|
|
09-13-2009, 01:18 AM | #1 |
Moderator
673
Rep 4,737
Posts |
Some Interesting Findings on the Dinan Stage 1 Kit
So, I finally installed the Dinan Stage 1 kit today. I've only driven it on city streets so far, and it feels only slightly stiffer vs. OE. The drop is definitely noticeable but still practical for everyday driving.
I also had H&R on my red bull before, and I feel that Dinan is a much better balance between drop, comfort, and sportiness. Now the interesting stuff... Dinan's kit differentiates itself from other lowering springs because it has 1) shorter front guidesupport and 2) shorter bump stops, which effectively increases the suspension travel before hitting the bump stops. So how did Dinan come up with these two parts? Turns out, right from BMW. See pictures for details. |
09-13-2009, 01:33 AM | #3 |
Major General
248
Rep 6,125
Posts |
Holy SHyT! That's just wrong.
Unless they priced at no more than 600 bucks (400 for spring with premium DINAN tax + 200 for those stock parts with Dinan tax), it's kinda upsets me. I'm not any Dinan hater. In fact, I had Dinan Stage III engine, Stage III suspension + a few other Dinan parts on my previous E46M3 so I loved their stuff but it really upsets me. Thanks for the information. (PS. did you get my PM about RE SSK question?)
__________________
PAST: F80 M3 ZCP | 911.1 C2S | F10 M5 ZCP | E70 X5M | E90 M3 | E46 M3 | E36 M3 |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 08:35 AM | #5 |
yodog
197
Rep 5,025
Posts |
Good find. So get 1999 M3 front bump stops, and shave off the rear stock guide supports by .3"? Can you do an exact measurement since the shop wouldn't have the "modified" dinan bump stop?
Any idea how much it would cost to install/reinstall these 4 things? I have H&R springs, think this will be an upgrade/improvement in performance/comfort?
__________________
2009 E92 M3 | Alpine White | Black Extended | Advan RS | Turner Test Pipes | Dinan Axle-Back | OETuning | Eibach Springs | UUC SSK | VRS Front Lip | VRS Type I Diffuser | Matte Black | RPi Scoops | MS Filter | Yokohama AD08 | F1 Pinnacle Special Thanks: Gintani | OETuning | eAs |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 09:44 AM | #7 | |
Major General
374
Rep 8,033
Posts |
Quote:
Anyway, so perhaps the statement is: if you don't want to spend $900, buy two bump stops and a set of Eibachs, and modify your guide support.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 10:23 AM | #9 |
Major General
893
Rep 9,032
Posts |
Is that guide support hard?
Can you just take a sander and work at it for a while? I was thinking the same thing since people say the Eibach's are only a little stiffer and lower than stock. Hell, maybe the Dinan's are just rebadged Eibach's.
__________________
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
Last edited by aus; 09-13-2009 at 11:48 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 10:51 AM | #10 |
Veni Vidi Vici
89
Rep 2,750
Posts
Drives: '11 JB/BBe-6sp-e90
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Macungie PA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2011 e90 M3-Sold [8.50]
2003 RS6 - Sold [0.00] 2009 e90 M3 - Gone [0.00] 2003 M3 SOLD [0.00] old 2002 [10.00] |
Here we go again.
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 11:36 AM | #11 |
Major
27
Rep 1,314
Posts |
I guess you could look at it one of two ways (AKA glass half-empty or half-full): 1) Dinan did some amount of R&D to learn and develop what they felt was the best solution-- one which happened to involve some existing OEM BMW parts; OR 2) Dinan is ripping people off because they didn't develop their own solution and parts from scratch.
Either way, they obviously did do the R&D and arrived at the solution they felt offered the best compromise, which upgraded performance handling, without rendering it unpleasant for street use. The simple fact that their solution is something that we now know you can do yourself (with readily available parts) does not mean that they've done anything deceptive or predatory, because they did fund the R&D to arrive at their proposed modification.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 11:54 AM | #12 | |
Moderator
673
Rep 4,737
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 01:21 PM | #14 |
Lieutenant Colonel
65
Rep 1,676
Posts |
i don't know if they still make them or carry them but on my E46 M3 i had the stage 3 JRZ susp and i can tell you there was nothing that was more comfortable but handled so much better then stock. i couldn't believe how much more comfortable it was then stock but yet it would out handle alot of stuff out there. it was worth every penny
__________________
Street- 08 E92 M3- Sparkling Graphite/ Fox Red/6sp
Track- 10 CRF 250-PR2 Race Motor/Ohlins TTX Susp Hauler- 06 Ford Skyjacker F250 4WD |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 06:03 PM | #15 |
Major General
2741
Rep 6,734
Posts
Drives: 'E46 M3 Race Car, '23 X7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Wisconsin - Instagram - @slicer_m
|
Thank you for the information.
Two Questions: The bump stops are for the front suspension Correct? Are the Guide Supports for the front or rear? |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 06:36 PM | #16 |
Lieutenant General
2304
Rep 13,009
Posts |
That's R&D... those parts did not end up in the Dinan's kit by the Wholly Spirit.
Somebody at Dinan has to go thru several OEM parts looking for what their requirements (research) were and then testing (development) what they thought was a match to what they wanted. And I don't think that that was done in an afternoon, sipping Jack Daniels and talking BS while looking at realoem.com. |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 06:40 PM | #17 | |
Major General
152
Rep 5,124
Posts |
Quote:
thanks for the info rldzhao
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 07:10 PM | #18 | |
Major General
248
Rep 6,125
Posts |
Quote:
I think I'll still go with Dinan just because that's what I'm looking for - slightly firmer and least drop. And nobody makes exactly what I want other than Dinan. And whatever reason it is, it's OEM parts so... quality is proven for sure. I just wish its price was around 600 dollars.
__________________
PAST: F80 M3 ZCP | 911.1 C2S | F10 M5 ZCP | E70 X5M | E90 M3 | E46 M3 | E36 M3 |
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 08:20 PM | #19 |
Lieutenant Colonel
65
Rep 1,676
Posts |
i like there stuff bc out of everything i have tried on my M cars i feel there stuff has worked the best, and i never had one problem with warranty when bringing my car to the dealer.
__________________
Street- 08 E92 M3- Sparkling Graphite/ Fox Red/6sp
Track- 10 CRF 250-PR2 Race Motor/Ohlins TTX Susp Hauler- 06 Ford Skyjacker F250 4WD |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 08:39 PM | #20 |
O! So Sour!!
552
Rep 15,615
Posts
Drives: Fast 240z / Slow M3
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: 'Merica!
|
Great find...wish i knew about this sooner before i installed my H&Rs, I had to cut my bump stops a bit...
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 10:53 PM | #21 |
Captain
80
Rep 961
Posts |
When BMW lowered the M3 by 10mm (0.4") for Japan they changed the struts and the springs (but not the bumpstops or the guide support). Actually, until I read this thread, I thought that all Dinan had done was bring the Japanese market components to North America and match them up with their special springs.
Reducing the height of the bump stop risks damaging the valving inside the damper. I guess it doesn't happen, otherwise Dinan wouldn't do it. If you tell REALOEM that you've got a European car, it will give you the part number for the Japanese struts. Last edited by JAJ; 09-13-2009 at 11:30 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
09-13-2009, 11:41 PM | #22 |
Major General
893
Rep 9,032
Posts |
Buying Dinan can still void your OEM warranty. They just offer to pick up the OEM warranty with their own policy.
__________________
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|