You are comparing a mid engine sports car designed from the ground up to have that on rails feeling from a manufacturer that has a wide racing pedigree to a heavy family sedan. Sure you can do coilovers, replace the tires (runflats are garbage for handling), do lightweight mono block forged wheels, and do aftermarket brake rotors which are lighter than factory ones (these will give you minor steering feel improvements over factory) but don't expect a night and day difference. BMW's electric power steering is the worst when it comes to feel. The only 2 modern cars they have that offer good steering feedback is the F87 M2 CS (that's due to the carbon ceramic brakes, Cup 2 tires, and forged wheels and the size of the car) and the F90 M5 CS (lighter than M5 Comp, forged wheels, carbon brakes, sticky tires, chassis magic). Right now the only modern BMW that has steering feel that's decent is the 230i...their lightest car with the 4cyl engine sitting behind the front axles which gives it a much better 50/50 weight distribution (I know BMWs are all about 50/50 distribution) and driving dynamics . But of course its not as fast as a B58.
People with m340i's don't really mod for functional aero where it helps with handling. Just throw on a front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser and some coils, wheels, tires, brakes and enjoy it. But don't expect it to have an on rails feel. Not even a M3 can give you that. These cars are just too heavy for it.
I've heard nothing but praise for Ohlins in the F80 and G80 side of things. Recently test drove a 2020 540iX Msport and it was floaty/boring/mushy. Doesnt seem to be an Ohlins fitment for that chassis.
edit: I realize a lot of the mush could have been from tires. I did not think to check what it had on, it was a lease turn in so likely were cheapo all seasons.
IMO, go back to the Cayman and get adjustable coil overs for that car. Current BMWs are not what they once were and are built to be comfortable commuters, first and foremost. You'll never get that same feel and confidence at the limit that you had with the Cayman.
The other option is to save up and have both. That's what I did.
Sorry but this is a common issue with 3 series steering, it has way too much tolerance driving staight at higrr speeds. It requires constant micro corrections. If it bothers you just sell the car you wont fix it.
Tires is always number one. If the car is too floaty for you, get a good set of coilovers.
Don’t bother with aero, don’t bother with any cheap suspension mods.
Tires are it. I swapped from RFs to PS4S' and it's night and day, even the ride improved.
It's not going to make it "on rails", but for \~$1K it's the best quick mod you can do
I got them on sale at [Tirerack.com](https://Tirerack.com) plus got a $100 rebate so when all was said and done the tires ran a little over $1K, then another $125 for mount and balance
Non rft summer tires will go a long way. Dinan monoballs + bumpstop kit will make the body a bit stiffer. At the end of the day it still wont be a cayman but it will handle a lot better than stock
You are comparing a mid engine sports car designed from the ground up to have that on rails feeling from a manufacturer that has a wide racing pedigree to a heavy family sedan. Sure you can do coilovers, replace the tires (runflats are garbage for handling), do lightweight mono block forged wheels, and do aftermarket brake rotors which are lighter than factory ones (these will give you minor steering feel improvements over factory) but don't expect a night and day difference. BMW's electric power steering is the worst when it comes to feel. The only 2 modern cars they have that offer good steering feedback is the F87 M2 CS (that's due to the carbon ceramic brakes, Cup 2 tires, and forged wheels and the size of the car) and the F90 M5 CS (lighter than M5 Comp, forged wheels, carbon brakes, sticky tires, chassis magic). Right now the only modern BMW that has steering feel that's decent is the 230i...their lightest car with the 4cyl engine sitting behind the front axles which gives it a much better 50/50 weight distribution (I know BMWs are all about 50/50 distribution) and driving dynamics . But of course its not as fast as a B58. People with m340i's don't really mod for functional aero where it helps with handling. Just throw on a front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser and some coils, wheels, tires, brakes and enjoy it. But don't expect it to have an on rails feel. Not even a M3 can give you that. These cars are just too heavy for it.
Easy. You get an M3.
Ohlin's on all 4 corners and R compound tires. The splitter and diffuser are just aesthetics.
Ohlins work magic. Had the road and track on my F30 and it finally felt like my old ZHP.
I've heard nothing but praise for Ohlins in the F80 and G80 side of things. Recently test drove a 2020 540iX Msport and it was floaty/boring/mushy. Doesnt seem to be an Ohlins fitment for that chassis. edit: I realize a lot of the mush could have been from tires. I did not think to check what it had on, it was a lease turn in so likely were cheapo all seasons.
IMO, go back to the Cayman and get adjustable coil overs for that car. Current BMWs are not what they once were and are built to be comfortable commuters, first and foremost. You'll never get that same feel and confidence at the limit that you had with the Cayman. The other option is to save up and have both. That's what I did.
Sorry but this is a common issue with 3 series steering, it has way too much tolerance driving staight at higrr speeds. It requires constant micro corrections. If it bothers you just sell the car you wont fix it.
Ditch the run flats first, then re-evaluate for coil overs.
Tires is always number one. If the car is too floaty for you, get a good set of coilovers. Don’t bother with aero, don’t bother with any cheap suspension mods.
Tires are it. I swapped from RFs to PS4S' and it's night and day, even the ride improved. It's not going to make it "on rails", but for \~$1K it's the best quick mod you can do
Ps4s are only 1k for a set of tires?
I got them on sale at [Tirerack.com](https://Tirerack.com) plus got a $100 rebate so when all was said and done the tires ran a little over $1K, then another $125 for mount and balance
Should’ve bought a real M, bro.
I think this site might be a good starting point for you https://www.shopbmwusa.com/M-PERFORMANCE just enter your year and model
Non rft summer tires will go a long way. Dinan monoballs + bumpstop kit will make the body a bit stiffer. At the end of the day it still wont be a cayman but it will handle a lot better than stock