i need new suspension and dont know what im doing.

[scumtrash]

i just bought my first e30, (1988 325is) and it is totally stock other then a mark D chip and exhaust. im fairly mediocore when it comes to carss but would like to do most the work on it myself and i know my suspension is SHOT. i want to lower and stiffen it up but what will i need to buy? what are things that are often over looked that i should take care of while im doing it? its my daily driver but i dont mind it being stick, and i want to be able to take it to the track roughly 15 times a year. any input is appreciated.

[Danny]

Cut 3 coils off and install e24 shocks.

[NeedaE30]

shocks, springs, sway bar links/bushings, control arms ball joints & bushings, subframe mounts, trailing arm bushings, tie rods, wheel bearings, brakes, strut mounts, reinforced rear shock mounts, strut tower bars... i may be missing a few things but you get the idea

most of these should be replaced with OEM rubber or poly. you could do solid bushings/mounts if you feel frisky and dont mind your ride to be spine jarring, get some good shocks/springs or a coil over kit if you are tracking it

[Roysneon]

Bilstein Sports, H&R race springs and this: http://bmw.blunttech.com/Upgrade-Par...it-p97032.html

[jeffnhiscars]

Bilstein Sports, H&R race springs and this: http://bmw.blunttech.com/Upgrade-Par...it-p97032.html

That kit has all the right parts.

[mccor023]

Do yourself a favor and buy a big propane torch now and PB blaster.
If you have not suspension on an E30 before and have limited experience working on cars: DO not listen to the OG guys here who say a full struts and springs take 30 mins a side.
I was new to wrenching when I goy my E30 and read too many posts about how easy they are to work on. In truth they are fairly straightforward but 20 year bolts are bitches.

Also, pop into the project forum there are several threads with great information and amazing pictures to prepare you for the blood.

[Thehemiman]

Bilstein Sports, H&R race springs and this: http://bmw.blunttech.com/Upgrade-Par...it-p97032.html

This is what I've done with both the E30's I've had and I've liked it. It'd be a great setup for a daily driver that you plan on bringing to the track as well.

[Earendil]

Bilstein Sports, H&R race springs and this: http://bmw.blunttech.com/Upgrade-Par...it-p97032.html

Seconded. This is the same suspension setup I'm not-edit-I-mean-I-am running and it's streetable and stupidly fun on a track.

Note that everyone's definition of "Streetable" is different, but if it's too soft or too harsh you can swap brings stiffer/softer for minimal cost and effort once you have everything else lines up.

Bush you have to do bushings, because after 20+ years they are creaky, mushy, and in no way will they stand up and do justice to refreshing just springs and shocks. How much do I mean that? I mean that if you were to only do springs or shocks, your car would probably handle worse than a guy that went all OEM but refreshed all the bushings too, and it would certainly be scarier and less fun!

[Cletonius]

Seconded. This is the same suspension setup I'm not running and it's streetable and stupidly fun on a track.

Wait, what?

[golde30]

H&R race with billy sports is OK. the stance is going to look retarded without some tweaking. the Billy's are bouncy. to me the setup is not ideal for street or track, but is an OK compromise.

[Earendil]

H&R race with billy sports is OK. the stance is going to look retarded without some tweaking. the Billy's are bouncy. to me the setup is not ideal for street or track, but is an OK compromise.

Well wait, are we shooting for a "cool looking stance" or are we looking for a streetable trackable toy that won't cost upwards of 3 grand? Because I'm personally not in it for the looks, but for the fun. In fact the worse it looks the better I feel when I pass shiny stanced POS cars on the track

My car, in a lot of ways, looks retarded as F@#$%, but it's also hella fun and fast enough for me. When I learn this setup well I will either go J-Stock or run Ground Control coilovers. But J-Stock should have custom valved dampers so either option is $500-$1000 over the suggestion given, and those options may not be streetable for this individual. After all, even H&R race, for as soft as they are, would not pass mustard with my mother in the car, and you won't convince anyone that it's a stock setup.

OP, what budget are you working with? Because we can do anything from a $300 refresh to $5000 worth of shiny red components.