Coilover kit with Bilsteins or Full Ground control setup?

[Bimmerman325i]

runnin 16x8 et0
i know et0 is a horrible idea and stick out a little but i have fender roller on standby

ask this question in the wheel fitment thread.

Save up longer and get the full coilover suspension. You'll be happier that you did, since it includes everything you need and since you are essentially starting from scratch any way you go. Patience is key.

[Killacortes]

runnin 16x8 et0
i know et0 is a horrible idea and stick out a little but i have fender roller on standby

[MC Hammered]

so my tires on when i got the rims were 205 40 16....
which would be better 215 45 16 all around?
i like thicker tires and saw a few people running 225 50 16 in the rear and 215 45 16 in the front.

Your wheel width and offset will help determine what you can run for a tire.

[Killacortes]

so my tires on when i got the rims were 205 40 16....
which would be better 215 45 16 all around?
i like thicker tires and saw a few people running 225 50 16 in the rear and 215 45 16 in the front.

[Hodge]

I ordered from Bimmerworld and talked to them about what I needed. They told me not to overspring the shocks, since they were not custom valved Bilsteins.

They recommended the 350/475 setup, and it has been perfect. If I go all the way down on the front, it does bottom out though.

[Dude]

FWIW im running the GC coilover conversion kit with 450lb front and 650lb rear. Using bilstein sports and tucking rear and a little front. Never bottom out unless I slam a pothole on these shitty roads.
I would rather have their full setup but i already had the shocks and did it for pretty cheap.

What all did you need to buy/fab besides the shocks and the conversion kit

[UDelaware30]

FWIW im running the GC coilover conversion kit with 450lb front and 650lb rear. Using bilstein sports and tucking rear and a little front. Never bottom out unless I slam a pothole on these shitty roads.
I would rather have their full setup but i already had the shocks and did it for pretty cheap.

[MC Hammered]

Bottoming out the shock and slamming your skidplate into the ground are two different things. With 2" of clearance, nothign is going to stop you from grounding the skidplate, but stiffer springs would help.

You are right.

After going on a drive to test out the suspension going over various road conditions and dips at 40-60mph the suspension soaked them all up.

The issue I have is with ground clearance as going down a crappy alley made the skidplate kiss the ground.

[F34R]

Hds are meant for stock height springs, they will bottom excessively when you lower your car. Bilstein sports are meant for lowered cars but some people running coilovers are still having issues with them bottoming out.

I am tucking 195/55 R14 with Bilstein Sports. And I have yet to bottom out, then again I asked GC for the stiffest rates they offer.

[Jean]

Contact GC, tell me what you are trying to accomplish and they will help you pick the rates. It depends on many factors, you goals with the car, the shocks you choose etc.

[Killacortes]

^ they come with whatever rate you choose, call GC .

what rates would you recommend? i want to drop the front 1.5 and .75 in the back

[Jean]

^ they come with whatever rate you choose, call GC .

[Killacortes]

I run Bilstein Sports and 350/475 Eibach ERS Springs with the GC conversion kit and the car rides awesome.

I was shocked (no pun intended) with how much better it rode on the GC conversion kit with stiffer springs and lower, than it did with the same shocks and Eibach Pro-Kit springs.

I also don't bottom out.

those are the springs that come with the bilstein GC coilover conversion kit correct?

[nrubenstein]

Bottoming out the shock and slamming your skidplate into the ground are two different things. With 2" of clearance, nothign is going to stop you from grounding the skidplate, but stiffer springs would help.

[MC Hammered]

Well all of the bottoming out happened the first day after I adjusted the ride height. Dropped the front 1" and the rear 1/2", for reference I am almost at the bottom of the Ground Control adjustment sleeve on the fronts.

I have driven more carefully to determine what is going on but I haven't bottomed out since, so would the suspension possibly have settled down now that I have driven on it a bit?

I have 440lb springs up front.