Suspension or coilovers i need new ones asap HELP NEEDED PLZ

Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:16 pm

My car BMW E30 320i 1988

Ok so i have been looking for a suspension tread and can't seem to find one on here at all very surprising. If there is one and i have missed it please send me the link if not here we go ....

I am after new suspension preferably coilovers as i want fully adjustable ride height.

Currently the car is running on cut springs from previous owner very low but they need replacing rusted and crappy ride and need new top mounts.

Being a new e30 owner i understand that the shock assembly and front hub disk etc are all one piece so will need to drop any coilover into the front shock assembly or cut other coilovers to fit which seems a pain in the arse.... HELP

I have around £400 id love to wait and save up more but i need new ones as mot is due very soon.

Would like to know what people are running and if you have suggestions for what money i have to spend.

i have found FK Konigsport coilovers online for around £400 alot of vw guys use them and a mate had them on his mk 2 golf said they were great and good value for money. Does anybody have any experience with these and will they be a straight fit.

Also forgot to ask cutting shock housing if installing coilovers that slip into front shock assembly is it really necessary... thanks in advanced for your input and help

Iffy_e30

Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:18 pm

I have read that FK use Koni inserts so their shocks should be good, if that is true. No adjustable damping though, only ride height.

Yes, if fitting to E30 struts, cutting and potentially welding are required, depending on the coilover design.

Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:05 pm

Yea iv also read they use koni shock inserts and dampers but my budget range will have non damper adjustable ones. Shock inserts can be changed at a later time if needed iv just seen on youtube very easy job.

Main issue is do they slip in or need welding to fit front .....

Also looking at ground control coilover conversion kit alot of guys in the US are running ground control. Not sure if they sell in the uk only us i think trying to find them. very reasonably priced kit just gota put in abit of work which id don't mind at all check out the video what you think..

Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:09 pm

If it's just a road car, go for bilsteins (b8's or 6's) and eibach springs.

Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:09 pm

Ground Control is well rated stuff by all accounts - custom valved konis and eibach springs, with shiny GC re-furbed housings. Not sold in the the UK, but they WILL ship - just remember to add shipping + 20% UK VAT onto the goods value of your order!

TC Kline do stuff too in a similar vein.

TBH if money were no object, GC/TC Kline would be where my cash would be going.

Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:14 pm

£400 will buy you rubbish coil overs, or a good quality conventional spring and damper set.

Sat Aug 23, 2014 12:49 pm

Ive had both and from peraonal experience if you want it to handle well id go for a decent spring shock kit by the likes of billstien, coilovers are a good option but youll be looking at a minimum of £1000ish for a good set up but I find theyre great for track use but alot more delicate in the way of road/ fast road use you will find yourself blowing dampers. If you want it dropped/stanced go for a cheap coilover kit as stanced cars generally wouldnt be nailed about a track or driven fast road, but be warned they feel undampened and bouncy so your not going to have optimum handling.

Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:10 pm

B8s or gaz only!!!!!

Sat Aug 23, 2014 11:42 pm

Car is being used as a daily driver atm until i buy a new bike then will be a 50/50 use with the bike. I will not be using it for track just fast road use and shows so id like it low but with a decent enough ride due to the crappy London roads and humps.

hmmm After reading all your comments im thinking of just replacing lowering springs atm and saving up for a good set of coilovers.

springs what is a nice ride height set up anybody using. im running 15" bbs atm

60/40 drop ?

Sat Aug 23, 2014 11:58 pm

Save up for AST's it will be the best mod you have ever done believe me!
I know they aren't cheap but they are brilliant value for money. If they had KW or Bilstein stamped on them they would be over £5000 the AST's are worth every penny!!!

Sun Aug 24, 2014 3:10 pm

M3SAM wrote:Save up for AST's it will be the best mod you have ever done believe me!
I know they aren't cheap but they are brilliant value for money. If they had KW or Bilstein stamped on them they would be over £5000 the AST's are worth every penny!!!

Had a look at those they looks really well built but gona need to put in alot of OT to get those lol .... but will defo read up on them thanks... looks like lowering springs for the moment

Mon Aug 25, 2014 6:45 pm

ok so my options what you think guys gona have to put in the OT FOR THE BILSTEINS kinda pushing the budget..

Bilstein B8's with Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs........... £621 inc VAT :-S
Front 30-40mm Rear 30mm ( was hoping for lower wonder if it will look good Hmmm ??)

or

Spax PSX Adjustable Damping Suspension Kit Lowers Front ........£475 in VAT
Front 60mm Rear 40mm

spax are a familiar name heard of them for years not sure of the QUALITY THO ... what you guys think ....thanks for all your feed back so far

if anybody knows anywhere i can get it for less ££££ would be fantastic

Mon Aug 25, 2014 9:20 pm

If money and time are an issue just buy some standard gear in good nick for a few quid and use that until you've saved enough, rather than skipping between various budget shit.

Mon Aug 25, 2014 10:19 pm

Iffy_E30 wrote: Bilstein B8's with Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs........... £621 inc VAT :-S

My original post above was for B4's (still immeasurably better than the clapped out dampers you have now), but if you want a monotube, then B8 is the way to go, and quality costs.

Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:03 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
Iffy_E30 wrote: Bilstein B8's with Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs........... £621 inc VAT :-S
My original post above was for B4's (still immeasurably better than the clapped out dampers you have now), but if you want a monotube, then B8 is the way to go, and quality costs.

yep i think ill go for the quality b8's and lowered springs she's a keeper

thanks for all the input guys..

Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:31 pm

B8s are great but bc coilovers are a step up in my opinion. Gaz are good but need rebuilding frequently if used on the road.
Anyone who tells you to go for a shock and spring kit over bc's has never driven a car on them. I've had them in a few different e30's and had b8's and they are awesome, but you need to get proper spring rates

Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:59 pm

age wrote:B8s are great but bc coilovers are a step up in my opinion. Gaz are good but need rebuilding frequently if used on the road.
Anyone who tells you to go for a shock and spring kit over bc's has never driven a car on them. I've had them in a few different e30's and had b8's and they are awesome, but you need to get proper spring rates

My Brother was running BC coilovers on his 200sx harsh ride but it was set up for track and drifting so cant really comment on the ride.

Which series coilovers have you had experience with. Very intrested to know the ride quality against the b8's on road as you say you have experienced both. Did they have damper adjustment major difference in ride ? And what spring rate thanks .

Fri Aug 29, 2014 4:30 pm

Willeh wrote:If money and time are an issue just buy some standard gear in good nick for a few quid and use that until you've saved enough, rather than skipping between various budget shit.

i Hear ya Willeh that was plan A initially .... But now i have plan B and plan C lol

Sat Aug 30, 2014 5:23 pm

I have gaz gha on my golf for a year and a half now and have had no problems. Only niggle i had with them was being abit hard on the rear but today turned the rears back to 0 instead of 12 clicks in and much better although might need a couple of clicks back in as a tad sloppy round corners. These might have a totally different feel in an e30 and a quick look last night for gaz gha prices came back at £695, 200quid more than my golf ones but seems e30 suspension is always abit of a killer for something decent.

Before gaz i had joms so was like night and day

Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:57 am

Hi gents i received my delivery from Germany yesterday for my Bilstien B12 kit. B8 shocks and Eibach springs

Lots of OT and pack lunches done the job

Just a quick Question if anybody can help. The front shocks come with internal bump stops does anybody know if i will need to install rear bump stops ?
And if so do they need to be trimmed down ?

Thanks . Ps ill get some pics up once im done