Lowering Help

[tuna]

Ok ultimate noob question time and many appologies if this has already been covered but i realy need to make sure im purchasing the right things!

I've got a little 316i 1991 2door and am on a tight budget just like all the other youngsters around here meaning i cant spent £1000 on suspension. I've been looking around and have come across demontweeks. The great thing about this site is that they offer a finance payment option if the price is over £280.

Now i dont know how many of you guys use demontweaks but when looking for a part you must enter all your vehicles details, year, model, series etc then it will find the parts for your car. So i went ahead and entered the details correctly. I looked at the available shocks and springs for my car and couldent find anything that interested me or even anything that fitted my car as most parts where for touring or cabs, however i noticed that if i went back into the car details section and change the year from 91 to 90, a different selection of shocks and springs where avalaible, and a more apealing selection to.

Now please correct me if im wrong but wasent the e30 put on sale from 82 - 93? This then leads me to think that any suspension set up for a 316i e30 from will fit/work disregarding the year of it?

Anyway, im looking for either coilovers or shocks/springs, preferably off DT giving me the finance option and would quite like to drop the car 60mm all around, pherhaps 60 - 40/50 - a little help finding what i need would be apreciated! <3

I've come across these wich are ideal for me

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Performan ... 4646/24130

however these are in the 1989 section. it also states that it will only fit models with a 51mm diameter strut, which im not sure if that applies to my vehicle or not.

Sorry for the noobyness and thanks alot for your time!

Dan.

[steviebmw]

i brought 60mm front springs and 40mm rear springs off ebay £80

[tuna]

Thats a nice price, but i do believe that its also quite important to get uprated shocks if lowering your car.

[RM2186]

it also states that it will only fit models with a 51mm diameter strut, which im not sure if that applies to my vehicle or not.

316i have 45mm struts as standard

[m8782538]

not really, my car is lowered 60/40 on springs alone and its fine, an lower and you will need shocks doing. best budget coilovers are normally found on ebay and quite a few zoners have fitted them, forgotten the make. however best option is really Bilstein shocks and a set of springs, check the for sale section and upgraded suspension on a budget is sorted.

Also can get the M-Tech Gas dampers from GSF quite cheap and then add a set of lowering springs, also another option.

[tuna]

Ok thanks RM2186. Can anybody tell me if the different years these suspension setups are in actualy matters? providing its for the same series, engine size and strut size it should fit right?

[tuna]

thanks m8782538. I have looked on ebay and the cheapest i've noticed a the Gmax setups, but still thats £250 out of my pocket. the main reason im using demontweeks is because of the available finance option - Im that poor yes! And ill call GSF up in a bit to see what prices they offer.

[RM2186]

There are these on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-316i- ... 4cf4045da9

and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-316-3 ... 311wt_1396

which give you the option of 40/40 or 60/40

[m8782538]

should be able to get springs for about £60-£80 and a set of dampers for about £100.00-£150 on here from a fellow zoner.

316i you will have the same issue as me 45mm front struts, not 51mm like the 320, 325 and M3.

Your best option would be a new set of standard dampers and a good set of lowering springs. Will be much better than what you have now. New dampers, better than old worn ones and the lowering springs will just help that little bit, plus it will look a whole lot better.

[tuna]

Thanks alot for the replies you two! Are uprated shocks realy not that important then? I mean i had a 1.1 106 as my first car, it was slammed to the deck with jsut springs but people kept telling me i realy need uprated shocks, does it not matter so much with the beamer? Also if i was to find some springs that drop the car 60/60 would that be advisable? im not to botherd about speed bumps and so on. Or is 60 at the back silly low?Will the handling be better with just springs? or is this just a 'for the looks' sorta thing? please excuse the noobness, im learnin tho!

i also noticed that on the ebay page to those springs you linked to me it does say

** Shortened Shock Absorbers required with this Kit **

[RM2186]

i also noticed that on the ebay page to those springs you linked to me it does say

** Shortened Shock Absorbers required with this Kit **

Doesn't say that on the 40/40 which I think looks better anyway

[tuna]

40/40 is to far from exhaust scraping goodness!

[RM2186]

40/40 is to far from exhaust scraping goodness!

Chav

[Morat]

If you need finance for 60/60 springs, you'd better save up for a sump guard as well!

