Next week I am having the Dinan exhaust put in by the boys down at All German and want to cross another component off the list while my beast is at the shop. So I was thinking going with the Stage 1 suspension, 3.45 diff, or cold air intake. I just wanted to see what your guy's thoughts were.
Next week I am having the Dinan exhaust put in by the boys down at All German and want to cross another component off the list while my beast is at the shop. So I was thinking going with the Stage 1 suspension, 3.45 diff, or cold air intake. I just wanted to see what your guy's thoughts were.
Thanks.
Choosing from your list this is the order of what I'd do.
3.45 diff (a "must have")
Stage 1 suspension (why not 2 or 3?)
Cold Air Intake
Your ultimate goal should be a "full monty" S2 or a reasonable facsimile thereof, an absolute gem of a car.
Good luck with your project
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2003 Jet Black ///M5 Dinan S3 #23 621 HP @7000 rpm/502 Ft-Lb @4500 rpm. Vortech V-2-T Intercooled Supercharger, S3 Oil Cooler, S3 Engine Management Software, OKD Plasma Direct Ignition Coils, OKD Plasma Spark Boots, Dinan S3 Clutch & Flywheel, High Flow Throttle Bodies & Velocity Stacks, Dinan 4-2-1 SS Headers, Dinan Modified Cats & Free Flow Exhaust, BMW 545 Short Shift Kit, Stage 3 Dinan/JRZ Suspension, Dinan/Brembo Brakes, Rennline Pedal Set w/ throttle heel/toe ext,, Dinan Strut Tower Braces F/R, Dinan Sway Bar, Dinan Lower Control Arm Monoball Kit, Dinan Rear Subframe Reinforcement, 3.45 Differential, Dinan Light Weight 18 x 9 F & 18 x 9.5 R Wheels, Track: Toyo Proxes RA1 275/35R-18; Winter: 275/35ZR-18 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2; Drags: 2 Nitto NT-555R Drag Radials 285/35R-18; Blinder-M45-X-treme, Stealth Valentine 1, Bluetooth, Mk IV Navigation, v31 Custom 'Beast' screen & Navtech 2009.1 DVD Map, M Audio with Enhanced Bass, Angel iBrite 3.0, AGA Fog lights & TEC Cup Holder
If your satisfied with the power of the car right now I'd go with suspension as it will improve your ride and looks aswell...jmho
__________________ Mods: 91 octane with occasional 100 octane
"Illegitimus non carborundum"
" Despite its supercar attributes, the M5 still doubles as a soberly practical, spacious saloon - only with the ability to scare four passengers in comfort all the way to the local coronary unit". Top Gear
Stage 2 or 3 Suspension. Stage 2 minimum as it will help reduce under steer for very little extra cash. Stage 3 if you need more negative camber in the front. I am at stage 2 and will evaluate camber after my April track days.
another vote for stage 3 suspension. if you think you'll ever take the car to the track, have them put the camber plates in now, they're not very expensive, and it's easy while apart. You can always add a rear sway bar later, and the front bar if you ever do headers.
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Mike
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
This is both my recommendation and the exact path that I took:
1) Stage 3 suspension and exhaust
2) 3.45 diff + software
3) CAI
To me suspension was a "must have" as stock felt WAY too soft for my preference . . . oh and WAY to quiet for 400hp. I know you didn't ask about SW, but I did it while it was in for the diff upgrade . . . I know there are other options, but I am steadily working towards an S2, so I thought I should just keep it in the family. Happy with each step-- KH
I further recommend the stage 3 suspension. You can skip the front sway bar and save the cost of the bar and an expensive installation. Dinan only recommends the front sway bar if you go with wider front wheels and tires. The transformation of the handling and feel of the car with the stage 3 suspension is amazing!
In my first batch of upgrades I did the stage 3 suspension, minus front sway bar, 3.45 diff, lower control arm monoball, software, and K&N filters. The handling and sporty feel of the car were amplified quite nicely. Ride quality I think is actually improved over minor imperfections and a bit harsher over the bigger bumps.
Then I added exhaust, wheels, and front sway bar. The wider wheels and tires up front definetly help the heavy M5 make turns and seems to improve braking too. The ride did seem to get a bit harsher with the wider wheels up front.
khiroshima - what differences did you notice when you added the CAI? That is the next update I am considering. Seems expensive though relative to the improvement to performance/drivability.
AGA Mods
Linear Mode
