The Cabrio Suspension Thread

[CorvallisBMW]

I'm redoing the suspension on my vert. Turns out the previous owner installed sedan Eibach Prokits, which explains why the car was bottoming out. The stance was perfect but I'm more of a ride quality guy. I just hope the Koni's are still good. Anyway, I have two setups in my possession and I'm trying to decide between them. H&R Race springs and GC 450/650 coils. I'm concerned that GC's may be too stiff for the off the shelf Koni SA's already on the car. Any opinions? I'm also concerned about running such stiff rates on a vert which has a lot of body flex as is. I maybe drive the vert twice a week but plan on keeping it a long time. Any thoughts?

IIRC, the H&R Race springs are nearly as stiff as your GC springs. They do give a very nice ride height however.

Personally I'm not sold on the idea of using very stiff suspension on a convertible, the chassis is just too flexible to put it to any good use. The stiffer your suspension, the more of the motion/impact has to be absorbed by the chassis. When the chassis isn't stiff you just get a bunch of flex and wobble. However there are guys on here who swear by stiff coilovers on their convertibles and love them.

[reelizmpro]

I'm redoing the suspension on my vert. Turns out the previous owner installed sedan Eibach Prokits, which explains why the car was bottoming out. The stance was perfect but I'm more of a ride quality guy. I just hope the Koni's are still good. Anyway, I have two setups in my possession and I'm trying to decide between them. H&R Race springs and GC 450/650 coils. I'm concerned that GC's may be too stiff for the off the shelf Koni SA's already on the car. Any opinions? I'm also concerned about running such stiff rates on a vert which has a lot of body flex as is. I maybe drive the vert twice a week but plan on keeping it a long time. Any thoughts?

[3046]

Looks like they offer a big drop, and I can't tell from the website if they're designed for convertibles or not. If they aren't you could end up getting too low and having some bottoming out issues.

Yea those are for cabby`s. I`m gonna try them out

[N2MYE30]

BTW are you running camber plates on either car?

Nope, stock bearings.

[CorvallisBMW]

Anyone rockin these springs ? http://worksconcepts.com/suspension_.../i-132524.aspx I`m thinking of trying them on my cabby. They look great on this car http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=142725&page=2

Looks like they offer a big drop, and I can't tell from the website if they're designed for convertibles or not. If they aren't you could end up getting too low and having some bottoming out issues.

[CorvallisBMW]

The glacier has coupe springs but it was my understanding that the coupe differs from the cabrio only in the rear. I am unsure about the struts in the MT2.I was told that they were Eibach struts. I cant tell but opening inside the bay look like billies. I dont have any bracing yet.

Throw a set of bcaps (at night so no one sees :) ) and check the ride. Id prolly suck up the ride for those wheels too.

BTW are you running camber plates on either car?

[3046]

Anyone rockin these springs ? http://worksconcepts.com/suspension_.../i-132524.aspx I`m thinking of trying them on my cabby. They look great on this car http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=142725&page=2

[CorvallisBMW]

The ride height on both your cars is perfect, good to know my plan will (hopefully) work! :up:

[N2MYE30]

The glacier has coupe springs but it was my understanding that the coupe differs from the cabrio only in the rear. I am unsure about the struts in the MT2.I was told that they were Eibach struts. I cant tell but opening inside the bay look like billies. I dont have any bracing yet.

Throw a set of bcaps (at night so no one sees :) ) and check the ride. Id prolly suck up the ride for those wheels too.

[CorvallisBMW]

+1. I have H&R sports,billies on my glacier with 15mm drophats(as of last week) with alll pads. Still smooth. I havent got any pro shots of my new stance but it cant be far off from you.

For fine control (if fundage allows) you know G/C is the only way.

BTW, do you have upper and lower braces?

Yep, IE upper and RaceSkids lower x-brace. Are you running the H&R convertible-specific springs, or regular coupe/sedan springs?

Lemme just add that my MT2 has Eibachs without drophats and IS a bit softer than my glacier. Both cars at the top front fender flares are 23 7/8" from the ground for reference.

Good to know thanks. Same shocks, braces, etc?

I know part of my shitty ride is the 17" wheels (with 215-40 Pirelli Pzero Nero tires) but I love my wheels and they're staying.

[F34R]

I put ground control coils on my brothers cabby Bilstein sports front(konis were backed up for two months) Konis in the rear and a front tower bar.

I cannot remember the rates. Something stiff yet a tiny bit of give, just told them to set it up for a street handling car. It came out perfect.

It is as low as you can go in the front, he is getting GC camber plates to get that extra 11mm down. It is low and sexy, vintage OZ baskets with 215 meats.

Looks hot with the hardtop, will look better when the guy gets around to shipping us the AC Schnitzer kit.

[N2MYE30]

Lemme just add that my MT2 has Eibachs without drophats and IS a bit softer than my glacier. Both cars at the top front fender flares are 23 7/8" from the ground for reference.

[N2MYE30]

+1. I have H&R sports,billies on my glacier with 15mm drophats(as of last week) with alll pads. Still smooth. I havent got any pro shots of my new stance but it cant be far off from you.

For fine control (if fundage allows) you know G/C is the only way.

BTW, do you have upper and lower braces?

[CorvallisBMW]

you should get to the same stance with hr sport for coupes and the drop hat.

eibach is a definite no no, especially if you try to go low, your fenders will be trash in no time. Eibach pro is the most bounciest springs ever.

'bouncy-ness' is a result of underdamping though, not spring rate/make

Been doing a lot of research on the internetz about the whole H&R/Eibach debate. Consistently, for all models of BMW, I keep seeing that Eibach rides better (i.e. softer) and the H&R provides better handling. Actual drop amount seems to be a point of contention or maybe has more to do with the chassis they're installed on, but it's never more than a 1/4" difference.

I'm leaning towards Eibach as this is a cruiser car already on 17" wheels. It doesn't ever see autoX or HPDE days. Still trying to find some information about how much of a ride height difference it would make between 325i and 318is springs.

[thereisnoyun]

you should get to the same stance with hr sport for coupes and the drop hat.

eibach is a definite no no, especially if you try to go low, your fenders will be trash in no time. Eibach pro is the most bounciest springs ever.