Protecting my ride quality.

[Rhino]

I want to lower my 318ic. I would like it to have a nice stance and look sporty. But here is the catch. I want to lose little to no ride quality compared to stock. What do you guys recommend. Is it even possible? I dont care about how well it handles as long it is still as good as stock. I wont complain if it is better. but i have a race car for the twists, not a DD. Thank you so much.

Rhino

[smonkbmw]

how old is the suspension on it now? what suspension is on it now? what is your idea of "stock"?

plenty of variables here that are going to depend on peoples different opinions over what is "stock" feeling. to me bilstein sports and hr sports feels pretty close to stock. while this to others feels stiff. youre going to have a hard time lowering a car on a stock shock as its not intended for that use. so you have to give a little to get some back if you know what i mean.

id say roll the hr cup kit (which i never recommend), or a eibach kit. the spring rates on these are softer than most.

[Rhino]

My toy is a 1985 535i and its got dinan suspension with billy shocks and huge and i mean huge sway bars. on the highways here is california it is pretty rough.

In the 318ic, It has all old beat to shit components. SO its pretty loose and old. but it dosent feel unconfertible. I am just worried when i upgrade i can kiss good by the confert on my DD. and if thats the case i will stick to stock.

[smonkbmw]

well i guess thats kind of the catch there. "old beat to shit components" isnt stock now is it? thats old, worn bits. im afraid there isnt a way around it with out losing something. even a set of kybs and eibachs might be to "stiff" for you. but then the kybs will blow out from the car bottoming out.

so the answer is there is nothing you can do without sacrificing your "comfort".

[Van Westervelt]

Get stock Boge struts. and new rubber bushings

[Rhino]

Well i was going to rebuild it all back to stock nith new componets. so what is close to stock confert wise.

[CorvallisBMW]

Eibach springs or the H&R cup kit have spring rates closest to the stock spring rate. The other option would be buying 318iS springs and pairing them with stock Boge shocks. Those would be your best bet for ride quality.

[smonkbmw]

Well i was going to rebuild it all back to stock nith new componets. so what is close to stock confert wise.

Get stock Boge struts. and new rubber bushings

is the stock supplier for shocks.

not sure if the cup kit is close to stock, but the eibach pro kit is softer than stock though.

[CorvallisBMW]

There are 2 cups kits, BTW. One is softer with less of a drop, the other is slightly firmer with a larger drop. But even the firmer one is pretty damn soft. Here:

http://www.hrsprings.com/scripts/appguide.php?Mode=Make+Guide&SubMode=Find3&MakeID=4

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40472

[Rhino]

If i dont care about preformance can i just cut the springs. It should keep the stock spring rate that way correct. and i should have to change any thing else. Just an idea. Its a 800 dollar car.

[Rhino]

What about m3 springs?

[Rhino]

Bump. I am really courious about cutting the springs.

[smonkbmw]

What about m3 springs?

yes, get m3 springs.

[StereoInstaller1]

M3 springs on KYBs would do fine.

My KYBs have over 30,000 miles on them in my car, I have no clue where this internet bullshit started about KYBs not being reliable, but they are decent.

[DCColegrove]

I want to lower my 318ic. I would like it to have a nice stance and look sporty. But here is the catch. I want to lose little to no ride quality compared to stock. What do you guys recommend. Is it even possible? I dont care about how well it handles as long it is still as good as stock. I wont complain if it is better. but i have a race car for the twists, not a DD. Thank you so much.

Rhino

Don't cut the springs...It's fucking hack and can be dangerous.

Fine ride quality:
H&R Sport Springs, Bilstein Touring shocks(Or bilstein HDs for a bit stiffer ride) @ 30mm drop


Good ride quality pretty low:
Eibach Pro Kit Springs, Bilstein Sports @ 50mm drop will also require camber correction plates and rear camber/toe corrections (eccentric bushings or slotted excentric captured bolts)

And: Tire/Rim Choice will be a huge factor in ride quality...