Improve Handling of NON-CP M5...?

[ciscostud]

Review mpower3330?

[mpower3330]

Originally Posted by ciscostud

Review mpower3330?

Car is still at Dinan. Will hopefully get it back later today. Can't wait! If done today I'll definitely report back and let you all know tonight.

[mpower3330]

Getting the car back Monday morning. They said they lowered it 0.75in in the front and 1.25in the rear. Does this sound right to anyone?

[ciscostud]

hmmmm.. I thought surely it would be .75 and .75.... I wonder why on the rear....

[mpower3330]

They texted me a pic and it was slammed. I told them to raise it. This is for better handling. I personally don't like the look of being on the ground. Plus living in SF I don't want to deal bottoming out.

[PhilT3]

Originally Posted by mpower3330

They texted me a pic and it was slammed. I told them to raise it. This is for better handling. I personally don't like the look of being on the ground. Plus living in SF I don't want to deal bottoming out.

Yeah,there is no point for form to precede function. Good call on raising it up.

Very interested in your review after you get the car back.

[isugoo]

Originally Posted by mpower3330

Getting the car back Monday morning. They said they lowered it 0.75in in the front and 1.25in the rear. Does this sound right to anyone?

From the Dinan website:
"Up to 1 1/4” of lowering is possible depending on tire clearance although 3/4” drop is recommended to maintain ride quality."

[ciscostud]

I agree. I would go .75 and .75 for appearances and ride quality. Also I don't like when it is that close to the wheel on the F10.

[mpower3330]

Thanks guys. I told them .75 and .75. Will report back on Monday

[mpower3330]

REVIEW:

Got the car back today from Dinan. Will update with pics later in the week. Had following items installed.
1. Dinan Adjustable Coilover Suspension
2. Front Adjustable Sway Bar
3. Rear Adjustable Sway Bar

Total damage to pocket was $3,700 out the door, price included a wheel alignment.

Handling
Can't say enough about how much better the car handles. During cornering the car is much more planted and settled, giving a significant amount of confidence in what it is doing. I honestly believe this is how the car should have come from the factory and this package is as close to a warrantied CP package as you can get. I drove an E46 M3 Manual Coupe for 8 years before this car and can finally say my M5 is fun in the corners/twisties and gives me a sense of confidence in pushing it that was not there with the stock setup.

Ride
Ride height was lowered .75in all around. Aesthetically is looks amazing, takes away the ridiculous wheel well gap that was in the front. After switching between comfort and Sport plus, I can honestly say that Dinan's claim of 15% increase in ride stiffness is accurate. I live in SF and drive the harsh roads here and it has not sacrificed the comfort. If anything, factory Comfort setting felt like a Lexus LS and it is now responsive and to my liking.

Recommendation
I would recommend this upgrade to all that do not have the CP package and are looking for an improvement in handling. The Dinan benefit is definitely more comforting regarding the warranty (I did significant amount of research for this and called multiple BMW dealers that are and are not Dinan dealers, they all said they have not had issues) I personally will be taking my car to BMW Monterey now because they're a Dinan dealer and it's comforting knowing that all parties needed to fix my car are under 1 roof (a little annoying since I live in SF but it's worth the drive and comfort that they won't try and blame Dinan incorrectly)


***** I immediately noticed 1 major improvement that was not expected. I had written a couple posts asking about the high pitch vibration in the steering wheel when going over rough surfaces or even highway surfaces. I have noticed a SIGNIFICANT decrease in the high pitch vibration post-Dinan install. If it was a 10 before it is now a 4/5. It is still there but I don't notice it anymore unless I focus on it. I came by this discovery today when I was driving home from Dinan, where a particular section of the highway ALWAYS annoyed me. When I got home I noticed I didn't feel it. I got back in the car and drove it a few times, much to my surprise it was a legitimate improvement. How is this possible?

[ciscostud]

This is all good news! In a couple weeks I will be getting the Stage 1 Dinan Dtronics ECU upgrade, along with Dinan front and rear sway bars (to start), and stainless steel brake lines and the Castrol racing brake fluid. All of it is on order. This September I am booked for the two day M school, so I may run the M5 on the track a little after I come back. Body roll is the biggest thing that bothers me right now in my 2013 non CP m5.

[ciscostud]

You really should post photos, so we can see how it looks. My only concern in going with the coil over too and the drop is additional front bumper scrape on any number of things?

[Tom C]

Thanks for the review, although it is probably going to cost me some money now...

[mcvaughan]

That does it! Ordering the Dinan sways...

[mpower3330]

I will post pics however the drop is 100% adjustable you can make it factory Non-CP height, CP height or lower. Pics wise it looks just like all other lowered cars, mine is just done with .75in lower all around. I have a 30 degree decline into my garage and mine did not scrape today.

[Used2be]

Originally Posted by mpower3330

REVIEW:

Got the car back today from Dinan. Will update with pics later in the week. Had following items installed.
1. Dinan Adjustable Coilover Suspension
2. Front Adjustable Sway Bar
3. Rear Adjustable Sway Bar

Total damage to pocket was $3,700 out the door, price included a wheel alignment.


I immediately noticed 1 major improvement that was not expected. I had written a couple posts asking about the high pitch vibration in the steering wheel when going over rough surfaces or even highway surfaces. I have noticed a SIGNIFICANT decrease in the high pitch vibration post-Dinan install. How is this possible?

Sounds like you're happy, money well spent! I'd guess the vibration was reduced by a proper wheel alignment. Since the vibration you complain about isn't widespread among M5 owners, it's not the stock springs or sway bars causing it.

[zzzmmm]

Dinan front/rear sways
I agree 100pct. Non CP too much roll. Great review, thanks.

[mpower3330]

Originally Posted by zzzmmm

Dinan front/rear sways
I agree 100pct. Non CP too much roll. Great review, thanks.

You're going to love them. Honestly, my car feels amazing now. I now have a smile during cornering and not iffy/frightened face.

[bm323]

Do the Dinan sways help in reducing the up down and roll motion when the M5 non CP is driven at, say 30 mph over uneven roads and humps?

[mcvaughan]

Originally Posted by bm323

Do the Dinan sways help in reducing the up down and roll motion when the M5 non CP is driven at, say 30 mph over uneven roads and humps?

No, that has to do with the shocks and springs.