How low and ....

[DavieP]

Now I've got a perfectly 'straight' 320i automatic that has been in the family from new (1988). She came to me about a year ago, and with just 65k. on the clock. She's a beaut, despite a tiny bit of rot and a small, front end ding and I don't want to compromise the original integrity of the car.

I've added original fit BBS X spokes, got her mechanically 'up to scratch' and am now at the stage where I want to bring the car a 'bit' more up to date. I want this to be very subtle so no 'snow-plough' spoilers and ground scraping/strut rubbing suspension. I'm not offended by the M-Tech 2 offering, but I feel those are a little bit in the future.

Bearing in mid she's a much-loved 'old lady', how do I get her to pick up her skirts and not only look good with contemporaries, but also manage to compete [{slightly} as well? I envisage slightly lowered suspension (does this have to mean coils and struts or will the existing struts cope with 25-30mm. lower coils?) and I'd love just as tad more oomph, but it must be without a lot more 'groar'.

I suppose the question is how do I upgrade an old but perfectly 'sweet' automatic 320i without wrecking the basic driving comfort of the car or turning it into something totally different?

[ed325i]

Fit the 325 inlet manifold and throttle body with a good chip (from ant at A tech) you can see up tp 15bhp from this. It seems the thing to do at the moment is not to have body kits just go for the standard look.

[BadDave]

I envisage slightly lowered suspension (does this have to mean coils and struts or will the existing struts cope with 25-30mm. lower coils?)

Ideally you'd fit an uprated spring and damper kit
However

You can just fit a set of stiffer,lowered springs

Best to make sure that the dampers are in reasonably good condition 1st before fitting the new springs tho

If there a bit fooked ,it would be a good time to replace the dampers and springs at he same time

As for a wee bit more oooomph
Big bore throttle body and chip/free flow air filter
Diff swap?
Fit a different ratio diff?
HTH

Dave

[bigmattpowell]

Original shocks are good for -40mm springs, any more and you'd need shortened shocks. A nice subtle touch is the SE side skirts from a touring, and a front lip spoiler from a 318is (but these are hard to find) or you could just colour code your standard little chin spoiler along with the SE skirts. How about the oil cooler grille from a 325i (if 320i autos don't have it already). Then retro fit some goodies if they're not present like rear head rests, fogs etc.

[DavieP]

Many thanks folks. Your suggestions have given me something to chew over especially with the power options. I think I'll keep the car as original as possible with just a few tweaks that are either compatible or reversible, although I don't think the car will be sold for many years to come. I think that the only changes I'll make to the body is to colour code the bumpers, chin spoiler, wing mirrors and maybe change the boot spoiler.

[murran]

if its a bang standard nice orig. car with full history, id keep it standard as possible. it nicer to see a mint orig. car than another a m-tech lowered boy raced 320.