The Cabrio Suspension Thread

[reelizmpro]

Yeah both cars have a nice stance. I'm sure the drop hats have a lot to do with it. This is why a lot of people cut a deadcoil off the fronts of H&R Race/IE3's. Looks perfect guys.

[IronmanE30]

That looks good. I am surprised that you did not end up with reverse rake with coupe springs but I guess the drop hats helped with that. Very clean car and my favorite color.:D

Cheers,

Jim

[N2MYE30]

^^^ nice!!!

Here is mine updated from earlier in this thread.
Bilsteins sports all around
H&R sport coupe springs all around
All pads in
15mm drophats

[CorvallisBMW]

Seems like H&R Race or IE3 are a good idea for 'vert owners.

I've run the Eibach sedan/coupe springs before and while the front was fine, the rear was far too soft and sagged quite badly. I've also run the H&R Convertible-specific springs and was unhappy with them. They rode very high and very stiff, almost like H&R overcompensated for the extra weight.

As it sits now I have a combination of the 2: Eibach sedans springs in the front, H&R convertible-specific sports in the rear. All pads in, e90 drop hats and Bilstien Sports all around.


edit: just ordered GC 375/600 kit. Adjustability FTW. SO if anyone wants to buy my current setup, it will be for sale shortly.

[reelizmpro]

Don't run Eibach pro kits for a sedan on a vert. That's what I had in mine. It was slammed and the pro kits were not stiff enough so I bottomed out a lot. To keep the rear high the PO used spring spacers in between the coils. H&R Race/IE3 springs give almost the same front/rear drop. While the other springs lower the front a lot more than the rear. So if the rake bothers you, go with the vert specific H&R's are Eibach's.

[BergerNJ]

Hard to see the rear tire thru the shadows but the reverse rake isn't as bad as it appears in the pics.

The reverse rake looks too noticeable for my taste..

Now I'm really lost here lol

[IronmanE30]

Ok I have a 91' 325i vert and a 89 M3. I was planning picking up a set of stock M3 springs to run in the vert. The M3 is getting GC coilovers so I was wondering if I can run the EIBACH pro kit off the M3 on the vert?

Eibach makes springs specific to the vert so if yours are for the coupe you may end up with reverse rake.

Cheers,

Jim

[89AlpineM3]

Ok I have a 91' 325i vert and a 89 M3. I was planning picking up a set of stock M3 springs to run in the vert. The M3 is getting GC coilovers so I was wondering if I can run the EIBACH pro kit off the M3 on the vert?

[reelizmpro]

Hard to see the rear tire thru the shadows but the reverse rake isn't as bad as it appears in the pics.

[e30trooper]

Still waiting on that pic berry. I want some ideas...

[bryant.cw]

I am running:

Eibach pro kit
Billie Sports
M3 CABs
No spring pads in front
e92 drop hats
1 Spring pad in the rear
Race Skids front subframe brace
Stock 14's with pretty small tires that are worn down. I think 16's with larger tires would look better/lower/less gap. Oil pan is as close to the ground as I would like as there are a few light scrapes on it now.

Ride is stiffer but not super stiff. Dampening is very good with no bouncing at all. It does sway quite a bit in a sharp turn when on the gas, but very controllable, no bouncing or unsettled feeling to it. I still need to replace some bushings, and find it quite choppy/shaky in the front end over bumps in the road. I think I need upper strut bearings, a rebuilt steering rack, and new wheel bearings, in addition to all the bushings. It doesn't feel out of control at all, it just jars the front quite a bit. It is raked pretty well, and the back end never gets saggy.

Best pic I have.










***Picture Gallery***





.

[reelizmpro]

The Koni's that came on my vert were not vert specific but 51mm Bilstein sports are designated for all E30's. That's another reason for the H&R Race/Bilstein swap from my M3 to the vert. Bilstein sports are stiff shocks but they control the springs well and last a long time. They are very stiff and not bouncy at all. It all comes down to personal preference though. Everyone has their own definition of stiff.

[BergerNJ]

They are progressive rate upto 310lbs front and upto 580lbs in the rear. The cabby sports will be stiffer than regular but only because of the verts added weight. They will still be on the "soft" side. H&R Races are perfectly streetable. If you think they will be too stiff, go with the sports.

So did you switch to the H&r race? and Billie..Lets see some pics lol..I'm actually curious....if you feel the races are daily drivable without noticing them in there then I may just go with them.

I just hate the bouncy, air ride feel I have now with what I think is the stock setup. I'm pulling all the wheels off tomorrow to inspect everything including brakes. So if you say the sports are kinda on the soft side I may not like them.

[reelizmpro]

My understanding is the race springs are super stiff? and if you get the cabbie specific springs you don't have to worry about the softness...I was kind of turned off of the hr races because of the ultra stiffness

They are progressive rate upto 310lbs front and upto 580lbs in the rear. The cabby sports will be stiffer than regular but only because of the verts added weight. They will still be on the "soft" side. H&R Races are perfectly streetable. If you think they will be too stiff, go with the sports.

[BergerNJ]

Personally I would go straight for H&R Race or IE3 race springs. The other springs will lower the cabby (cabs are low in the back anyway) but are no where stiff enough. The rake problem is solved by removing the front spring pads and adding an extra spring pad in the rear. Stance is PERFECT on a cabby. I'll post pics later.

My understanding is the race springs are super stiff? and if you get the cabbie specific springs you don't have to worry about the softness...I was kind of turned off of the hr races because of the ultra stiffness