Review of Dinan Suspension (Spring) Installed in 2012 Dinan Stage 2 550xi M Sport

Today I got back my ride from Prestige BMW after they installed the Dinan suspension (stiffer springs with custom bumpstops) in my 2012 Dinan Stage 2 550xi M Sport.

In a word: WOW! These springs should absolutely be an option from BMW on our cars. The stock "sport" suspension is so loose and floaty and allows way too much body roll (even with ARS), brake dive and squat under acceleration. The softness problem is magnified by the boatload of extra horsepower and torque (101 bhp and 130 lbs-ft greater than stock) produced by the Dinan Stage 2 reflash.

Well, the Dinan suspension mod solves the softness problem with aplomb. It stiffens the suspension and eliminate the body roll and greatly reduces brake dive and squatting under acceleration. And yet, it is never unduly harsh Yes it is harsher than stock but it is never rough. And to me, the stock sport suspension is as soft as a marshmellow. Now the suspension on Sport feels like that on my beloved 2009 E60 550i M Sport (albeit on a much heavier car).

Transient response is greatly improved as well. Now when I take hairpins and on and off ramps -- all of which I tried while pushing the car to its handling limits after getting the car back today with the Dinan suspension -- the car corners with authority and does not roll. You feel so much more connected to the road. Stated differently, I FINALLY feel again like I am driving a BMW and NOT some old, heavy, undersuspended but powerful AMG car. Don't get me wrong, the F10 550xi M Sport is still much heavier and bigger than the E60 550i M Sport but at least now the Dinan suspension brings that mass under control.

Bottom line: I am a believer in the Dinan suspension mod for the 550xi M Sport. It brings the BMW driving experience back. The best $499 (plus) labor you will spend if you value BMW handling.

This is a MUST HAVE mod.

Finally, I want to thank Richard Marcus of Prestige BMW, my M-certified CA who hooked me up with this mod (as well as sold me my car). So nice to have someone at a BMW dealership who knows our cars as well or better than I do. Hard to find.

Thanks also to member Dunderhi whose top notch review of the Dinan suspension led me to get it. He was spot in on his review.

Originally Posted by sdg1871

Thanks also to member Dunderhi whose top notch review of the Dinan suspension led me to get it. He was spot in on his review.

Great to hear! I'm glad I didn't steer you wrong.

Now let me tell you about the benefit of lighter wheels....

Originally Posted by dunderhi

Great to hear! I'm glad I didn't steer you wrong.

Now let me tell you about the benefit of lighter wheels....

I am just not willing to spend your kind of cash on mods. I think 5K will be sufficient for me. Don't get me wrong I would love a set of forged wheels (such as DPE or iForged or BBS) but I need to stop the mod spending somewhere and I am happy with what I have now.

I have other toys that compete for my cash such as Apple products and watches

Originally Posted by sdg1871

I am just not willing to spend your kind of cash on mods. I think 5K will be sufficient for me. Don't get me wrong I would love a set of forged wheels (such as DPE or iForged or BBS) but I need to stop the mod spending somewhere and I am happy with what I have now.

I have other toys that compete for my cash such as Apple products and watches

Congrats on the mod and thanks for the review. Do you mind sharing how much Prestige charged for labor? I've gotten quotes for about $1200 from other shops so I'm curious to see how they compare.

Raj

Less than that. Send me a PM about it.

Congrats! Glad you are finally enjoying your car.

Originally Posted by geo3515

Congrats! Glad you are finally enjoying your car.

Thx! I have always enjoyed the car. But not the stock suspension. This is a big improvement in handling.

My Dinan shop quoted me about $1200 all in. springs and labor.

Originally Posted by Stealth.Pilot

My Dinan shop quoted me about $1200 all in. springs and labor.

That's good cause my quote was only for labor.

Originally Posted by RajG

That's good cause my quote was only for labor.

The xi's do require a couple more hours of labor for the spring install.

Here are some pics of my new stance with the Dinan springs

A good and experienced shop should be able to do it in less than 4 hours. Took me and a buddy 4 hours to do drivers side, including some struggle in figuring out the front, and 1.5 hours to do the pass side. That was from lift to drop...

Completely agree on the results of the springs - especially the nose dive on braking. That was really noticeable before/after for me.

Originally Posted by Airjoe

A good and experienced shop should be able to do it in less than 4 hours. Took me and a buddy 4 hours to do drivers side, including some struggle in figuring out the front, and 1.5 hours to do the pass side. That was from lift to drop...

Completely agree on the results of the springs - especially the nose dive on braking. That was really noticeable before/after for me.

Yes the springs stop the bounciness of the stock "sport" suspension. This is such a great performance mod. Feels like a totally different car.

These reviews are 100 % accurate! I just had the springs put on this week and it definitely stops the bounciness of the stock suspension. Thanks everyone for the recommendation. Next big question is if I should do stage 3 or buy a new watch.

Anyone put this on a 550i that does not have ARS? Would like to know if it changes the car much.

Your car looks way better now. This is the way these cars should come stock, or at least with the M-sport package. It kills me when I see so many people complain about the softness of the ride as it's cured with one simple, and not that expensive, install of springs.

Originally Posted by Deviance

Your car looks way better now. This is the way these cars should come stock, or at least with the M-sport package. It kills me when I see so many people complain about the softness of the ride as it's cured with one simple, and not that expensive, install of springs.

Thanks. The springs are the best money I ever spent on the car. What a total transformation.

Originally Posted by sdg1871

Thanks. The springs are the best money I ever spent on the car. What a total transformation.

You mentioned in a previous thread having 45 series instead of 40 series tires and worried about it rubbing. Any issues with that?

No rubbing at all. Dinan told me there would be no rubbing

Congrats, sounds like it made a major difference. Guess I know what my 2 mods will be when I get mine next spring. Dinan Stage 2 ECU Flash and Dinan Springs.

Thanks for the review.

Originally Posted by iplount

Anyone put this on a 550i that does not have ARS? Would like to know if it changes the car much.

HighYo does. So does Dunderhi.

Look up their review threads.