E36 traction control???

26 does sound daft.  Maybe try 28 all round, sounds a little low though.  In my experience a few psi can make a lot of difference.  

I'd check out what other people with your car/wheels run on.


Edited by scarface

In terms of suspension, if you soften the front relative to the rear, you get better turn-in and more propensity to oversteer. Stiffen the front relative to the rear, and more understeer is the result.

In my opinion, 36psi is more than enough for the rear - no matter what your set up, that pressure will make the rear end feel keen to slip rather than grip. 

when I bought the 328i the bushes were shot, and the car was lethal - the first night I had it I was going up a straight but very bumpy hill around 5,000rpm in 2nd and the rear stepped out so much I had to go half into the opposite lane to gather it up. I did all the bushes and it made a huge difference. The eibach lowering springs weren't quite right for me either, so I changed the whole setup to a Schnitzer rig. Now it drives like a WRX - tight but acceptable ride and great body control.

Anyway, going back on track, bushes mightn't be a bad place to start with alignment done properly afterward. Drop the pressure on the rear a smidge, and maybe further down the road 2 new tyres if you're still not happy. Anf keep us up to date with the tweaks and how they work out for you!

Sounds like a plan alright! the Scooby setup is a hard one to replicate - it just feels so right on the road with enough travel that back roads don't hold any fear, but well enough tied down. I'm pretty chuffed with the handling of mine now.

I fitted OEM BMW bushes all around, cos they worked out pretty cheap, and I wanted to see what they were like before I went to any other setup. I'm still running them now, though the front are a bit tired again after 25k and some trackdays, so I may fit poly bushes there in the new year. 

TJ, that's interesting if you say that bushes can be tired after that length of time.  Would you say it's worth telling dealers to shut up and just fit them?  One inspection on the 328 came back that they were on their way out, when I asked them to change them another mechanic said they weren't needed. 

Alan, I'm now running 30F 34R, and it seems much better behaved, even in the wet. 

Hey guys.

The roads in Essex are lethal at the moment, irrespective of tyre pressures. I have noticed that my tyres (Continentals) lose a bucket load of grip when the air temperature drops below 5 degrees.

That's probably why sensible people on the continent have a set of winter tyres and also why they can deal with snow so much better...

It's strange the difference it's made.  The traction light still flickers quite  a bit but I don't get it really kicking in and cutting engine power like it was.  It feels like it allows a bit of slide now before it kicks in.  I had to learn to trust it, but now it feels great.  (CRASH! )

I think I just had too much grip on the rear with the fatter tyres, and not enough on the front.