H&R OE Sport (50404-55) vs Sport (50404)

[mike.bmw]

I'm planning to refresh my springs + pads, shocks, and mounts on my '91 318is in the next few weeks. I want something close to stock ride height without paying for new BMW springs. I'm considering picking up a set of H&R OE Sports (50404-55), but I've read a lot of conflicting information.

Can anyone confirm the ride height of a '91 318is on the H&R OE Sport springs?

Is it true that the OE Sport springs (50404-55) are the same as the Sport springs (50404)?

What do the OE Sport springs only show as compatible with the 325 and not the 318? Clearly they'll fit on a 318.

Would these be better paired with Bilstein B4s or HDs?

[robrez]

Sorry, I've no experience with the OE sport springs, but on my M42 car I wanted a firmer ride but retain stock height, so I went with 6cylinder H&R sport springs (50406) and H&R vert/ix rear springs (euro version 19-03). Here's how it looked

[Eurospec]

29964 w/ Bilstein sports iirc... it's been a few years.





50404-55 w/ Bilstein HD's and E90 drop hats up front and thicker spring pads in the rear. The OE sports paired with the bilstein HD's is stiff yet very tame and comfortable for day to day driving, highly recommended.

[jeffnhiscars]

The OE Sport will give you a modest drop and are rated for the weight of a 6 cylinder. With a 4 banger you might just add e90 drop hats to make up the difference. Just be mindful of the valving in your dampers

[zaq123]

old post but related to my question. e30 m20 coupe. I have HR sports blue 50406 (sport based on HR catalog). I wanted to raise it up a little so ordered 50404-55 (OE sports per the catalog). Springs came and look blue unlike online pics of them where they are grey. Blue springs but have 50404-55 stamp on them. So I started from the rear since it's super easy on e30. Got my 50406 spring out and noticed springs are completely the same, wire diameter, coil diameter/numbers, height etc. Ok I thought, where is a magic? My springs were already out so I put those OE sports in and ended up at exactly the same height.. actually like 2mm lower in the rear. Yes, physics are physics, no magic there as I pretty much suspected before I put them in.
I'm not pulling my fronts at this point since it's a little more involved till I find out what's happening and where I can get true OE sport springs.
Any ideas? My goal is to set the car as it would sit with M3 springs or close to it which are NLA.

[AWDBOB]

old post but related to my question. e30 m20 coupe. I have HR sports blue 50406 (sport based on HR catalog). I wanted to raise it up a little so ordered 50404-55 (OE sports per the catalog). Springs came and look blue unlike online pics of them where they are grey. Blue springs but have 50404-55 stamp on them. So I started from the rear since it's super easy on e30. Got my 50406 spring out and noticed springs are completely the same, wire diameter, coil diameter/numbers, height etc. Ok I thought, where is a magic? My springs were already out so I put those OE sports in and ended up at exactly the same height.. actually like 2mm lower in the rear. Yes, physics are physics, no magic there as I pretty much suspected before I put them in.
I'm not pulling my fronts at this point since it's a little more involved till I find out what's happening and where I can get true OE sport springs.
Any ideas? My goal is to set the car as it would sit with M3 springs or close to it which are NLA.

From what i can tell they batch paint springs. I've had 50404.55 springs in both silver and blue. Fun fact, front iX H&Rs are stamped 50404.55 as well.

I went digging for you, my last new set was blue and stamped 50404.55 front and rear.

51329998135_b33703e8bb_c by bimmertown, on Flickr

This is how it sat with them, with e90 drop hats up front and stock rear spring pads.

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/members-rides/the-project-forum/9971668-my-hoopte30-project-attempt-6-the-painless-way-to-earn-cash-back-every-day?p=10031806#post10031806

[zaq123]

I appreciate the help. I'm not sure if I should try vert rear H&R sport springs or even IX sport springs? If these OE sports actually stiffer in the front, I just don't see how stiffer front will raise/level the rear without reversed rake look. Or I'm wrong?

Here is how I sit with 50406 kit. 50404.55 rears put me at exactly the same height.

Black car is where I'd like to sit. Not that I have alignment issues or hate the current look, I do have rear subframe adjusters and was able to dial the alignment where I want it right. I just can't clear my driveway apron without getting off in the reverse on the angle and getting up on it on the angle. Oh and unload my passengers haha. Kind of annoying so I'd like to get her closer to Alpina B3 height which used M3 green dot springs btw.

[zaq123]

do my picture show? forum is glitchy

[AWDBOB]

I don't see any photos.

