Arguments Against Lowering the Car

[BMC227]

I've got Bilstein B8 sprints with eibach 330lb front coilovers and it handles awesome, does not eat tyres, still very smooth and solid. The reason there are all these negative quotes about lowering an e30 is because the majority of people that lower them still use original strut tops, sway bar links, sway bars and so on. If you want to lower your e30 and get it to perform it's best then i suggest you change your strut tops to adjustable ones, solid adjustable rose jointed sway bar links, thicker sway bars, offset bushes and the list goes on. I've changed every rubber and suspension component on my Alpina, it handles like a dream and is very smooth.

[HarryPotter]

The thing with flat arms is when you DO (and will) hit bumps the arms will raise up, you will get bump steer. The thing is you use STIFF springs to keep the suspension from traveling to much, thus it will not allow the arm to move much.

[monoblanco]

Wow, lots of very helpful information.
Still nowhere clear as far as what the optimal solution is for my vert.

Another variable I have to take into consideration is what size wheels I will choose.

I do not want my car slammed. (I did not realized there was a difference between slammed and lowered)

I do not want to compromise handling.

I do want to be able to take 4 people.

And the whole argument about angled control arms vs. parallel does not seem to be settled.

[offwhiteghost]

i cant put ppl in the back seat if i go over bumps it scraps

Brings up an interesting point, my e30 is still riding high but i have plans to put on some Bilsteins and H&R Sports.

Anybody having problems as far as passengers on a modest setup? I thought the increased spring rate would take car of it.

[slammin.e28]

i cant put ppl in the back seat if i go over bumps it scraps

That's too bad! You're car is too nice to scrap! I'd keep as many people out of it as possible! ;):p

[Cabriolet]

Carry four people much? This makes my stock ride height vert low. Wonder what happens with a lowered vert! Low looks better though.

i cant put ppl in the back seat if i go over bumps it scraps

[ZekeTheSneak]

In my opinion if you are going to change the ride height/suspension you want to also upgrade the components as well. I bought coilovers which gave me better shock travel when low, adjustable dampering and ride height. I also opted to much higher spring rates (550f 675r). My car is pretty damn low but with the matching springs and shocks my car handles and rides amazing. Again i payed alot to achieve this but thats another argument.

[MAXELHOFF]

weight.

Carry four people much? This makes my stock ride height vert low. Wonder what happens with a lowered vert! Low looks better though.

[TimR]

All i know is my Vert front springs had an extra 1 1/2 coils VS other e30's. I'm putting a used M3 PSS9 set up on next, 2" adj. perches. #350 front/#575 rear, springs adj. rear shocks, E30 billies in the front.

[Wh33lhop]

Wait--you meant 4 degrees extra camber after lowering the vert, not 4 degrees extra camber vs. the eta.

Never mind. Carry on.

[nando]

okay, let me be more clear - they're too soft for how much they lower the car. you have an extra ~300lbs+ back there that an eta doesn't.

[Cabriolet]

Spring--------Front(lb/in.)-------Rear(lb/in.)
Stock 325i*------106--------------245
Dinan Sport--------172------------300

so i took the dinan's and koni's off the eta and put on to the vert. and then put the vert's stock stuff on the eta, to sell.

[nando]

that's because the springs are softer. it has nothing to do with the shape of any of the suspension.

[Wh33lhop]

let me remeasure mine. but when i swapped the springs and shocks off my eta to my vert i got -4 extra degrees of camber and it ate through my tires in 2 weeks.

That does not sound right. 4 degrees of camber equates to quite a bit of ride height.

[Cabriolet]

no it isn't. the suspension is exactly the same -the only difference is cabby's get slightly stiffer springs because they are heavier. there is no geometry change. there are only standard E30s, M3's, and ix's.

let me remeasure mine. but when i swapped the springs and shocks off my eta to my vert i got -4 extra degrees of camber and it ate through my tires in 2 weeks.