lowering springs

[e30redness]

Evnin all,

I am considering lowering my motor. I have been looking at various springs and as I am no mechanic was looking for some advice.
I aint got money for coilovers so was looking a just some lowering springs. I keep seeing advice on a 60 / 40 drop. Am I right in assuming thats 60 front 40 rear?. Seen some motors on here that have that drop. I got 17"alpina reps on....is that drop too much?
If I buy just springs do I need to change shocks or will they go straight on?.
Which springs would the experts advise me to go for? on a limited budget as have just purchased some nice mtec leather interior and quite a few other bits.
Many thanks in advance for any help.
TC

[e30redness]

anyone !

[Brianmoooore]

If you lower it that much you will ruin the handling, road holding and comfort. You've already compromised them by the 17" wheels which are far too heavy for the E30 suspension.
40mm is the absolute maximum to lower it before things start to be compromised, and even this requires quality parts (usually equals expensive).
Eibach springs and Bilstein B4 dampers are reckoned to be the best.

[e30redness]

Thanks for the info mooro...........as I said I am no mechanic and this is all alearning curve. I shall go forth and seek the gear required.

[rancido64]

Eibach springs and Bilstein B4 dampers are reckoned to be the best.

This is the combo mine has and can't fault it

[e30redness]

thanks for your help chaps

[capri_rob]

Eibachs can be bought at competetive prices from RPM on here who are a zone approved trader.

Bilstein B4's are available from ECP at a decent discount via the zone ECP contact - but make sure you order the plastic concertina covers and bump stops for the front inserts because they don't come with the dampers.

[Brianmoooore]

If the B4s are coming from ECP, make sure that the collar nuts that should be in the box are there!

[capri_rob]

Ordered mine via the new zone contact and they opened the boxes on my request before they were shipped - and the collars came with them.

[e30redness]

What sort of pennies am I looking at guys.......I am on a budget but still want a decent ride.

[e30redness]

where do I find the Zone contact thingymajiggy. Sorry for being a plonka! but can't seem to find it.

[capri_rob]

PM Meatballs82 for ECP stuff :

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... &start=150

RPM have their own traders section in the For Sale area

Front 51mm Bilstein B4 Damper inserts are about £50+VAT a side, plus £13 for the bumpstops & concertinas
Don't know how much the rears are - a bit less than the fronts I think

You may as well order new lemforder top mounts from ECP at the same time as you'll have to remove and refit them to change the spings - £20+VAt per side

Eibach Pro kit for the E30 saloon is around £150 - the cab kit is more expensive.

You can get cheaper springs and dampers. but you get what you pay for

[e30redness]

Thanks rob...........got to save for a couple of weeks then by the looks of it as I will have to get a pro to fit it all tooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[daimlerman]

Thanks rob...........got to save for a couple of weeks then by the looks of it as I will have to get a pro to fit it all tooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Rears are a simple DIY job that require nothing more complicated than a few hand tools.

Fronts require the strut removing and stripping,this is not a task for a DIY virgin.

let your garage do the fronts,and myself or another zoner can give you a walk-through for the rears?

[e30redness]

Thanks for all your help....I will be in touch as soon as the parts are upon me.
Once again cheers

[MattTheHat325]

going lower than 40 seems to be frowned upon and i'm sure with the wrong combination of gear it would ride like a pig, but i'm running 60 as well as 15mm drop hats using Bilstein b8's and weitec springs. They get on beautifully and the car rides fantastically. Given, it can be stiff on particularly rotten roads but still has a nice level of compliance when cornering hard, i.e not so rigid that it skips and slides about.
It's kept that solid smooth bmw feel on the road and it would take a lot to persuade me into another set of shocks.
It depends what you want the car to feel like though as some peoples idea of stiff are worlds apart from other's. Needless to say Bilsteins of any description get my vote.

Do bear in mind the condition of the rest of the suspension however. At the same time of replacing my shocks and springs i renewed all 4 top mounts and 2 wishbones, along with wishbone and roll bar bushes, all genuine parts. This move probably improved the ride of the car more than any shock and spring could! So make sure ur chassis is in top order first so you can really feel the benefit of a quality suspension set up.

I'm a fully fledged member of the lowered club but trust me, the driving experience when susp/steering components are tight and fresh in an e30 is far more satisfying and smile inducing than reducing your arch gap! If you're on a budget just take your time, save, treat it as a long term goal and methodically work your way through it using the best components you can financially justify. When it really starts coming together you can really feel the difference. An e30's chassis is it's party piece in my opinion and when set up correctly has to be one of the most enjoyable driving experiences known to man

[e30-EVN]

I've just put my car on G-max 40mm gas shocks and springs, at the same time I changed the 2 lower arms, trailing arm bushes, drop links and track rods.
The G-max setup cost me £250 and the ride is brilliant! As said above when doing springs and shocks its a must that the other componants are changed to get the most of it! When spliting the balljoint and track rod ball joint the rubbers are more often than not ruined anyhow so best to change them all

[e30redness]

Cheers guys.........the saving has started in ernest