The Cabrio Suspension Thread

[capitoljake13]

So, when others are claiming to have used e36 M3 springs are they just referring to stock?

Wanting a set of bilstein sports and I have on hand a free front pair of e36 M3 stock springs. Will that combo work? Or would I need to do Billy HD's with those.

[fporro]

Oh those SoCal highway shots, 101 right ?

[ToPLeSS(e30)FeinD]

GE coils : 450f/650r
2 inch cut housings
KYB MR2 AGX rears
factory bushings everywhere

i LOVE the ride quality. if any of you are thinking about going low this is IMHO the best setup. maybe a stiffer spring rate but for DD this is beautiful.

m20b25

[CorvallisBMW]

Get regular H&R 325i springs, the convertible ones are shit

[ele1122]

Hey everyone, first post on r3vlimited. I'm a fairly new owner of a 1992 318i Vert.

Right now the suspension is completely stock, and it has about 152,000 miles on it.

I've been reading through this thread trying to figure what I should do, but there are so many different opinions I can't wrap my head around it.

Since this car is my (enthusiastic) daily driver, I want something that will be comfortable yet decent performance-wise. I'm thinking Bilstein Sports and the H&R Cabrio springs, but I've lately been reading in this thread that they're not very good. Also, those springs are for the 325, not the 318. :/

Also, what other components should I work on considering everything is completely stock? (Control arms, bushings, etc, etc?)

Basically, I'm pretty lost and I could use some opinions. Thanks everyone.

Edit: I'm also considering that the roads around Maryland tend to have potholes and what-not. The M42 engine has a low oil-pan that I don't want to hit.

[ProjectCab]

I'll just drop this info here:

Anybody Running the STspeedtech and KYB combo from ECS?

Also if anyone has pics of H&R race with E90 hats on the vert please share. thx

[CorvallisBMW]

None at all. Personally I vastly prefer them to the cabrio-specific springs which ride much higher and stiffer.

[ProjectCab]

I'm not sure about the suspension setup in that car in particular, but those are definitely 15" "euroweave" wheels. So it's possible the overall tire diameter is different than stock. Also, drop hats are only for front applications on e30s.

Thanks for the info. Looks like I will be going with Coupe sport springs and e90 drop hats. The Race springs with drop hats seems a little too low. From what I understand the coupe H&R sports lower the car a little more than the cabrio specific but not as much as the race. Any downside to running the coupe springs on the cabrio?

[CorvallisBMW]

I'm not sure about the suspension setup in that car in particular, but those are definitely 15" "euroweave" wheels. So it's possible the overall tire diameter is different than stock. Also, drop hats are only for front applications on e30s.

[brickwhite]

hats

Drop hats are only on the front

[ProjectCab]

Hi Guys, new here just picked up a 1988 vert for the summer. A few questions. In my opinion the best looking stance is this one from Barry:

Is this car on H&R race and billy's? Any pads added or removed or drop hats installed? Most Cabrios I've seen on here have that reverse rake look that I hate. This car still has a tiny bit but seems to have minimized that quite a bit.

The other car with the perfect stance is the light blue car running coupe H&R sports and 15mm drop hats belonging to N2MYE30. Are the drop hats installed on all 4 corners or just the front?

Thanks

[Luciano36]

nicely done

Thanks!

[beybedba]

Just got her back a few days ago and im sure she'll settle in a bit more.

Bilstein Sports
HR vert springs
15mm drop hats
Spring pads still in

do you happen to have any negative camber on your rear?

[beybedba]

This is my current setup:

Front:
Billie Sports
Eibach Pro-Kit for Sedan/Coupe
All pads in

Rear: Bone stock
Running stock size tires
[ATTACH]55695[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]55696[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]55697[/ATTACH]

nicely done

[Twelvizm]

Also, here is my vert with Bilsteins, M3 sedan springs, E90 drop hats and stock 14" BBS:







It rides very nice and comfortable but is pretty damn tight in the corners. Although ascetically, I want to be another inch lower in the front and rear.