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$750 Suspension needed. Suggestions Please.

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    $750 Suspension needed. Suggestions Please.

    I have a 1991 318is. I am planning on dropping but not soo much that 17" won't fit. I want to have the choice to change my rims and don't want suspension too low that won't allow that. Plus I don't want to spend more than $750. I want a suspension not too stiff cause some road here suck but stiffer than stock.
    These are my options:
    Shocks:
    Bilstiens(sp) Sports cause they are decently priced from shox.com (these are probably for sure cause konis are too much)$375

    Springs:
    H&R Cup Kit $650
    H&R Sport Spring Set $221
    Eibach Pro-Kit $246
    IE Stage 3 $220 I think from a GB or something.
    Coil Overs from Mpact motorsports. $339 http://www.mpactmotorsports.com/cata...f288732e04c5fe

    Give me any information you have on these options of mine. If you have any of these setups let me know how you like it or dislike it.

    Thanks,
    Tony

    #2
    The Bilstein Sports from shox.com is probably the cheapest you will find....good deal too.

    The H&R Sport springs can be bought thru Turner for $209.95.

    You will want to replace the rear shock mounts....the stock pieces don't have a reputation for being robust. If you want to keep costs within a certain amount, get yourself some E46 M3 rear shock mounts and Z3 reinforcement plates. Many will argue that even going with this option isn't the best out there, but if money is tight, factory stuff is hard to beat since is pretty cheap. I would check with BMA for these parts. They have good prices and members of R3V get a discount.

    With everything that I have mentioned here, and factoring in taxes and shipping, you are probably in the $675-$700 range (rough guess). If you can go a bit more than $750, try to get a strut tower bar to help tighten things up in the front end. IE sells these for $130....but there have been group buys for these before and some folks have picked them up for around $100 or so. Also keep an eye out in the classifieds....someone may be looking to unload one for even less.

    Jon
    Rides...
    1991 325i - sold :(
    2004 2WD Frontier King Cab

    RIP #17 Jules Bianchi

    Comment


      #3
      Just as an option, there are some more possible setups in that price range:

      - FK Suspension Kit, or FK Springs w/ Bilsteins
      - KW Sportsupension kit, or KW Springs w/ Bilsteins
      - Bilstein BTS kit (which I believe is Bilstein Sports & H&R Sports?)

      Hopefully people who actually use those setups and chime in and give you some insight.
      ~ Go Canucks Go! ~

      Comment


        #4
        If it's ride quality you want, the Konis are better. Less low-speed compression dampening, more compliant ride.

        For your needs, I'd suggest the H&R Sport springs.

        Comment


          #5
          I can't believe Eibach Pro-Kit springs cost more than the IE stage III's. That's just funny.

          Comment


            #6
            My Ground Controls and Koni's cost me $700...

            If you're patient, you can always find the right deal...depends on how patient one can be...
            Reminiscing...

            Comment


              #7
              How much do the H&R Cup Kit drop the car by?

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by jajou318
                How much do the H&R Cup Kit drop the car by?
                A lot, about 1.75".

                Comment


                  #9
                  Right now it's either H&R cup kit or the H&R Bilstien combo.

                  Anyone with experience with those coil overs?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by M42Tecknik
                    My Ground Controls and Koni's cost me $700...

                    If you're patient, you can always find the right deal...depends on how patient one can be...
                    were they used or what

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by nickmp0wer
                      Originally posted by M42Tecknik
                      My Ground Controls and Koni's cost me $700...

                      If you're patient, you can always find the right deal...depends on how patient one can be...
                      were they used or what
                      Brand new GC coils, any rate and spring size. Koni's were opened but never mounted.
                      Reminiscing...

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by jajou318
                        Right now it's either H&R cup kit or the H&R Bilstien combo.

                        Anyone with experience with those coil overs?
                        I don't have experience with either one, but I can tell you that the H&R Cup kit will bring your E30 down to the pavement....to the point where going in and out of some driveways as well as negotiating some speedbumps will be a pain in the ass since you'll be scraping your front valence and catalyst converter all day long. Its ideal for someone who wants the 'slammed' look but has little interest in serious cornering performance.

                        With the Bilstein/H&R Sport spring combo, your car won't sit quite as low as the Cup Kit, but it will have a lowered stance. There was a write-up in Roundel magazine a few months back about how this particular shock/spring combo along with some aftermarket sway bars provides a good all-around package for street driving, auto-x days and giving your E30 a sporty profile without going overkill.

                        The Koni SAs (adjustable) is a very good set of shocks to have if your budget allows. These run about $540 through shox.com. Combine these with either H&R Sports, H&R Race, or Ireland Engineering Stage 3 springs and you have a very capable suspension set up. With the exception of the H&R Race springs (due to their high price nearing $400), the H&R Sports and the IE Stage 3 springs and the Konis will tap out your $750 budget but it will drop your E30 to a similar height as the Bilstein Sport/H&R Sport set-up yet offer ever better handling.

                        Coincidentally, the IE Stage 3 springs are just about identical in specs as the H&R Race springs.....only cheaper.

                        Jon
                        Rides...
                        1991 325i - sold :(
                        2004 2WD Frontier King Cab

                        RIP #17 Jules Bianchi

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Koni's are $524 shipped right now from pure-motorsport.com.

                          $520 for the shocks, and $4 shipping. I'm not kidding, $4 shipping.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Alright,i think koni's with ie's stage 3

                            what do y'all think

                            $500 for the shocks and what $220-250 for the springs?

                            Comment


                              #15
                              you could spend 100 more on springs and have them be hight adjustible ground controls

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