The Cabrio Suspension Thread

[Luciano36]

Hi all! New to the forum. Here is the deal: I read that the cheapest, but good lowering setup you can get consists of:
1. M3 springs
2. Bilstein Touring

Would you agree on this? Plus, where I can buy it online? Any recommendations?
Thanks a lot in advance!

Luciano

[Luciano36]

Front
Coupe H&R sports,billie sports,pads in

Back
Stock springs and shocks with pads removed

I love your vert!! Maybe because I happen to have a 91 glacier-blue metallic as well? :D Seriously, awesome car. I think I'll copy your setup. Is there any where I can buy just the front springs instead of the whole set?

Plus, what size are those tires and wheels?
Thanks a lot in advance!

Luciano

[IronmanE30]

Just curious to all previous posters, I am not sure if it was covered before but...

Does any spring/shock combo going from full stock to billy/H&r or billy/race or GC coils....stiffen up the car enough to eliminate cowl shake?

This is my first vert, 2nd e30 and I cannot believe how much flex this car is exhibiting!
I am debating between billy/race or JOM coils...if I go GC coils I'll save up and just get them in a year.

My purpose is to have a street cruiser that can handle twisties well but I am not building a track car.
Also I want my e30 to be low but not low to the point of losing driveability.

Nope, but there are several strut tower braces and either x-brace or skid plat braces that will help. Check out http://www.masonengineering.net/Subpages/E30.htm for strut tower brace and look at their X-Brace also. The other one that I am looking at is. http://www.e30motorwerks.com/index/i...arts&Itemid=37. All good products.

Cheers,

Jim

[achtunge30]

Just curious to all previous posters, I am not sure if it was covered before but...

Does any spring/shock combo going from full stock to billy/H&r or billy/race or GC coils....stiffen up the car enough to eliminate cowl shake?

This is my first vert, 2nd e30 and I cannot believe how much flex this car is exhibiting!
I am debating between billy/race or JOM coils...if I go GC coils I'll save up and just get them in a year.

My purpose is to have a street cruiser that can handle twisties well but I am not building a track car.
Also I want my e30 to be low but not low to the point of losing driveability.

[IronmanE30]

Update: It's now been quite a few months and the H&R race spring/Bilstein sports has settled on my vert. It now sits perfectly with no reverse rake. I'm not going to install the E90 drop hats as I think the front is low enough. I'll try to take some new pics.

I wish that I would have followed your suggestion and gone with the race springs on the Mtech. It is good to hear that they settled and you won't need the E90 drop hats. I am waiting to see what happens with the H&R vert springs but I hope they settle as well or else I will be putting the E90 hats on. I may end up swapping to the race springs later on but I hate buying another set of springs. I guess I could always put the ones I have on the daily driver.

Cheers,

Jim

[reelizmpro]

Update: It's now been quite a few months and the H&R race spring/Bilstein sports has settled on my vert. It now sits perfectly with no reverse rake. I'm not going to install the E90 drop hats as I think the front is low enough. I'll try to take some new pics.

[M-technik-3]

How was the ride on the laguna with m3 springs and billy sports?

I like the height and look alot.

It was great, not too stiff yet did not wallow around. I did add M3 LCAB's to help with tire wear but that was it.

[Todd Black 88]

How was the ride on the laguna with m3 springs and billy sports?

I like the height and look alot.

[M-technik-3]

That car is no longer Laguna Gruen, it's Subaru Electric Blue and has a black interior vs the natural colored one it had.

It was a decent car but got wacked by a Bobcat on the passenger door and the portion just behind the door.

Not a big deal that the car is gone, I kept my M3 and 4 other E30's.

[IS300E30]

^ Your ex took that beauty? I'll help you take it back (whatever it takes) haha. That green vert is nice

[M-technik-3]

Will M3 springs work with Billy Sports?

Yes they will

Here is my old one prior to body work and a respray, my ex took it. Shame late build 93 with all options.



Bilstein Sports with M3 springs and stock upper strut mounts, with Yoko ES100's in 205-50-15 so slightly undersized.

Compared to my current Vert. Bilstein with Vogtlands which are a tad to short but not to soft or brash. Riding on BBS RZ378's again with 205-55-15 all seasons.

[brickwhite]

Thanks for the update, I'll try that.

[margas]

When I had H&R Sports and e90 drop hats my passenger side front spring would pop too. My ride was quite bad as I had blown struts though.

I put the e30 spring hats back along with some bilsteins and the popping is gone and the ride is tons better. I'd ditch the e90 hats and see if there is an improvement.

[brickwhite]

Any help would be nice

Ok,

I tried to lower my 92 cabby, I added the following to what I had

Existing:
Blistein touring Front and back
Stock springs
Stock pads

New:
H&R Sport coupe springs (used)
e90 Drop hats

Removed the stock springs and replaced them with the H&R's left the struts/shocks the same.

It now looks great but rides like shit.

Issues:

Now new H&R the front springs are almost all the way compressed and the drop hats are riding on the bumpstops. The springs pop when turning slowly and the Ride is not so good, kinda bouncy.

Should I lose the Drop hats and cut the bumpstops? Or go back to stock springs and leave the drop hats and remove the rear spring pads?

Any help would be great!

[CorvallisBMW]

Where are these bumpstops you refer too? IIRC the front struts don't have any.

Yes they do, they're internal. Search for 'bilstien bump stop removal' and you'll see several examples.