Looking For a Moderate Drop

[dr.gonzo]

I've done a lot of research and have searched tirelessly throughout here and e30tech and can't find a definitive answer. I have a 91 318is and I am looking for a moderate drop and something that would be friendly to the occasional track day or autocross (think 1-3 times a year max). Looking for a 1.5-2.5 inch drop and am also looking at getting some 15 or 16 inch rims. Budget is under 1000 (since I plan on replacing a lot of other components). I've also been looking at sway bars since they can make as much of a difference as suspension. So far I've looked at Eibach coils, Megan (although I don't like the idea of welding) Camaro KYB AGX set up (with MR2 front ones I think).
Here are a few examples of what I like


I had H&R sports on my last car but was thinking since it's a 318 they might ride different.
Would H&R Sports with the KYB AGX shock be a decent adjustable combo?

[meengreene30]

On my late model I run h&r races, front drophats, kyb agx rears, kyb gr2 fronts. I feel the front is a little bouncy but hey they're $40/ each. The agx's are sweet, gonna run billie sports in the front. The drop on h&r races is nice.

[dr.gonzo]

That's a little low for my tastes. Are there adjustable purchases or a way to raise it? I hear people use mr2 front struts

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[efficient]

On my late model I run h&r races, front drophats, kyb agx rears, kyb gr2 fronts. I feel the front is a little bouncy but hey they're $40/ each. The agx's are sweet, gonna run billie sports in the front. The drop on h&r races is nice.

looks nice

[dr.gonzo]

I agree but for what I need and my roads its a little low, what do h&r race springs with perches in look like?

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[tak7]

h&r 29964 are fairly common on the 318is. They are for early 318's but work well on 91's. The drop is moderate and paired with sway bars should be a good compromise.
Springs will be static and not adjustable outside of +-15mm with drop hats and possibly taking spring pads out.
I can't help out too much on the camaro struts.
If you want to tweak your ride height or make it adjustable then coils are your friend. If this is your choice I would save up and do ground controls.
Search for sumyungguy's thread. It's an old thread but a good example of the h&r's mentioned first, and some really cool shots as well, some of my favs.
Good luck

[ME30W]

H&R sport with Bilstein sports. Just got them put into my car, nice moderate drop but still enough clearance to be safe on these horrible streets in NYC.

Handles so much better than stock also

[nick_318is]

H&R sport with Bilstein sports. I have Dinan springs but I think the H&R gives a similar drop that isn't too low.

[dr.gonzo]

How would this set up compare to a budget coil system? Not expecting much out of jom coils but kicking the idea around. Also since I'd intend on getting camber plates and new RSM the total price for billies, h&rs, camber pates, and RSMs, is basically what Megan coils or isc coils are.

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[tak7]

Do it right the first time with quality parts. They will always have value.
Cheap coils, not so much.

[meengreene30]

For rear shock mounts check out Bimmerworlds lifetimes ones for $40/pr. Nice mounts. On the rear with my races i was gonna run a 15mm spring pad. The mr2 kyb front struts you gotta use a 3'' spacer in your strut tube and change the sleeve in your strut bearing, it's doable. You won't need camber plates. Fixed camber plates are a little over $100 if you go that route.

[Andy.B]

German engineering coil overs are currently available.
A set of Einstein's coils, agx shocks, and m3 weld on tabs and links would give you a great suspension with tons of adjustment for well under 1k.

[dr.gonzo]

How much do IE stage 3 drop without drophats? (As in stock drophats)

[meengreene30]

About the same as h&r races, but you'll have reverse rake with ie3's on a late model.

[dr.gonzo]

So I'd have to add something to the rear (spring pad or something) for it to stay level? I noticed the oil pan on the 318is is almost as low as the oil pan on my 90 325i





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