I think this might be a pretty straight forward question. I'm researching various coilover options for my F56S (from JCW, Forge, BC, etc). My car was ordered with the DDC option. I know that adding the coilovers will mean I'm unplugging the DDC. My question is will unplugging the DDC result in any errors within the onboard computer

Anyone have experience swapping coilovers onto a car with DDC?

Thanks,

 

Ask your dealer. My guess is that they would have to do something to avoid an error message. What others have done is add a rear antisway bar to improve the handling, and you still can vary the stiffness of the struts.

 

I have DDC and the JCW Coilovers and have no error messages (knock on wood) in the past 4 months of having this setup. The DDC is unplugged in my car.

 

kW sell blanking plugs with their ddc coilovers

 

I got bilsteins pss10's and I completely disconnected the wires and actually took the wires out. No errors

 

I think that if I had paid $500 for the DDC I would try changing the springs first, before canning the DDC for coil overs.

 

I'd love to see pics, where do you have them set at?

 

Totally agree! I didn't shell out the extra $500 myself (mostly due to ignorance), but I'm perfectly happy with my JCW's sport suspension....it's absolutely stellar!


I may lower the car some day though...time will tell (and without DDC there's no issue). The stock height is ok for me now.

 

Dont have my specs in front of me, but I am not slammed or rubbing. Here is what is weird though, and not sure if maybe I am misunderstanding something, but when I set the car to sport mode, the suspension definitely feels stiffer --- which I didnt think it would since I have the JCW Coilovers and the DDC is unplugged. But I love the setup regardless, just thought that was odd.

Here are some pics:

 

That's looks fantastic. Can't wait to see the pics on my computer, my phone doesn't do it justice. If you figure out how many threads you have left front/back let me know.

 

I should be getting the Brembos installed next week and I will have it checked then and report back with info hopefully.

Yeah, I seriously love this car and the JCW kit has it exactly where I want it for daily driving -- even on the crappy streets of San Diego.

 

Yeah. I don't quite understand myself. SMH.

 

Mostly just a clarification question ... I already knew that changing the springs meant I could retain DDC, however I wanted to know the other extreme of going to coil overs if that resulted in errors from the DDC being unplugged.

Likely will go the spring route ... but curiosity is what it is.

 

You will love the BBK. Only downside is if you have any custom coding on your car you Will lose it. Software has to be updated after BBK install and once the BMW program is turned loose it will update/correct any software that needs it. I lost all my coding that I had done at MOTD just 5 days after it was coded. The brakes are worth it though. I can always get the coding done again later.

Ah, that makes a little more sense. From my experience with springs + sport suspension, I would suggest you call Jerry at NM and ask his opinion of the NM springs + DDC. Sounds like a good combo to me.

 

No custom coding at all on my car...just the JCW tune and NM Power Module. But that is good to know anyways, because I literally wouldnt have thought of that. Thanks!!

 

Don't know how I missed these pictures before .. but wow .. that's absolutely gorgeous - amazing pictures as well.

 

Thank you!! Photographer is Alex Stone who I have had the pleasure of working with a lot:

http://alexstone.co/

 

Looks great! What are the wheels?

 

Volk G25s

 

Sport mode tightens up the steering & offers better throttle response....I don't think it alters the suspension...it just feels like it does. Your MINI looks great!

 

Thank you!! And thank you for the info!!

 

Why? Coilovers offer a whole different level of performance. And any aftermarket spring is going to wear an OEM strut/shock faster because it wasn't valved properly for the stiffer/lower spring. You are also compromising on suspension travel by shortening the stroke of the stock strut/shock and not allowing it to fully engage naturally. You are also compromising in general going with a spring/oem strut combo as you are limited to the two stock settings(on the DDC) or just a single setting, where a quality aftermarket coilover is either valved and matched to the spring rates, or valved and matched AND adjustable within a range to allow you much greater flexibility with your set up and goals while allowing for a full range of travel.

To answer your question, many folks have removed the system completely with no errors. I have KW V2's with the DDC deletes and they just plug in. I haven't tried not using the delete/blanking plugs but I haven't heard of anyone having issues. When I got my set up no one had really done it with DDC yet so I went with KW's and swift springs

 

Although I actually agree with 95% of what you posted

You can order coilovers with a combination of Spring options in the midrange market, but it's rare to get custom valving to suit.
And remember The oem option is also configured for being a 4 up daily family transport + holidays, a variation in tyre specs and wheel sizes, as well as a enthusiastic single driver.
That's a lot of scope for some fiddling at one end of the spectrum

Rightly or wrongly I'd see springs as the difference between keeping a car stock to maximise flexibility, or tweaking to suit one up fast road driving

But If your going on track you need coilovers

 

Oh I know for a lot of people that springs/stock struts/shocks is financially the best compromise. But to openly dismiss someone looking at coilovers and to do their suspension one time and properly is somewhat foreign to me. And to begin to assert that it is a better option than a good coilover setup makes my eyes twitch :p (not you, the person I quoted haha)

 

Ps being a purchaser of a previously owned F56 with adaptive suspenion
I'm being far more open minded,
although all of my previous experience shouts coil-overs, having no quick or cheap option for adjustable top mounts or camber is somewhat muddying the waters for me