318IS Suspension mystery..

[G-Bear]

Hello everyone. I'm afraid I'm one of those that float in and out of this forum... more for when my car is in trouble. But I very much enjoy reading and learning from all of your entries. I don't post much as I never have as much to offer as the rest.

However I'm hoping for some help and would be very grateful for peoples input...

I bought my 318IS off StevE30 on here back in Summer 2008 and absolutely love it. It came lowered from the previous owner to him.

Amongst a few things, it failed its MOT yesterday on a cracked rear coil spring and knackered front shock (all of the fluid had leaked out). I'm not sure what brand or how much it had been lowered to replace the rear springs and front shocks (if the shocks are factory or not) to match as closely as the last. So was wondering if its best just to replace the full set up or not... I have wanted to look into this anyway in the future, but can not really afford it right now. So perhaps I should go for a cheaper solution at the moment. Any ideas or advice I would be grateful of. I'm going to start searching through the site today, but thought I would post anyway for some feedback.

If anyones got any set ups for sale I would be interested..

Here's some pics of it, these aren't recent ones but you at least get an idea of how low it is now.. if possible I'd like to match what I currently have (height wise).

Cheers

Greg

[DHFiS]

I'd fit a set of Boge Turbo gas/oil dampers from GSF and look for a set of genuine springs from a breaker.

[capri_rob]

Whats your budget ?

Unfortunately a suspension refresh can end up costing £££ if you discover knackered bushes etc along the way.

Bilstein dampers are about as good as you can get but not cheap.
Boge Turbo are a quality alternative.
Eibach Pro Kit or H&R Springs are superb.

Dampers should be replaced in pairs so you've got to have both front struts off the car anyway and you've got to disconnect the rear shocks to get the springs out.

To do properly you need to check and replace the lot - things like top mountsm ARB bushes and droplinks if they havent been done before or recently will almost certainly be past their best.

Unfortunately this could turn into a big job if you want to do it properly to get the best out of the car.

[Duke137]

It is well worth refreshing your suspension, it will make your E30 feel like new!

It looks a nice car btw

[G-Bear]

Right.. Thanks for both of your posts.

From having a read about.. I emailed Balance Motorsport for a price for a complete setup of Bilstein B4's. From what I have gathered so far these are the cheapest of their range but people still seem to rate them well. The ones i looked at are a 30-40mm drop on the front and 30mm on the back. capri_rob, would the kit include ARB bushes and droplinks or would I have get these separate (sorry might be a stupid question but thought I'd ask whilst I'm here...). Also budget wise I'm not too sure, I guess once I get a price for a full kit I can gauge it from there..

Also just to double check, is the strut size 45mm on the IS model.

Cheers

[G-Bear]

It is well worth refreshing your suspension, it will make your E30 feel like new!

It looks a nice car btw

Thanks, yeah I think you're right. I want to keep that car as long as possible, I think it time to show it some more love again..

[Sanchez]

Doesnt look lowered much IMO, as above all suspension parts should be replaced in pairs.

Ide lookout for Mtech springs in the forsale section and if on budget and time constraints fit a set of used front struts then build up your set when time and money are there. Then you can MOT your car and have fun driving it while you wait.

[steve_k]

ARB drop link bushes will have to be bought seperate. Also IIRC the IS came fitted wiith 51mm front struts.

[Sanchez]

Yep struts are 51mm

[capri_rob]

Right.. Thanks for both of your posts.

From having a read about.. I emailed Balance Motorsport for a price for a complete setup of Bilstein B4's. From what I have gathered so far these are the cheapest of their range but people still seem to rate them well. The ones i looked at are a 30-40mm drop on the front and 30mm on the back. capri_rob, would the kit include ARB bushes and droplinks or would I have get these separate (sorry might be a stupid question but thought I'd ask whilst I'm here...). Also budget wise I'm not too sure, I guess once I get a price for a full kit I can gauge it from there..

Also just to double check, is the strut size 45mm on the IS model.

Cheers

B4's are good. I have these on my car as do plenty of other Zoners. But its the springs that drop the ride height not the dampers - what springs did they quote you for ?

ARB bushes, droplinks etc all have to be bought separately - Droplinks & Front top mounts buy Lemforder from ECP ( Contact meatballs82 on here for zone discount )

ARB Bushes buy from the dealers
Rear top mounts also from the dealer but buy the ones for the E46 M3 Cab - worthwhile upgrade.

The struts could be either depending on what sort of life the car has had - easiest way is to measure them - they should be 51mm but depends whether they've been got at in the past.

[G-Bear]

Doesnt look lowered much IMO, as above all suspension parts should be replaced in pairs.

Ide lookout for Mtech springs in the forsale section and if on budget and time constraints fit a set of used front struts then build up your set when time and money are there. Then you can MOT your car and have fun driving it while you wait.

I think for time being this might be a good option, just so its back on the road in time (MOT).

[G-Bear]

Thanks Capri_rob, in regards to the springs.. I asked for a quote on a whole set, springs and dampers I assumed. It said that it was a 30-40mm drop.

[capri_rob]

The Eibach Pro kit gives around a 30-40mm drop. Should be about £150 for these springs for a 4 cylinder car.

Not sure how much the dampers are now though.

looks like a nice car and worth investing in to do it properly

[rix313]

I've got a cheap set of Spax -40 springs for an iS if interested. Looking for £30 for them plus post.

[G-Bear]

The Eibach Pro kit gives around a 30-40mm drop. Should be about £150 for these springs for a 4 cylinder car.

