suspension question

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notty
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:44 am

just wondering if any1 can help me, i currently have corsa springs on the back of my 318 and it looks to be between a 90 and 110mm drop which is desrtoying my exhaust system.
Was just wondering if any1 knew of a differnt set of springs i could get on the back to still keep it low enough to ride nice but just raise it up by 20 or 30 mm.
I have cut 2 coils off the front springs and it sits lovely on the front just need the back to do the same... let me know your thoughts on this people.
SUMPCRACKER
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:49 am

Sorry mate but everyone will just say to buy a set of lowering springs.

My rear springs were a bit short so i fitted adjustable platforms from demon tweeks, if that helps?
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:04 am

I suggest you get a set of E30 specific lowering springs. Using Corsa springs on the rear is ridiculous as there not designed for E30's and using cut springs is very dangerous.
Last edited by Blitz on Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
da4x4turbo
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:05 am

notty wrote:just wondering if any1 can help me, i currently have corsa springs on the back of my 318 and it looks to be between a 90 and 110mm drop which is desrtoying my exhaust system.
Was just wondering if any1 knew of a differnt set of springs i could get on the back to still keep it low enough to ride nice but just raise it up by 20 or 30 mm.
I have cut 2 coils off the front springs and it sits lovely on the front just need the back to do the same... let me know your thoughts on this people.
Sell the e30. You're clearly out of your depth! 8O
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:54 am

da4x4turbo wrote:
notty wrote:just wondering if any1 can help me, i currently have corsa springs on the back of my 318 and it looks to be between a 90 and 110mm drop which is desrtoying my exhaust system.
Was just wondering if any1 knew of a differnt set of springs i could get on the back to still keep it low enough to ride nice but just raise it up by 20 or 30 mm.
I have cut 2 coils off the front springs and it sits lovely on the front just need the back to do the same... let me know your thoughts on this people.
Sell the e30. You're clearly out of your depth! 8O
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:56 am

SUMPCRACKER wrote:Sorry mate but everyone will just say to buy a set of lowering springs.

My rear springs were a bit short so i fitted adjustable platforms from demon tweeks, if that helps?
Got a link to them?
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:16 am

Sounds like bodgery to me. Lowering springs are not expensive, even good ones. Most people reckon the best are either Eibach or HnR, and even the simplest Google search reveals a set of Eibachs can be yours for £140.
http://www.ruderacing.co.uk/advanced_se ... dho213dhl5

I'm sure you could shop around and get them cheaper. Why mess around?

If you're wondering how low that would make your car - my car in the sig pic is running on them. I seriously doubt an E30 can go down 110mm at the back without some serious changes.
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ImysE30
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:06 pm

Corsa springs and cut springs :eek: :eek:

Lowering springs are cheap enough
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Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:11 pm

notty wrote:just wondering if any1 can help me, i currently have corsa springs on the back of my 318 and it looks to be between a 90 and 110mm drop which is desrtoying my exhaust system.
Was just wondering if any1 knew of a differnt set of springs i could get on the back to still keep it low enough to ride nice but just raise it up by 20 or 30 mm.
I have cut 2 coils off the front springs and it sits lovely on the front just need the back to do the same... let me know your thoughts on this people.
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notty
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:03 am

no i'm just some1 tryin to mod my car on the cheap, does any1 have a cheap set of lowering springs avaliable?
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:28 am

notty wrote:no i'm just some1 tryin to mod my car on the cheap, does any1 have a cheap set of lowering springs avaliable?
Mate I'm deadly serious. An e30 isn't really a car you should modify on the cheap. They need tons of money spent on them and regular maintenance to keep them right.

Try the parts for sale section if you want. But trust me, the only thing that modifying an e30 on the cheap will result in is a masive ball-ache and a car that will only be fit for breaking afterwards.

If you're lowering it make sure you have decent dampers in there. Or else you'll take your sump off whenever you encounter big bumps on the road at speed. The 4-Cylinder sump is slightly lower than the 6-Cylinder Sump. You won't be replacing a sump "on the cheap" unless you can do it yourself.
Last edited by da4x4turbo on Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:32 am

halt the abuse chaps.. Notty, serio, you must go with a matched set of springs.. not only will your damping/spring rates be off on the rear, but they won't ever compliment/match the fronts or vice versa..

The resulting drive will be disappointing to say the least, and as mentioned pretty dangerous.

