MP HAS Install- Some DIY Tips

[9M71]

Originally Posted by knightarmor

No problems here, about to hit 41K miles. Installed at about 14K miles.
I did an MPHAS install a few weeks ago and still pretty straight forward install (much easier with a press!!)
I doubt the rear perches can move on their own since it's almost impossible to move them on purpose without disconnecting the control arm. You may want to check that your fronts aren't moving, one corner of the front can affect the opposing corner in the rear.
Also make sure you are measuring from the center of the hub to the fender lip or bottom lip of the rim to the fender lip, on level ground. I always measure on the same concrete pad in my garage as some of the pads in my garage are not as level as they appear.

Good call on checking the fronts. Will double check that.

I've been measuring both fender to hub and fender to wheel edge just to double-check. it's difficult imaging the perches moving on their own, but something is definitely getting out of way. measurements done in same garage.

off topic - regarding adjusting the rear springs, I found that if you angle the spanner 45 degrees to the collar, you can easily spin it without having to undo other components.

[palkoenig]

Originally Posted by knightarmor

So just following up on this since it's been about 17 months now since install.

I recently passed the 36K mile marker. I installed the MPHAS at approx 14K miles. After 22K miles it appears the F80 has settled approx 5mm lower than what I set it at, the ride still feels great and I've taken some grand drives including a trip down to Northern California to enjoy hwy 20, 128 and highway 1.
Needless to say we had a blast down there and the F80 handled superbly. I'm currently running a combo of 255/35-19 Conti 5P's (Audi version which is an XL) up front with 7.5mm spacers and 275/35-19 Nitto NeoGens in the rear with no spacers.

The flat feel I get from going into the corners and really transferring the weight as I brake and get back onto the accelerator is very confidence inspiring. The F80 just loves tight twisties and the stiffness of the chassis is remarkable. I'm very happy and this is exactly what I wanted out of this vehicle- some minor suspension tweaks and exhaust work with wheels and tires and I'm done. I already have a purpose built track car and did not want to dump more $$$ into the F80 than I felt I should.

The only thing left for me to play with is front aero (likely going GTS front spoiler) and tires. Next set will be a 265/35-19 front and possible upsize to the 20" 763m in the rear.

Drive safely out there folks!

Hi.
On these pictures, what settings do you have on your front adjustments? Lowest?
Thanks :-)

[knightarmor]

It's still set to my final settings from the first page of this thread which is pretty high.

[knightarmor]

I also ended up dumping the 763's for some Advan GT's so my ride now looks like this on OE tire sizes.

[jmciver]

I just installed the MP HAS kit this weekend, along with some GC camber plates - I put about 250 miles on the car so far and the car handles great (even though I still need an alignment). I used your initial starting points for height, but still feeling it out a bit. I think I will end up somewhere between here and the "stock" MP HAS height. Still undecided on spacers though as I had 12mm (front) and 10mm (rear) prior to the MP HAS install - they are off now since I did not know how well they would fit with the car initially lowered (jury is still out on that one....).

Anyway, thanks OP for your contribution as it made this DIY a lot easier, especially setting the initial ride height (which is where my car is at in the pic below) .

[allinon72]

Champagne quartz with those black 666s.......WOW

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by allinon72

Champagne quartz with those black 666s.......WOW

Thanks! But actually it is Smoked Topaz Metallic....

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Thanks! But actually it is Smoked Topaz Metallic....

Well shit, I knew that. Looks great.

[knightarmor]

Originally Posted by jmciver

I just installed the MP HAS kit this weekend, along with some GC camber plates - I put about 250 miles on the car so far and the car handles great (even though I still need an alignment). I used your initial starting points for height, but still feeling it out a bit. I think I will end up somewhere between here and the "stock" MP HAS height. Still undecided on spacers though as I had 12mm (front) and 10mm (rear) prior to the MP HAS install - they are off now since I did not know how well they would fit with the car initially lowered (jury is still out on that one....).

Anyway, thanks OP for your contribution as it made this DIY a lot easier, especially setting the initial ride height (which is where my car is at in the pic below) .

Wow that is a trippy color! Your F80 looks great. I'll see if I can find pics of the other F80 I did the MPHAS on for comparison.

[knightarmor]

Here's the F80 I did the MPHAS on a couple months ago. The front was set at the highest setting, the rear was approx. 5/10mm higher than my setting if I remember correctly.
These photos were taken right after we pulled it off the lift. It should settle about 5mm or so.

[jmciver]

It will be interesting to see how much it settles. I have an appointment for an alignment next Wed at a race shop but I will continue to drive the car a bit until then. The wheels on my car actually look more "tucked" in that pic than in person. Also contributing to that tucked look is probably the fact that I am running wider tires than stock - 275/30-20 (f) and 295/30-20 (r) Continental ExtremeContact Sport tires.

[DanMpower]

I ordered my MPHAS kit from BMWPartsPro and received them yesterday, started my install last night around 10 PM when the kids and wife were in bed. Took my time, torqued every nut and bolt to factory torque settings while watching Office Space and Interstellar Finished her up around 2 AM.

*Another suggestion for the rear, I wouldn't mess with the alignment bolt. Just undo the 18mm bolt through the damper and the large 21mm bolt at the end of the control arm. The whole arm swings down all the way smoothly with no effort and you can pull the damper and springs out super easy. Also, make sure to preload your rear suspension before tightening everything down, the last thing you want to do is put extra stress on the bushings.