Not sure how much the dampers are now though.

looks like a nice car and worth investing in to do it properly

Yep you're certainly right I love the car and want to invest in getting all done properly. I love working on it. But always get overwhelmed a touch by the endless options, always enjoy the journey of learning about it all. I've got other bits that need attention before for a full overhaul on the suspension. So think perhaps might find just second hand rear springs and front dampers for now...

Thanks again for the info

[G-Bear]

I've got a cheap set of Spax -40 springs for an iS if interested. Looking for £30 for them plus post.

Cheers rix313 I'm interested. Just to make sure when you say a set, do you mean front and rear. Could you get a pic at all..?

Also what would the post be to the South East.

Cheers

Right I'm on the lookout for some front dampers. The front doesn't look that low so perhaps I could get away with standard IS ones for the time being....

[mwggriffiths]

G-Bear, want a nasty shock?

I've been pricing up a suspension refresh for my iS.

Using Bilstien B8's and Eibach Pro -30's will set you back around £630 on their own.

And then there's the bushes! Including top mounts you're looking at around £200 for all those.

And that doesn't include the anti-roll bar droplinks or bushes

[G-Bear]

G-Bear, want a nasty shock?

I've been pricing up a suspension refresh for my iS.

Using Bilstien B8's and Eibach Pro -30's will set you back around £630 on their own.

And then there's the bushes! Including top mounts you're looking at around £200 for all those.

And that doesn't include the anti-roll bar droplinks or bushes

Cheers for this... Its the sort of cost I was expecting... Going to do it still, but not just yet, if you buy those bits in section.. £600 here £200 there its a gentle way to ease yourself into the spending..

[G-Bear]

I've been trying to source a set of dampers for the front... Been on the phone to a chap at bmw-spares.com and am little confused...

One of the front dampers that is on my car at the moment has leaked almost completely empty and needs replacing, I've explained that to them that (as far as I understand) I need a set of inserts... am I right in thinking that these are the same as shocks and the same as dampers??

As far as I understood on E30's (or even most BMW's) there is a strut and then the shock/damper that inserts into that... am I right?

I only ask as I originally got a reply from BMW-spares.com saying that "we don't sell inserts, you are best to buy new. We do have used shock absorbers though, both thick and thin..." I then spoke to them on the phone to make sense of all this but I didn't really get far. They then emailed to say that they "have a nearside leg and shock in stock.." I'm a bit confused as to what they meant by this... again I'm guessing that by 'leg' does that mean strut and that 'shock' means the insert.

I'm sure I've ran round in circles on this one but could anyone help explain...

[rix313]

You're correct you need a new 'damper insert'. Give ASWR BMW breakers a call and speak to Mark he should be able to help you.

[capri_rob]

Basically he's saying that you can buy the complete assembly off him with the damper in-situ - but they don't strip the "leg" down to remove the damper and sell individually.

You are correct - the "damper" is a cartridge which fits inside the front shock/leg/strut whatever you want to call it and is then held in place by a screw-in metal collar.

[G-Bear]

Right then... I've ordered the whole assembly from BMW Spares for £66 delivered which I thought was reasonable.. and then at least I've got a spare nearside strut to start my collection..

I know I should replace the dampers in pairs but I'm really not intending of keeping them in for long. So thats the shocks sorted...

Springs; Having seen some Eibach Sport Pro springs for sale on here (which I was too slow to get..) and wanting to eventually put on B4's or one of the Bilstein setups, I read last night that Bilstein use Eibach springs... So rather than buying twice, I've found some Eibach Sport Pro srpings for £150 delivered at DC Performance.

What do people think... Then I've just got to save my pennies for the rest of the upgrades.

[G-Bear]

Right then... I've ordered the whole assembly from BMW Spares for £66 delivered which I thought was reasonable.. and then at least I've got a spare nearside strut to start my collection..

I know I should replace the dampers in pairs but I'm really not intending of keeping them in for long. So thats the shocks sorted...

Springs; Having seen some Eibach Sport Pro springs for sale on here (which I was too slow to get..) and wanting to eventually put on B4's or one of the Bilstein setups, I read last night that Bilstein use Eibach springs... So rather than buying twice, I've found some Eibach Sport Pro srpings for £150 delivered at DC Performance.

What do people think... Then I've just got to save my pennies for the rest of the upgrades.

[G-Bear]

Picked up my car from my mechanic on saturday morning...

In the end I bought a pair of front full strut assemblies from ASWR (thanks Rix313 for the heads up on that one) and took the inserts from there. Bought a brand new set Eibach Sport Pro springs, which will be the start for a full suspension upgrade that I'm saving up for now.

Ended up getting a lot of work done for the MOT..

Front inserts.
Springs all round.
A new mount on the ARB (real bad i know.. it had corroded away.. and I thought the knocking was coming from a knackered track end rod!!).
Welding on a jacking point.
Welding on the exhaust.
Handbrake cable.
Head light alignment.


and tracking as I had changed one of the track end rods before I took it down.

I have 5 advisories to get sorted for next years..

I'm really pleased with the new springs, although they sit differently to the last.. a touch lower on the front and higher on the rear. The front shocks that are on now were from a 325i Touring so I assume they are a bit softer than the Boge dampers that came on the IS, but the ride still feels better than before... what with my anti bar being in tact properly..

Can't wait to upgrade the rest of the suspension. The MOT ran out back at the start of January and was so busy with other bits, have had it of the road since then.. I'm loving having it back.

A big thanks for everyones help very much appreciated, especially to capri_rob. I've learnt a lot in the last fortnight.. my E30 bug is definitely back..

[Sanchez]

If the springs are brand new never used then they will settle after time.

Glad the bugs back.