how low shall i go?

[Bailey]

Hi all, i'm in the process of looking about to find a good set of lowering springs and dampers for my 325 cab. I cant remember if its -40 at the front and -60 at the rear, or the other way round?
plus, i'm not sure whats the best tried and tested manufacture? I dont want it so hard that my eye balls pop out of there sockets when i'm giving it some beans (the joys of the lincolnshire roads) but i would like it alot better/harder than standard.
How much do you think i should be looking to spend too? I'm thinking in around the 300-350 mark, but i'm a firm believer of you get what you pay for.

Thanks, any help would be greatly appreciated. Guy.

oh, forgot to add that i'm currently running 17's but may possibly go to 18" in the near future, so i guess that might become a wee problem.

[handpaper]

60/40 usually means 60 front, 40 rear. Many, many decent setups in this drop, the Zone shop sells several.
Ride quality should remain OK, depending mainly on the shocks fitted; (40mm max drop on stock fronts) Spax are reckoned to be the hardest non-adjustable ones.
Very few people run rims bigger than 17" on e30s; most don't go above 15" as without fairly major suspension mods and careful tuning you can ruin your handling. If you're building a 'show' car, fit the 18s, but don't expect the same balance and grip. If you're looking to hoon around Lincolnshire, stick with the 17s, or, better still, fit some 15" BBSs with decent tyres (many opinions here) and enjoy!

[snoops]

go for 60/40 luks much better

[d6dph]

60/40 drop looks better imo, keeps the arch gaps fairly level and still able to use as a daily driver if you take care over speed bumps etc.

Here's my 325i on a 60/40 drop.

[Bailey]

brilliant thanks for all the advice, but sorry to say , theres no way 15" wheels are going anywhere near my car !!
d6dph, what size are those rims on your car? still looks to be plenty of room above the tyres to allow for passengers etc. Theres nothing worse than the harsh sounds tyres makes when they scrap the arches lol!

again, thanks for all the replys!

[d6dph]

17's with 215/40's dude, they are fairly tight offset wise on the rear, but I have had two passengers to kent and back (done about 130 miles that night) with no issues.

Just a bit of care required when negotiating speed bumps and all is good.

[funkdocta]

17's with 215/40's dude, they are fairly tight offset wise on the rear, but I have had two passengers to kent and back (done about 130 miles that night) with no issues.

Just a bit of care required when negotiating speed bumps and all is good.

What are the offsets d6dph? Do you have different offsets on the rear to the front? Also, what make and model of wheels are they? Thanks

[d6dph]

Well I think the wheels have a 38mm offset, And I'm using 16mm spacers on the rear and 10mm sacers on the front.

The spacers are proper hubcentric ones, The only safe way to do it imo. Well worth spending the extra and getting it right first time.

The wheels are Team dynamics Omega's

[dazleeds]

Q how low shall i go?



first job go find the worst bump your likely to need to get over measure it then decide

roads round here are shite my front downpipes forever twatting things

[d6dph]

Bang on Daz,

Think of a height that will just about get over bumps, by no more than a cats whisker, then deduct 20mm and you should be about right