Coilovers or Springs??

[adh87]

Ive just bought an e30 318i convertible, j reg. It has replica Alpina 17" wheels on it but is sitting rather high. I am wondering whether to buy coilovers or springs? Ive heard springs give a wallowy ride so thinking coilovers. Just bought the car so dont want to spend that much. Any ideas on makes and prices guys? Thanks Andy

[Joshy]

Depends on what you're after.

If you just want to slam the car on it's arse and break sumps (and your bones thanks to the rock hard settings) on the cheap, Coilovers are for you.

If you want a suspension setup that you can actually live with, a good set of shocks and sets are the way to go!

[Gibson]

I would have said completely the opposite, if you want to set the car up to handle well go for a good set of coilovers, if all you care about is Looooooooowwwwww then go for a cheap set of springs and appropriate shorter dampers

[dips346]

also the choice of £600+ for coilovers or £60+ for springs ?

[papercutout]

Joshy, man, has the lack of TD gone to your head? Waaaay off course!

Fitting coilovers to E30's doesn't require but one would recommend re-inforcing the rear turrets - they're not designed to take that pressure and can rip out.

Therefore the cost of the coilovers plus needed work dictates they are rarely used on E30's and shocks and springs are the more economical choice.

Do shocks and springs together and you're definitely not have a walloy ride. I'd love someone to describe my car as wallowy, compared to what, a racecar? lol (I'm down about 80mm, but I go through sumps regularly.
With the 17" alpina's I'd say 40mm drop, 60mm tops unless you want to do lots of arch rolling.

[Joshy]

When I talk about Coilovers in this sense, I mean the £200 Ebay specials shite that you'll find bolted to euroboxes with expensive oversized rims, not the proper motorsport orientated stuff.

In case you didn't know Paper, TD is back!

[bss325i]

Joshy, how can you give a valid opinion when you cant even drive let alone have experience of either on an E30?

[Theo]

Depends on what you're after.

If you just want to slam the car on it's arse and break sumps (and your bones thanks to the rock hard settings) on the cheap, Coilovers are for you.

If you want a suspension setup that you can actually live with, a good set of shocks and sets are the way to go!

Such a fool.

Made even more comical for reasons highlighted in Barry's post.

[billgatese30]

..and isn't one of the advantages of coilovers being a common spring size allowing for a cheap and easy method of chosing the perfect spring rate for the application.

I bet i could get a set of coilovers to be more comfortable than a set of -80mm springs


coilovers don't always mean rock hard and scraping the floor gentlemen.

[Jon_Bmw]

Indeed.

I thought it was a typo, but obviously not.

The benefits of coilovers are so far from being able to slam it 'hard on the deck' innit, its unreal.

[Joshy]

Indeed.

I thought it was a typo, but obviously not.

The benefits of coilovers are so far from being able to slam it 'hard on the deck' innit, its unreal.

And these extra benefits stretch over to the the £200 ebay kits I specifically mentioned?

Yet again another example of certain members of the Zone talking what I said and blowing it way out of proportion.

[billgatese30]

where are the 200 pound coilevers on ebay then?

more like 500 for some spax

[Sawyer_E30]

What is the cost for a set of coilovers these days.

I run 60mm drop with shortened uprated shocks, with 17x7.5 Alpina Reps with 205/40/17 rubber.

More comfortable than stock springs and shocks when driving enthusically.

[Joshy]

where are the 200 pound coilevers on ebay then?

more like 500 for some spax

Along the lines of:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE ... 240%3A1318

Yes, I know they aren't for E30s.

[billgatese30]

a set of spax are about 500 on ebay and the gaz ones on ebay are about 800, not sure about teh rest, but both of these are full rear coilevers which i would advise doing somthing to reinforce your rear suspension turrets to take the extra loads

[Theo]

Indeed.

I thought it was a typo, but obviously not.

The benefits of coilovers are so far from being able to slam it 'hard on the deck' innit, its unreal.

And these extra benefits stretch over to the the £200 ebay kits I specifically mentioned?

Yet again another example of certain members of the Zone talking what I said and blowing it way out of proportion.

You really are a dillusional kiddie aren't you? This coupled with the comedy ego you have makes you quite a character.

Shame you can't actually drive a car as it would be fun to see you in person at a meet/show.

