[y789]

Ok guys, I searched but could not find any good info. I have European spec’d e 90 325i. Many people mentioned that there are some differences in the suspension setup between the European and US spec’d 325. Does any one know what the differences are?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by y789

Ok guys, I searched but could not find any good info. I have European spec’d e 90 325i. Many people mentioned that there are some differences in the suspension setup between the European and US spec’d 325. Does any one know what the differences are?

One thing I noticed is that the US spec cars without sports suspension have a more restricted top speed. I think this must be because the US base suspension is softer than the european base.

Wth sports suspension the limiter is set to 155mph, which implies it is at least as good as european standard.

I doubt that the US sports set up is as firm as the m-sport.

[mikpap]

Consider this: European 325i has a 6L, 2.5L engine while US has a 6L, 3.0L engine. Different weight, different suspension setup.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by mikpap

Consider this: European 325i has a 6L, 2.5L engine while US has a 6L, 3.0L engine. Different weight, different suspension setup.

Fair point - but why the different top speed?

[Phila]

cause roads in US rarely go above 90mph?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by mikpap

Consider this: European 325i has a 6L, 2.5L engine while US has a 6L, 3.0L engine. Different weight, different suspension setup.

The US version may indeed weigh more, but just because an engine has more displacement does not mean it will be heavier.

[y789]

checked the part numbers (on www.realoem.com) for springs, structs, coils and suspension bars for front and rear axles. Part numbers are the same for US and European models!! I am not sure if same part number is used for different specification parts for US and Europe models?!

Speed limit I think has to do with software setting and not car components, but could be wrong.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by y789

checked the part numbers (on www.realoem.com) for springs, structs, coils and suspension bars for front and rear axles. Part numbers are the same for US and European models!! I am not sure if same part number is used for different specification parts for US and Europe models?!

Speed limit I think has to do with software setting and not car components, but could be wrong.

Interesting - it does list the same parts - at least for the front spring assembly.

Looks like my theory might be wrong, but why set the limiter differently on sport / non sport in the US, but not europe?

Also .... why does real OEM list 'sporty' and 'm-sport' - aren't there 3 suspension set ups:

Normal
Sports
Msport

Can you actually order msport suspension in the US?

Confused ...

[ksfrogman]

Speed limiter has to do with the tires rating, safety and our more sue-happy Nation.

[mikpap]

Until now I believed that BMW sets the speed limiter according to German laws (250 Km/h speed limit - autobank). The same think applies to other german car manufacturers (Audi, VW, Mercedes-Banz etc). Anyone knows something different? As far as the car's weight, european and US 325i weighs about the same (1490kgs Europe vs 3285lbs US, 1kg~2.2lbs).

[remmib]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Fair point - but why the different top speed?

US cars come with all season tires, and I think the can't take the top speed of the car

[NFS]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Speed limiter has to do with the tires rating, safety and our more sue-happy Nation.

325i is limited to 130mph, but with sport pack it's 149mph

330i is also limited to the same speed(s).

325i in the UK will do 152mph and the 330i is limited to 155mph.

Tyre size can't be the issue - so it can only be a legal or speed rating issue.

UK tyres are effectively all season - we don't have summer / winter tyres cause the weather is usually crap.

Speed ratings are usualy Y or Z - which is up to a constant 186mph or 150+ (mph) for 10 minutes respectively.

Are the US tyres of a lower speed rating? V or H maybe?

I still have a suspicion that the US suspension is softer.

[NFS]

Just had another look on real OEM and there do appear to be some differences.

The front spring assembly is the same in the EU / US and both have 'msport' and 'sporty'

But EU cars have 'sporty' and 'msport', stabiliser bars, spring struts, shock absorbers - US cars just have sporty.

The sporty suspension seems to be the same in both countries. But the msport package seems more extensive in the EU (just springs in the US).

Doesn't explain the speed limiter thing though. I think it's fair though cause you pay so much less for your cars

[shragon]

Originally Posted by remmib

US cars come with all season tires

this is only true on non sport package cars and xi versions.

[18LLC]

because US people are more fat than euro people?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by shragon

this is only true on non sport package cars and xi versions.

Is the GOODYEAR - EAGLE F1 GSD3 an all season tyre or a summer tyre?

[remmib]

Originally Posted by shragon

this is only true on non sport package cars and xi versions.

Yepp, I know

[remmib]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Is the GOODYEAR - EAGLE F1 GSD3 an all season tyre or a summer tyre?

Here in Europe it's a summer tire, don't know if you can get it as a all season in US

[y789]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

But EU cars have 'sporty' and 'msport', stabiliser bars, spring struts, shock absorbers - US cars just have sporty.

needforspeed; I doubt that US standard (non-sport) 325s won't have the stabliser bars! Yes, europe for some reasons have more options i.e. standard, sport (i think this is the same for bot) and m-sport that not sure if it is offered in the US at all.

Still I can not tell for sure if the standard US suspension is different from the european standard suspension.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by y789

needforspeed; I doubt that US standard (non-sport) 325s won't have the stabliser bars! Yes, europe for some reasons have more options i.e. standard, sport (i think this is the same for bot) and m-sport that not sure if it is offered in the US at all.

Still I can not tell for sure if the standard US suspension is different from the european standard suspension.

No - obviously both US and EU have the standard stabiliser bars.

But .... it looks like they are upgraded with sports suspension in the EU, but that only the springs are upgraded in the US.

Sounds plausible .... would still like a definitive answer though.