Lowering e30 on a budget. Need help.

[Ravosa]

Hey, I'm new to lowering cars. I got a 1991 318i for very cheap and want to lower it to give it a better look. This car will not be autoX and doesn't need expensive GC setups. I'm looking to spend 400 or less. Right now it looks like my options are JOMs and cosmos. Do both of these coilover kits come with EVERYTHING I need? Again, I got the car cheap and it is strictly for looks. No lectures on how much better GC is please. I have another car that most of my money goes into. This one is just a beater.

[rcsoundn1]

you are going to get a lot of grief about this question. my suggestion is do what you want as long as its safe.

[ak-]

How much would you like it lowered? Cut a coil or two up front, as long as you have SOME wheel gap and good shocks, it shouldn't bottom out.

I'm only saying this because of the cheapness of the cheapiness in your summary.

[dadsbmw]

I'm pretty happy with my H&R OEM Sport springs e90 front drop hats, and KYB shocks... Bought the springs used for $100, drop hats for roughly $30 new, shocks were $140 shipped brand new, so looking at ~$300.

Keep in mind overall diameter of wheel/tire package is going to make a big difference here. The trend these days is to lower your car an insane amount, put on tiny tires and scrape on anything and everything on the road. If you do a modest drop and get properly sized tires they'll fill the extra gap and "look" low without requiring you to have something annoying/impossible to drive.

[AndrewBird]

H&R Race or IE Stage 3 + Bilstein sports or Konis. You won't be ride height adjustable, but it really isn't needed. Should be able to get a used set of springs for cheap and maybe even struts used as well.

[AbsorbantNut]

H&R Race or IE Stage 3 + Bilstein sports or Konis. You won't be ride height adjustable, but it really isn't needed. Should be able to get a used set of springs for cheap and maybe even struts used as well.

If you're bugdet minded this is the way to go. And get a set of e90 drop hats if you really want to go a little lower. You can mess around with the rear spring pads to help dial in the height too

[Ravosa]

Sorry guys I'm new to lowering and I'm not sure about all the parts I would need. I can't just get springs and shocks or coilovers?

[BECKSTER]

Cut 5.478 coils up front , and cool wheels with Hella stretch and you'll have the looks.

[Best_name_available]

Sorry guys I'm new to lowering and I'm not sure about all the parts I would need. I can't just get springs and shocks or coilovers?

Drop hats aren't that big of a deal the lower the front maybe 8mm? But for $30 it might be worth it, everyone here is trying to sway you to a spring and shock setup because $400 coil overs are shit, In my experience with a friends car it rode worse than cut springs. Just do t do it. Depending on what you can deal with or want as far as stiffness h&r sport or race are good and everyone will always chime in about koni's just don't waste your money on JOM's.

Ps: gc's are an affordable coilover option, very good price for decent coilovers