Here's the thread discussing the issue. It seems to only be a problem with the TSW's, presumably because they're thicker than a coat hanger wire.

Keep in mind, that this has only been an issue on a handful of cars. Apparently it's some kind of thing with BMW that TSW can't really control for, thus, why there's no real fix. I'll be doing my install tomorrow, and I'll keep you up to date. Pictures will ensue when the springs have settled completely. So probably at the end of next week (since it's spring break).

 

Again, people are complaining about it looking bad, not the performance. The initial post was complaining about the car looking like a small SUV with the offroad wheel gap that it comes with. The stock wheel gap makes the car look less attractive. Poor stance from the factory.

 

I never thought wheel gap made a car look bad.

I don't know, IMO.

 

It does

 

I came from the heavy truck / Super Duty world so that must explain it. F series trucks only go up, not down.

 

I think the stock suspension does settle with time. My '07 MCS is 2 years old and over 25K miles now and it does seem to me that it has settled some. I didn't measure to the top of wheel arches or anything when new but I could do that now compared with a new '09. Next time I go to the dealership I'll take a tape measure and post the results. The other possibility is that I've gotten used to the "jacked up" look of the R56.

 

Here are the stats (standard suspensions):

Bottom of Rocker to ground:

 

Here are the stats: Gen1 Gen2 (both OEM sport suspension)
rocker to grnd: 6.5 7.25
top of tire to fender 1.0 2.0
top of fender opening 24.5 25.0

One could claim these are vitually the same, but my Gen 1 is another 1/2 lower than the numbers above (JCW susp.) and makes for a substantially different ride than the Gen2. That's not my complaint, since my wife prefers the sloppier Gen2 ride. The real issue I discovered is the following visual issue:
Gen1 Gen2
top of fender whisker to grnd 28.0 29.5
bottom of window to ground 34.5 37.5
bott. of rocker to bott. of window 28.0 30.25

The Gen2 is just not as sleek. Nothing short of a cutting torch will change that.

Sitting by itself, the Gen2 looks great. Next to a Gen1, though, it's looking like it needs to hit the health club. That makes two of us.

 

There's no denying that the body lines of the Gen2's are slightly larger, but I don't really see one as better than the other....they're just different styles. The Gen2 certainly has a more "big body" feel to it while the Gen1's have a sleeker, nimbler bodyline. To me it's much like the sleek, sportier Audi A4 versus the slightly larger bodied Audi A6. I don't think there's anything wrong with either style. I love a good big body car slammed on nice wheels just as much as a nicely done small sporty car.

Just look at the JCW challenge cars as an example. I actually prefer the Gen2 challenge cars because the high beltline and fatter body gives them a very wide and aggressive stance out on the track.