Help with suspension pick...

[e325i]

I've just picked up my first e30, an 89 325i after wanting one for quite some time. This is just a second car/weekend toy and I might get into auto-x or the like with it, but right now I just want it to look good/be fun to drive.

I'm tossing up two different wheel & tire options, and I really need help on finding solutions to slam the car.

I'm 99% sure I'm either going to get some 15x8 Rota Slips, 20+ w/ 195/50 Azeni's or RS2s..... OR 15x8 Sportmax002's, 0+ w/ the same tires...

I really love the dish, so I'll probably go with the second choice.

What coilover options do we have for these cars since I really want to be able to drop the car?

How much suspension travel do these cars have, and what is an average drop and what is a SLAMMED drop?

I'd like to keep it under $1k, and I'll probably do the bushings all around since the car has 150k on it.

Do they sell a complete suspension bushing kit for the e30?

Thanks for any and all help!
Matt

[e30 Luv]

heres a quick link to pelicanparts.com suspension wizard. wont answer all your questions but will help a bit.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...pension_Wizard

[egk2]

Welcome. Use the search function, it will answer all your questions.

[e325i]

Thanks, I have been putting it to good use, but for some reason I'm not getting the best results. It's probably user error (me) but I guess my search topic's aren't the best.

I'm looking to do a complete over haul on the suspension/brakes/bushings/mounts on the car.

Has anyone used Turner Motorsports? I racked up approximately $1800 in parts I deemed necessary in my quest and I'm still not sure I got it all.

E30 318/325e/i Brake Package $209.95
OEM (Stock) ATE Super Blue, Axxis Metal Master
E30 325e/i Front Caliper Rebuild Kit (2) $23.90
E30 325e/i Rear Caliper Rebuild Kit (2) $17.90
F/R Suspension Mount Kit for E30 3 Series $139.95
E30 Stock Rear Subframe Mounts (pair) $48.00
E30 Rubber Rear Differential Mount $108.00
TMS Reinforcement Package for E30 $159.95
E30, E24, E28 Transmission Mounts (pair) $31.90
E30 325e/i HD Motor Mount kit (pair) $159.95
BMW Hood / Trunk Emblem (2) $26.98
Bentley Service Manual for the E30 3-series $34.95
H&R Cup Kit for E30 $720

You guys think that will suffice? I still don't feel like I'm getting everything in one shot, but I think once I'm in there getting dirty I'll realize what else I forgot. Trying to avoid that but doesn't always happen.

Is there a way to know if my control arms or balljoints/tie rods or steering rack need replaced? What should I look for?

Matt

[Jon325i]

You mention that this car will be just a second car/weekend toy with the possibility of auto-x in the future. If that is the case, might I suggest you consider something else other than the H&R Cup kit. My main concern is that this particular kit offers a considerable drop in ride height over stock - and if some of the roads you normally drive on are less-than-ideal, you may find yourself in the market for a replacement oilpan if you run over a particularly large hole/bump. This has happened to more than one person here.....just giving you a heads up seeing you're new to these cars.

A simple and fairly straight forward alternative would be some Bilstien Sport shocks with some H&R Sport springs. Cost effective and it will lower your car enough to give a nice stance and respectable handling improvement yet not so low that it makes getting around a hassle.

Just my $.02

Jon

[e325i]

Thanks for the tip Jon, I'm not sure what these cars "need" in terms of a drop to look good. And my car stock isn't something to base it off of because my rear is tucking (blown/worn shocks) and my front is sky high, no clue why.

I'll be honest, the fact that its a kit/meant to work together and the price were very appealing. I haven't decided on the kit, but I have run H&R Race springs on my old GTI and although the ride/handling was very nice, I always wished it was .5 to 1 inch lower.

Does anyone know if anyone offers a "complete bushing kit" for these cars? I used to find them all the time for previous cars, but nothing with this one. :(

[egk2]

There are suspension setup threads here :

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4625

and
here:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=52154

If you search for cup kit, many threads will come up, to sum up, it's very soft, has lots of roll, very low especially in the back(not good on an e30) etc...

There are far better choices out there for suspensions. Depends on how low and stiff you want the car though.

Have you put the car up in the air yet? I'd concentrate on control arms, control arm bushings, tie rods, upper strut mounts, rear strut mounts, inspect rear subframe bushings etc...

As far as the steering rack goes, there are outer boots on each end, a good sign of failure is wetness on these.

Ball joints on the control arms get floppy when they wear out, also if you tug on the arms and there is alot of play, the control arm bushings are bad.

The front strut mounts get flat as they get old and with the rear strut mounts, if you hear a clunking noise in the rear over shudder bumps, they're bad, also you can just visually inspect them, it's obvious when they are shot, they crack or break through.

Don't kill yourself trying to get it all at once.

My advice is to sit back and read through all the information here on these forums before you make any decisions, it will prevent you from making a wrong decision and doing things twice.

[FredK]

Has anyone used Turner Motorsports?

Ya, they're a great source for parts.

[PiercedE30]

The H&R Race springs are very nice, whether you decide to run billy sports or koni's is up to you. I'm running Koni's and love the way it rides and the ride height is just right.

[egk2]

Just noticed the wheel and tire setup you want to run.

You'll need to go very low to have it sit right. To eliminate all the front gap when running stretched tires and wide low offset wheels, you'll need to go approx 2.8" lower in the front and approx 1.6"-2" rear. Your options are to find 70/50 springs, KW coilovers(GC's/comsos won't get you low enough) or go with 60/40 springs and use lowering spring hats in the front.

[e325i]

Wow, See I figured that even 2" wasn't enough. Thanks for the headsup, I would have hated to get it all installed and still have that much gap. I'll do a search for KW coilovers and 70/50 springs, is that in mm? I haven't seen KW's yet, only H&R's, any good priced supplier for those or the springs?

Thanks again man, I'll get it, I've been spending a good 4-5 hrs the past few days reading the forums at work, lol. I'll be a pro by the end of the year.

Oh yeah, I defintiely DON'T want it to be soft, I figured coilovers were the only way to go, but what spring rates are good for what I have in mind? I've seen everywhere from 300/500 to 350/475 to 500/750...etc

[e325i]

EG...

I found out that FK/KW no longer are US distributors and therefore makes it difficult to purchase.

I have seen a few threads where people will cut and shorting the strut tube or something? From what I understand is if you cut say 1" from the tube and reweld it back together, its effectively lowering the car 1", without changing the available suspension travel, is that correct?

If that's right, then I could buy GC's w/ koni's or something, and modify my strut tubes and be right where I want to be, correct?

[e325i]

Ok, where are people getting there "shortened" koni's and how short are they? I think that if I get the shortened shocks/struts, GC's will work fine for me, right?

Also, does the GC/Koni combo bolt right in or is there modifications needed to the mounts on the e30?

thanks

[whiltebeitel]

GC sells shortened struts. You should not need and modifications to the mounts. I'm not a fan of GC camber plates, however. The ones I have seen make adjustment a bitch.

[PiercedE30]

Get the Vorshlagg camber plates. Top notch quality and VERY easy to adjust.