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cheap coilovers - or suspension suggestions
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:22 am
by Barton
has anyone tried these?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT
if they're crap, what do people suggest for a 320i for up to about £350
i really wanted coilovers as i want to be able to drop the car to the perfect stance once i get some wheels
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:29 am
by scottidog
I was looking at these the other day but dare not buy them! If you decide to buy them can you let me know what their like?
Scotty
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:36 am
by penton08
what you will recive is not a realy a coilover kit , its a kit to make your front legs height ajustable. and ajustable rear spring seats!! with new dampers and springs. the add in the link takes the piss imo as it is very misleading!! i dont know about the quailty of the kit but i would hazzard a guess that its naff.
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:19 pm
by Barton
tbh the whole height adjustable platform idea works
yes its not a true coilover unit, but it still looks to do its job
anyone got any recommendations on other kits?
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:16 pm
by octanejunkie
what about these?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E30-suspensio ... arParts_SM
i was considering a set of these for my car:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suspension-Loweri ... arParts_SM
Anyone got a Jamex kit fitted. Not sure whether to go 40mm or 60mm. I've got a pre facelift car, and i believe the arches are slightly higher or something?
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:41 pm
by e30kev
I had weitec shocks and springs with a 40mm drop on my two door which are made by kw, and are good value and genuine quality for the money around £290, decent ride and not too harsh and a remarkable improvement over standard shocks and springs
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:00 pm
by Blitz
My springs cost more then the first one.
You can get Bilstein B4 shocks from ECP for £150 all in. And Eibach springs for £142 delivered from suspensionshop.co.uk. Thats the cheapest way to get great handling.
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:00 pm
by magpie
you want the larger 51mm legs with a brand name shocks.
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:04 pm
by Barton
i presume the 320i has the larger shocks as one place i have found them listed as the same as the 325i's
might do separate shocks and springs, but i think i want a 60mm drop if possible
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:21 pm
by charlE30
saloon 320i uses 45mm struts unless you've got a tourer or convertible.
In my opinion the perfect stance is 60/40 on a facelift as it gives a balanced look, any more than 40 on the rear and it looks like your rear suspension has collapsed...
I've got some KW 60/40mm springs for sale in my thread
HERE 
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:29 pm
by Barton
fords are so much simpler (i own a few, and have owned a load more)
so far, all i'm getting is confused...
thats quite handy you're selling the exact best looking springs isn't it?
problem is if i go for a 60/40 and its not now enough i'm gonna end up cutting coils, which i dont really want to do
wish the gaz coilies were just a bit cheaper
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:29 pm
by E30BeemerLad
this is a 55 front & rear drop on a chromie. AVO springs, which were about £100. Bilstein B6 front dampers & koni rear dampers

Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:30 pm
by Barton
what size wheels?
i'm looking to run on a set of 15" banded steels with some decent stretch on the tyres, so really need some "tuck"
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:33 pm
by E30BeemerLad
they are 16" alloys, 7.5" width I recall, 215/40/16 boots so quite low profile.
I have bought my last 2 sets of springs from this place
http://europerformance.co.uk/pages/prod ... gory=suspn
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:37 pm
by E30BeemerLad
You probably will need to go a bit lower if you are going for some slammed stretched tire action. Trouble is, your car will drive like shite and will eat sumps for the right ride height/ stance that you'll be after.
This was a 60/40 drop on my old 325, problem is it's running 17" alpenis reps so you can't judge the gaps that well

Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:42 pm
by Barton
i'm swaying more and more to the kit from RPM
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:44 pm
by Barton
E30BeemerLad wrote:You probably will need to go a bit lower if you are going for some slammed stretched tire action. Trouble is, your car will drive like shite and will eat sumps for the right ride height/ stance that you'll be after.
thats fine my old mk1 fiesta used to clip the road most of the time
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:48 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:57 pm
by Barton
yeah, something like that
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:03 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Barton wrote:i'm swaying more and more to the kit from RPM
If I was going coilover, that's where my money would be going
http://www.raceperformancemodified.com/ ... r_Kits.asp
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:03 pm
by accesspecialist
I'm saving for rpm stuff.
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:25 am
by octanejunkie
so am i right in thinking its harder to get a low look on a pre facelift car?
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:39 am
by Jozi
BCRacing do a nice coilover kit, cheap enough as well. Few people I know have them and are happy with them.
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:44 pm
by oldroydsr4
Barton wrote:what size wheels?
i'm looking to run on a set of 15" banded steels with some decent stretch on the tyres, so really need some "tuck"
from experience, you will have issues getting the right stance with a stretched tyre on 15s with an e30. The back is easy to get right but to close the arch gap at front will require you going very very low.
I have banded steels with stretched rubber on mine and the sump is approx 40mm off the deck with an unsatisfactory arch gap, the only solution now is to fit a tire with a good sidewall.
As for suspension. I would get some 51mm struts and do a coilover conversion (rally design) , use adjustable platforms on the rear, order some springs from faulkners and buy some good quality shortened dampers.
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:59 pm
by mattrs
E30BeemerLad wrote:You probably will need to go a bit lower if you are going for some slammed stretched tire action. Trouble is, your car will drive like shite and will eat sumps for the right ride height/ stance that you'll be after.
This was a 60/40 drop on my old 325, problem is it's running 17" alpenis reps so you can't judge the gaps that well

Nice pic!
To the op, gaz gold are well thought of, but far from cheap though!
If you do bite the bullet let us know what you think!
Re: cheap coilovers
Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:39 pm
by Barton
oldroydsr4 wrote:Barton wrote:what size wheels?
i'm looking to run on a set of 15" banded steels with some decent stretch on the tyres, so really need some "tuck"
from experience, you will have issues getting the right stance with a stretched tyre on 15s with an e30. The back is easy to get right but to close the arch gap at front will require you going very very low.
I have banded steels with stretched rubber on mine and the sump is approx 40mm off the deck with an unsatisfactory arch gap, the only solution now is to fit a tire with a good sidewall.
As for suspension. I would get some 51mm struts and do a coilover conversion (rally design) , use adjustable platforms on the rear, order some springs from faulkners and buy some good quality shortened dampers.
got any pics?