Setup and reverse rake

[Ant's Bmw]

hey guys,

I've been planning out the last of the parts I want to order to get my car ready for spring. I'm planning on doing 2 track weekends and hopefully 3-5 autocrosses. Right now, my car('85 323i) is sitting on bilstein sports and h&r sports and the rear end of the car is noticeably higher than the front(forward rake). I was going to go either h&r races or ie3's this year. I know this has been covered. I read a few threads explaining the reverse rake with ie3's on late models and not on early models because of wheel arches. But then i read another thread that a different member here used ie3's on his '84 323i and still had rake problems. Can anyone clear this up for me? i really dont have a preference for either brand considering the rates are the same, but its my dd so looks are somewhat of importance.

oh, i also have ireland's adjustable street camber plates that im planning on using. If it helps, my wheels are 16x7 with 205-50-16 tires.

This seems like a trial and error issue with different setups, how many spring pads, early/late model, etc...

Any suggestions would be great

[xLibelle]

yeah ie3's sit low in the back but its because its a proper rake setup. notably, it looks funny on later model cars where the rear wheel arch is lower, but geometrically, theres no difference in the cars, other than various components producing weight imbalance.

i'm sitting on ie3's and i have rubber pads in top and bottom in the rear and pertch pads in front as well and if you measure at the base of the car, right behind front wheels and in front the rear ones, the rake is forward by an inch. (325i manual all options with half tank, no camber plates)

if anyone complains about rake problems, then they need to describe WHAT the problem is first than being a sissy. Is it an asthetics thing, or does the rear sit considerably lower than the front? Has anyone with rake problems defined the issue on scales??? the e30 is front heavy and a proper balance in rake helps out the handling characteristics greatly.

cue in, the sissies:

[craz azn]

That 'rake problem' that everyone screams about is just an aesthetics thing. Get some drop hats for the front and your set. As per my car! Late model E30 FYI



I ran it on track a couple times last year, IE3s and Billy Sports, although the shocks were OKAY at best, I felt that they couldn't hold their own to the stronger spring setup (VS the H&R Sports I had back in '06) The front felt sort of 'floaty' if it was provoked with any sort of sharp mid corner bumps. Get 'em revalved if you have the money.

[delphini]

Have i heard (please back me up or correct me if i'm wrong ) that 87 cabrio rear arches are lower than later model ?
This may also contribute to the "rake" look . I personally like a lower front with a lower rear slight rake .

[jlevie]

You have a choice, aesthetics or handling. For handling you want as close to 50:50 weight distribution as you can get. If that happens to result in a bit of forward rake because of the shape of the fenders, so be it. A very good (handling wise) and reasonably priced setup that is still reasonable on the street is the Spec E30 suspension configuration.