I just kinda guessed my height settings and it came out perfect for my first try. I can still go lower as I have about 1/2" of thread in the front and 1/4" in the rear.




The ride is phenomenal! It's firm but not jarring, it absorbs imperfections on the road with a solid refined feeling, just how I imagine an OE+ performance product should be. No noises, no weird behaviors. I can't believe I spent 2 years dicking around with different spring setups when I should have gone with MPHAS from the beginning. 10/10 product.

[knightarmor]

Originally Posted by DumbAS55

I ordered my MPHAS kit from BMWPartsPro and received them yesterday, started my install last night around 10 PM when the kids and wife were in bed. Took my time, torqued every nut and bolt to factory torque settings while watching Office Space and Interstellar Finished her up around 2 AM.

*Another suggestion for the rear, I wouldn't mess with the alignment bolt. Just undo the 18mm bolt through the damper and the large 21mm bolt at the end of the control arm. The whole arm swings down all the way smoothly with no effort and you can pull the damper and springs out super easy. Also, make sure to preload your rear suspension before tightening everything down, the last thing you want to do is put extra stress on the bushings.







I just kinda guessed my height settings and it came out perfect for my first try. I can still go lower as I have about 1/2" of thread in the front and 1/4" in the rear.




The ride is phenomenal! It's firm but not jarring, it absorbs imperfections on the road with a solid refined feeling, just how I imagine an OE+ performance product should be. No noises, no weird behaviors. I can't believe I spent 2 years dicking around with different spring setups when I should have gone with MPHAS from the beginning. 10/10 product.

The stance looks great!
Yes the press makes all the difference. I invested in a slightly better than Harbor Freight one when I knew I was gonna do another install.

[audioMeth]

Originally Posted by knightarmor

From the Salt City Euro's DIY link

Specs and Bolt Information:
Front Suspension:
Plastic Shroud Bolts - 10mm - ¼ Turn
Carbon Brace Bolts - 13mm - 12 ft.lbs.
Carbon Brace to Coolant Tank Bolt - 10mm - Snug
(A) Aluminum Brace E-Torx Bolts - 9mm - 25 ft.lbs.
(B) Aluminum Brace E-Torx Bolts - 10mm - 30 ft.lbs.
(C) Aluminum Brace Cowl Bolts - 16mm - 35 ft.lbs
Strut Hat Bolts - 13mm - 25 ft.lbs.
Strut Spindle Nut - 18mm-12pt - 25 ft.lbs.
Strut Pinch Bolts - 16mm - 60 ft.lbs.
Sway Bar End Links - 16mm/T30 - 44 ft.lbs.
Headlight Leveling Sensor - 10mm - Snug

Rear:
Lower Strut Bolt - 18mm - 74 ft.lbs.
Eccentric Bolt - 21mm/18mm - 74 ft.lbs.
Headlight Leveling Sensor - 10mm - Snug

anyone know the torque specs for the e torx bolts at the top of the rear strut?

EDIT:
rear e torx 28nm
rear strut top nut 38nm

i didn't realize these values are in INSTA, that makes my life so much easier.

[BimmItUp]

Interested in the press used to perform the DIY. Do you have a link to what press you used?

Originally Posted by knightarmor

The stance looks great!
Yes the press makes all the difference. I invested in a slightly better than Harbor Freight one when I knew I was gonna do another install.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by BimmItUp

Interested in the press used to perform the DIY. Do you have a link to what press you used?

Looks like a Harbor Freight special. If I did not have access to a press for my install, I probably would have got it as it is the perfect DIY'er press for stuff like this based on price and features - especially of you have the garage space.

[DavidStr]

What other springs did you test before the MP HAS?

[BimmItUp]

Thanks- what level of difficulty DIY would you say this is, if no press was used?

Originally Posted by jmciver

Looks like a Harbor Freight special. If I did not have access to a press for my install, I probably would have got it as it is the perfect DIY'er press for stuff like this based on price and features - especially of you have the garage space.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by BimmItUp

Thanks- what level of difficulty DIY would you say this is, if no press was used?

Not that bad, just a bit longer. Using the "hammer" method, that Tommy L Garage used in his DIY video, seems very effective and what I would have no problem doing if a press were not available (or I didn't want to buy one from HF).

[knightarmor]

Originally Posted by BimmItUp

Interested in the press used to perform the DIY. Do you have a link to what press you used?

I did not use a Press during my DIY. I used a hammer. I bought a Press when I was going to do another MPHAS install. This is the Press I purchased: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-917031

It is marginally better than a Harbor Freight.

The job is so much easier with the Press, get yourself a Press.

[M3nmotion18]

Originally Posted by knightarmor

I did not use a Press during my DIY. I used a hammer. I bought a Press when I was going to do another MPHAS install. This is the Press I purchased: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-917031

It is marginally better than a Harbor Freight.

The job is so much easier with the Press, get yourself a Press.

+1 Agree with Knightarmor!!

[Rahul718]

Would it be possible to mix up “A” and “B” (the threaded sleeves) and install them on the wrong sides? Or will it just not work the incorrect way? I’m asking because I had a shop do this and just want to double check that it was done correctly.

Are "Left" and "Right" indicated on these sleeves? If so maybe i can confirm myself.

Thanks