Thanks for your valuable input. You are the second person to note that the car feels lighter. I'd love that as this is a heavy car coming around corners. Your answer suggests that the enlarged rear sway bar and the camber plates are the components that actually gave you the cornering characteristics you're after. The springs and struts (Stage 1) were only there because they are part of the package.

I wish to dissect the subject matter a little more specifically. You mentioned that the turn-in is much quicker (camber plates? ala stage 3?), and more precise, and the car is more balanced and feels lighter (shocks and enlarged rear sway bar? ala stage 2?).

My bottom line question is which component of the Dinan system delivers which driving quality. I have a slight reservation about the camber plates. I heard that they could promote uneven tread wear in normal driving. If I don't race, (no need for hard cornering) would I be hurting myself with a stage 3? On the other hand, if the improved handling is evident during daily driving as well, then it's well worth it for me to go with the full stage 3.

Thanks again for your education.

CP

Sure CP,
I felt the car understeered too much as set up from the factory. It tended to push in corners and was not able to hold a line as well as it should. this is a conservative setup and I cant blame BMW. I would probably do the same thing if I was handing out 400HP sedans to John Q Public!
I felt the car needed more rear bar and more front camber to improve it. I race sportscars and am always messing with suspension setup and have aquired a pretty good feel for it over the years. I went along with the shocks and springs also in the stage III package while I was at it. The results are pretty dramatic. the car turns in much quicker and holds a line through a corner better. It is now what I would call completely neutral. It feels like a much lighter car.

I think this is the best bang for your modification dollar.