Dinan Springs Installed w/pics

[Big Windy]

Wow, did they tell you it was going to be 8.9 hours beforehand? Or did you figure that out when you got the bill?

[M3 996]

Ride quality is absolutely perfect. There are no clunks, rattles, or EDC lights to speak of, so I am very happy with the quality. I have not experienced any of the problems that the M5 guys were seeing earlier this year.

The install times are posted on the Dinan website, and that is the rate at which their authorized installers bill. I believe that some of the Tire Rack authorized installers have quoted a similar 8.9 hour number on H&R installs.

At the end of the day, I bought the Dinan springs for daily driver friendly ride height, better design (imo), and warranty coverage. The cost is a bit high, but sometimes you have to pay to play on a $70k car. I had a great experience with H&R's on my Porsche, but I needed better daily functionality on this car.

[tightie]

ouch... that was expensive for springs.

[mdrobc13]

$1080 for install??? WTF?? No waay...they are puttin in springs not changing the dayum engine or trans? What does a short shift take if Dinan offered one 2 days?

Ahh Eilbach Pro...here I come! Either that or stick with stock...dayum!

[nd54]

$2000 for half an inch?? Sounds like my junk email folder.

I don't want to be a hater, but you got seriously ripped off.

[Radiation Joe]

Originally Posted by nd54

$2000 for half an inch?? Sounds like my junk email folder.

I don't want to be a hater, but you got seriously ripped off.

Welcome to the rest of the unwashed masses.
The drop isn't where the value comes from. It's the dynamics of the car after the new springs are installed. When you understand this, philosophically, you will be able to make an informed decision on which springs (if any) to buy.

[nd54]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

Welcome to the rest of the unwashed masses.
The drop isn't where the value comes from. It's the dynamics of the car after the new springs are installed. When you understand this, philosophically, you will be able to make an informed decision on which springs (if any) to buy.

If these springs perform any better than a competing brand I'll retract my comment but I guarantee they won't, and you don't have any data to contradict me.

I'm more than capable of making an informed decision, and $2000 total for springs on this car is simply ridiculous in my opinion.

[M3 996]

In the mean time, ND54, thanks for the worthless post. I knew how much I was paying when I made my decision, so it was not a rip-off from my perspective.

If you think $2000 is a rip-off, don't buy the springs; it won't hurt my feelings any. I think there are other great, and cheaper, options out there, but they didn't fit MY use criteria.

[serven7]

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

Welcome to the rest of the unwashed masses.
The drop isn't where the value comes from. It's the dynamics of the car after the new springs are installed. When you understand this, philosophically, you will be able to make an informed decision on which springs (if any) to buy.

Im just sad to hear that Dinan actually suckers hard working people out of 2k for springs. Lets face it springs are springs so dont give me any BS about how great they are. To even ask 2k for springs is unethical and down right wrong when coilovers are damn near the same price.

[serven7]

Originally Posted by M3 996

In the mean time, ND54, thanks for the worthless post. I knew how much I was paying when I made my decision, so it was not a rip-off from my perspective.

If you think $2000 is a rip-off, don't buy the springs; it won't hurt my feelings any. I think there are other great, and cheaper, options out there, but they didn't fit MY use criteria.

To each his own my friend. It is your car, your money you can do as you wish however if you post something like "I paid 2k for springs" then your guaranteed to get flamed here oh well happens to the best of us.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by serven7

Im just sad to hear that Dinan actually suckers hard working people out of 2k for springs. Lets face it springs are springs so dont give me any BS about how great they are. To even ask 2k for springs is unethical and down right wrong when coilovers are damn near the same price.

Dinan is sucking nothing... they offers a product at "x" price. A consumer has two single and mutually exclusive options: take it or leave it.

This customer decided to pay the "x" price, so be it. It is the same when customers pay $3000 for some Zymol wax, $12,000 for an exhaust, $4000 for a single wheel, or $5000 just to have a different OEM paint color than the official offerings in the M3. The question then becomes, what makes the customer happy?

Personally, I'm happy with my $19.95 Zaino, my $550 exhaust, $225 wheel, and $475 Melbourne Red paint. Ask somebody else and probably they will not be as happy as I am with my choices. So be it...

There's nothing unethical, BS, rip off, or wrong in this offering. If $2000 springs don't make you happy, so be it. One thing is certain, the OP is happy...

[serven7]

Originally Posted by Technic

Dinan is sucking nothing... they offers a product at "x" price. A consumer has two single and mutually exclusive options: take it or leave it.

This customer decided to pay the "x" price, so be it. It is the same when customers pay $3000 for some Zymol wax, $12,000 for an exhaust, $4000 for a single wheel, or $5000 just to have a different OEM paint color than the official offerings in the M3. The question then becomes, what makes the customer happy?

