BMW M Performance Suspension (HAS height adjustable sleeve over kit)

[jdherman]

This is timely. I have the BMW HAS installed on my 2016 M3 and was just discussing corner balancing with a friend who knows much more than me about this. He said:

"I assume the corner weighting was done with you in the car and the suspension settled and the anti-roll bars (ARB) disconnected, and then reconnected at the corner-weighted heights. If they didn’t have the anti-roll bars disconnected, the report can be misleading. If you don’t have adjustable turnbuckles for the ARB attachments, there is nothing they can do about it."

And...

"Do you have aftermarket anti-roll bars? If so, most have different hole positions to adjust the stiffness and the link that attaches to the hole has an adjustable length. When you make corner weight adjustments you change the ride height at one or more corners. If at least one side isn’t disconnected on the ARB, it torques the ARB and artificially changes the corner weight. One side should be disconnected on both the front and rear while making the ride height changes and then reinstalled with no load/interference when done at the new ride height."

I do not have aftermarket ARBs.

Can a proper corner balancing be done on my M3?

[literbikes]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The right way of doing this is, after setting the desired ride height, to put the car on scales and fine tune the height until both diagonal weight sums are the same. This is called corner balancing and ensures balanced cornering in both directions.

I agree with this 100%, next on the list and likely camber plates to further adjustability.

[allinon72]

Had a chance to set my ride height - been tweaking all week. This is not a process for someone who is OCD like me. I got all 4 within 1/8" of the BMW recommended settings. I'm pretty happy with the way it sits and rides, so I sent it off for an alignment.

A few notes on adjusting the rears after installation - basically this area is the one lone engineering defect of the kit. The rears simply cannot be adjusted after the fact with the included wrench, there isn't enough stroke because the shock and the wheel well lining get in the way. I improvised by using a Channelock oil filter wrench with the teeth wrapped in electrical tape to lessen the marring of the aluminum. This worked pretty well but did not stop the marring completely, but didn't have a choice other than to remove the lower control arm bolt, which I did not want to mess with.

Knowing that the top spring seat spins rather easily, I put 3M tape (VHB) on during installation and that seems to have worked great at keeping it still when adjusting the collar. I sprayed the threads down with WD40 and it was very easy to turn. I also jacked up one tire at a time rather than the whole rear end while making adjustments. This seems to put enough resistance on the spring (via sway bar) to keep everything in place except what you want to turn (the spring collar).

The fronts are cake to adjust. I added a heavy dab of anti-seize to the tiny set collar, hopefully that's enough for removal if I want to make adjustments down the line. IMO this set collar is awfully small so we will see.

The car drives straight just as it did before, so hopefully the alignment shop won't have any issues getting the specs back in line. Visually, the camber doesn't look as bad as I thought it would, but I can see a difference in toe.

Next up are some 10/12mm spacers.

[allinon72]

Here are my alignment specs. No issues aligning.

[NYG]

Just had mine installed. Absolutely love it but my front camber is a joke. Ground control here I come.

[Thespaz18]

Dealer wants $1,450 for installment and alignment. Does that seem high?

[figure99]

Originally Posted by Thespaz18

Dealer wants $1,450 for installment and alignment. Does that seem high?

Seems high, but not uncommon. Dealers in my area are anywhere from $750 up to over $1500. I recommend making sure they've done the install before... there are stories earlier in this thread about dealers installing things incorrectly.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by Thespaz18

Dealer wants $1,450 for installment and alignment. Does that seem high?

A bit high but not by much. I was the first install on my dealership in Virginia. They charged me just over $1200 but they had such a problem installing the kit (don't ask me why) that the next customer who tried to get them installed was quoted $1800.

[gripenM]

anybody leave the bump stops for the rear shocks and not replace them with the ones that came with the kit?
i left mine as is and so far it feels normal

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by gripenM

anybody leave the bump stops for the rear shocks and not replace them with the ones that came with the kit?
i left mine as is and so far it feels normal

The kit includes them for a reason.

[Thespaz18]

Just picked my car up from the dealer after getting this kit installed. Ride is amazing! I absolutely love it. I was worried that it may be too firm for my liking, but that is not the case whatsoever. As many have said, the ride is compliant and the car feels more planted. I get a chuckle when reading this thread and coming across the folks that say "the car should've come this way from the factory," but that phrase holds true 1000%.

I'm at the BMW recommended ride height for 19" wheels, but am considering going a bit lower. That said, how much can I really expect the springs (and subsequent ride) height to settle within the next few hundred miles? A few mm?

[ttrank]

So my local dealer has been installing this kit on my 17' for a week now. First they got it installed and had me come look before adjusting the height. They said it was all the way up. The rear was right at the top of the tire, maybe tucking a tiny bit (on factory 19's with stock tires).
The front was up pretty high.
I asked them to even out the gap by lowering the front another ~1". They called later that day and said they could not get the fronts to adjust (at all) and had a specialist from BMW coming out to look at it. After waiting the weekend, the rep said to order new collars for the front. Those are getting installed now.

Anyone else have any issues like this?

From the pics I have seen, it seems odd my rear was that low with the kit "all the way up". It was a good half inch lower than stock. Could they have done something wrong with the rear install that would make it sit lower (beyond adjustment).

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by ttrank

So my local dealer has been installing this kit on my 17' for a week now. First they got it installed and had me come look before adjusting the height. They said it was all the way up. The rear was right at the top of the tire, maybe tucking a tiny bit (on factory 19's with stock tires).
The front was up pretty high.
I asked them to even out the gap by lowering the front another ~1". They called later that day and said they could not get the fronts to adjust (at all) and had a specalist from BMW coming out to look at it. After waiting the weekend, the rep said to order new collars for the front. Those are getting isntalled now.

