How To: Coilovers and strut tube modification (with pictures!)

[Moto-Mucci]

never used it. I could probably use a high flex bumper paint for some shock absorbing goodness.

[eLKuRLy]

Any pics of your car?

[Moto-Mucci]

Mine? I bought it 4 months ago, so it's still a stock, plastic bumber, zinno e30. The scorpion exhaust is the only non stock item on the exterior.

[deutschman]

good stuff! thanks for the write up. i hope i get to use it some day.

[RalleyTuned]

How much travel does this setup give you when the car is at rest? and what is your ride height set at? got any final pics?

[noE30]

Just to make sure I have this right..
If I cut the housing like the OP did then I would need to use G60 front shocks because they are shorter, is that correct? Or would I have to cut more of the housing because the shocks are 4" shorter than oem e30 shocks?

Also where is everybody getting G60 Bilstein Sports?

[justin_l_]

Yes, you would need a shorter strut insert. Use a spacer under the strut to raise the strut as needed.

[noE30]

Yes, you would need a shorter strut insert. Use a spacer under the strut to raise the strut as needed.

Alright thanks, I'm trying to piece together my own setup and I just want to make sure I can do it right the first time.

Now...

where is everybody getting G60 Bilstein Sports?

[Moto-Mucci]

www.neuspeed.com sells the inserts.

You also need a specialty collar nut from Bilstein. I'll look up the part number and post it here.

The Bilstein Sports are the cheaper alternative though. I'd recommend the Koni Adjustables that Ground Control sells. Call them up and tell them what you're doing and they'll hook you up with the right parts.

When you get real low on Sports they get bouncy. And the G60 shock casing diameter is 6mm narrower then the E30's which means you need to get creative when making up the difference.

My ninja shocks:

[noE30]

Thanks

I noticed that neuspeed sells koni adjustables for a G60, would those work or do I have to get the konis from GC?

I don't want a bouncy ride so if the only way to prevent that is to run konis then that's what I will do. My mkiv gti had koni coils and it rode great, the only issue I had with them is that they didn't go very low.

[Moto-Mucci]

Call GC. They can help you with everything. They also have the spacers and collar nuts you'll need.

The koni's are better because they have adjustable damping. Bilsteins dont.

Also, to anyone interested in going the Bilstein Sport route, the collar nut you'll need is part number: U232A1

Here are it's dimensions also

[noE30]

Call GC. They can help you with everything. They also have the spacers and collar nuts you'll need.

The koni's are better because they have adjustable damping. Bilsteins dont.

Sounds good, thanks for the help.

Also I love the stance of your car, looks great. Did you do a setup like the OP?

[Moto-Mucci]

Thanks, and yes. Only I went with the Ground Control kit.

I still have a couple inches of hammer left in the front and back that I haven't touched yet due to the softness of the Sports. I've got some nice grooves in my rear sidewalls and the car's not even low yet.

[dinanm3atl]

So when you shorten up the housing and get a GC kit they include a new locking collar and spacer so you can get everything put back together?

How exactly does that collar work?

[Moto-Mucci]

The GC kit only calls for welding the new perch where the stock one was.

Shortening the housings is a custom application. My understanding of it, is that GC also sells the parts to do this, in addition to their coilover conversion kits.

The collar works the same way as the stock BMW collar - just made for the Koni's I believe. I haven't seen the Koni's in person though. Maybe you can just use the stock collars, it depends on the Koni shaft diameters.

I made this a while ago - don't know if it helps your question: