how to make an e30 feel more "planted"

[nrubenstein]

I said they were an "interesting option" not that they were inherently better. The jury is still out on whether they make sense to me at all and thats before I get to the question of whether they are worth the price of admission (which I seriously doubt in my case).

If I install shocks or springs and am not happy, most of that stuff is easily resold with a small discount (after writing off your labor as we all do). Call me old school, but coilovers dont really inspire me yet I'm eager to understand their mechanical & practical pros and cons better.

Like for most of us, this is a place to learn, explore & shoot the breeze...<as I pass nrubenstein a cyber beer>

Uh, actually you did in your first post on the subject.

[jeffnhiscars]

Uh, actually you did in your first post on the subject.

Actually, I asked this question:

Does it follow then that coilovers are inherently better handling because they are theoretically "matched" ?

Hardly an opinion.

Have another beer:)

[Roysneon]

I would say the easiest and most effective things would be a conservative alignment, quality tires and good rubber bushings. Once that's done, if you're still not satisfied, I'd start looking at newer, performance oriented cars.

[SUICIDE109]

I agree about the e36 feeling like its planted in mud, hell a chevy tracker feels more planted than a e30! Tightening the rear end in your 30 will help a lot also will wider tires(why else do you think they put those huge tires on porsches and shit. I can say a lot about the e30 being as loose as a 32 year old hooker, it feels like I'm in tokyo drift taking turns 10mph faster then listed on the speed limit when all I want to do is hug the shit out of the lines.

[IS300E30]

I had the same question as the OP. I have a 1987 325ic with 100k on the working odometer

I refreshed my front suspension totally (new oem Sach struts (vert specific), strut mounts, Lemforder control arms, control arm bushings, tie rods and anything else that is part of the front suspension to refresh, minus the springs which I did not change out as they really do not wear out).

The car does not feel "planted" when I am on the highway or when I hit ruts in the road or if I go over railroad tracks. It feels skittish unless the street is completely smooth

Now, the rear suspension, I only changed the shocks and shock mounts.

I have not changed the differential mount, subframe bushings, rear trailing arm bushings, or rear sway bar links.

If I did change the rear suspension bushings (differential mount, subframe bushings, rear trailing arm bushings, rear sway bar links), would it really solve this skittish issue and not being planted issue? Would it really tighten up the car that much?

Keep in mind I would be replacing it with oem parts not aftermarket performance oriented parts.

I drove my e30 the other day and like usual, the car did not feel planted and felt skittish. Then the next day I drove my daily driver (2004 Lexus IS300 with 81k on the odometer) and that car felt tight as heck and then it really start to bother me more of how my BMW e30 does not have that tight, planted feel.

Please advice if this is more or less normal for a BMW e30 and if not, if replacing those rear suspension bushings that I have yet to change would really make that much of a difference....