Hi everyone. Before I get started I thought I'd state that I've worn out the search feature looking for solutions to improve the standard coil suspension. Perhaps there still are none... I thought I found a compromise when I called Tsportline this afternoon to order a set of their lowering springs only to learn that they're sold out and will not be made available again due to a lack of demand. I'm not all that interested in cutting down my stock coils. My other car is a 2016 535i M-sport and if I could find a solution to provide a similar ride/handling compromise I'd be a very happy man. Does anyone have a line on any option for improving the coil suspension without resorting to just cutting the stock coils down for lowering. I'd like to improve ride and handling (like the 535i) and I fear just cutting down the coils will give me the look I want but sacrifice the ride on Socal's concrete freeways. Any suggestion are greatly appreciated!
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MS with coils: Another thread in search of a solution...
- Thread starter Booner
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- Model S Suspension
Sell it and buy one with air. If you can stomach the hit on the trade. AFAIK nobody ever had made an aftermarket solution. I started a thread about this last year - then I just gave in and bought an air suspension S with the new premium seats. Made a noticeable comfort diff and now the car is almost perfect for my taste
Having said that - nobody equals BMW suspension magic - there is no equal. Never has been.
Duke-U
Member
I would look for different tyres instead of lowering the coils. The MS has a very low center of gravity already and lowering it won’t change handling that much. The 21 inch rims will improve, but you would want the tyre not to move sideways over the rims too much, so maybe a different tyre will do that.
I have coils, and didn’t take the air suspention because it is not that smart as it suggests. There is no dynamic control of the damping in cornering, basically just hight for ground clearance.
I have coils, and didn’t take the air suspention because it is not that smart as it suggests. There is no dynamic control of the damping in cornering, basically just hight for ground clearance.
I've seriously considered selling and replacing it with a car with SAS. While my P85 was in for service last week I was given a 75D loaner with SAS and found the handling a bit disconnected but the loaner was vastly more comfortable cruising down the freeway. I guess that was probably a combination of the smart air and the much improved current generation seats. Except in the case of the BMW suspension, there's usually compromise but the Tesla coil setup just seems so unrefined. I'm on the fence as to whether I prefer the more direct feel of the coils or the more comfortable but more numb feeling of Air. Just so hard to believe there are no aftermarket options without enduring the expense of going full one-off custom. At this point I'd be much happier if I could just drop it 1" with lowering springs but now that Tsportline discontinued their lowering springs I can't even do that. Argh.
SeminoleFSU
Voluntaryist
Would changing your wheels to 19 or 20" help? More sidewall = more give = more compliant ride/feel
gabeincal
Active Member
I was just going to pull the trigger on some aftermarket coils for the same reason. Are you telling me that there are no solutions out there?
None that I've found so far. I'm going to call Tsportline again today. Maybe there's a magic number in a group buy scenario where they would place another order for the lowering coils. Or, maybe they'll share their supplier with me so we could attempt to go direct if they're not interested in another order.I was just going to pull the trigger on some aftermarket coils for the same reason. Are you telling me that there are no solutions out there?
I saw a few posts here at some point where folks were indicating that the coil cars have gotten lower in the later models. You might investigate if there's multiple part numbers from Tesla. Maybe you can retrofit if there are options.
gabeincal
Active Member
OK, let us know. I’m in if there is a group buy discount! I’m not keen on cutting them...
OilSucks
Member
If this helps... I got used to the feeling of the coil suspension on my 75D. I know it can be kind of rough at low speeds, but at higher speeds it really feels solid so I took that compromise.
The air suspension on the Model X and Model S loaners Tesla have given me have all felt too floaty. Sometimes we need to just find content with what we have.
The air suspension on the Model X and Model S loaners Tesla have given me have all felt too floaty. Sometimes we need to just find content with what we have.
gabeincal
Active Member
Same here. The air suspension did not convince me in any way, unless I needed dynamic ground clearance adjustment.. There was an article from a guy before who dropped his S by about 2 inches and he was gradual about it. Not sure where I saw this, I think it was a black MS in Los Angeles and he was playing with wheels on it also.
Found it!
Lowered standard Suspension Model S review
TSportline springs.......
gabeincal
Active Member
My yardstick is a 328i E93 BMW. It had the sport suspension and it was an absolute joy to drive it on twisty roads. Also, didn't make my wife sick at all. Our MS75 is okay on twisty roads considering its size and weight, but it does make wifey sick every time. I think it's a little more body roll than I'd like to have. It could also drop an inch in height.
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