Best Suspension/Springs, Shocks for a Daily Driver

[dandingo]

Hey everyone,

I just got a 1988 325iS and want to lower her. She's my daily driver so I'm mainly looking for a better stance while not making the ride too stiff. I've seen pics of H&R Sport/Bilstein Sport and I dig it but I could go about a half inch lower up front. Decent Coilovers, such as H&Rs, cost more than half of what I paid for the car.

I'm not gonna be racing the car but I definitely don't want it bottoming out. Is the H&R/Bilstein the best setup for what I'm looking for? Thanks to everyone who helps me out!

[Coco Savage]

i have billys with vogtland springs and i love it!

[Erick]

IE3s and Bilsteins. Hands down I can say that from two years of experience with it.

IE3s are reasonably priced, extremely similar to the H&R Race, and the progressive rates wont drop a kidney on every speed bump.

- Erick

[dandingo]

IE3s and Bilsteins. Hands down I can say that from two years of experience with it.

IE3s are reasonably priced, extremely similar to the H&R Race, and the progressive rates wont drop a kidney on every speed bump.

- Erick

I was thinking about those but I found a thread on E30tech.com that showed their rate was considerably higher than the H&Rs. Is yours a daily driver? I had a '65 Chrysler 300 (a friggin boat) that I dropped very harshly and it wasn't too bad. I'm no puss but am I gonna be annoyed by the ride on these? Thanks again...

Two more questions... What's the progressive rate and what shocks do you use with them? Oh yeah, and do you have any pics of what they look like... Ok, it's 3 questions!

[Erick]

They are stiffer than the H&R Sport, but not the H&R Race. Honestly I feel that the sport is too little of an investment. After all of that, it's still not a night and day feeling.

The IE3s is a whole different ballgame. I daily drove the car on it for 2 years. No complaints whatsoever. To tell you the honest truth, I thought to myself that if it was any stiffer, then it would kill the whole thing. I thought it was the perfect compromise.

I only moved up to coilovers once I started tracking the car more than commuting it.

From being on the forums for a long time, I can tell you that most of the guys are very happy with the combo. It's definetly subjective, and some people like it and others don't, but I'm pretty confident that the chances are you'll love it.

And it'll make your car feel 100x more solid when you actually do put it to the test.

- Erick

[backtrail69]

PSSTT erick.. H&R race and IE3 are the same spring rates..

[Erick]

That's what I'm saying. Did I say something else? :p

[dandingo]

Now I'm debating between IEs and H&R Sports. Which would be better if I were to have 4 people in the car? Is anyone else using the IEs for DD? Thanks again!

[Erick]

With 4 people in the car, then it all boils down to the wheel size/width/offset and what tires you are running.

The H&R Sports sit higher, but they compress easier (being softer than IE3s), so with 4 people you'd probably go just as low as the IE3s.

[NOMAD]

Same question as the Op but with a 318iS... Not my daily and hope to autocross and (hopefully) track the car in the future. Would still drive it daily as much as possible though.

The biggest issue I have is the super low oil pan on the 318iS. What do you think of auto-x and track? Daily? Having to worry about busted pans isn't appealing. I guess skidplate solves that?

[johnwoo]

Same question as the Op but with a 318iS... Not my daily and hope to autocross and (hopefully) track the car in the future. Would still drive it daily as much as possible though.

The biggest issue I have is the super low oil pan on the 318iS. What do you think of auto-x and track? Daily? Having to worry about busted pans isn't appealing. I guess skidplate solves that?

x2
looking for lowering springs and shocks combos but low oil pan worries me.

anyone know of who makes a skid plate?

[rwh11385]

H&R Sport 50406 and Koni SAs.
Very comfortable and sit wells...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/7/9/4/9/DSC01869.jpg

[Danny]

I like the way my car sits.

Billy sports in the front KYB Gas adjusts in the rear (Yay picknpull, at 8 bucks a shock I cant argue.) and Racing Dynamics greens.

Ride is slightly stiffer I believe than H&R sports and I think The drop may be a wee bit more?

[johnwoo]

what about ie3? ive searched and it looks like there are good results with these. anyone know the cheapest place to pick up a set?

[T Verdier]

Now I'm debating between IEs and H&R Sports. Which would be better if I were to have 4 people in the car? Is anyone else using the IEs for DD? Thanks again!

WTF. They can walk!

What about ride height. Ive heard so many different things like IE3s drop lower in the back than h&r races even though they claim 2" in front and 1.5" in the rear. I want lower in front!