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

DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: VitaminJ on March 25, 2006, 02:29:56 AM

Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: VitaminJ on March 25, 2006, 02:29:56 AM
Anyone have some pics of IE Stage 3's on the m42??  Im debating between those and ground controls...

Any thoughts??
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: nickmpower on March 25, 2006, 10:18:13 AM
i just rode in a cars with both those around a track, and as a passenger didnt notice much body roll with either.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: VitaminJ on March 25, 2006, 10:39:04 AM
Cool thanks, does anyone have any pics of m42s with either of these spring setups?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: asubimmer on March 25, 2006, 12:14:29 PM
personally I would go w/ gc's for adjustibility
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: hamann318is on March 25, 2006, 04:41:47 PM
Quote from: asubimmer
personally I would go w/ gc's for adjustibility


I will never agree with going adjustable. None of us are smart enough to know how to effectively use it.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: Febi Guibo on March 25, 2006, 05:07:51 PM
out of curiosity, how many dudes with adjustable setups actually adjust them (this is not a wise ass question) ?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: royalflush313 on March 26, 2006, 05:17:38 AM
Jay, what are you looking to get from new springs?
- If you just want something slammed, look into FK or KW 60/40 springs.
- Stiffer --> H&R Race or IE3s

If you want a good handling daily driver though, Id keep the H&R Sports though, I'm kind of kicking myself for switching to GCs considering my car is a daily driver and we do not exactly have the best roads in BC.

If you want to just go lower, you could also think about some of the camber plates like the MFE ones.. I believe that they would lower the car like 3/4" or so, I'm not too sure of the exact numbers.

Febi, I adjust mine every once in a while :cool:
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: VitaminJ on March 26, 2006, 08:24:07 PM
Hmm, well, I looove the handling and performance of the new spring and shock setup, but Im thinking to go a little lower... I'm wanting to get 16x9 Borbet Type T's in the future, and i dunno if they'll look any good if my car isnt dropped more...  But I dunno...  Im a bit confused at the momment...  I am now debating KW 55,35s...  I'll post some pics soon to get some opinions...
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: nickmpower on March 26, 2006, 08:35:50 PM
Quote from: hamann318is
I will never agree with going adjustable. None of us are smart enough to know how to effectively use it.



hmm lets see. car is understeering lower the front or raise the rear. car is oversteering lower the rear or raise the front. Not that hard
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: thumper3ld on March 26, 2006, 09:00:40 PM
Quote from: nickmpower
hmm lets see. car is understeering lower the front or raise the rear. car is oversteering lower the rear or raise the front. Not that hard


Can be more complicated than that if you wanted to take full advantage of adjustable coilovers.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: ///Motorsport on April 01, 2006, 12:40:49 PM
I have no experience with setups on an M42, but my brother's '90 325is has IE STG 3's and i love them.  No body roll, feels superb.  Really great with the Bilstein Sports, as soon as i get my 318is i'm ordering a set.. and then i'll be starving for a bit...
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: e9nine on April 02, 2006, 11:32:13 PM
Any e30 with a good set of springs is potent in the hands of the right driver whether they are coilover or non-coilover springs :D

Even with IE Stage IIIs you will have body roll, it's just much more less than stock.

I have coilovers but would have probably gone with j-stocks or Stage IIIs had I been in the position to make a decision now and didn't want to go with coilovers.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 03, 2006, 11:34:48 PM
I've got IE's laying in the garage, hopefully soon I'm gonna start racing nad I'm gona learn about driving and how to better handle the car
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: asubimmer on April 04, 2006, 12:05:47 AM
Quote from: 1991318is
I've got IE's laying in the garage, hopefully soon I'm gonna start racing nad I'm gona learn about driving and how to better handle the car
are they for you or fs?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 04, 2006, 02:20:12 AM
for me, just picked em up, just need to finish figuring out my shock issues
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: mikesjo on April 14, 2006, 06:33:11 AM
How much do the IE3s lower the 318is by?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 14, 2006, 10:17:44 AM
They lowered mine about 2 inches. The back tires barely tuck and I'll add a pic this afternoon or wen I get a minute.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: mikesjo on April 14, 2006, 03:46:08 PM
That'd be awesome! What shocks are you running?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: GrippyDrifty on April 14, 2006, 04:30:53 PM
picspicspicspicsapicspicspicspicspicspicspicspicspicspciscpiscpiscpispci:D
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: ak96ss on April 14, 2006, 06:25:00 PM
I'm running Koni Adjustables with the Eibach Prokit, and, honestly, I can't fathom how anyone could drive anything much lower. I dunno, maybe I got rooked, but I can't even slide my low profile floor jack (maybe 3" high?) under the oil pan now and the back wheels are right up in the wheel wells. AND, it's about as firm/stiff as I would want it having to drive on real roads.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 15, 2006, 01:31:08 AM
and the drop...
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/318isbmw/P4040005.jpg)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/318isbmw/P4040004.jpg)
bad pic, i'll get better ones tomorrow and it has sunk a bit
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: mikesjo on April 15, 2006, 05:11:02 AM
Great I can't wait! What size tires are you running btw? Do you mind measuring the distance between the bottom of the fender to the top of the tire?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 16, 2006, 07:01:13 PM
Ok, here are some pics, it's with 205/55r15 tires
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/318isbmw/P4080002.jpg)
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: Eurospec on April 16, 2006, 07:03:28 PM
Nice drop.

