E30 Zone

hi
have noticed some parts i.e. lowering springs, induction kits etc are advertised for 318/320/325 and the 316's are seperate. why is that? idve thought they were the same, just different size engines

mic

hi mic

because of the weight of the different engines, springs are different from model to model.
as are air filters (not worth buying one for an M40 BTW)

but the air filter would make it sound a little 'nicer' tho wouldnt it at least

they all fit but a 60mm spring on the front of a 4 pot engine will give you nearer a 55mm drop. spring rates vary but on a daily drive and you are doinig just to give the car a better look it aint worth worrying about

Focussing on springs...

Any 4-cylinder springs will give the stated drop on any 4-cylinder E30 as the 4-pot engines are all the same weight (give or take a couple of kg).

You shouldn't see springs advertised for 318/320/325 as the latter two have a heavier engine and will give a different drop.

As Kos says, the difference is negligible, but it's certainly "safer" IMO to use only springs desgined for the car you're putting them on.

the spring wont fall out somsafety not exactly an issue, as long as thet are not cut heated of cracked they will be fine.

dips 346 has a few set of springs, send him a pm

Kos wrote:the spring wont fall out somsafety not exactly an issue, as long as thet are not cut heated of cracked they will be fine.

dips 346 has a few set of springs, send him a pm

They obviously won't fall out but using springs designed for a heavier engine is never going to be the way to do it, unless you're a fan of bodging.

oh i wasnt planning on doing springs to be honest, at least not for a while and even then it would just be for looks more than anything. havent bought a bmw yet, hopin to pick up the 316 on saturday assuming he still has it by then.

nice to see some people are local tho

its not bodging, cutting and heating is, which i've done before, but even that can be safe if done the right way.

the spring rates may differ slightly, but the difference is more so on a cabrio and tourings. most springs are designed to fit an e30 full stop, i'm pretty sure even the H@R ones are like this that why the give a 60/40 drop an a 2.5/2.0 and only a 55/35 on a 316/18/IS same goes for KW, why dont they they do a 60/40 for a four pot engined car??

the progression of spring comes into effect on hard cornering

i've had lots of e30, and change suspension set ups from car to car with no negative or dangerous compromises (well maybe a compromise in comfort only!)

good luck with the car mate

smithy318i wrote:hi mic

because of the weight of the different engines, springs are different from model to model.
as are air filters (not worth buying one for an M40 BTW)

Why not worth buying an air filter? am I missing something? (apart from the £11 or so i just paid BMW for one!)

I found with my old 318i, putting an aftermarket cone air filter made absolutley no difference whatsoever.

Julian

oh do you mean no point with an aftermarket or no point in a filter at all?

Standard E30 air filter, changed regularly, flows more than enough air for anything up to a lightly modded 2.5.
£11 sounds a bit steep for one though - dealer price really that high? About half that from GSF/Eurocarparts, IIRC.