40mm drop...? What do you think?

[Geeman]

I've just put some H&R 40mm front springs on to lower the front of the Sport as I thought it sat too high compared to the back. Now that I've put them on, I don't think there's 40mm difference at all. not even 10mm... what do you think?

Before...



After...

[E30_320i]

i can see a difference mate, but not sure if its 40mm's worth.

[Jhonno]

i can see the difference but it aint 40mm - its does take a couple of days to settle properly tho on new springs!!

Nice Boxer btw! Yours?

[Geeman]

They're 'used' springs... so I would have thought they would have settled already.

Also with these (from Georgee) came a 60/40 setup too, but just wanted to see what the front 40's would look like. Not very impressed...

So, do I go the 60/40 route...?

The Boxer's mine. Molly... 5 years old and my little baby!

[Quaser]

They usually take a couple of weeks to bed in!

Q

[Quaser]

oops - read the rest of the topic now!

Damn these small monitors at work!

Q

[Jhonno]

They're 'used' springs... so I would have thought they would have settled already.

Also with these (from Georgee) came a 60/40 setup too, but just wanted to see what the front 40's would look like. Not very impressed...

So, do I go the 60/40 route...?

The Boxer's mine. Molly... 5 years old and my little baby!

60 it is then!!

Aw bless, I love Boxers, great dogs! Would love to have one, but we got 4dogs already!!

[swindy]

coilovers and slam it.

[karlp]

Have you actually measured the drop compared to std. The pic does not indicate much of a drop but the second one is a lot darker and difficult to see the car outline.

Karl

[Splondike]

Wouldn't a -40 drop on a Sport be -25 as they are 15mm down already ?

Just a thought...

[Geeman]

Mark, yeah, but that ain't 25mm...

Coilovers...? Already got them on the track car. Not impressed to be honest. Wouldn't buy FK's again. Now H&R... they're a different story. But for road use, coilovers are a bit over the top... you will only resort to using one position / stiffness, so might as well go for a fixed set-up - a LOT cheaper!

[Splondike]

[quote="Geeman"]Mark, yeah, but that ain't 25mm...

Well -25mm isn't much, and it is noticable.... I think 60/40 produces the best look, I would do it myself but I only have about 15mm clearance on my drive on the standard setup

[SwirlyE30]

I think it makes it look a bit nicer mate.Its not THAT noticable,but like mark said, it was on shorter springs anyway so it wouldnt go down to 40mm.

I think your car sits perfect mate.Maybe it it was an inch or so lower at the front it might be JUST right, but anymore mate and it wont look right.The back sits right on the wheels too so it looks pucka mate!

[Zayyan]

Even though it's definitely not 40mm I think it looks a lot better than before and it sits perfectly on the wheels now, I wouldn't go any lower.

[Geeman]

That's what I think... doesn't look too bad as it is.

Will have to wait till I get a 3rd E30 to use the 60/40 kit...

[billgatese30]

not much difference to be honest mate. other than the smoked/clear side repeaters!!!

[redz]

Be very carefull on lowered springs, I over cooked a left slot on a recent rally, bumped into a 4 inch concrete kirb and ripped the oil sump off

[DemonDaz]

I have 60 / 60 on mine, it is a nightmare...
I have a 35 / 40 being fitted next week, I ground the damned thing getting onto most drives!!!

Stick with the 40.

[mzmz]

DemonDaz - you got any pictures of your car 60/60

[Geeman]

My old cab with 60/60...

[charlE30]

My car in the sig is on 60/60 but will be changing at the weekend to a 40mm all round drop cause of the rubbing on the arches when turning and hitting a bump!!!

[Geeman]

I had no rubbing issues at all with mine. The only problem was losing mudflap clips when going over cats eyes and small bumps. THAT'S how low it was... the mudflaps scraped the floor...

[Toby_Unna]

bmws often look higher at the front when they aren't because the rear wheelarch cuts a lower arc over the wheel than the front, making the back look lower. my m535i's the same.

mine looked like yours does with a 40mm drop on new spax springs Giles (as in a bit high at the front when you look from the side)

what you do depends whether you want to drive fast or look cool! i lowered mine further at the front and it's too low now. looks nice but hits everything - and worse, on the (bumpy) country roads around my house it feels like there isn't enough suspension travel to cope now...

luckily i have an mr2 to really attack the b roads! so the 335 just needs to go fast in a straight line (although it doesn't even do that anymore )

[StuBeeDoo]

Wouldn't a -40 drop on a Sport be -25 as they are 15mm down already ?

I'd have thought that too. Also heard somewhere that Sport springs could be nearer -20mm.
Front of Giles' car looks a bit lower in the bottom ("after") pic. Doesn't look as low as some (reputedly) -40mm cars though.
I suspect that quoted drop figures should be taken lightly. The best way to choose the drop you want, is to look at a few cars in the flesh and ask the owners what make of springs they're running. One makers "-40mm" springs are bound to be different to another makers.
Just MHO
Stuart.

[johnono]

giles, im feeling you on the mudflap issues man , i put fronts on about two weeks ago and going down even the smallest slopes gives the nastiest grinding sound ever, i bloody hate Ԛ´em

but ill be trimming them up soon so i can live with it till then

on the lowering though, i cant see the difference really (sorry ) but the lower pic if i had to choose

[Jhonno]

i dont see why the kit should lower differently from what it states as they are designed for the 51mm struts which were M-tech spec anyways werent they?! Unless they are springs for either strut diameter...

[Geeman]

Springs are springs are springs. Strut diameter has no bearing on the springs.

Anyway, it seems to have settled down a bit now. Happy that it's all level and doesn't look like I'm accelerating hard all the time now!

[Jesus325iTouring]

bmws often look higher at the front when they aren't because the rear wheelarch cuts a lower arc over the wheel than the front, making the back look lower. )

AHHHHHHHHHh,always wondered why my Tourer looked lower at the back,even with new shocks!
Never noticed that.............shudda gone to Specsavers!