What shocks are you running? Srry if this has been covered already.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 16, 2006, 07:11:05 PM
Quote from: Eurospec
Nice drop.

What shocks are you running? Srry if this has been covered already.

Its kool, right now I'm running the ones the previous owner put on, their Gabriel gas shocks and they are amazingly nice. I was going to do Rancho's but turns out I think they changed part numbers or something because I cna't fit the ones that other e30 guys are running. I felt the difference and at the stiffest setting on the rancho's, the Gabriel's weren't far behind feel wise.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: M42boy on April 16, 2006, 07:41:16 PM
Quote from: e9nine
I have coilovers but would have probably gone with j-stocks or Stage IIIs had I been in the position to make a decision now and didn't want to go with coilovers.

Your car is EXTREMELY well balanced with the setup you have.  I don't think you'd have achieved that perfect balance with any other setup.  

The J-Stocks rock for a dedicated track car, but way too stiff for a street car.  They are 700lbs in the front and 1,000lbs in the rear!  But, progressive.

I think the big question is what you want to spend.  You'll spend $1500 on the low side for coil-overs.  The IE Stage III's are going to be a much cheaper alternative.  

I don't know what you mean about people not being able to adjust coil-overs.  You take the wrench that comes with the kit and move the threaded collar up and down to set the ride height.
Title: Old fart here!
Post by: D. Clay on April 16, 2006, 11:31:41 PM
Quote from: hamann318is
I will never agree with going adjustable. None of us are smart enough to know how to effectively use it.
I would like to have a $100 bill for every time I have jacked up a stock or road race car onto a set of grain scales and set the wedge or put a round or two in the right or left rear during a pit stop. To learn, you just need a car with coilovers. AFCo and Stock Car Products sell adjusting sleeves that fit 2.5" springs for $40. Add a pair of Eibachs and your good to go. You can even buy a cheap coilover kit for $120 to $200 just to get the hardware. When you are as old as I am you learn to never say never. Wait a minute - "never say never"....
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: mikesjo on April 18, 2006, 05:22:23 PM
1991318is, the car is not raked is it? Got any more pictures :D. How do you like the ride so far?
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 2002maniac on April 18, 2006, 07:21:43 PM
The only thing I dont like about the IE springs is the wheel gap up front.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 18, 2006, 10:51:41 PM
Quote from: 2002maniac
The only thing I dont like about the IE springs is the wheel gap up front.

me too, I'm already contemplating coilovers in the future and deciding which ones I want and all. We'll see what happens tho...
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: 1991318is on April 18, 2006, 10:54:05 PM
Quote from: mikesjo
1991318is, the car is not raked is it? Got any more pictures :D. How do you like the ride so far?

not raked at all, it's like perfectly even. I love the ride, and more pics are at http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c113/318isbmw/
There's pics of the way it used to look and how it looks now both on there. It rides awesome, still has some give for bumps but keeps it very level cornering. I've noticed how wen I come into a corner I kinda brace myself expecting the body roll there used to be but end up laughing at myself cuz I tense up and it's a nice smooth corner, simply amazing setup.
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: redcarbon on April 23, 2006, 08:45:57 PM
Here is my car on IE3's, koni SAs, and IE big sways (set on softest settings) and Hankook RS-2s.  Sorry I don't have static pictures, but my car sits exactly like 1991318is's.  I want to raise the rear a bit and slightly lower the front...I wonder if the 1/2 cm it would go down by taking out the spring pads would help..I'll get around to that this summer.  But for now it handles great, though I may try to go stiffer with the anti-roll bars.  At this autox I almost beat my friend in his stock e36 M3 with sticky yoko ad07 tires.  My 51.7 to his 51.2.  It definitely feels like it rolls less but as you can see in these photos it still rolls a good amount.

(http://www.extpictures.com/pictures/otherevents/Marina_Airport/Golden_Gate_Lotus_Autocross_April_22_2006/Cars_2_124.jpg)
(http://www.extpictures.com/pictures/otherevents/Marina_Airport/Golden_Gate_Lotus_Autocross_April_22_2006/Cars_2_014.jpg)
(http://www.extpictures.com/pictures/otherevents/Marina_Airport/Golden_Gate_Lotus_Autocross_April_22_2006/Cars_2_088.jpg)
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: mikesjo on April 23, 2006, 10:30:14 PM
What's with your mirrors? Got any more pics of the car :).
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: M42boy on April 24, 2006, 03:31:36 PM
Quote from: mikesjo
What's with your mirrors? Got any more pics of the car :).

Trying to reduce drag?  :rolleyes:
Yeah, the car looks great.  Please take some higher res pictures and post them here.  Are those Comp SSR's?  The wheels look great!
Title: IE Stage 3's
Post by: redcarbon on April 24, 2006, 07:20:44 PM
Quote from: M42boy
Trying to reduce drag?  :rolleyes:
Yeah, the car looks great.  Please take some higher res pictures and post them here.  Are those Comp SSR's?  The wheels look great!


The event was an instructional autocross, my instructor gave me some tips and suggested that I rotate the mirrors to allow the best vision out of the car so you can see as much of the course/cones as possible.  I also moved the rear view mirror in a way to reduce the obstructed view out of the windsheild, it gives you a lot more vision.

Yes, those are 16x7 SSR comps.  Higher res pictures will have to wait until I have some time to crop them and upload and all that stuff.