325i Suspension Advice

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LondonTom
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 5:56 pm

As above, I want to refresh the suspension on my 325i (sport) - it's a standard road car, will be never used on track and not thrown round corners etc. I would like it a little lower too, however nothing that would effect the ride.

Any advice would be great, on things like bushes etc, as well as shocks and springs.

Thanks.
Topblag
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 6:07 pm

OEM bushes are fine if in good fettle, recommend the eibach spring kit, lowers by about 40mm. Bilstein shocks will do the job. A decent strut brace will also stiffen up the front a bit.

Eibach is lower and still comfortable, H&R springs are harder but lower by the same amount(ish).

If it's a sport, off topic but get the door pods and dill covers off once a year and clean out the sunroof and front wing drains. Sports tend to rust more than standard models because the body kit hides any nasty goings on.
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1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
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LondonTom
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 7:05 pm

Topblag wrote:OEM bushes are fine if in good fettle, recommend the eibach spring kit, lowers by about 40mm. Bilstein shocks will do the job. A decent strut brace will also stiffen up the front a bit.

Eibach is lower and still comfortable, H&R springs are harder but lower by the same amount(ish).

If it's a sport, off topic but get the door pods and dill covers off once a year and clean out the sunroof and front wing drains. Sports tend to rust more than standard models because the body kit hides any nasty goings on.
Thanks Mate - any ideas on which bilsteins?

This one is solid fortunately, it had been stored for 6 years before I bought it. My first sport which I bought back in 2008 was fine under the kit and sunroof but the bulkhead was seriously rotten.
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HRH-squidlips_III
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 7:12 pm

eibach springs imo are to soft for the 40mm drop
front 114 /in rear 280-326 progressive
standard are f 118 r 265
h&r f 200 r 285
koni shock would give you better handling while retaining comfort being a twintube shock vs the monotube of the bilsteins
but by the sounds of it you would prefer std shocks much cheaper
don,t know if the std shocks would be right with the h&r,s though
magpie
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:02 pm

bilstein b6 dampers and eibach springs would be a comfy/firm ride
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Tedswagon
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:17 pm

magpie wrote:bilstein b6 dampers and eibach springs would be a comfy/firm ride
Think they call it the BILSTEIN B12 kit.

Shop for the B12 kit and you will get different prices
Last edited by Tedswagon on Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
E30 316i auto coupe build thread here viewtopic.php?f=25&t=273035
bss325i
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:18 pm

Bilstein B12 kit (eibach 35mm springs and Bilstein B8 shocks) is what I have on mine and I've fitted to many customers cars.

Works great for the road.
Last edited by bss325i on Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

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LondonTom
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:24 pm

Thanks chaps.

Any suggestions on bushes at all?
Tedswagon
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:40 pm

I think the majority of folks here would suggest OEM all day. I have just assembled my suspension with Polybushes, problem is I cant tell how different it is as the rest of the car assembly will take a while!! I assume I will probably end up changing back to OEM but for now I will stick with it!
E30 316i auto coupe build thread here viewtopic.php?f=25&t=273035
bss325i
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:24 pm

Poly is fine for the ARB bushes, OEM rubber for the rest and use E30 M3 eccentric for the front wishbone bushes.

You will need to get the toe adjusted after fitting the eccentric bushes.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

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magpie
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Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:29 pm

Tedswagon wrote:
magpie wrote:bilstein b6 dampers and eibach springs would be a comfy/firm ride
Think they call it the BILSTEIN B12 kit.

Shop for the B12 kit and you will get different prices
my b12 kit came with b8 dampers which is about as firm as you get without coilovers so the b6 might be on the b12 option list :? but i dunno :D
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