Are coil overs for everybody?

[FredK]

Of course!

J-stock IIRC only allows fixed camber plates, so if you want to max out camber, you need to use fixed camber plates plus E30 M3 offset strut mounts (which are like $180 each).

You could easily get a set of adjustable camber plates for the same or less money than the E30 M3 offset strut mounts plus fixed camber plates.

[Van Westervelt]

I wasnt referring to going with a full J-stock setup, moreso just the springs and shocks.

There are plenty of alternatives that are cheaper than a full J-stock setup, and just if not more effective.

[rwh11385]

I know two owners who got J-stock springs and dampers for stupid cheap, and both like their setups. I drove an Auto-X in one and it was pretty nice. Rode surprisingly well too.

[nando]

I know two owners who got J-stock springs and dampers for stupid cheap, and both like their setups. I drove an Auto-X in one and it was pretty nice. Rode surprisingly well too.

it's all in the dampening! :)

personally, I see GC as the "cheap" option, AST as the "Good" option, and anything above that as "unobtanium for E30 guys". drop in springs are fine for the quick/simple lowering job. I just don't get very excited about any of the off the shelf spring kits for the E30..

[AlarmedBread]

coilovers ride nice with the appropriate spring rate and damping, around 400 front/ 550 rear on konis rides much nicer than h&r/ie3 + billies. You could go even softer I suppose, what really makes it ride rough is stiff rear springs. I swap 850 for track/autox and 500-600 for street/rallyx. You could even get some progressive tender springs for an even smoother ride.

[M-technik-3]

The car I just purchased came with H&R comp coil overs. What little I have driven the car is they are brutally stiff.

[Lance Racing]

I'd post in the NW section and drive a couple of local cars to compare and contrast a couple of systems. One person's rock hard ride is another person's sweet spot.

[BakesE30]

yes

coilovers > your mom

[dreeves]

I'd post in the NW section and drive a couple of local cars to compare and contrast a couple of systems. One person's rock hard ride is another person's sweet spot.

agreed. the other variable to keep in mind as you drive other cars is the tires, which have a big effect on ride quality. A set of RA-1s will be noticeably stiffer on the street than a set of street tires.

[einstein57]

I got my H&R race springs and bilstein sports for $700 shipped. They are firm enough for the occasional track day but civil enough for the streets. I'd keep the factory bushings. A full urethane suspension is a little uncomfortable for the streets. So basically for about a grand you can get h&r race springs and ST sway bars.

[87e30]

If you are in seattle I have GC's 650R 450F and I love it. It's great. I just am too low for the front Koni's so I need to get some shorter struts and that will help to smooth out the ride. As far as spring rate... it's great. And I think GC's are the only way to go unless you are going AST's or up.

[markseven]

Seems like a dumb question, but, why are you planning to track your car? To drive fast or to learn how to drive fast? If it's the latter, and if I could do it all over again, I would go to my first track event in a totally stock E30 and then incrementally improve the suspension (sways, then springs and shocks, camber plates) as my skill level increases. So, in a nutshell, you don't need coilovers as yet.

[87e30]

Seems like a dumb question, but, why are you planning to track your car? To drive fast or to learn how to drive fast? If it's the latter, and if I could do it all over again, I would go to my first track event in a totally stock E30 and then incrementally improve the suspension (sways, then springs and shocks, camber plates) as my skill level increases. So, in a nutshell, you don't need coilovers as yet.

Interesting advice.

[txtorquemade]

Interesting advice.

Pretty solid advice I'd say. I just need new wheels/tires. HR and Billy sports about a year old but my old bottle caps are bent to *hit and I need new rear wheel bearing(s).

About to install eccentric RTABs, sway bar links, HD rear and front shock mounts and rear wheel bearings. All OEM except the RTAB's. PO said he changed FCA's and Bings but might do that as well and tie rods.

GC sounds nice, coilovers are probably more vesitile but I dont intend to track this car. Maybe you need a second car for track.

[rwh11385]

Interesting advice.

That's pretty standard advice if you talk to anyone who has tracked or is an instructor. No one needs race suspension to learn how to drive fast. Anyone with a track build or track car has had lots of events under their belt hopefully. Nothing is funnier than someone with a "sick" setup and engine swaps getting their doors blown off by a stock E30 with less go-fast or fuh raze stuff.