Dinan Stage III Installed - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

alpywhite · 24th January 2002, 03:32

Picked up the "Great North White" today despite driving snow and slushy streets. A little report follows my wintery photo (nice drop in the lens, huh?

)

I have other photos but it's too damn dark and arctic up here already at 4:30 pm.

APPEARANCE

The car's stance is tastefully crouched...in fact fairly aggressive in the front. I'm just glad it didn't turn out looking like chopped springs. Overall I am VERY pleased with the look!

The negative camber dialled in up front is apparent to the naked eye. Conversely, there were times when I swore that the car had some *positive* dialled in when it was stock!

GENERAL RIDE

The ride, as others have mentioned, is a pleasant surprise. Perhaps a drop stiffer than stock, but the overall valving is somehow more civilized (given current Koni settings). I feel I could live with a more aggressive setup and may fiddle here.

Over the odd rough spot on the road (ie. a series of little bumps as opposed to just 1 or 2), it feels a little more skittish than before.

I have nothing to report yet in respect of tramlining as I haven't yet driven in areas that I know caused it when the car was stock.

The steering wheel feels like it's communicating much better with the road. I really like the "feel" in my hands now...much more positive/connected.

GENERAL CORNERING

At slow to moderate speeds around town (wet snow, remember ), there is no doubt the car corners flatter. Again, I feel I could live with one more notch tighter on the rear sway bar.

TURN-IN / TRANSITIONAL MOVES

The car is quicker laterally to be sure. However, read on...

TIRE PRESSURES

The dealer set the tires to Dinan's specs, which I already knew were suprisingly low at 34/35, F/R. I can tell by the seat of my pants that the car WILL perform better with higher tire pressures; right now there is a lateral delay, plus an overall vagueness in ride that is no doubt attributable to soft boots.

RUBBING

None. Even with my old suspension (and other junk!) in the trunk, and me taking the odd whoop and bump quickly. When I got home, I noticed that my fenders were indeed rolled...and very nicely.

CONCLUSION

I must reserve final judgement until this bloody snow and slush goes away, but I am feeling really good about the upgrade!

I am fairly confident that with dry roads and a little tweaking, Stage III will deliver an "OMFG" increment.

POR FAVORE!!!

Will those veterans already with Stage III please advise on tweaking settings - especially tire pressures??? Thanks!

Alps...

AndyMenard · 24th January 2002, 03:42

Quote:

Originally posted by alpywhite
Picked up the "Great North White" today despite driving snow and slushy streets. A little report follows my wintery photo (nice drop in the lens, huh? )
I have other photos but it's too damn dark and arctic up here already at 4:30 pm.

APPEARANCE

The car's stance is tastefully crouched...in fact fairly aggressive in the front. I'm just glad it didn't turn out looking like chopped springs. Overall I am VERY pleased with the look!

The negative camber dialled in up front is apparent to the naked eye. Conversely, there were times when I swore that the car had some *positive* dialled in when it was stock!

GENERAL RIDE

The ride, as others have mentioned, is a pleasant surprise. Perhaps a drop stiffer than stock, but the overall valving is somehow more civilized (given current Koni settings). I feel I could live with a more aggressive setup and may fiddle here.

Over the odd rough spot on the road (ie. a series of little bumps as opposed to just 1 or 2), it feels a little more skittish than before.

I have nothing to report yet in respect of tramlining as I haven't yet driven in areas that I know caused it when the car was stock.

The steering wheel feels like it's communicating much better with the road. I really like the "feel" in my hands now...much more positive/connected.

GENERAL CORNERING

At slow to moderate speeds around town (wet snow, remember ), there is no doubt the car corners flatter. Again, I feel I could live with one more notch tighter on the rear sway bar.

TURN-IN / TRANSITIONAL MOVES

The car is quicker laterally to be sure. However, read on...

TIRE PRESSURES

The dealer set the tires to Dinan's specs, which I already knew were suprisingly low at 34/35, F/R. I can tell by the seat of my pants that the car WILL perform better with higher tire pressures; right now there is a lateral delay, plus an overall vagueness in ride that is no doubt attributable to soft boots.

RUBBING

None. Even with my old suspension (and other junk!) in the trunk, and me taking the odd whoop and bump quickly. When I got home, I noticed that my fenders were indeed rolled...and very nicely.

