Author Topic: Springs & shocks Kits (Read 9021 times)

no1_jazz · « **on:** August 10, 2008, 11:36:15 AM »

;)Rite guy�s time has come to lower her ass and get some nice sweet slammed look.

I am after a sweet look i have come across many e30's with a 60mm drop...looks sweet and feels good to drive.

The questions i need answers to are:

1. Which shocks and springs are recommended all round?
2. Which kit will give me a smooth not bumpy or stiff ride?
3. How much would it cost for a full kit?

All help much appreciated

Many Thanks
Jazz

318kid · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2008, 09:56:36 PM »

Here I'll try to answer a few.

1) The shocks you should use are either Koni or bilstein Sport

2) There may be a few but I'd rather have a harsh ride than a bumpy ride. The stock springs are
Spring---------------------Front(lb/in.)-------------Rear(lb/in.)

Stock 325i-----------------------106------------------------245
Stock 325is----------------------118------------------------265
Stock 325ix----------------------106------------------------308
Stock M3-------------------------114------------------------314
Stock M3--------------------------140------------------------250
Dinan Sport-----------------------172------------------------300
H&R OE Sport---------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport-------------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport (29664)---------------200------------------------285
H&R Race-------------------------315------------------------ 570
H&R Coilovers***----------------340------------------------380
Eibach Pro-Kit--------------------102-------------------------277
Eibach Race----------------------160-------------------------445
IE SIII----------------------------315-------------------------570
Koni Coilovers-------------------342-------------------------407
Cosmo Coilovers----------------450-------------------------560
Tokico----------------------------165-------------------------265
TMS J-Stock**-------------------680------------------------1026
Alpina(est.)---------------------~200-----------------------~350
FK 60/60 cup kit-----------------379--------------------------379
Vogtland Standard***--------115/197-----------------------360
Vogtland CS***---------------137/200-----------------------400
Vogtland--------------------------225--------------------------360

**= Alternate rates available
***= M3 Application
(Compiled by kingmanjr00 on R3vlimited.com)

So you can adjust the spring rates from there.

3) It depends on what kind of springs you get. H&R Race are around $350. There is a group by on r3vlimited.com for springs at $205. It seams like a good deal. It ends in 5 days. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=116187 and they are pretty good spring rates too! Good luck.

deciboy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2008, 10:10:10 AM »

i bought a jamex sportline kit for my e30 85mm fr 55rr springs and shocks it cost me �180 queen quid looks sweet and feels good but it depends if you want coilovers or not if your wanting budget stroke perfomance contact performance 3000 they do other options too and also have other kits which are reasonably priced if that helps mi old m42 engined brova

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2008, 04:23:12 PM »

Quote from: 318kid;54652

Here I'll try to answer a few.

1) The springs you should use are either Koni or bilstein Sport

2) There may be a few but I'd rather have a harsh ride than a bumpy ride. The stock springs are
Spring---------------------Front(lb/in.)-------------Rear(lb/in.)

Stock 325i-----------------------106------------------------245
Stock 325is----------------------118------------------------265
Stock 325ix----------------------106------------------------308
Stock M3-------------------------114------------------------314
Stock M3--------------------------140------------------------250
Dinan Sport-----------------------172------------------------300
H&R OE Sport---------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport-------------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport (29664)---------------200------------------------285
H&R Race-------------------------315------------------------ 570
H&R Coilovers***----------------340------------------------380
Eibach Pro-Kit--------------------102-------------------------277
Eibach Race----------------------160-------------------------445
IE SIII----------------------------315-------------------------570
Koni Coilovers-------------------342-------------------------407
Cosmo Coilovers----------------450-------------------------560
Tokico----------------------------165-------------------------265
TMS J-Stock**-------------------680------------------------1026
Alpina(est.)---------------------~200-----------------------~350
FK 60/60 cup kit-----------------379--------------------------379
Vogtland Standard***--------115/197-----------------------360
Vogtland CS***---------------137/200-----------------------400
Vogtland--------------------------225--------------------------360

**= Alternate rates available
***= M3 Application
(Compiled by kingmanjr00 on R3vlimited.com)

So you can adjust the spring rates from there.