[billgatese30]

where are the 200 pound coilevers on ebay then?

more like 500 for some spax

Along the lines of:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE ... 240%3A1318

Yes, I know they aren't for E30s.

but i could show you a cam shaft capable of withstanding 500+BHP in a beetle engine for less money new than any uprated cam for an M20, but that just wouldn't be relevant, just as it is not to show me suspension from a VW Jetta

[dips346]

When I talk about Coilovers in this sense, I mean the £200 Ebay specials shite that you'll find bolted to euroboxes with expensive oversized rims,

D

no such thing as £200 coilovers for a e30

[Joshy]

When I talk about Coilovers in this sense, I mean the £200 Ebay specials shite that you'll find bolted to euroboxes with expensive oversized rims,

D

no such thing as £200 coilovers for a e30

Close enough?

http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ORD-1-1-1-4483.cfm

[Jon_Bmw]

Indeed.

I thought it was a typo, but obviously not.

The benefits of coilovers are so far from being able to slam it 'hard on the deck' innit, its unreal.

And these extra benefits stretch over to the the £200 ebay kits I specifically mentioned?

Yet again another example of certain members of the Zone talking what I said and blowing it way out of proportion.

You really are a dillusional kiddie aren't you? This coupled with the comedy ego you have makes you quite a character.

Shame you can't actually drive a car as it would be fun to see you in person at a meet/show.

Anyone would think he owns a 318is but can't drive it.

[billgatese30]

When I talk about Coilovers in this sense, I mean the £200 Ebay specials shite that you'll find bolted to euroboxes with expensive oversized rims,

D

no such thing as £200 coilovers for a e30

Close enough?

http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ORD-1-1-1-4483.cfm

but they are just springs and saddles, they still require the dampers preparing and then having the platforms etc welding to them which takes either time, money or both. you also don't have an adjustable damper like you do with some other coilovers....so no, its still not really a full set of 4 fully adjusatble coilovers for an e30

[BadDave]

Fitting coilovers to E30's doesn't require but one would recommend re-inforcing the rear turrets - they're not designed to take that pressure and can rip out.

Therefore the cost of the coilovers plus needed work dictates they are rarely used on E30's and shocks and springs are the more economical choice.

I currently have coilovers(GAZ adjustables) on the 316 tourer .

All i did was fit a pr of Z3 reinforcing plates (£10 from ebay or £22 from BMW) and optional alloy R/J topmounts to replace the std rubber ones, therefore rendering your coment regarding the costs of stregthening the rear turrets inaccurate, unless they are fooked to begin with.

It currently runs 350Lb front and 225Lb rear springs and is no way wallowy for a raod car.

I'm fitting a B25 in the coming weeks and the fronts will be replaced with a pr of 450Lb springs which i have in stock.

The old tourer regualarly runs rings round 325 sports and various other cars on the twisties,and felt pretty good round the "ring".
It is a moderately stiff setup, but not what you'd call "HARD and unforgiving".

It's definately the way to go if your after decent setup.

[Joshy]

no such thing as £200 coilovers for a e30

Close enough?

http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ORD-1-1-1-4483.cfm

but they are just springs and saddles, they still require the dampers preparing and then having the platforms etc welding to them which takes either time, money or both. you also don't have an adjustable damper like you do with some other coilovers....so no, its still not really a full set of 4 fully adjusatble coilovers for an e30

Ahh, fair enough.

I was under the impression that a kit similar to what I liked to regarding the Polos - Sort of makes my point a bit redundant

[Bob_S]

Close enough?

http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ORD-1-1-1-4483.cfm

but they are just springs and saddles, they still require the dampers preparing and then having the platforms etc welding to them which takes either time, money or both. you also don't have an adjustable damper like you do with some other coilovers....so no, its still not really a full set of 4 fully adjusatble coilovers for an e30

Ahh, fair enough.

I was under the impression that a kit similar to what I liked to regarding the Polos - Sort of makes my point a bit redundant

your comments always raise a smile. Usually because they are so off the mark!
Euro car prats can probably still supply you with some terribly shocking springs for around £60 being a cabby you'll have to get the cab/touring specific kit so you have the rear sitting at the right height

[rikster]

where is the best place to get some gaz coilovers ive seen one site but they want you to send your front struts off aswell so they can use the hubs im not up for that is there anywhere you can get them all in

[dips346]

where is the best place to get some gaz coilovers ive seen one site but they want you to send your front struts off aswell so they can use the hubs im not up for that is there anywhere you can get them all in

anyone will want your front struts anyway .....

[harry_p]

i think fk charge a surcharge for your old hubs, so in theory you can pay something like £150 extra and keep your old ones.

either that or find some secondhand ones and send those in.

[rikster]

where can i get a set

[Gibson]

Depends on what you're after.

If you just want to slam the car on it's arse and break sumps (and your bones thanks to the rock hard settings) on the cheap, Coilovers are for you.

If you want a suspension setup that you can actually live with, a good set of shocks and sets are the way to go!

This looks like a fun band wagon! can i join in?

"your an idiot"

Wow this is fun.