Anyone else have any issues like this?

From the pics I have seen, it seems odd my rear was that low with the kit "all the way up". It was a good half inch lower than stock. Could they have done something wrong with the rear isntall that would make it sit lower (beyond adjustment).

There have been MANY instances with dealerships installing the rear springs upside down. Usually though that results in a high setting. Did they not install the bumpstops perhaps?

[ttrank]

Originally Posted by Jockey

There have been MANY instances with dealerships installing the rear springs upside down. Usually though that results in a high setting. Did they not install the bumpstops perhaps?

I'll have to look and see when I get it back. Bumpstops should not impact the ride height since they just protect the strut from bottoming out.

[NOLATom]

Originally Posted by ttrank

So my local dealer has been installing this kit on my 17' for a week now. First they got it installed and had me come look before adjusting the height. They said it was all the way up. The rear was right at the top of the tire, maybe tucking a tiny bit (on factory 19's with stock tires).
The front was up pretty high.
I asked them to even out the gap by lowering the front another ~1". They called later that day and said they could not get the fronts to adjust (at all) and had a specalist from BMW coming out to look at it. After waiting the weekend, the rep said to order new collars for the front. Those are getting isntalled now.

Anyone else have any issues like this?

From the pics I have seen, it seems odd my rear was that low with the kit "all the way up". It was a good half inch lower than stock. Could they have done something wrong with the rear isntall that would make it sit lower (beyond adjustment).

Get the instructions and go and look at every part because they installed mine without reusing a part that is required per the instructions. Have them run through the installation instructions and have them show you how they did each step and then see if it makes sense. In the instructions, it shows them exactly how to measure and adjust.

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by ttrank

So my local dealer has been installing this kit on my 17' for a week now. First they got it installed and had me come look before adjusting the height. They said it was all the way up. The rear was right at the top of the tire, maybe tucking a tiny bit (on factory 19's with stock tires).
The front was up pretty high.
I asked them to even out the gap by lowering the front another ~1". They called later that day and said they could not get the fronts to adjust (at all) and had a specialist from BMW coming out to look at it. After waiting the weekend, the rep said to order new collars for the front. Those are getting installed now.

Anyone else have any issues like this?

From the pics I have seen, it seems odd my rear was that low with the kit "all the way up". It was a good half inch lower than stock. Could they have done something wrong with the rear install that would make it sit lower (beyond adjustment).

It's amazing to see professional techs fumble this install. This is an extremely easy install for a career tech. Not sure what scenario would cause the front struts not to adjust, it's a threaded collar, there really isn't anything to fail.

[Dranter]

I was looking for answer to my question in other threads but nothing definitive.

Im looking into purchasing the mphas kit as my car sits way to high on my track setup (apex ec7 et25 10 front and et44 11 rear, 18)

I know the 10 front is super problematic with this style of springs as they touch due to low clearance.

Has anyone fitted 10 inch, 18 fronts with the mphas kit and if yes what size spacers managed to get them to clear for you? Also does having a spacer in front mean you need to have in the back as well?

Also does anyone swap between 18s and 19s with the kit and if yes what height decrease from stock you went with?

Thanks in advance!

[NOLATom]

Originally Posted by Dranter

I was looking for answer to my question in other threads but nothing definitive.

Im looking into purchasing the mphas kit as my car sits way to high on my track setup (apex ec7 et25 10 front and et44 11 rear, 18)

I know the 10 front is super problematic with this style of springs as they touch due to low clearance.

Has anyone fitted 10 inch, 18 fronts with the mphas kit and if yes what size spacers managed to get them to clear for you? Also does having a spacer in front mean you need to have in the back as well?

Also does anyone swap between 18s and 19s with the kit and if yes what height decrease from stock you went with?

Thanks in advance!

I had these with the MPHAS and had about 5/16 clearance in the front. Never had any rubbing issues.

APEX EC-7 ET22 18X9.5 (Front) With Nitto NT01
APEX EC-7 ET44 18X11 (Rear) With Nitto NT01

[literbikes]

Originally Posted by NOLATom

I had these with the MPHAS and had about 5/16 clearance in the front. Never had any rubbing issues.

APEX EC-7 ET22 18X9.5 (Front) With Nitto NT01
APEX EC-7 ET44 18X11 (Rear) With Nitto NT01

Did you run spacers for front? I feel like my stock 19” 437 wheels touch with my track tires.

[NOLATom]

Originally Posted by literbikes

Did you run spacers for front? I feel like my stock 19” 437 wheels touch with my track tires.

No spacers. I’ve checked multiple times for rub marks, but have never found any. I was paranoid at first, but it is a safe fit.

Unless your running some really fat track tires on the 437 wheels I can’t imagine them touching. I have MPSS on my 437’s and there’s no way they are touching even sideways I bet, but those tires are a tad stretched on the rims.

[literbikes]

Originally Posted by NOLATom

No spacers. I’ve checked multiple times for rub marks, but have never found any. I was paranoid at first, but it is a safe fit.

Unless your running some really fat track tires on the 437 wheels I can’t imagine them touching. I have MPSS on my 437’s and there’s no way they are touching even sideways I bet, but those tires are a tad stretched on the rims.

You are probably right. Nice setup btw.

[ttrank]

Originally Posted by allinon72

It's amazing to see professional techs fumble this install. This is an extremely easy install for a career tech. Not sure what scenario would cause the front struts not to adjust, it's a threaded collar, there really isn't anything to fail.

So they told me this is the second set they have had where the front adjustment threads have failed and had to be replaced during install. They said the threads stripped and it would not turn. I think they either messed something up or just put my car on the back burner for a few days.