Critique my setup!

[our guile]

I bought my first e30 5 months ago, so I'm still new to the game. I apologize for the noob questions. My goal is to make her a fun daily. Once I've finished the swap, I might take her to the track, but it's more of an afterthought right now.

What I got:

- 1988 325is auto (I have an S50 and g260 ready to swap in after I sort out
the suspension)
- Billy Sports
- H&R Race
- Z3 rack

I want to replace as much as I can while I'm at it, so here's what I think I need:

- Blunttech suspension rebuild kit:
control arms and bushings, tie rod assemblies, trailing arm bushings, F&R
sway bar end links, rear subframe mounts, and locking tabs
- AKG Rear subframe and diff mount bushing set 85A, part: #SFDS308
- Rear shock mounts
Do I need 10mm or 12mm?

Is there anything I'm missing?

[our guile]

...and can anyone provide some input on drop hats vs camber plates? With this setup, would I need to get camber plates?

[meengreene30]

you won't need camber plates with h&r races. i'm running h&r race, drophats with 205/50/15 tires. for shock mounts the lifetime ones from Bimmerworld for $40 are nice. do your strut bearings while in there.

[meengreene30]

front pic

[our guile]

Good advice. Thanks for your help

[603Racing]

I did do camber plates with mine (also have drop hats). I did this to reduce excesive inner tire wear on the front tires. I also added the rear toe/camber kit when I rebuilt the rear subframe and all related components. With the H&R race springs you will also benefit from offset control arm bushings up front.

A bunch of negative camber looks cool and handles well, but will destroy tires when street driven. To answer your question, camber plates are not required, but I would recommend.

I think you're taking the right approach with rebuilding the suspension all at once, saves time in the long run. If you're going to track it, get bigger sway bars too.

+1 on strut bearings

I would also get the rear shock mount reinforcement plate.

[Chriskbmx]

when I want to camber plates, when I maxed out positive I actually have more front camber than with standard shock tops. weird.

[our guile]

I bought camber plates (IE street), M3 CABs, BMP tailing arm bushings, Powerflex rear subframe mounts, and IE rear shock mounts.

603Racing, where did you source the rear/toe camber kit from? And I thought toe was the tire killer, not camber...

Looks like I still need to get strut bearings and rear shock mount reinforcement plates. Any recommended suppliers come to mind?

[603Racing]

When lowering the rear with H&R race, the combination of toe/camber was bad on tires. My kit came from IE, i went with the locking one. IE has reinforcement plates. Just get the bearings from a general parts retailer... AutohausAZ, RMEuropean, etc.

[our guile]

603 you're the man. Thanks for the help