[fabsp]

you dont need a sump guard for a 60mm drop at the front. my E30s on 60mm apex lowering springs up front and I live in London which is pot hole and speed bump galore and the cars still very drivable. I however had it down 80-90mm at first and that was too low for daily use took the fun out of driving it...MOT guy cracked my sump too...but 60mm FTW...also I am not a chav

[jimbob29]

i cracked 2 sump pans with 60mm drop on a 316i and all the liquid metal repairs u could imagine lol i think 35mm all round is best with a good set of original shocks saves on bloody tyres too!

[tuna]

thanks for all the replies!

Is the 316i more prone to sump problems due to the shorter strut? - (noob question, sorry)

and if thats the case would i be safer going 50mm all around?

And as for the chav, im far from one, and what i said was kinda a joke. I just like my cars to look low as demonstrated in my previous car

[Morat]

you dont need a sump guard for a 60mm drop at the front. my E30s on 60mm apex lowering springs up front and I live in London which is pot hole and speed bump galore and the cars still very drivable. I however had it down 80-90mm at first and that was too low for daily use took the fun out of driving it...MOT guy cracked my sump too...but 60mm FTW...also I am not a chav

What is your average speed in London?

[Morat]

thanks for all the replies!

Is the 316i more prone to sump problems due to the shorter strut? - (noob question, sorry)

and if thats the case would i be safer going 50mm all around?

And as for the chav, im far from one, and what i said was kinda a joke. I just like my cars to look low as demonstrated in my previous car

The strut isn't shorter, 45mm is the diameter. If you want to drop your car 60mm go for it. 60/40 is regarded as the lowest drop for practical e30s. 60/60 is definitely chav and expensive on tyres.

[charlE30]

No issues at all on 60/40 H&R here with either sump damage or bad tyre wear, I would steer clear of 60mm all round as the back looks just wrong almost like the rear suspension has collapsed and it chews through rear tyres

If you go past 40mm it is advised to use matched shortened shocks otherwise when the car is raised the springs can become unseated... this would fail an MOT

The link you put up are for 51mm struts so wouldn't bolt straight on to your 316i (45mm struts). A lot of people fit the 51mm front struts (found on all convertibles, tourers and 325i saloon's) as there is a larger selection of uprated shocks avaialble, it would also enable you to fit the vented from brakes from the 325i

[Morat]

My last set of rears died at about 10,000 miles with mebbe 6mm tread still showing on the outside edge. The inside edge was completely gone That's at -35mm ish (I haven't actually measured it).
One day I'll get some camber correction sorted out.

[tuna]

Thanks for the suggestions and help!

so if i where to buy some decent quality 60/40 springs and some new standard shocks i should be okay and safe from any sump issues.

Im still pretty unclear on wether getting uprated shocks are nessesary as the replies have been mixed opinions, however i've always thaught its pretty important to make sure u've got uprated shocks if the car has been lowered.

[abhardwaj1990]

I started a thread a while ago asking about lowering options, can't seem to find it now!
I'm in the same boat as you, want to lower it without breaking the bank!

I've got the 318i, guessing it's the same set up as the 316?
Have been told that coilys are a bad idea on these, because of welding involved and a harsh ride. (would have prefered the adjustability with them as I have on my daily).

For me I don't think a 60-40mm drop would be enough. Yes people may say "you chav" etc, but I prefer a car to be quite low and have decent stance. Plus mine is just a project, not going to be a daily...

As for shocks, I think you should be ok if you by newer, better conditioned oem shocks. Though buying uprated will be better. It will affect handling, and will probably give a bouncier ride with standard shocks.

[RM2186]

You chav

[abhardwaj1990]

You chav

This is how I want mine sitting:




I know the sump is quite low on these, but that's a risk I'm willing to take to get it looking cool lol.
Has no one made up engine spacers for these yet?

My daily has it's coilovers wound all the way down with engine spacers fitted, so similar with the e30 would be nice!


(Sorry for hijacking your thread OP!)