50406 vs 50404-55 H&R's website states the OE Sports will give you 0.3" less drop f/r. If you're saying they are visually the same coil number/size, I wonder how they achieve the difference.

The spring rate chart that's often shared on here lists both sport and OE sport as having 180lb F 380 R rates. I am but an ape when it comes to suspension detail, but sports certainly feel stiffer on the car than OE Sports. Difficult to quantify though, as it could easily be strut/shock choice

I've never had OE sports sit evenly. Mike with the white 318iS used thicker e46 rear spring pads to even his OE Sports out, but that's an m42 w/ less weight over the nose.

I've also had new H&R's come with the wrong rear springs from new. Stamped correctly though so it was easy to catch.

That's all I've got to add- I've done OE sports twice now hoping for stock M3 spring look. I'd keep your sports and mess with spring pads/USMs. E30M used a thicker (9mm) front upper spring pad, worth a shot: 31331128522

[zaq123]

I don't see any photos.

50406 vs 50404-55 H&R's website states the OE Sports will give you 0.3" less drop f/r. If you're saying they are visually the same coil number/size, I wonder how they achieve the difference.

The spring rate chart that's often shared on here lists both sport and OE sport as having 180lb F 380 R rates. I am but an ape when it comes to suspension detail, but sports certainly feel stiffer on the car than OE Sports. Difficult to quantify though, as it could easily be strut/shock choice

I've never had OE sports sit evenly. Mike with the white 318iS used thicker e46 rear spring pads to even his OE Sports out, but that's an m42 w/ less weight over the nose.

I've also had new H&R's come with the wrong rear springs from new. Stamped correctly though so it was easy to catch.

That's all I've got to add- I've done OE sports twice now hoping for stock M3 spring look. I'd keep your sports and mess with spring pads/USMs. E30M used a thicker (9mm) front upper spring pad, worth a shot: 31331128522

I got thickest 10mmpad on the rear right now. If 5040455 front springs will give me some height in the front, I still want to figure out the rear as I'm out of option considering OE sports are as tall as HR offers... unless I go with vert or IX rear ones which I'm not sure will be good for the coupe as far as the ride quality goes.

[zaq123]

pictures that go with my previous post. I'm not sure why this forum is acting up with attachments or post edits lately. What I got (my white car) and what I want it to sit at (black)

[AWDBOB]

Two things, if it helps. Unfortunately I've only used OE sport fronts with drophats so I don't have data.

1) There is a 15mm rear spring pad, 33531094754

2) phreshkid is selling a set of NOS E30 M3 springs, might be an opportunity for a buy once cry once

[zaq123]

Two things, if it helps. Unfortunately I've only used OE sport fronts with drophats so I don't have data.

1) There is a 15mm rear spring pad, 33531094754

2) phreshkid is selling a set of NOS E30 M3 springs, might be an opportunity for a buy once cry once

ok 50404-55 did raise the car almost 0.5" from Sports 50406 gonna sag probably a little but It's a progress already. Rear springs are exactly the same thought. Got those 15mm rear spacers which will be going in soon so I can settle the suspension and align the car.

[jeffnhiscars]

It's been forever but the subject is on the table here. Our 87 coupe is now living with us here in France. It started life as a 1 owner eta and I've posted about it a fair bit. Front tires have been rubbing the fenders even after I rolled them. I pulled the invoice on the H&Rs and it says I ordered OE sports. Yet they are very clearly marked 50406F which would explain the problem while not helping me at all to figure out how they got on there. I won't rule out that I've conflated invoices but that's another story.

the problem is they don't seem to offer and OE Sport here (despite being made next door) or if they do the numbers or model number may be different. I haven't called them yet but am wondering if I can recover .3-.5 in (dare I say 10mm) via the spring pads. It's a lot I think but figured I'd throw that out here.

note as per my signature this is Alice the time capsule and the cabrio found on new home on BAT

[88Sedan]

I have oe sports on my 325i. The rear ride height was way too low, but for me the front was perfect. I'm rebuilding the rear of my car right now and will definitely be installing thick spring pads to raise the rear.

I may be mistaken but before buying I had read the sports and oe sports have same spring rate just different height. I actually wish the oe sports kit was packaged with slightly stiffer rear springs as I believe this would eliminate the need for an aftermarket rear sway bar for many.

Everytime I look at the oe sport rear springs' 'dead coils' I wonder why h&r designed them that way. Since springs wear from number of cycles, springs with that many dead coils seems like a good way to wear out the few parts of the spring doing all of the cycling while the others stay relatively still. The oe bmw springs are a better design in that way but are too soft.

Attached is oe sports installed with stock pads.