Need advice on lowering my 325i convertible by 40mm

[TheMooseInNam]

I have a few questions. I have an '89 e30 325i convertible that has a gap of 80mm between the front wheels and the wheel arch and only 40mm gap between the rear wheels and the wheel arch. It hasn't been tampered with before so all the parts are either original or replaced with original parts. I'm sure a gap of this size couldn't be right, so do I have something seriously wrong with my car and could it be fixed by using lowering springs? I've tried loads of places here in Ireland but nobody has a clue where to get lowering springs for an e30 convertible or if could get them whether it would solve the problem or not. I am aware that the e30 has a slightly larger gap between the front tyres and arches than on the rear but I don't think it should be quite as much as it is on my car. Any advice you could give me would be greeatly appreciated.
Regards,
Moose

[DRIFTBOY]

It could be that both your rear springs have broken.
I bought new suspension for my 2-door E30 and I found both rear springs had the bottom coil missing, and fitting the 35mm lowering springs made little difference to the ride height!

[TheMooseInNam]

Had a mech check that everything was ok with the springs and shocks and he gave it the all clear. I'll check them myself tomorrow though, just to make sure. Thanks for your help

[orangecurry]

I have the same car - from memory I could fit 4 fingers easily in the front wheel arch, and only 2 fingers at the back - yes they do look silly don't they?

It won't do any harm to replace the springs, broken or otherwise.

I bought a set of springs from AVO
http://www.avouk.com/pm/89
just the springs - 10-007

the effect is to lower about 40mm at the front and 25mm at the rear; so slightly nose down, Hartge stylee

handling is not compromised - it turns in very sharply; looks good too.

[TheMooseInNam]

Your car looks lovely, a friend of mine has the exact same colour. I can't make out what colour leather you have, is it the dark blue? Looks the biz with the roof down. I went for the de-chromed black with tan leather. Thanks for the advice on those springs, sounds exactly what I'm looking for. I had noticed the gap before but it only became an issue when I changed the the alloys from the original BBS alloys to 17" Alpina rims with a lower profile tyre wall. Even though they ended up the exact same size, now you really can notice the suspension between the gap... and it's really beginning to bug me!!!

[TheMooseInNam]

Just checked out your link. Seem good value. Are you sure it lowers the car by 40mm at the front? Only says it lowers it by 25mm. If I could be sure it would end up looking as tidy as yours I'd be delighted.

[orangecurry]

I was suprised as well, expecting the drop to be the same front and rear. But I'm very pleased with the result.
My car had only done 60k miles when I swopped, so it is unlikely that my original springs were fecked.

Do talk to Sal (M5Pilot) on the zone shop, as he has alternate springs you could consider.

(no leather - I had leather in my 318 cabbie, and I found it too hot in summer)

[GDBN]

Here's my cab on the H&R 60/40 cup kit.
Front is lower by 45/50 mm and the rear by 35/40 mm.



G

[GDBN]

Orange ... how are you going to get mudflaps under there ?

G

[orangecurry]

erm....

[TheMooseInNam]

Think I'm sorted for lowering springs. Spoke to a guy on the phone in an auto store here in Ireland who's into e30s too. He's managed to track me down special Eibach springs which will lower the front by 40mm and the back by 25mm, plus he'll deliver them to my house tomorrow. Thought I'd have to wait till next week to receive anything. Looks like my Saturday will be spent covered in grease! Can't wait to get my teeth stuck into replacing them.
Thanks a million for all your help, lads. Much appreciated. I'll post some pics as soon as I have the kit in.