Personally, I'm happy with my $19.95 Zaino, my $550 exhaust, $225 wheel, and $475 Melbourne Red paint. Ask somebody else and probably they will not be as happy as I am with my choices. So be it...

There's nothing unethical, BS, rip off, or wrong in this offering. If $2000 springs don't make you happy, so be it. One thing is certain, the OP is happy...

You are absolutely correct each person has the option to take it or leave it. however dont compare Dinan stuff to Ericcson or Dymag. Dinan springs are JUST SPRINGS and Ericcson makes the first header back full ti system and Dymag makes 15-16lb wheels these products are cutting edge and they have the right to charge that price. Lets compare apples to apples.

[M2MG17]

Wow that is one expensive spring job.

[M3 996]

Guys, just be clear that the springs cost $900, not $2000. So, if you take labor out of the equation, we are not in coil-over territory with price. Are they more expensive than H&R or Eibach? Sure.

Ericcson makes outstanding stuff, but I suppose that a $7,000 exhaust is completely reasonable? I might buy one, but it would be a bit of a stretch to justify on performance alone.

I started this thread to lay out the facts and pictures for anyone who might be considering making a similar purchase. If you don't like Dinan or their prices, no sweat. Keep your negative comments to yourself; they add little constructive value for the rest of us.

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by serven7

Im just sad to hear that Dinan actually suckers hard working people out of 2k for springs. Lets face it springs are springs so dont give me any BS about how great they are. To even ask 2k for springs is unethical and down right wrong when coilovers are damn near the same price.

Thankfully the engineers at //M are not quite this ignorant. Guess wheels are wheels, engines are engines, shocks are shocks, and a car is a car.

[IRMthree]

nice subtle drop...do you think these Dinans will eventually settle lower with more miles?

[doba_s]

Originally Posted by M3 996

Guys, just be clear that the springs cost $900, not $2000. So, if you take labor out of the equation, we are not in coil-over territory with price. Are they more expensive than H&R or Eibach? Sure.

Ericcson makes outstanding stuff, but I suppose that a $7,000 exhaust is completely reasonable? I might buy one, but it would be a bit of a stretch to justify on performance alone.

I started this thread to lay out the facts and pictures for anyone who might be considering making a similar purchase. If you don't like Dinan or their prices, no sweat. Keep your negative comments to yourself; they add little constructive value for the rest of us.

you are absolutely right ...

[Boost3dm3]

i think $2000 is pricey also but it is justified in my eyes. Im not happy about the price but the thing is, do you want to be stuck with a edc system not covered by the warranty and spending lots of money out of your own pocket to fix any issues that come down the road? I think the labor is expensive and probably could have been negotiated lower but if you want to keep a warranty, Dinan is the only way to go. Look at all the 335 people that have warranty issues running chips and what not. IMHO its easy for bmw to deny a warranty claim when they see aftermarket springs. I didnt spend an extra $1000 on edc just for it to be replaced with coilovers. Some coilover systems can perform better than the stock system but for those of us not changing to a coilover system and wanting to just drop the car a little and keep the warranty intact what are we to do but go with Dinan.

[09E92M34ME]

Originally Posted by Technic

Dinan is sucking nothing... they offers a product at "x" price. A consumer has two single and mutually exclusive options: take it or leave it.

This customer decided to pay the "x" price, so be it. It is the same when customers pay $3000 for some Zymol wax, $12,000 for an exhaust, $4000 for a single wheel, or $5000 just to have a different OEM paint color than the official offerings in the M3. The question then becomes, what makes the customer happy?

Personally, I'm happy with my $19.95 Zaino, my $550 exhaust, $225 wheel, and $475 Melbourne Red paint. Ask somebody else and probably they will not be as happy as I am with my choices. So be it...

There's nothing unethical, BS, rip off, or wrong in this offering. If $2000 springs don't make you happy, so be it. One thing is certain, the OP is happy...

He knew what he was paying going in and he is happy. The car looks great.

[bigjae1976]

Oh yeah, he still has a warranty on his suspension unlike the others who've installed non-dinan products.

You know that most BMW dealers will blame any suspension issue on aftermarket springs/coilovers.

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by M3 996

I finally got around to posting some pics of the finished product. The drop is modest, but as advertised at 1/2 inch. I wanted to keep everyday drivability, including Chicago winters, so I am happy with the end result.

In case the pictures don't do the drop justice, here is how I would describe it: There is now a bit more than a 1 finger gap up front, versus a bit more than 2 stock. The drop in the rear is proportional to the front.

Also, the pics were taken with Blizzak LM-25's mounted for the winter. I will get to put them to the test tomorrow...

Hope this helps.

Do you know what the spring rates are on the Dinan springs? They don't seem to list them on there site.

[Boost3dm3]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Oh yeah, he still has a warranty on his suspension unlike the others who've installed non-dinan products.

You know that most BMW dealers will blame any suspension issue on aftermarket springs/coilovers.

my points exactly!