03-12-2024, 03:08 AM | #1 |
Registered
3
Rep 3
Posts |
Stock F87 Handling/Body issues?
I bought a 29k mile LCI F87 M2 a few months ago and I like the car, but I've very quickly realized it just doesn't feel like it does well in turns.
I am not talking about issues with the steering, but how the actual chassis reacts in corners. It's completely stock and when I push it into any remotely tight turn/curve, the car feels a bit understeery & a lot of body roll/lean for an M car is felt. It's really unsettled and not confidence inspiring. I have an E36 on Bilstein B12's that flows through the same exact corners like a breeze. Is this normal for stock M2's? I know they're heavier, but not that heavy. Maybe something is wrong with my specific car if nobody can relate to this, but it doesn't seem that way. I haven't located any issues plus the car was PPIed before I bought it. |
03-12-2024, 04:02 AM | #2 |
Private
180
Rep 96
Posts |
The opposite to my experience ...
Tyres - condition & pressures OK ? Wheel alignment OK ? Comparing different cars can compound any perceived `issue`
__________________
2017 M2
2000 B5 S4 Avant 1982 Mk1 Golf GTI |
Appreciate
2
murderspice677.00 ///M TOWN20282.50 |
03-12-2024, 09:28 AM | #3 |
Private First Class
236
Rep 117
Posts |
Stock suspension? Most cars from factory are purposely engineered to have some understeer rather than oversteer. Might it be a tire or alignment issue? An m2s chassis has always been rock solid and zero body roll in the multitude of variants I’ve driven.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-12-2024, 10:44 AM | #4 |
New Member
20
Rep 21
Posts |
What tyres are you using? I believe I feel much more of what you describe when using winters. In summers on Contis SC7, the car feels as planted as anything else I have ever driven.
But in winter months it can feel a bit understeery when really pushing it and a bit mushier with the softer side walls. |
Appreciate
1
Philly_sweden612.50 |
03-12-2024, 11:39 AM | #5 | |
Lieutenant
613
Rep 568
Posts
Drives: BMW M2 2017
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sweden
|
Quote:
Just bought new SC7’S
__________________
My cars: http://WWW.GARAGET.ORG/PHILLY
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-15-2024, 11:39 AM | #7 | |
Lieutenant
613
Rep 568
Posts
Drives: BMW M2 2017
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sweden
|
Quote:
Dont Know yet. I have had PSS on all my previous M cars. The reason I bought these now is because they win every test and beats both PSS and PS4S and other brands. Will mount them in May when I take out the car from storage
__________________
My cars: http://WWW.GARAGET.ORG/PHILLY
|
|
Appreciate
1
///M TOWN20282.50 |
03-15-2024, 12:31 PM | #8 |
Brigadier General
2865
Rep 3,843
Posts |
Great, I'm looking forward to the review.
|
Appreciate
1
Philly_sweden612.50 |
03-17-2024, 11:43 PM | #9 |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
4730
Rep 2,554
Posts |
Need to keep in mind the suspension philosophy that BMW went with on these cars - undersprung and overdampened. They run really soft springs to provide better ride quality but then have to use the dampers to help compensate for the lack of spring rate to control the body. This creates the harshness or crashiness a lot of people report with the F87 while also not being the best at controlling the lean. This could be a big part of the issue. Also need to check the alignment and make sure all is sorted properly there.
__________________
|
Appreciate
3
|
03-18-2024, 04:19 AM | #10 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
338
Rep 1,591
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-18-2024, 08:53 PM | #11 |
Registered
3
Rep 3
Posts |
The tires are brand new, they were replaced a month before I bought the car. However, I am unsure if it was aligned after that tire installation occurred. I will get an alignment next week and see if that fixes anything. Thanks.
|
Appreciate
1
Andrew2180.00 |
03-18-2024, 09:06 PM | #12 | |
Registered
3
Rep 3
Posts |
Quote:
The car feels fine when you drive it about the speed limit and maybe even a little more than that, but once you start getting near the limit, it is underwhelming handling-wise for being an M to be honest. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-18-2024, 09:29 PM | #13 |
Major General
7364
Rep 7,318
Posts |
It's hard to say because it depends on your frame of reference. I will say that my M2C does not feel light at all getting out of a light car like a 3000 lb FWD car and I assume E36 is similar in weight. It also felt like stock it has more body roll than my old Z4M. That said, I would not say it felt understeery at all to me. It is much more confidence inspiring than the Z4M. I last drove a modified E36 in 2005 so it's really hard to compare. That car was light and stable but it had coilovers and was really dialed in. I have to think there is something going on with your car but who knows. Maybe you can let another owner drive it or vice-versa at a meet etc.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-19-2024, 12:30 PM | #14 |
.
20283
Rep 8,581
Posts |
What tires and sizes are you running?
__________________
///
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-19-2024, 01:19 PM | #15 | |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
4730
Rep 2,554
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
|
|
03-19-2024, 03:03 PM | #16 |
Lieutenant
726
Rep 579
Posts |
I heard someone with industry knowledge speaking recently to the actual cost OEMs pay for dampers and it’s less than most people spend on lunch. Those kind of constraints leave a lot of room for improvement when you reach for an expensive motorsports grade damper.
|
Appreciate
1
chris7197363.50 |
03-19-2024, 03:30 PM | #17 | |
Lieutenant
677
Rep 470
Posts
Drives: 2018 BMW M2
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Up in your dms
|
Quote:
__________________
Dégouté
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-19-2024, 05:56 PM | #18 |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
4730
Rep 2,554
Posts |
Same but with the importance of the characteristics changing at least for me personally. The oem performance is meh but passable but I very rarely push hard on the street. There is room for improvement though in civilized street driving but obviously not as much as when pushing towards 10/10ths on the track (unless of course you are one of those filthy animals hooning all over town ). A spirited drive through the canyons or similar though will quickly show the deficiencies of the stock setup whereas a good aftermarket setup will excel through these areas. Also depending on how aggressive you want to run your alignment you do now have that tool available which can make a huge difference. Of course you can add camber plates or maybe the GTS knuckles to help out the stock setup as an option too but to me that is a band aid on a mortal wound... For me though the importance of ride quality really jumps up on the street. We are all different but for me a proper kit will keep the car more composed and greatly reduce the harshness/crashiness. Depending on the setup the ride will likely be a bit firmer but overall preferable in my opinion.
__________________
|
03-26-2024, 08:53 PM | #19 | |
Colonel
4981
Rep 2,269
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
don't read this. too late...
|
|
Appreciate
3
|
03-27-2024, 09:05 AM | #20 | |
The Seeker
14005
Rep 3,362
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
Andrew2180.00 |
04-08-2024, 04:22 AM | #21 | |
Lieutenant
497
Rep 581
Posts |
Quote:
Once the dampers are changed to something stiffer, the handling is more or less optimal for the road. Never had issues with the stock sport springs. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-16-2024, 01:15 PM | #22 |
Captain
710
Rep 971
Posts
Drives: 2018 M2
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Winchester, CA
|
Sometimes I wonder if my car has stock suspension or something else because I’ve found that my M2 is actually very comfortable and nowhere near as stiff or harsh riding as people always say M2s are 😅 way more comfortable than my 135i was and maybe even slightly more comfortable than my E90 328i was/is
|
Appreciate
1
murderspice677.00 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|