Mild street setup?

[IS]

Springs are the biggest part of stiffness. You can check the spring rates to see the differences in springs. H&R Sports are an improvement over stock IS springs, they both lower your car and if I'm correct are also stiffer, but are soft enough for a DD. I am going with IE stg. III's (identical to H&R race) springs because I like a stiff ride, but I'm pretty sure they are still softer than something like coilovers. I don't mind to sacrifice a little bit of comfort for performance, but it all depends on how you like your ride.

Hm, alright. Shocks have a lot more to do how a car rides than the springs. Think about modern cars with electronically adj. suspensions. HUGE difference between the mild and "sport" modes. The spring rates remain constant.

Coilovers aren't really anything. You choose your own spring rates.

If roads are poor, I would go with h&r oe sports.

Exactly what is your objective by the way - you werent very clear.

[wazzu70]

go with GC and select your own spring rates. If you want something stiff for weekend fun you can have a spare set to swap in.

[AdironRider]

Then definately dont get race springs. I live in seacoast NH and the roads are terrible. Id go no lower than H&R sports, especially since your car is a daily.

[b*saint]

I would def go for as stiff as I could buy if the road that leads to my school didnt have 10" deep craters all over it.

[czag13]

Springs are the biggest part of stiffness. You can check the spring rates to see the differences in springs. H&R Sports are an improvement over stock IS springs, they both lower your car and if I'm correct are also stiffer, but are soft enough for a DD. I am going with IE stg. III's (identical to H&R race) springs because I like a stiff ride, but I'm pretty sure they are still softer than something like coilovers. I don't mind to sacrifice a little bit of comfort for performance, but it all depends on how you like your ride.

[b*saint]

Alright my 325is had KILLER (I mean on the back) suspension. Wicked hard suspension and it made every thing in your head rattle. It also made the car sit like it was slanted i.e. higher in the back than the front. I know it had Koni yellows but not sure for springs. I'm definitely getting Koni Yellows again if I pick up an E30, but what about springs? Are H&R Sport springs an improvement over the stock IS springs to make them worth buying or should I go all out and get the race springs? I live in New England so I can't go too low because our roads SUCK.

Edit - Wait springs wouldn't control stiffness would they? Wouldn't that be how I adjust the shocks?