m52 suspension advice needed

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:17 pm

I've only got a few things left before my car is fully overhauled and one of them is the springs.
I'm not sure what springs are currently on the car but I'm happy with the way it rides and looks, however I'm not happy with the fact that it sits unevenly.

The rear has all been renewed with lemforder bushes and top mounts with boge turbo shocks, again the springs are unknown.

The front has new lemforder top mounts and wishbones with m3 eccentrics. The only thing left to change is the shocks, I'll probably stick to the boge turbo's and springs all round.

What I would like to know is how will the car sit on six cylinder h&r -35mm springs with the m52?

Is anyone running this set up? and are there any pics or measurements around. I dont want to buy and fit the springs only to find that the front is pointing to the sky. Any help greatly appreciated.

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:25 pm

I've looked at Danthe's chromie thread and I would be happy at that height but it seems as though his is with an iron block so I'm assuming a alloy block would cause the car to sit higher at the front which I wouldn't want.

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:27 pm

This was my M52'd chromie after just dropping it off the stands when fitting Eibach -35mm 6 pot springs

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:05 pm

Thanks for taking the time to reply and post up a pic. I think that looks spot on. I'm not interested in a scraping the floor look, I want to maintain driveability but improve handling.

How are you finding the eibachs? I was tempted by them but I'm leaning more to the h&r as I've read they're a little firmer and still not harsh.

Also, what size are your wheels and tyres? I'm on 15" bbs's with 205/50/15's.

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:14 pm

I thought the Eibachs were very good, although I could not tell in isolation as I also had uprated anti-roll bars. But they allowed me to thump it over speed humps without any dramas and still gave a nice ride.

My wheels were 16" with 205/50/16 boots

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:42 pm

I bought BeemerLad's Chromie and the only thing I'd add is that the car seems to sit slightly lower than in the picture now once it has settled (as Lee said he'd taken the picture just after dropping it off the stands).
The wheels fill the arch better now but it's still not too low.

On speed bumps I do find the front bottoms out a bit. So slightly stiffer springs may not be a bad idea.

Would have taken a picture for you but ther weather's crap and I'm ill

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 4:00 pm

Thanks for the pointers and get well soon!
I think I'll go for the h&r's at -35mm then as I can get them for £130. Where as the eibachs are a fir bit more.

Which arb's did you go for as that would be next on my suspension list if I feel the h&r's aren't enough. Although I'm quite happy with the roll I have at the moment, mtech2 suspension from factory so unsure what thickness the bars are. Currently my tyres are more of a weak spot since I went from michelin pilots exalto's to a spare set of falkens ze912's.

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:31 pm

The arb's were already on the car when I got it and I believe they're Racing Dynamics adjustables.

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:41 pm

Supafly wrote:I've looked at Danthe's chromie thread and I would be happy at that height but it seems as though his is with an iron block so I'm assuming a alloy block would cause the car to sit higher at the front which I wouldn't want.

I have the exact same set-up as Dan's chromie in mine but I too have an Iron block. However, I can't see it making a massive difference if I am honest on the grand scheme of it.

Min looks very similar to E30beemerlads in the pic above although mine is an early 1988 facelift 2 door

Naheem have you still got that integrale?

ferg

EDIT: Also, I have a fully renewed suspension/chassis bushes and the H&R front and rear ARB's etc the handling is tight as hell, it would out handle most modern cars (any I have driven anyway) I would highly recommend them. Failing that go for some Ireland engineering ones with the proper rear mounting kit. But I would recommend H&R springs and ARB's for fast-road use

Post Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:49 pm

As above, after driving Fergs car with the 205/50/15 tyres I realised I made a mistake with the 225/40/16 I fitted to mine. Much more comfortable ride on my local roads which are utterly shite. The H&R are stiffer than the Eibach but with sensible tyres its not an issue at all!
If you find the front is slightly high then a set of E90 alloy spring top hats will drop 10mm for about £20

Post Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:32 pm

Thanks for the tips everyone. Hope you're all having(had) a lovely christmas.

Ferg, Yes I still have the integrale. Just don't have the money or time to get it all back on the road.... I keep putting it all into the e30. I completed my m52 swap and have been enjoying it for ages now. The car is almost 100% now, all new bushes/mounts etc. Only thing it needs now is front shocks and springs all round, then just a few odds and sods inside.

I've been reading about the e90 top hats on e30tech. Looking at the pictures it seems as though they aren't angled like the e30 ones are, anyone have any experience of these fitted to their car? Also I've read that they can catch on the towers but that can be taken car of with a grinder on the eccentric part of the hat.

Post Tue Dec 25, 2012 9:50 pm

I have the E90 ally top hats on my chromie. No problems

Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 6:41 pm

Thanks Dan, think I might give them a go with the 35mm h&r's.

Ferg, how you getting on with the diff? I found the original clutches, they were hanging on a nail in the garage. If you like p.m me your address and I'll post one out to you as promised( a long time ago).