look like this with them off. Remove the top shock bolt, and the. Go underneath.... here's a pic of everything you'll have to remove... the lower arm bolt that holds the spindle to the arm closest to the tire (that big silver bolt) and the two star bolts that hold shock mount. There's also one bolt under the shock that needs to be removed too....

Swing the arm down and remove the shock. You'll have to pull a bit more and remove the spring. Here's it with everything out.

Put all the new parts I and boom! Done! To be honest, I let my wife drive it like this for a week. I was beat from crawling in, out, up, down reassembling everything plus the interior.

I bought the "adjustable" rears... wish I'd ponied up for the top adjustable ones (got these used for less than half off retail). You adjust them by pushing the rod all the way in, and then turning. Obviously only once off the vehicle. Glad I checked them, as they were way off even adjustment side to side. I think there's 5 turns from soft to firm. I did 3 turns from soft (so just past half on the firm side). I think it was a good choice. My wife could feel the difference with just the tears done (turns in so much faster, the back feels really settled!). So a win so far.

Fronts coming.....

Day 3 First thing to do after jacking up the car is unplug the ABS sensors. Amazing how much dirt gets up under the covers. Then unhook the sway bar link top and bottom.

And unbolt everything. :). Well, almost everything. I took the calipers off the knuckle, unbolted the strut, and thought that would be enough to remove the strut.

I'd read threads and seen various YouTube videos on this. Most dealt with the E90 front end (which this is basically identical). This would've been enough based on that model. ONE 128i thread said he had to take the knuckle completely off. I chose not to believe him. I've done this before on a Civic and Mazda 3. I've never had to do that. Until I met this car. I should've listened. I took it 3/4 of the way off on this side. Much easier. The problem is there just isn't rooom to swing the strut out of the wheel well. I also tried using a spring compressor, but to no avail either.

On the next side I completely removed the lower swing arm and tie rod end. I saved a bunch of time by doing so.

Before buttoning up everything, I took a page from the drifting school of car repair and fixed our under tray. I "might" have found a cone in our last autocross event of the season.

And here it is after rolling it out of the garage for the first time. It has settled a bit more, but I need to take it in for an alignment and see if I did gain any camber. Probably just one degree, but everything helps on these cars.

I'll post pics from the next autocross hopefully in a week. I can't believe how buttoned down the car feels. Definitely firmer, but way better rebound control. My wife is happy. So I'm happy. Thanks for reading along this beginner's mechanical journey.

Strong work! Love the color.