Dodgy handling of stock E30...Your experience/tips ?!?

[a3ternus]

I m driving a totally stock 1985 E30 318i. (Europe)

The car is in an almost perfect condition,but the handling is something I m not fond of at all...All i m listening in here is how good the E30 handling is and how well the car goes etc etc.Its not that I m not a believer (I really WANT to believe!) but today was a defining day for me.

As always,i took the long way home and drove on the b roads of Penteli,a mountain near my home in Anthens.The car was out of balance all the way.I didnt feel confident enough to push even during medium speed turns.The back end was ready to step out all the time too (in the dry!).I know that road like the back of my hand.I t was dry,its sunshine outside and I was struggling to make progress...

I dont wanna compare my 85 car with the car i was driving for 3 years now ( a 2000 Opel Vectra Sport-lowered from the factory with a sporty set up etc etc),cos I know that this comparison doesnt make sense,but still I think that even the 1993 Rover 4.14 GSi I was driving even before that was better too driving-wise.

So,is it all down to the stock suspension setup the car has ?!?
Why does the steering wheel feels so numb at turn in ?!? After that it s ok,but still it s not encouraging to loose steering feel at the start of a turn...Is it this way by setup ?
I hate it to admit it,but the BM is not a satysfying drive at the moment...

A3TeRnuS

[Avus_325is]

Most likely you have a sway bar loose in the rear if it keeps wanting to slid out on you. Other than that, stock suspension sucks. I'm sure there are some other things you'll want to check out.

[Bill 84 318i]

I dislike the stock suspension. It's boring.

How old are your shocks? Your bushings? Do you have cheap tires?

[OOMPH!]

I dislike the stock suspension. It's boring.

How old are your shocks? Your bushings? Do you have cheap tires?

Good points, don't complain about the suspension and handling of the BMW when your car is 19 years old and you haven't changed a thing. Parts wear down over time, so I suggest you start upgrading your suspension and then come back and tell us how the handling is......

[a3ternus]

Well,the car doenst have the same suspension all these 19 years !
Its been changed but its still at stock ride height/rigidity etc etc
The Shocks are some years old (2-3y the previous owner told me),springs are "older" but i have no clue when they were changed and tyres are less than a year old Bridgestones B335 (if i remember right) and in pretty good condition.
BTW,My tyre are 28 in the front and 34 in the back (15' basketweave rims).I know its more than whats advised on the back.I ll change it back and report again).

That Rear sway bar comment was interesting...It feels like its loose.Is it expensive to change completely or fix ?!?

A3TeRnuS

PS.With a sporty suspension almost any car can handle decently...or not ?

[Bill 84 318i]

Early 318i's don't even have rear sway bars (at least here in the U.S.).

I installed a 12mm bar from a 325iS and it helped reduce understeer a little, but since you say you oversteer...

[318driver]

My 318i was very very rolly. I didnt like the handleing at all.
It had new rear shocks, Bilstien Tourings(waste of money).

My 325ic and my bros 318is handle a million times better then the 318i did, and they are both stock.

[randomtask37]

my 325is handled like a boat before i got my suspension. after i put some h&r sports and bilstein sport shocks on the car it turned it into a whole new machine. it changed to a racecar over night.

my sugestion is get some aftermarket lowering springs that are stiffer than stock.

[DanGillan]

i dont know about you guys, but as soon as I bought my car, I replaced bushings, control arms, and all the other little suspension parts that go over time, my car handled like a dream. (well for me at least) I love taking my car over windy roads... mines a little newer, but same idea, stock suspension, im lovin in!

[M50Webber]

Re: Dodgy handling of stock E30...Your experience/tips ?!?

I didnt feel confident enough to push even during medium speed turns.The back end was ready to step out all the time too (in the dry!)

Why does the steering wheel feels so numb at turn in ?!? After that it s ok,but still it s not encouraging to loose steering feel at the start of a turn...Is it this way by setup ?

A3TeRnuS

1) Did the rear end actually come around? If it did, was it when you gassed it, when you lifted, steady state cornering? If it didn't, how do you know it was about to? My buddy thinks my car is about to get loose all the time, but that is because he is used to his car, which feels totally different.

Do you have an open differential?

2) You should not have numb steering feel on turn-in, or ever really, stock setup or not. Have you checked the alignment? It sounds to me like your toe settings might just be all out of adjustment, causing the car to feel "loose."

I say, check you alignment, check your tires, and check your diff. If you have bad alignment, crummy/worn out tires and an open differential, it doesn't matter what suspension you have, the car will feel like junk.

Chris

[E30/M30]

Worn out rear sub frame bush's can give you that lose rear end feeling ?

A bit like unwanted rear wheel steering.

[christophbmw]

Early 318i's don't even have rear sway bars (at least here in the U.S.).

how early? cause my '85 has them.

[M-technik-3]

Early 318i's don't even have rear sway bars (at least here in the U.S.).

how early? cause my '85 has them.

It's called options. Doesn't come stock. 320i in EU don't have them either, until 1986 and up.

[DaN]

My 325e is lowered with nothing but bilstein touring struts up front, and sensa-trac shocks in the back :oops: lol. That thing sticks like glue in corners, after all it has 2-2.5 degrees of negative camber all around.
I drove a stock 318i the other day and tried to corner hard with it, that thing felt like shit, sits too high, real squirmy. I almost lost control.

Upgrade your shit, and you'll love it. 8)

[a3ternus]

M50Webber,here are your answers...

1.Some more throttle and the rear end WAS actually out.I guess 34 PSI in the rear tyres was too much ( I did it on purpose,but it was more than I should have put in them).
And also,YES,my car has a worthless open rear diff ( a 3,91 Diff).

2.I know something must be wrong with my toe settings.I had an alighnment some months ago ( the steering was really behaving strange-I could loose the rear eand even in traffic with 2nd@2000rpm EASILY,plus the steering was REALLY light in the straight ahead position.) and it fixed everything,even though lately things have changed a bit for the worse again...
My tyres are evenly worn all around though-nothing to make me worry...

BTW,thanx for all the responses...
A3TeRnuS

PS.BTW,why the fuck do I need to right click on my sig and click on "Show Picture" to make it appear ?!? ITs uploaded @ h--p://www.zippyimages.com/...