The suspension setup/ride height thread

[demanjan]

1988 325i RWD LSD touring, sunroof, sports interior, bbs rims, towbar. Belgium.

Let me add some touring specific info, as it is still not very comon. Weeks of searching and doubting.
I chose touring 6cyl specific koni sports and H&R' touring specific sports.

front:
koni 8641-1021Sport softest
H&R 29684
thicker upper rubber pad
rear
koni 80-2522Sport softest
H&R 29684-1 veren
thicker lower rubber pad

restored the rear subframe and trailing arms, and replaced ALL bushings/topmounts etc front to rear with OEM or OEM like rubber.

This is a daily driven 500.000 kilometre car, and comfort is very important. The koni sport and H&R sport is really very comfy still, no issues whatsoever, it is lovely. I'm 45 so no rockhard bricks for me. To be honest, i feel almost no less comfort than stock.
The car is lowered barely, i'm happy i put in the thicker pads.

Hope this helps for future touring owners.

[RaabsIn513]

H&R Sports with Koni Orange shocks and struts

[Stuffing]

Street Mode:

20161207_162257_HDR by Zachary Murray, on Flickr

Which wheels are those? They look real nice. The logo is just a bit too blurred for me to see it.

EDIT: Correct me if I'm wrong but I think they're 17" APEX ARC-8. Still curious about what offset and/or how wide they are, and what tires are on there.

[Oldskoole34]

Is there a height comparison pic/chart of various manufacturers' rear lowering springs?

I am running Catuned coils on my 87 and the rear is just too high. I will be taking the retch out completely but it won't give me enough.

I have been running 15x8 with really big tires, which I do not mind and even with that setup it is way to high. But now want to switch things up and the current height wont work with the new setup at all.

Thx.
Old


Where I am trying to go with the new. Front will go all the way down, but the rear is maxed out.

Thanks in advance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Oldskoole34]

Is there a height comparison pic/chart of various manufacturers' rear lowering springs?

I am running Catuned coils on my 87 and the rear is just too high. I will be taking the retch out completely but it won't give me enough.

I have been running 15x8 with really big tires, which I do not mind and even with that setup it is way to high. But now want to switch things up and the current height wont work with the new setup at all.

Thx.
Old


Where I am trying to go with the new. Front will go all the way down, but the rear is maxed out.

Thanks in advance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CMG]

I'll post pics of my set up shortly, it's full GC. I was searching this thread for pics of ground control camber plates installed for correct orientation. I was verbally told the info by my GC contact but a pic is worth a thousand words.

[MattZC]

Hello All,
I need some advice with lowering the front of my car a bit more.
Here's my set up:

Billy Sports
H&R Sport Coupe
e90 Drop Hats
All Pads in
No A/C Compressor (don't think this matters but I've seen people mention it)

If I could find a set of Keith's 15mm Drop hats I'd try that, also considering removing front spring pads, but I'm not super fond of that idea. I've heard people cut the dead coil off the spring to get it lower. I guess H&R Race/IE3s have the same ride height with increased spring rate...

Budget around $350 for this, as any more and I should really just do coils. Looking for easier cheaper solutions because I just did a full suspension refresh and don't want to have to buy all new stuff all over again.



Thanks,
Matt

[turdl3]

H&R springs and billstiens

I have the the same problem as others have mentioned in the thread of the rear sitting to high with this setup! Love the look of the front hate the rear.

[Zacm829]

1987 325i

GC coils 375f/475r
Bilstein sports
No spring pads (just gc upper pad in rear)
Standard length housings

Track Mode:

20160603_163850 by Zachary Murray, on Flickr

Street Mode:

20161207_162257_HDR by Zachary Murray, on Flickr

Swapping out some components in the next few weeks. Going to be installing GC Custom valves SA Konis, GC 525f/750r springs, GC touring camber plates, GC rear shock mounts, UUC 22mm front sway and a host of Condor suspension bushings. Contemplating shortening the strut housings, not too concerned with going low just ride quality.

20170227_121946_HDR by Zachary Murray, on Flickr

[FaragMan]

IE stage3 spring / H&R race spring ? what will gave me more lowering?
I like how the car sit now and want this is stay like this, just needd a new springs..

someone run on similar set up?

H&R race+E90 drop hats on the way :)
I will stay with the 9+3mm spring pads.

If someone have a picture of his car with a set-up like thats it's will be nice to share a picture :)

[FaragMan]

E30 325i 87'



my set-up now:
10mm pads rear
9mm+3mm pads front
Genuine top mounts
Genuine drop hats
Cutted Weitec springs
205.55.15 (8J ET15)

looking for a new set-up:

10mm pads rear
9mm+3mm pads front
Genuine top mounts
E90 drop hats
205.55.15 (8J ET20)

IE stage3 spring / H&R race spring ? what will gave me more lowering?
I like how the car sit now and want this is stay like this, just needd a new springs..

someone run on similar set up?

[Haystack]

Anyone have any pics of h&r sport cup kit with e90 drop hats on an early model?

[RichiesE30]

My 325e:






Specs:
H&R Sport Springs
Bilstein Sport Shocks/Strut-inserts
BBS RZ403 15x6.5
205/50R15 Tires

Drop is pretty much as advertised, 1.5" Front, and a skosh less rear.

^The reason I went with the sports. Perfect oem plus look imo.

[2mAn]

I dont blame you one bit.

[DELPHINtimecapsule]

Cant think of it off the top of my head, but its not hard to swap two wheels and see what it looks like. Also, you could probably sell the BBS wheels for enough money to get Euro bumpers, or even a mtech1 kit. THEN your car would look just as good if not better than the Alpina you posted. I know where theres a mtech1 kit for sale not too far from us here, but it might be sold by now

I've gone back and forth but decided to leave the bumpers alone, resist the tech 1 kits and keep a clean, iconic, North American early 325is on the road in all it's glory. The BBS set up is original condition RS070/002 that were purchased new and mated together from the begining by the person I bought them off in Germany. I doubt there's a similar set around. Gonna hang onto them even if my wife bitches at me about storing shit.