M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: lqbanotxano on July 03, 2012, 08:39:09 PM

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: lqbanotxano on July 03, 2012, 08:39:09 PM

There is an automotive parts store that has a special sale for 325i springs…. $120.00 NIB.  They claim a 1.2 in drop. The back springs should be fine. Does anyone know what these would do to the front of the car? The 325 weighs more than the m42.

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: lqbanotxano on July 04, 2012, 08:32:05 AM

Anybody try this before????

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: ose30 on July 05, 2012, 01:23:47 AM

Most likely your car won't be in balance. Those springs are made for a heavier engine, those + your back springs would offer a combo which would be unpleasent to drive. If you install those springs, install also stiffer rear ones.

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: Geoff on July 06, 2012, 05:14:36 AM

I have not done this, but my feeling is if you install springs from a 325,  it may give the 318 an unwelcome "nose in the air"  attitude.   Just cutting some length off the spring will change the spring rate, possibly making the height good again but being way too stiff.   So,  if you are going to spend the money for performance parts,  put the right ones in and get value for your jack, instead of spending to make matters worse.
                                                                             Geoff

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: visionracingdevelopments on August 05, 2012, 06:12:28 AM

The front of the car will sit high as the M42 isn't as heavy as the M20. Negative rake = understeer.

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: benz-tech on August 05, 2012, 10:22:38 PM

I am running h and r sports for a 325. I couldn't be happier with how the car handles. It needed an m3 rear sway to get the balance back. Now the car handles flat and is pretty balanced. It will under steer a bit at the limit though. Getting new tires this week and we'll see If that evens it out. Also running e90 drop hats

Title: 325i sport springs for a 318is
Post by: wgfiii on August 16, 2012, 11:37:24 AM

You might need to change the shocks too to compensate for the different spring rate and travel.