Suspension

[DazzyA]

Am going to update the suspension on my 325 cab in the near future and am after help with what I need. I take it I need to replace the shock's and the spring's, is there anything else? What makes are recommended on a budget.

thanks.

[Colin]

Dont lower it. It might look good but the problems that it causes regarding grond clearence outways any handling gaines.

[JAMZ]

Cheapest option:

Get yerself some 40mm springs all round,as long as yer shocks are in good condition it will be fine,lower it anymore than that then id recommend upgrading yer shocks too..

[DaveD]

dont forget new bushes@Ԛ£65 (zone shop)= you will need link arms cos they are usually shot for Ԛ£52

[orangecurry]

I have put the 10-007 springs from AVO on my 325 cab; I haven't changed the shocks

http://www.avouk.com/

this results in a slightly nose-down stance, Hartge stylee.

http://www.birds.uk.com/

(In an ideal world I would simply buy the Hartge shock/spring kit, but I have other things on which I'd rather spend a grand!)


I think the resulting slight improvement in handling is excellent; the turn-in is very good; but there is NO problem with ground clearance, and the ride is just as good as it was before

The factory M-tech lowers by approx 15mm, the AVO kit claims by 25mm, but I'd say the actual result is slightly more at the front, and less at the back.

I'd recommend it as a real-world upgrade. And here is a picture where you can ALMOST see the effect

[GDBN]

Hi ... I got the H&R 60/40 cup kit on mine. It actually worked out to be 40/25 which is pefect in my opinion. Not at all stiff going over bumps ... just in corners. No clearance issues either.
I changed top mounts front and rear and all the front bushes. Powerflex eccentric wishbone bushes greatly improve steering feel.
G

[M5pilot]

Tried AVO - not bad.

The cup kit is loved by all that use it and there is good reason for it.

Alot of people use 35mm H&R springs with standard shocks and agian the result is good.

The opinions here are very biased towards H&R - but there is very good reason for this.

1) Its not overly expensive

2) Ride quality is excellent

3) handling highly improved.

[DazzyA]

Thanks for all the replies, I can't go any lower or else I won't be able to get in or out of my drive. I don't know whether it has been lowered in the past.
Is there a way to check what size is fitted?

[orangecurry]

don't listen to M5Pilot - he's biased selling stuff from his shop! Ok so he knows more about the E30 in his little finger than I ever will, but that's not the point.... no hang on.... I'll get my coat

umph - BMW colour-code their springs, but I don't know which is which; obviously if they are not o/e this won't help

rough guide to suspension on the E30 325 cab:
stick your hand in between the front wheel and the arch
four fingers = stock
two fingers = Mtech
one finger = perfect

[DazzyA]

that's a top post, I will try the old finger trick tomorrow, I take it that is for stock rims?
cheers.

[M5pilot]

don't listen to M5Pilot - he's biased selling stuff from his shop! Ok so he knows more about the E30 in his little finger than I ever will, but that's not the point.... no hang on.... I'll get my coat

umph - BMW colour-code their springs, but I don't know which is which; obviously if they are not o/e this won't help

rough guide to suspension on the E30 325 cab:
stick your hand in between the front wheel and the arch
four fingers = stock
two fingers = Mtech
one finger = perfect

Cheers dude. You did forget to mention the very low prices. You also forgot to mention that only tried and tested products go on the Zone shop.

I can add AVO, PI, Eibach and what ever other product I want to the Zone shop but there is a very good reason why they arent on there.

Eibach Anti roll bars were on the shop but have been replacxed by H&R because they are Ԛ£50 cheaper, better spec (same as Hartge) and people have tried them.

My opinions are based on thee feedback of the users of the suspension.

[Gouki]

i have the Avo 25mm springs on my cab as well, they are a good compromise on praticality and they look good too as the gap between wheel and arch is not much plus i can clear speed humps much better than before. Can't recommend them enough.

[orangecurry]

M5pilot - I was only having a laugh; didn't you spot the bit where I said your little finger knew more about the E30 than I ever will????

DazzyA - it doesn't matter what rims you have on the car - the rolling diameter should always be the same; hence 195/65/14 205/55/15 and 205/50/16 all equal about a 610mm diameter wheel

[M5pilot]

Sorry - misunderstood that one!

Its strange AVO has come up again. Was talking to E30Pilot about his suspension on his Touring which has AVO springs fitted.

Went for a drive in the car and they are actually quite good. They have been in his car for 3 years now and are linear rate springs.

The ride was good - similar to the H&R 35mm springs. Compared to my Touring which has a Cup kit it was a bit softer, understeered and rolled more. He has mtec shocks at front and New Koni's at the rear.

I'm still hesitant to add the AVO's to the shop because they are about the same price as the H&R's and the H&R's defo do a better job IMHO.

[DazzyA]

I seem to have 2-3 fingers at the front ( I've got skinny, pianist type pinkie's) and 1 at the back, the problem is the tech I front spoiler is very low.

[orangecurry]

sounds like M-tech

IMHO it's difficult to imagine a better all-round set-up than M-Tech - after all, how many Ԛ£millions did BMW spend on R&D?

if you have handling issues (you didn't say why you wanted to update your suspension BTW), it may be simply that the shocks have gone - if so get whatever M5Pilot recommends to match your M-tech springs from the 'Zone shop as you won't find better/cheaper!

it is unlikely that there is anything wrong with the springs if they are original Mtech (how many miles has the car done?)

[DazzyA]

Haven't had the car too long so the weather hasn't been great, but the handling seems very good, I was just thinking it must be pretty tired after 16 years, but maybe not. Think is I know diddly about the suspension side. Perhaps renewing perishible item's would be the way to go then, Is it just bushes then?
thanks.