The Cabrio Suspension Thread

[mach schnell]

My vote would be to ditch the H&R cabrio sports and get H&R race, I think you'll be much happier with the ride height and stance.

Aren't H+R Race's floppy at the back with all the extra weight of the Cabrio's butt?

I would think Cabrio-specific springs are the way to go...?

[VacMan]

[5ickride]

My vote would be to ditch the H&R cabrio sports and get H&R race, I think you'll be much happier with the ride height and stance.

Thanks, I think you're right and am about to order them now! Anyone interested in some new (like not even received, new) HR springs? Lol

[IronmanE30]

Nice ride Berry, next Archiefest I will bring mine and we can compare notes or I'll see you at Bimmerfest.;)

Cheers,

Jim

[CorvallisBMW]

My vote would be to ditch the H&R cabrio sports and get H&R race, I think you'll be much happier with the ride height and stance.

[5ickride]

1991 318ic

Refreshing the suspension and getting it lowered.
Bilstein Sports and HR Cabrio springs with 15mm drop hats. Running 15x8.5 F, 15x9 R which will need some fender rolling i suppose.

I'm curious if i'll need to go lower that this to pull off my wheels. If so, and keeping the HR springs, what other options do I have to go lower? Remove pads?

Thanks

[reelizmpro]

[robrez]

^^^ Looking good Tim. Once you get that front lip on, you need to do a proper photoshoot so we can drool over those BBS RSs.

[VacMan]

Updated: H&R Sport (cabrio), Koni Yellows, No spring pads, Eibach sways, M3 CABs, refinished RS003's. A couple impromptu pics. I repainted a new lip so that's why there isn't one in these pics; the old one is on the autoX car now.

[reelizmpro]

Berry,

Do you think that a softer spring rate on the coilover would have been better? If so what would you go with next time. I am thinking about going the GC coilover route. I am going to be running the hardtop on the vert most of the time because I have a second vert to drive on the sunny days so there would be that added weight too.

Cheers,

Jim

Here's the dilemma. You want stiff rates for performance and because the vert weighs more but this amplifies the creeks and body flex. If you go with a compromise like 300-400 front/500-600 rear like GC's recommendations for the street, it would be better but they are linear race coils. 300 is going to be 300, 500 is always going to be 500. I suppose you could install EJ Night's frame brace to help a bit but I just opted to go with H&R Races/Bilsteins. I was scared of stressing the body (thinking long term) on such a rare car. For me H&R races are perfect for the street. Being progressive, they ride like stock until you really get on them and they stiffen up nicely. Ride height isn't too far off from my GC's on uncut perches.

[Tico Frank]

Love this thread.

[IronmanE30]

I've decided I don't like the stiffness of coilovers on my vert. A lot of flexing and stress going on with 400/650 race springs. Thinking of swapping the coilovers onto my M3 and running the M3 setup (H&R Race/Bilstein sports or Koni SA's) on the vert. I know a few of you are running this setup...what do you think?

Berry,

Do you think that a softer spring rate on the coilover would have been better? If so what would you go with next time. I am thinking about going the GC coilover route. I am going to be running the hardtop on the vert most of the time because I have a second vert to drive on the sunny days so there would be that added weight too.

Cheers,

Jim

[e304lyfe]

What I did was took upper pads from my M3, cut the big nipple out of the middle and stacked it onto the existing upper pad already on the vert. This will keep that nipple from bottoming out too soon since it protrudes down quite a bit.

Yeah, that is exactly what I was planning on doing... Either that or attempting to clearance the inner fenders more, but I think I may be about at the limit w/o causing a noticeable difference on the outside.

[reelizmpro]

What I did was took upper pads from my M3, cut the big nipple out of the middle and stacked it onto the existing upper pad already on the vert. This will keep that nipple from bottoming out too soon since it protrudes down quite a bit.

[e304lyfe]

pulled from realoem

15 SPRING PAD7,5MM 233531136386 $7.62 ONLY APPLIES TO COIL SPRING WHITE
15 SPRING PAD5MM 233531136385 $6.70 ONLY APPLIES TO COIL SPRING RED
15 SPRING PAD10MM 233531136387 $8.28

Those are lower spring pads for an e30... sometimes used as uppers on other newer bmw's it appears, but their lower pads are different. Also, you appear to have a "2" in front of all the part numbers you listed that does not belong there.