3) It depends on what kind of springs you get. H&R Race are around $350. There is a group by on r3vlimited.com for springs at $205. It seams like a good deal. It ends in 5 days. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=116187 and they are pretty good spring rates too! Good luck.

I think in #1 he meant shocks.

And springs completely depend on what you plan to do with the car. Obviously with a spring that lowers ride height you will need a shorter Koni or Bilstein sport shock. Most guys end up going with the H&R Sports because it is a compromise between comfort and spring rate, others opt for the slightly more harsh but stiffer H&R Race or Ireland Eng Stage 3's. Of course there are many many more options than this, most good ones are listed in the above posts.

318kid · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2008, 09:36:30 PM »

Quote from: Jimmy Lewis;55037

I think in #1 he meant shocks.

Ya my bad... I didn't reread it... I put the shocks down... but said springs

Colorado M42 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2008, 10:04:12 PM »

I checked with COSMO to see what their spring rates were and they e-mailed me back to say that they are: "For the E30 318 spring rates are 336lbs for front and rear. What is the spring rate you need? We might be able to match and fit the closer one per your request; additional cost might be applied with different special spring rates. Hope it helps." quoted from Paul at Cosmo on 12/1/08 What do you think about these spring rates compared to Ground Control?

roundel318 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2008, 12:03:00 AM »

I have a set of Bilstein Sport dampers with a Eibach Pro Kit on a E30 318i, 1991.
The raked look the pro kit has is great (1.5" drop in front and 1.0" in the back) and the ride is firm and not too bumpy. The car is my DD and ride quality was a big concern, I have 205x50x16 running at the corners. Eibach definately took into account crappy american roads as some of the worst bumps aren't as bad as it looks with these, also the body roll was reduced quite a bit.
Now the car is fun to toss around in the corners and far more athletic feeling all around.

Spec 2 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2008, 07:20:34 PM »

First off, 60mm is a lot. You're going to break your oil pan, trust me. Better buy a spare if you drop that low. (I'm 43mm front, 33mm rear for reference)

Secondly, with a 60mm drop, nothing is going to feel "smooth, not bumpy or stiff". You're going to be needing a very stiff spring for that big of a drop to avoid bottoming out.

As far as answering your questions, for shocks go Bilstein or Koni. Koni are more expensive but also adjustable and the better performer. Springs? I think H&R makes a good 60mm drop spring (H&R Race, but it will be stiff). Full cost of springs/shocks should put you anywhere between $500-800 before install. I paid about $660 for my Koni adjustables + Vogtland springs, which was a pretty good price. I would advise having your mechanic check the control arms and bushings while they're installing.

papercutout · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2009, 10:23:45 AM »

I've got about an 80mm drop on mine, the sump (oil pan) is about 5cm from the floor. Get, or make yourself a sump guard, trust me, I'm on my 3rd sump!

Everyone over here recommends H&R, but I've got no problems with the Jamex I'm using.

Oh, and you will NOT bottom out, I never have, and I'm running cut springs (yes okay, flame me!), they were originally 40mm drop jamex ones, with another coil off. I use the shorter shocks, and the springs don't quite dislocate.
Its bumpy. And will never not be, I scrape my sump/exhaust over speed bumps. BUT, I look good! Low is cool

roundel318 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2009, 10:22:30 PM »

Even after the light 1.5" drop up front with my Eibach pro kit springs (Bilstein sport dampers) going over somewhat tall speedbumps that are not long (as the front wheels come down) I get light scraping.
Fortunately these only exist in a couple parking garages and most others are long enough if they are tall its not as abrupt.
It could be something other than the oil pan as the front wheels are over the speedbump on the ground before I start scraping (I slowly come down off the bump to prevent depression of the front suspension from bringing it any lower)
This is the main downfall of the low spring rate on the Eibach springs, however the ride quality is rather impressive for how well it handles.
With 16" 50 series tires hours on the freeway could easily be tolerated.