Thinking about the GC coilover conversion kit with my Billie sports

[Lof8]

Thanks for the help guys. It looks like I'm going to want to wait until I can afford the real deal. Post up as many pics of coilover conversion kits on bilsteins as you want, though. I'm also rockin the early rear arches that make it harder to tuck a little tire.

Edit: I'd like to be about 1" lower all around than where Jean's pictures are at - that doesn't seem possible with the billies and uncut housings.

[Jean]

rwdrift - so was I, but both of our cars (Lof8 and mine) are early cars, and mine is a lighter 318i if it makes a difference much on how low it would sit.

[E30nate]

mine was like that too. 1/2 way up i was just barely tucking my 215/45 16s

[318isbmw]

Wow that's crazy. I am not sure what's different in my case because I am with 5" rear springs, WITH adjusters. My settings are on the half way mark, and I am tucking 16x9s w/ 205/50/16s.

Is yours a late body, cuz his is an early, this the difference in looks. I agree, took me by surprise also w/ the look of his.
Edit: Jean snuck in right before I sent it. Already mentioned it.

[smonkbmw]

I have billies, 350f/475r rates on GCs (that's as high as you should go with these shocks) and Vorshlag plates.

huh? no stiffer than 350/475? stock h&r race has higher rates than that.

Hope this helps. I would not go any stiffer than these rates on off the shelf bilsteins, ride quality is affected significantly enough that a drop of 1/2-3/4 effects how bouncy it gets.

stiffer than what rates?

i was running sports with 450/650 rates with no complaints.

thats close to what i wanted to run. glad to hear that they work.

[E30nate]

the 450/650 combo was perfect with the bilsteins. only got uncomfortable on really bumpy roads, but even then it wasnt unbearable.

[Majjic]

Andy, I had off the shelf bilsteins with GC kit on my 318i but with gc camber plates.

Here is how the camber plates / springs seat


IIRC rear was almost all the way down here, maybe 1/4" left to go, front had maybe anoter 3/4" to go. This is with 6" front springs and 5" rear springs.


Hope this helps. I would not go any stiffer than these rates on off the shelf bilsteins, ride quality is affected significantly enough that a drop of 1/2-3/4 effects how bouncy it gets. I ended up adjusting it to have more suspension travel and handling improved as well as ride quality.

To go lower you would probably want to :

a) use shorter springs
b) not use rear adjusters at all
c) modify front strut housings

Hope this helps.

"off the shelf bilsteins"

were you using bilsteins or bilsten sports?

i have a 91 318is, so that would mean it would sit lower then a earlier model correct?

[Lof8]

Anyone know if GC has shortened housings on the shelf to ship (to save downtime)? Or do you have to take the housings off the car and ship to them to modify?

[DRTSRFR]

To my knowledge they do not have cores.

I can only imagine the junk people would send them expecting a diamond in return.

Get a couple from the local pick-n-pull, my last set cost me $15 for the pair.:D

[atomic]

Anyone know if GC has shortened housings on the shelf to ship (to save downtime)? Or do you have to take the housings off the car and ship to them to modify?

PM this member and ask them

[318isbmw]

"off the shelf bilsteins"

were you using bilsteins or bilsten sports?

i have a 91 318is, so that would mean it would sit lower then a earlier model correct?

It doesn't sit physically lower, but its just that the wheel openings don't go up as high, therefore tucking tire quicker. Hope that makes sense. And per the thread title, I think he's referring to bilstein (billie) sports.

[atomic]

It doesn't sit physically lower, but its just that the wheel openings don't go up as high, therefore tucking tire quicker. Hope that makes sense. And per the thread title, I think he's referring to bilstein (billie) sports.

Yes only the rear wheel arches are lower/flatter on a late model versus a early model car. Making the rear wheel/tire tuck (or appear to sit lower) than a early model car does. It does not mean the car will sit any lower than a early model however. And besides the struts/shocks do not control the ride height anyways, rather that is what the different lowering springs will do for you.....


:-D

[gearheadE30]

huh? no stiffer than 350/475? stock h&r race has higher rates than that.



stiffer than what rates?



thats close to what i wanted to run. glad to hear that they work.

H&R race is 315/570 if I remember right, but they are progressive springs. I was told by bimmerworld, GC, and a local e30 guy that it wasn't a good idea to run stiffer than that, so take it as you will.

[Jean]

Majjic - I used bilstein sports.

Andy - when I gave my front empty struts for GC to modify they already had modified ones ready to go and would use mine as cores.

[DRTSRFR]

Andy - when I gave my front empty struts for GC to modify they already had modified ones ready to go and would use mine as cores.

They no longer provide this service, unfortunately. Too many customers were sending in junk that could not be re-sold.