how much £ do i need to spend to lower my 320i

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
dom-1984-320i
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1246
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Essex

Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:21 pm

hey guys,

am just pricing up the forth coming jobs to do on my 320i and wondered roughly how much i should be paying to get the car lowered 35 of 40 all round? Dont want to get ripped of so any help would be greatly appreciated.

cheers
smithy318i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5797
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tyne & Wear

Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:29 pm

to DIY... about 50-60 quid
Image
Project_E30
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1107
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:30 pm

How?

What would you buy for the fronts and from where?
dom-1984-320i
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1246
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Essex

Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:49 pm

do i need shocks and springs? is this the best thing to do?
dom-1984-320i
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1246
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Essex

Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:55 pm

hey there,

50 or 60 quid how could i do it for that? sounds very cheep!
smithy318i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5797
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tyne & Wear

Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:56 pm

I didnt need new shocks when i lowered mine. new springs, a set of spring compressors and a ball joint splitter were all i needed.
Image
User avatar
georob
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1106
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:39 pm

Check the forum here from time to time, i'm sure someone was selling a set of lowering springs for £30.
m-dtech
Unapproved Trader caution
Posts: 2068
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:03 pm

i have a set of springs brand new i bought for my 320i but i now have a 318i and now no use to me.

never fitted.

£35 + p&p

pm me if interested
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:47 pm

I didnt use a ball joint splitter last time i changed front shockers, I just unscrewed the track rod end but marked where it was?
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
smithy318i
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5797
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tyne & Wear

Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:52 pm

Bob_S wrote:I didnt use a ball joint splitter last time i changed front shockers, I just unscrewed the track rod end but marked where it was?
what about the lower wishbone mount ?

he will need a ball joint splitter.
Image
User avatar
georob
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1106
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:23 pm

smithy318i wrote:
Bob_S wrote:I didnt use a ball joint splitter last time i changed front shockers, I just unscrewed the track rod end but marked where it was?


he will need a ball joint splitter.
two hammers would suffice instead, hit either side at the same time usually splits them ok for me
fuzzy
He who sleeps with "Gingers"
Posts: 14351
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: melbourne Australia

Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:39 pm

bob-s ,how did you unscrew the track rod end without disconnecting the ball joint? are you planning to do the job yourself?its relatively straight forward with the only possible problems being bolts that have siezed on but nothing a bit brute force cant fix.i dont use ball joint splitters as mine tends to rip the rubber.i screw an old nut on top to protect the threads then belt with a hammer .id also recommend spring compressors.you might be lucky and not need new shocks but if theyre old then id change them anyway whilst its apart.id recommend buying m-dtechs springs as hes a decent guy 8)
User avatar
irish320i
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 431
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Co. Monaghan, Ireland

Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:49 pm

[quote="fuzzy"]bob-s ,how did you unscrew the track rod end without disconnecting the ball joint? you can just unscrew the shaft that goes into the ball joint the same as you do when tracking the car
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Sun Jul 09, 2006 2:55 pm

thats exactly what I did just unscrewed the inner arm that you use for tracking adjustment a bit crude but works generally and you dont knacker anything up

I used the old technique of a nut on top of the thread and belt with a hammer on the main ball joint works a treat everytime

I find the same that the ball joint splitter always buggers up the rubber on the joint
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:49 pm

Bob_S wrote: I find the same that the ball joint splitter always buggers up the rubber on the joint
Yet another use for silicon grease.
Rub some over the cover and on to the forks of the splitter. Works most times.
slideways
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon May 30, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sligo, EIRE
Contact:

Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:37 am

if u hit the nut be it an old one or not u are gonna make an arse of the threads one or an other. it aint your mum, bloody wallop it good and hard, not the joint the stub axle when it is on full lock. never ever had to use gas on any joint yet and dont plan to either..
when changing the shocks on my sport had a right job opening the collar on the strut top to get out the shock. some knob jockey had tightened it with a hammer and chisel..
Image
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:39 pm

blow torches and footprint grips are the future mate ;)
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
Post Reply