What would be the best street/dd setup imaginable?

[jasonbk]

Few weeks ago I replaced both rear subframe bushings - what a difference! Rear end used to be bouncy and hard over bumps but now it's smoother, quieter, and the small clunk that happened every shift disappeared.

So it got me thinking. What would take to build best daily driver e30?

I believe the dd should be soft and quiet, but solid enough to be tossed in without too much body roll. I'm a big believer of using rubber bushings all around, some swear by dynamat, some would say beefier front & rear sway with cross brace. Maybe even fresh driveshaft and rebuilt G260?

Just wanted to hear what you guys think.

[rlich8]

1991 318iS with Metric Mechanic 2100 Rally engine, R134A conversion, Z3 short shift kit & ZHP knob -- all else 100% original.

[ak-]

E30 M3 springs or H&R Sports with Koni's
E30 M3 sway bars, or Vert front and iX rear bars

[2mAn]

E30 M3 springs or H&R Sports with Koni's
E30 M3 sway bars, or Vert front and iX rear bars

This is basically my setup, but I have some firmer stuff (IE3 / H&R Race & Bilstein Sports, then the Vert/ iX combo). My bushings are firmer too, but solid rubber would make it super plush.

[goarmy]

H&R sports and KYBs if of a budget they work fine.

[jhaurimn]

I have vogtland springs and kyb shocks on my daily. Looks great, handles spirited driving pretty well, and is very comfortable. Didnt notice much change going from oem shocks and springs in ride comfort.

[ELVA164]

This question is kind of my goal with my car, so this is what I've done:

E30 M3 springs
Koni SA dampers
Fully upgraded R134a system with Sanden compressor
Rebuilt 415 injectors
Cleaned/lubricated TB
All new intake/brake booster rubber
New cap/rotor/wires/NGK plugs
Upgraded headlights and back up bulbs
Premium sound
Leather comfort interior
Sf gadget guy cup holder
Maplight mirror
All lights/switches/motors/sensors/actuators functional
Quality summer wheels/tires and separate winter wheels/tires
LSD

Things I ultimately plan to do/wish I could do:
Complete brake job with new calipers/hoses/rotors/pads/shoes/cables
All new bushings
New delrin shifter linkage (and E60 shifter?)
Reseal engine
Rebuild gearbox
Rebuild diff
Replace driveshaft/CSB

I think that's pretty complete, and even with what I've done already the car is a kickass DD.

[totheredline]

I've had a bone stock early ETA and a highly modified 318is. Stock 325e is such a great car. That car is to blame for my obsession with these cars. The b27 is fun but I think I'd build a DD with an m42 for fuel economy and fun.

-1991 318i
-Rebuilt m42 with Volvo fan
-good condition stock interior
-refreshed stock suspension
-3.73 lsd (instead of 4.10)
-14 inch weaves with all weather tires.
-manual trans of course!!
-nice head unit and good speakers

Yeah, pretty much stock. Like I said previously, stock e30s are awesome. Plenty of fun for the morning commute.

[jasonbk]

Those are all nice setup guys, I'm surprised that so many people would run the E30M3 springs with Koni's. IS Koni softer than Billstein Sport?

What would be the benefit of beefier front & rear sway for daily driver other than less body roll?

I've done:
- put rebuilt m20
- fresh shifter bits
- rebuilt 4.10 lsd
- new control arm, E36m3 cab, front sway bushing, front sway bar ends
- rear rubber subframe bushings
- new cv joints

What I want to do:
- MAF
- clean up TPS, ICV, TB
- custom tune to accommodate my 288' cam
- new driveshaft
- rebuild G260
- front subframe bushings
- rear sway

[flyboyx]

This is basically my setup, but I have some firmer stuff (IE3 / H&R Race & Bilstein Sports, then the Vert/ iX combo). My bushings are firmer too, but solid rubber would make it super plush.

i am an old fucker, but personally, i think your springs are too stiff/harsh to be a good daily.

i am a fan of billies. i have a set on my cabbie but my springs are h&r cabrio on the front/e36 sport on the rear. people say that the koni's are much better dampers. they certainly cost more. i had them on the car in my sig when i first got it but i don't notice much difference.

changing the bushings to something slightly stiffer is a great idea.

another thing not yet mentioned in this thread: go with 15 or 16" wheels so you can run a 50 or 55 series sidewall. this will make for a smoother ride.

above all else, avoid treehouse cab's and adjustable camber plates that don't have any flexible material in them. my cabby is running stock m3 control arm bushings and the oem offset upper strut mounts. its a little stiffer than stock, but i really enjoy the car's ride. we drove it from houston to denver back in apirl and even my wife didn't complain.

also, if your steering rack/control arms/tie rod ends are original, replace them. this will make a huge difference in the steering. my car seriously handles like a go cart. the steering is so precise.

[varg]

We're talking about suspension here, so...

Mine.

[Kershaw]

1987 325es with hr sports, bilstein sports, on a 15" rim of your personal preference, and delrin bushings in the shift linkage. Everything else new.

I've owned most e30 versions. I absolutely loved my 87es. It was my favorite e30. RIP. An old man took it out with an unexpected lane change out of the left turn lane while I was driving by.

[Bothfeetin]

If comfort is the goal I think suspension wise then,
Struts: Bilstein HD's
Springs: H&R Sports/ Vogland
Sway bars: Suspensions technique 22 / 19 & HD sway bar links
X brace

Wheels & tires play a vital role in the quality of the ride. The more side wall the more cushion thus retarding the response or "feel" the driver gets from the road. The same could be said about what seats or steering wheel you have. There comes a point when the "ideal" ride quality manifest into because race car...

[jasonbk]

How does X brace change the driving feel on the street? Also, what kind of interior improvement would you make to make it feel more stable, less ratty?

I'm now trying to get rid of gas off jerk - probably get new transmission mounts and see what happens.

[flyboyx]

How does X brace change the driving feel on the street? Also, what kind of interior improvement would you make to make it feel more stable, less ratty?

I'm now trying to get rid of gas off jerk - probably get new transmission mounts and see what happens.

it appears you have a coupe, so i doubt you would actually feel much difference at all. interior improvements to feel more stable? how about a full roll cage?

ej knight sells an x brace for the front frame rails. that might help you a little. perhaps the problem here is that i really don't think your question above was specific enough to understand what you are talking about.