Budget suspension setup, need help

[Ohnoitsgeoff]

I have an 85 325e on stock everything. I want to upgrade the suspension, I'm not trying to spend a crap ton of money and I don't want to be super low, I live in Pennsylvania where I think most of the potholes are larger than manholes. This is my daily driver, but I do like to drive it like I stole it so I'd like something that performs well.


On that note I want maybe a 1-1.5 inch drop, I've been reading around and not sure what would be the best route.

Also my stock suspension is in good shape so I'm not sure if I should just get springs and call it a day or should do shocks "since I'm in there"

I'm currently on my stock bottle caps but do intend on getting different wheels by years end but nothing bigger than 16", more than likely esm's

I read the camero shock thread and that sounds like a good route but I'd love to hear about other set ups with their pros and cons and also price would be great

Thanks in advance

Also side note at what point is rolling your fenders a necessity?

[glnr13]

"cheap" and "performs well" usually don't play well together but that's a debate in and of itself especially on this forum.

get new shocks. i'm running mustang rear shocks by strange engineering in the back with koni sa's up front on $70 springs from ebay. handles pretty well, it ain't gonna win any autox's or time attacks but it holds it's own in the canyons even with the underpowered m10.

i doubt you'll need rolling with any springs out there. your shocks would have to suck and wheels would have to be poking pretty hard.

[Ohnoitsgeoff]

By budget I don't mean 100$ or less I'm just not in the market for $1000 coilovers. I'm gritting my Obama refund soon and am trying to stretch it as best as I can.

[glnr13]

$70 suspension tech springs
$360 koni sa
$140 strange engineering
$570 total for a frankenstein suspension
That's my "cheap" setup with no height adjustability, just single adjustable shocks.

$425 coilover springs and adjusters (if GE makes them again you could do cheaper)
$360+ for good front shocks that adjust
$120+ for some sort of rear adjustable shocks
$985 total to make your own coil setup

ends up being pretty close to $1000 coils.