Suspension? Comfort but lowered

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:45 am

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a 325i cab. And I'm looking to get it lowered.

I have already the mtec 2 kit on a 316i ( my old car ) which is lowered on spax springs and shocks 60mm at the front and spax springs only at the back 40mm. I'm transferring the body kit over to my 325i

I found that this suspension setup looked good but speed bumps were a problem and the ride comfort was back breaking.

I want my 325i to look attractive but I want it to be comfortable too.

Can anyone recommend a setup as I wasn't really happy with spax? I mean brands and sizes?

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:39 am

Brands :

Dampers - Bilstein B4 for comfort, B6/B8 for a harder ride OR Boge Turbo ( buy from GSF )
Springs - Eibach ( Pro kit is around 35mm drop )
Or H&R Cup Kit

You need 51mm front damper inserts, and you need to specify cab-specific springs.

Spax are notorious for spine-jarring ride quality - I had a Spax kit on my 16v Astra GTE - put up with it for 6 months and then sold it to get something comfortable. On smooth tarmac it was a proper weapon but on normal roads it was horrible.

Welcome

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:51 pm

I'll second this - I've just fitted B4s & the Eibach springs - perfect stance and comfort/drive-ability is spot-on.

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:00 pm

PeteE30Tourer wrote:I'll second this - I've just fitted B4s & the Eibach springs - perfect stance and comfort/drive-ability is spot-on.

So have I. Much better than the lowered shite the previous owner had given it. At least it will follow a straight line after hitting a pothole!

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:22 pm

Just fitted the eibach springs to my 325 cabby. I had standard springs before. On roads round here the ride is not as comfortable and is less predictable IMO. However cars sits much better and handles better on the twistys.

One drawback is that I can't get my racing trolley jack under it now.

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:30 pm

Thanks for the quick replies,

So the general consensus is b4s on eibach brings.

Has anyone got any pictures of an e30 lowered 30mm on 17" wheels?

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:12 pm

Samytee wrote:
Has anyone got any pictures of an e30 lowered 30mm on 17" wheels?

Hold it right there. Don't move ! I'd recommend the eibachs with 16" wheels, nothing larger. Handling and tyre wear probably won't be good with a 40mm drop and 17s.

Post Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:19 pm

Samytee wrote: I'm transferring the body kit over to my 325i

Are both cars facelift?

You will have to modify the side skirts to fit the cabbies deeper sills.

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:15 am

My 316i was lowered 60mm at front on 17" and they did wear a lot on the inside.

Yea both models are facelift 1991 and 1993.

I've not actually picked my 325i up yet. It has alpina wheels on it which I think are 17" maybe 16" not sure.

One thing I'd like to ask, has anyone just fitted the eibach springs on standard shocks? What were the results? Would I regret not buying the updated struts if I just bought the springs only?

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:20 am

Sanchez wrote:
Samytee wrote: I'm transferring the body kit over to my 325i

Are both cars facelift?

You will have to modify the side skirts to fit the cabbies deeper sills.

I don't actually have the side door moulding kit or skirts on my 316i (only bumpers - aftermarket side skirts) but however I have ordered the genuine mtech2 side kit. Thanks for letting me know. How much alteration is needed? Are we talking a couple more hours work or a couple of days?

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:54 am

Samytee wrote:I've not actually picked my 325i up yet. It has alpina wheels on it which I think are 17" maybe 16" not sure.

The difference is normally reflected in the sale price, so if you paid less than 1000 pounds for the car, it'll have 17" on it.

If you're making any driveability mods to the car, such as your suspension changes, then you really want to get those wheels off. 17" does the E30 no favours at all.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Wheels

Not many 17's listed...

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:41 am

Grrrmachine wrote:
The difference is normally reflected in the sale price, so if you paid less than 1000 pounds for the car, it'll have 17" on it.

If you're making any driveability mods to the car, such as your suspension changes, then you really want to get those wheels off. 17" does the E30 no favours at all.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Wheels

Not many 17's listed...

thanks for the advice

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 7:51 am

If they are 17" they won't be Alpina's they are likely to be BK Alpina Replica's which are heavy and just not very good.

They will sell easily to people who don't know any better - ditch them and find some 15" or 16" with good tyres if you want it to handle properly

Post Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:06 am

to be honest with you all. im more interested in my can looking the dogs, rather than handling brilliantly.

I personally think that unless you have the m3 (arches) then 15's and 16's look too small on such a big car.

thats my opinion anyway

Post Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:23 am

I have 17 Alpina reps with a 60mm drop (bought as, before you all start sniggering, I am looking to raise it back up again)

You'll go through at least one set of rears every 12 months and your fronts might last longer if your driving well. They shred the inside edge because the suspension geometry changes with the car lowered so much. It sounds like my car is very much like what you want to do, it looks fantastic, but pretty impractical. I've got to know all the routes around my house by the noise my new exhaust makes as it drags over all the speed bumps. And going somewhere new is a nightmare, especially with this 'middle hump' things. If you ain't going straight over, your in the middle of the road trying not to get your side skirts mullered.

But saying that, I havn't changed it for two years now, so it's not all that bad obvioulsy.