[mrLEE30]

as above there are two types of suspension, 45 mm and 51 mm. yours has the 41mm so any suspension from a basic 4 pot i.e. 316i or 318i.

if you fit cheap coilovers you will get a cheap set up, i would go for a better quality spring and shock combination, i have heard stories (only stories) about cheap coilovers breaking, siezing etc within a year, cheap coil overs in a sunny place like spain may be ok, but in UK where you spend a great deal of time on wet roads i would not bother.

as above 40 mm is low enough to fill the arches and stil have a drivable car, 60mm has the wheels just under the arches, and any more wil leave almost zero suspension travel and thus very very poor handling and tyre wear. also note you will need a frendly MOT man as if the springs are not seated correctly with the car raised it is a failure, 60/80mm will do this at the rear, 40mm drop is passable

you do not need to fit uprated shocks for a 40mm drop if you want to lower with just springs, standard will do the job but better shocks may improve handling (normally at the expence of comfort).

the onlt real infor you need for the springs is the engine size and most reputable companies account for the weight difference from 4 pot to 6 pot (and even between coupe,cab and touring)

so my advice is to drop 40mm using a set of decent quality (around the 150pound mark) springs, you can always change the shocks later when you have more cash to spend.

[tuna]

Yeah those cars looks stunning all though im not one for the stretched tires. Any idea how low they are? - 60/60?

And as u said i think ill just get some decent uprated springs and some new standard shocks for the time being.

[abhardwaj1990]

I think they're lower tbh. I'm not into stretch either, only slightly if its required.

You can also get springs custom made, and not as expensive as you may think, I remember looking some up for my old car.

[tuna]

sorry mrLEE dident realise there was a second page!

Thanks for going into such detail. I apreciate what your saying about 60mm will hide some of the rear wheels and will make handling worse but this is a 316 after all so it deffinately wont be going on a track, and most roads i drive around are in 30mph limits anyway so its mainly about the looks for me!

I think ill be going for some good quality springs that can provide 60/60 or 60/40.

[tuna]

Still having a hardtime deciding what a want! I realy want a low ride and am not that bothered about the ride quality as much as im bothered about looks. Got my eye on a set of weitec shocks / springs offering either 60/40 or 60/60

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Performan ... 4644/24134

Anyone know if Weitec are any good, i'd be assuming so seeing as they are up there in price with the Spax

I know i could just spend 100 - 150 on springs but because im wanting it 60 at the front i think it'd be wise to get some uprated shocks.

[abhardwaj1990]

Weitec are meant to be a reputable company, a mate of mine had a Weitec shock/spring set up on his track day car and said they were very good. Obviously they vary for each car but overall they are meant to be decent.

Just a quick one, are the springs interchangeable between the 316/318 and 325 etc?

[Ajsingh]

I have this issue... Iv tried 2 sets of 60mm front springs on my 320 converted to 2.7. I cant get the front wheels to slightly tuck under the arch. Its on 17 inch alpina reps. The rear is on 60mm and gives a nice bit of wheel tuck but the front doesn't... Any help????

Sorry for hi jacking your thread but im with you.. I want the stance! The car to be sitting nice n low, im not a track man, i just want it to look nice

[abhardwaj1990]

I have this issue... Iv tried 2 sets of 60mm front springs on my 320 converted to 2.7. I cant get the front wheels to slightly tuck under the arch. Its on 17 inch alpina reps. The rear is on 60mm and gives a nice bit of wheel tuck but the front doesn't... Any help????

Sorry for hi jacking your thread but im with you.. I want the stance! The car to be sitting nice n low, im not a track man, i just want it to look nice

It gives the illusion of reverse rake because the arches are not as big on the rear, front arches are slightly higher on most cars.
So for a bit more tuck/stance you would need shorter springs up front.

[fabsp]

i have the same problem lol Mines 60 mm all around rears fine but front needs to go down that extra 10-15mm to completely get rid of the arch gap. But the iS sumps are so low so not going to further drop it until Ive got a sump guard.

average speed in London varies mate around town 30-40 but also 70...tbh you do have to be careful but its doable I rarely ever scrape on speed bumps...But if you really do belt your car around 40mm will be better. Im not really a boyracer im more a cruiser

[tuna]

But if you really do belt your car around 40mm will be better. Im not really a boyracer im more a cruiser

I dont realy belt it about, to many cops about and alot of our roads are just a bit... rubbish realy. Uneven, potholes here and there, alot of our roads have also been recently covered with gravel, the gravel is then just pushed into the cracks and holes onto the road from cars driving over it. Then after a few days the road is repainted. Pretty cheap of them i thaught!