At best you'll catterpillar round corners & the handling a feel will be trully, horribly shit, for want of a better word(s)

Do save the cash & save yourself having to do the job twice (& taking stick.) I'm sure a set will be available on here soon.
mt1104
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:33 am

i have some -60mm front 4-pot springs (unknown brand) for sale, 20 quid + postage their yours

pm me if your interested.

also have some rear mtech springs which are -15mm or so drop which you can have for an extra tenner on top. This may not look 'cool' but it will mean your less likely to do a 900 degree spin and end up in a hedge somewhere. Though having said that, -60mm front with a -15mm rear will give it quite a good stance.

there is modding a car on the cheap and there is completely destroying a car on the cheap, I dread to think how your e30 feels even going in a straight line, let alone round a corner (no offence).
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:49 am

if its that low its sat on the bump stops front and rear with ZERO suspension travel. A complete mess
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:04 am

110mm at the rear? are you sure theres any springs in there? maybe someones knicked them.
tari
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:25 pm

I was thinking about getting those adjustable platforms for my rear springs.. Can anyone give me some advice on these please?
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Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:46 pm

even with my decent springs and shocks using polybushes and toyo tyres.... Get it wrong in the wet and it's game over. Dodgy springs and your asking for danger.... Take it easy until you sort it out :-)
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:20 pm

A friend of mine lowered his e30 100mm for track use. He is a steering and suspension specialist (for a supercar brand so knows his stuff). The only way he was able to get it so low was to design his own suspension components. Doing it with corsa springs is madness!
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:22 pm

nutter lol i am sure track cars usually use coilovers ????? :D
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Benho
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:27 pm

cutting springs isn't the end of the world. as long as you dont cut off rediculous amounts of coils then you should be fine. there was a massive write up about it in PPC when they did it to a 944.
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:29 pm

fowler wrote:nutter lol i am sure track cars usually use coilovers ????? :D
Maybe he does. I was under the impression he designed his own but I could be wrong.
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:34 pm

here's a lowering thread on driftworks..

http://www.driftworks.com/forum/driftin ... 0-bmw.html

here's 100mm apparantly

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Cypriotgeeza
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:15 pm

This thread is a good excuse for me to ask what people think is the most practical/ best looking to lower an E30? Pics would help alot :D

does the iS come with lower suspension anyway?

thanx :D
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:21 pm

iS should have -20mm factory mtech
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:22 pm

does the iS come with lower suspension anyway?
Yes -15mm Mtech suspension

People say Billstein eibach combo are the best but expect to pay around 400 for that.
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:24 pm

:cool: As my friend said to me..."welcome to the world of BMW..where your wallet gets magically lighter overnight" lol
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:26 pm

As my friend said to me..."welcome to the world of BMW..where your wallet gets magically lighter overnight" lol
On that note, don't talk to Steve-E30. Don't get me wrong, top bloke, but he always manages to find ways to get me to spend my money. :x
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:27 pm

People say Billstein eibach combo are the best but expect to pay around 400 for that.
here's that exact combo, which has more function than form really

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Cypriotgeeza
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:29 pm

looks good but i wouldnt mind it a bit lower than that...definantly thinking of practicality tho as the "sleeping policeman" are everywhere these days...and i dont fancy ripping my front spoiler off anytime soon haha
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:31 pm

here's that exact combo, which has more function than form really
Function over form is good for me. I am not particularly taken by ultra lower BMWs anyway. I would rather have a good handling, comfortable, inch and a quarter lower bmw rather then a ultra low, feel every cigarette paper set up.
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:08 pm

I have the eibachs on mine (pre-facelift) 325 - it sits lovely on the road, similar height to the one in barx325i's post (rear arch makes it look a bit higher at the back - which I like as it makes it look a bit 'pointy'). It's on normal dampers currently, so I drive carefully over bumps and around corners for now - but I can cope with the wait for the Bilsteins - the anticipation keeps me going.

I knew when I bought the e30 it was going to be along and expensive love affair!
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:27 pm

Kemlo wrote:I knew when I bought the e30 it was going to be along and expensive love affair!
:D it gets worse ....and worse.

the 51mm blistein sport inserts are well worth it, it's not just the action, they much lighter with hollow inner stanchions, reducing unsprung weight. Which is not so commonly appreciated..

look second hand maybe, they're a lot cheaper & you'll be unlucky to find a totally buggered set..
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:29 pm

lol any pics on how low this sits?

prob will get coil-overs ov some sort eventually...any suggestions?
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Project Frankenstein: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=194154
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:50 pm

I'd thoroughly recommend getting the eibach rollbars to go with the springs and shocks. If you are lowering the car to reduce roll (and most people are) then it makes a lot of sense to get rollbars as well, especially as they don't make the ride any harsher. Buying all three totally transformed my car.
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Cypriotgeeza
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Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:03 pm

sounds good to me mate..is there an eibach website with all these on?

EDIT- got the website up :D
Check my M30 build threads:
Project Frankenstein: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=194154
Headgasket: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=165704
Clutch issues: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=172482
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