CONCLUSION

I must reserve final judgement until this bloody snow and slush goes away, but I am feeling really good about the upgrade!

I am fairly confident that with dry roads and a little tweaking, Stage III will deliver an "OMFG" increment.

POR FAVORE!!!

Will those veterans already with Stage III please advise on tweaking settings - especially tire pressures??? Thanks!

Alps...

Alps,

Congrats on getting the Stage III installed. Wait until you have some good warm (with no snow!!) roads and you will really gain an appreciation for just exactly how awesome this setup really is!

I have my front Koni struts set about half way between firm and soft. My rears are set to the full stiff setting, as well as my sway bar. I am running 39 pounds in front and 44 in the rear... and the car feels amazing!! In summer, I will probably drop the pressure down to about 35/39 or so.

Overall, the car looks more aggressive, without looking like it is sitting on the concrete. The turn-in IS MUCH better, and it does not ride very harsh, although - as you mention - it is a bit firmer.

I've had mine for a while now and I really like it!

Just a word of caution!! As you dial in more stiffness and get more aggressive with the settings, be careful of driving aggressively with DSC turned off?!! The rear of the car will come around on you real quick. I know what I speak of!!

Lupo///M5 · 24th January 2002, 06:41

Nice Alps...

Definitely not the season to really absorb what your new suspension is capable of. I know the feeling, having installed a 3:45 Diff while having snow tires on the car. Patience my friend.

CM5GO · 24th January 2002, 06:46

Im dying to get the stage 3. More pics please, please, please

Jacob Lee · 24th January 2002, 06:49

i'm sure Dinan passes all the same specs to their authorized dealers but just fyi - i had my stage III installed by Dinan themselves; since i figured i really didn't know any better as a newbie, i went with Dinan's "stock" setup.

jeff tells me my front shocks were installed with their default setting when doing installations, which is dialed in 2/3 firm. not sure what the rears are set to. they gave me the little tool to adjust the fronts but i like the current feel just fine so i probably won't touch it for a long time, if ever.

alpywhite · 24th January 2002, 07:18

I just pumped up to 39/42 (admittedly arbitrary but in line with what I've reviewed).

The car feels sharper, yet a little more skittish over ruts/joints/undulations/etc. on the highway (I attribute this to the camber).

Plus, the more aggressive valving of the shocks/struts becomes a bit more pronounced; the ride is a little "bouncier," not stiffer.

Tramlining is now evident again.

Finally, I am still expecting a little more "razor sharpness" on transitions / turn-in, but again I won't fiddle until I can really test in the dry.

(I think I spoiled myself with some really aggressive suspension I had on a Corrado back in the day; that car changed lanes & turned in RIGHT NOW. But I have to remember...that Corrado's suspension was extremely stiff, and now, I drive a 4000# sedan.)

Alps

kgk · 24th January 2002, 09:17

Hello Alpywhite,

Quote:

Originally posted by alpywhite
TIRE PRESSURES

The dealer set the tires to Dinan's specs, which I already knew were suprisingly low at 34/35, F/R. I can tell by the seat of my pants that the car WILL perform better with higher tire pressures; right now there is a lateral delay, plus an overall vagueness in ride that is no doubt attributable to soft boots.

Dude, I don't know about this low-pressure tire stuff... if you drive sideways, you're going to take one of those tires right off the rim, so be very careful. Now, you probably aren't going to start doing 360's, but if so, be VERY careful, or you can roll the car over.

---kgk

VanCooper · 24th January 2002, 10:21

Congrats on your new upgrade Alpy...did you get it done at Weissach?

P.S. Doesn't all that snow come at a bad time...

alpywhite · 24th January 2002, 10:28

Auto West is an authorized dealer.

SouthshoreM6 · 24th January 2002, 15:09

Alpy - I am sure you'll love it! I am running 38 lbs all around - seems like a pretty good setting.

Enjoy!
Bill

Jacob Lee · 24th January 2002, 17:10

i sorta just follow the BMW door panel sticker re: tire pressures.

for a non-max weight loaded scenario it says 35 front, 38 rear. so i just nudge it a little and always run 36 front, 39 rear.

is 36 considered too low as far as possible wheel damage and/or the tire coming off? i've tried going up to 38 front, 41 rear but that's just a little too hard for me...rides very bumpy.