Planning to lower my 318iS - Advice?

[iDreamBeemer]

Decided that I need to go on my suspension
lower

Plan is to use Bilstein shocks with H&R springs (35mm all round)

I'm also running 16"s and have a quite low exhaust so have to be a little careful on the drop level.

Got a quote to have it fitted when it is in for a major service in April.

I just wondered if people had any advice, my bro read that you should have the alignment done but they guy in the garage seems to think there is not much point and I will just have to live with some inside tyre wear.

As always I know you folks will have all the answers!

[eko]

Martin just be carefull with that exhaust,from what i remember it does hang down a bit low!

Also,just a thought but your running 225`s 0n the back arent you?
Rubbing issues maybe?
Worth thinking about!

[iDreamBeemer]

Hi Tony, your right they are 225s on the back, worst come to it the Sebring would have to come off and standard one back on.

If I can, the car will get a good clean tomorrow and I'll take some pics, so peeps can get an idea of the hang down.

Have a little time so see what the thoughts are

[lukeb]

If i were you id fit them myself, a mate of mine got a quote to fit just springs and said about £120 quid. Get a mate to help you and have a few beers. But i find it fun working on cars and i know not everyone is the same.

Personnaly i dont think 35mm will make your car look much lower over standard, but i dont know if your car is standard and dont know what your exhaust is like. IMHO i think at least 40mm is needed to make E30's look good.

[tim_s]

my sebring's just about ok on my lowered 318is. hth. people say nice things about billies and H+Rs, so i'm sure you'll be happy. i swear by koni shocks, but that's just me.

[iDreamBeemer]

If i were you id fit them myself, a mate of mine got a quote to fit just springs and said about £120 quid. Get a mate to help you and have a few beers. But i find it fun working on cars and i know not everyone is the same

My quote was £100 for the complete install!! My problem is aswell none of my mates are into cars and I have nowhere to do the work (not to mention bugger all experience!) Plan to do the work myself on the next BM I get though

No-one think the tyre rub will be too bad?

[tim_s]

when i installed my lot i did the rear springs and shocks first as they're easy, then just popped over to the local autospeed and asked them if they'd pop the springs off the front struts and back onto the new ones (don't like playing with spring compressors), then got talking and convinced them to do the whole of the job - front shocks, springs, and fit ARBs which is a right pita as they are poly bushed. they charged £50.

seeing as we're both in somerset, i'd say you might get it done cheaper than £100 if you look around, but £100 isn't too bad.
i don't know about tyre rub - but i'd be surprised if you did.

[iDreamBeemer]

Here are a couple of shots of the exhaust, thinking I will be alright on a 35mm or 40mm drop all round, but want to be sure before I spend any money!

[tim_s]

is that a sebring? is different to mine and hangs lower. you'd prolly find it a pita once lowered.

[lukeb]

It looks like a powerflow or other custom exhaust to me. you can tell by the weld and by the bracket, also by the general design of it. I would of thought that sebring would of made it tuck up nicley if it were ment for the car, also other people with sebring exhaust dont seem to complain its too low.

[tim_s]

It looks like a powerflow or other custom exhaust to me. you can tell by the weld and by the bracket, also by the general design of it. I would of thought that sebring would of made it tuck up nicley if it were ment for the car, also other people with sebring exhaust dont seem to complain its too low.

yeah that. i was being polite! mine's much neater.

[iDreamBeemer]

well it has Sebring written on it (top of the tail pipe) and it was supplied by the Zone shop so bloody well hope it is a real one.

It did have 318iS stamped on it too but they put a great big address sticker over most of it so I could not check all the details, I took Sal at his word. I'm no expert so I just got it stuck on.

[Jon_Bmw]

Martin it looks to me that the exhaust just needs twisting slightly, so that the centre section sits more flush with the floor plan. Currently it looks like you have about 3 inches clearance which is shocking. I'm sure an afternoon buggering about with that exhaust would see it a couple of inches further up

Get those ramps out

[tim_s]

here's my sebring, couldn't be arsed to jack up the car or anything. must be heading towards 5 yrs old, these exhausts are so nicely built. its twisted slightly the front hook for the for the backbox broke the other week and needs to be welded up, used to be an even better fit. still has enough clearance even though lowered, but the U clip has taken a hit once or twice.

[lukeb]

that looks about the same as the other one, only yours seems to stick too far out from the bumper, must just be the design?

[iDreamBeemer]

tim_s, thanks for the pics, yeah looks exactly the same as mine but better secured. Whats yours lowered by is it a 40mm drop?

[tim_s]

no probs! mine appears to have a lot more clearance you know, normally sits even higher when the other back box strap is on. is yours flatted slightly where it passes under the rear subframe? can you rotate the exhaust around correctly to give you a load more clearance? what's the deal with the missing paint etc on the mid section? did you weld yours up like that?
weird how mine has the BMW-style mount and yours has the welded pole thing.
yeah mine does stick out a bit, i love it though when you view the whole rear of the car, hang on i'll see if i can find a pic

[tim_s]

[tim_s]

oh and i believe its 40mm, were some i nabbed from jonb ages ago. looks spot on though, click on my sig for pics.

[iDreamBeemer]

sweet man, yours looks tip top!

I had a garage fit the exhaust and that was how they did it, I only had the back box so the rest could well have been like that before. Going on the writing on the top it cant be twisted round much more.

I think when it goes in for service I will get them to check it out to see if it cant be better. It is not fixed on great as there is some side to side play and when I go round left hand corners it bangs on the surround but the garages answer was to cut bits off my car (without checking with me first!) so no intention of taking back to them.

Think I'm gonna get underneath and check it better. Also I know there is an adapter kit that I dont have, ordered one from needforspeed but never turned up, did you use on for yours?