335 xi wheel gap

[Bonds 25]

I picked up my 08 335xi last wendesday and the ONLY thing I dont like is the front wheel gap. Is there a diff. between the i and xi as far a wheel gap goes? This is my 1st BMW so im not too familiar with .... 1. Can the xi be lowered, and if so how much, and what are some good companys to go with. A one inch drop in the front and a 1/4 inch drop in the back would be perfect. Thanks

[MrOffshore]

Slide a bigger set of wheels and tires under her, improve the overall handling and do it all at a fraction of the cost...unfortunately, it isn't like the old days when you could get out the torch and heat up the coil springs and drop the ride height.

I don't know much about the suspensions that are available, but would imagine that you can buy something that would lower the front end.

Naturally, the xi has the xDrive system and that's what adding the height, but all of the materials that are doing this are low to the ground, I believe this is actually lowering the center of gravity beyond the standard i...in addition, the xDrive system adds traction and lowers the 1/4 times and 0-60 times...at least that's what I gained from the literature

My 335xi is an automatic with a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds...that's just .1 slower than the manual transmission...now take into account the guy driving the manual has to be pretty good to beat that time, so it's my belief that the automatic would be faster on a time and time again basis...you don't have to drive it as hard...it shifts for you and the automatic is silky smooth.

Now, take a look at the 335i, it has a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds with an automatic, so the xDrive, being about 220 lbs. heavier is still faster by 2/10th's of a second. The manual 335i has a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds...equal to the automatic transmission 335xi, but still 1/10th a second slower than the manual 335xi.

That extra height is costing you a little bit when it comes to slipping through the air, but not much. The lower 335i has a drag coefficient of 0.30, whereas the 335xi is just a bit less slippery at .031.

I will admit this is a bit off your topic, but in the end I will take the automatic transmission...the only thing I'm giving up is 1/10 of a second in speed (my JB2R made up that and then some!!) and the sporty driving...this is my daily driver, I prefer not hassling with shifting at this stage in my life (43 years old...God I'm getting old, even if this car does make me feel younger!!)

All I really can say is this...it doesn't matter which car you have...the 328i, 328xi, 335i or 335xi (coupe, sedan or convertible) these cars are more righteous than I could have ever known until I had one. I've owned a BMW back when I was a teenager (320i) it was nice, but got rid of it within a week as it didn't run well and had less than 10K mile son it...it was my dream car as a teen, but I didn't want a car with problems...I bought a new RX-7 instead and loved that car...but that was then and this is now...I love the 335xi!!

[wopperjr]

H&R sport springs should do the trick

[Bonds 25]

I bought the titanium silver coupe 6spd. I need a clutch, or I get bored. The reason I went with the xi is I lived in western NY (snow country). I have excepted a job in washington state, the eastern desert portion of the state where snow is not common. If I had not of ordered the xi before I new about my new job I would of bought the i.

[PeterC4]

I picked up my 08 335xi last wendesday and the ONLY thing I dont like is the front wheel gap. Is there a diff. between the i and xi as far a wheel gap goes? This is my 1st BMW so im not too familiar with .... 1. Can the xi be lowered, and if so how much, and what are some good companys to go with. A one inch drop in the front and a 1/4 inch drop in the back would be perfect. Thanks

Is it that bad? Here's a 328xi with 18's..maybe bigger tires is the way to go?

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/PeterC4/DSC01012.jpg

[JD 6SPEED]

Don't touch the suspension, leave it stock. I learned, it changes the car. Its designed from the factory to be as good as it gets. Don't mess with success. I did b4 and regretted it. But do whatever u want, its your $$$

[mryakan]

The xi rides a bit higher than the no x-drive counterpart even with sport package, and I assume there is a good reason for BMW engineers to do so. I would agree with JD 6SPEED that if you change it then prepare for a ride that may not be satisfactory. There is always a tradeoff between ride high, suspension stiffness, handling and comfort, and BMW usually gets it right on. Mess with it and you will probably be dissatisfied with one aspect or another, but then some people are willing to sacrifice in some areas for others.

[MichTa73]

I have a pic of my 328xi with H&R Sports but i cannot post images on the forum yet :(

+1 on the worsened ride quality. It will get bouncy and your OEM shock life will be reduced significantly. I am planning to replace with coilover suspension when my shocks go tits up.

[JD 6SPEED]

I would suggest full coilovers if your considering lowering/ruining your car. Such as Tein SS. Don't get Tein basic, no damping adjustment=HARD RIDE. And go 5mph over bad RR tracks, or get ready for a BIG BANG.

[MosesDKE]

can you guys post more 335xi coupe wheel gap pics?

[StigNV]

I'm waiting on Dinan to make a 335xi stage 2 suspension kit for the xi. Rapidly approaching a year now. Unfortunately, they only make suspension kits for the 335i. There is enough variance to not make it not compatible with the xi. Dinan contracts with Koni to make the new and improved kit. On the 335i, it lowers the car a quarter of an inch, which I'm not to happy about. I need the clearance during the winter with the snow up here.
FWIW, I'm still waiting for a Brembo brake kit for the xi as well. It's off by 1/8th of an inch from the 335i. It's hard to believe that there is enough of a difference between the two with the AWD. What can I say, I want my Dinan badge.
I'm not sure people like Dinan will make the xi variance. I think the mentality is there are 2 sepearte schools of thought betwen i and xi owners. I'm an oddball by living in an area with a lot of snow. But then again, only a nut job would drive their hot rod through the snow. The way I see it, this beast was made to suffer the Black Forest of Germany. What's Tahoe to that.

[cabin]

Not too many suspension options available for the xi yet.

H&R Sport springs
KW V3 coilovers
H&R coilovers (good luck getting a set)

Springs are going to be the cheapest, but without getting new shocks, it's probably not going to ride as well as it should and IMO, is the half-assed way of doing it. If you want to have the correct driving dynamics, full coilovers are the way to go. Obviously, it is not going to ride like stock though, but that is to be expected. If you wanted a luxurious ride, you shouldn't be thinking of coilovers in the first place. In stock form, I think the xi handles like a boat, but I am coming from an E36 M3 (well, three actually) so I am used to the handles like its on rails feeling.

[mryakan]

In stock form, I think the xi handles like a boat, but I am coming from an E36 M3 (well, three actually) so I am used to the handles like its on rails feeling.
Not sure about the xi, but the regular e90 with sports package can almost pull as many Gs as the e46 M3 if I am not mistaken. The new suspension is amazing, just maybe not as tight as the M3, but very compliant.

[Bonds 25]

BIG DIFFERENCE between 330xi and 335xi. The 335xi handles just a well as my buddy's 05 M3.

[StigNV]

When I was goofing around in my buddies E46 M3 and he trie mine we came to that same conclusion. The E46 was very responsive, and acted in a very intuitive fashion. The 335xi is very capable in the turns, but does have a little float. It's certainly nothing that can't be managed, you just need to think ahead of the car and your placement in the turn, and it will go like a bat out of Hell. Know the road before you really push it, a good decelerating radius turn unanticipated by the driver will bite an E92 in the butt.
If you screw it up in an M3, your chances of getting it back are better, in my opinion. I would really like to see what a 335 would do with some stage 2 sway bars, strut braces and tower posts, springs and struts would be good too. But I would bet my bile duct a stiffer ride would make a lot of difference in a 335.

[MosesDKE]

you guys are making me *not* want to give up my 05 m3 for the 09 335xi - not nice

[Bonds 25]

I think the 335xi is a much better car....honestly....and so does my buddy with a 05 M3.

[StigNV]

you guys are making me *not* want to give up my 05 m3 for the 09 335xi - not nice

Lower Manhattan, huh? I would definately want an xi model in the winter. Factored in very heavily in my purchase with where I live in Tahoe. It goes like a champ in the snow. An M3 on ice is a scary thought. A little float for sure footedness is a good trade off.

Now an xi version of the M3..... that would solve a lot. Audi does it with their top end models S4, RS4. They made a convertible version, and they don't handle like top of the line, so that's a bogus argument by BMW. Porsche does it with the 911 as well. M3xi......DO IT!!! I'll be the first in line.

[Bonds 25]

More like M3x....man that would be tits.