H&R Sport Springs

[Febi Guibo]

hey, it took me a long time to figure out which springs to get for the 318is... turner lists a couple of part numbers, etc.

Long story short, I got a tip from a guy on E30 tech who had run both #29664 and #50404 springs and recommended the #29664 springs... they're great!

I will take some real photos later this week, but it's a phenomonal upgrade, nice, almost perfectly tasteful drop (even my oil pan loves it), and nearly stock ride comfort (I traverse the cross bronx), and the thing now handles even better.

I'll throw in some more notes later...

[Eurospec]

Glad you decided to post this as I'm in the midst of ordering my suspension parts and was just about ready to get the 50404's. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread :)

[nickmpower]

i need to check to see which ones i have. My front is a little higher then i would like.

[D. Clay]

How do the H&R compare to the stock rates.

[Eurospec]

Are you running bilstein shocks, HD's or sport?

[dude8383]

i believe that febi is running bilstein sports..

[Febi Guibo]

Hey, I am not all that familiar with spring rates (aside from booking hotel rooms in florida, lol) but I asked Drew at turner:

"The spring rates for the #29664 are about 200lbs (front) and 285lbs
(rear)."

so, there you have it... I'm also running billy sport shocks.

[nickmpower]

Are you running bilstein shocks, HD's or sport?

if you were asking be becuse of the ride hight i am running konis

[Eurospec]

Any updates, has the setup settled now?

[Febi Guibo]

updated with pics of the springs settled (http://m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1369#post1352)

[hamann318is]

updated with pics of the springs settled
http://m42club.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1352&postcount=18

Car looks amazing man. I've been thinking of a few styling things I've wanted to change on mine, and I think I'm going to have to get some Roundels for the Ronals. That's a seriously nice look.

[VitaminJ]

Anyone know if there is much ride height difference in the #29664 compared to the #50404 ??

[Eurospec]

From the research I've done, the 29664's provide a slightly more aggressive drop. These give the car a very nice stance--check out Febi's updated photos. The 50404's on the other hand don't lower much at all, maybe an inch across the board.

Still trying to decide what route to go? I'm still interested in the springs if you decide to replace them. LMK.

[Febi Guibo]

thanks all for the comments:

- hamman318is: I think you have like, one of the nicest 318is in any color, so your words mean a ton... I'm a centercap man myself (anything to keep those lug nuts from flying off)

- Vitamin J, Eurospec... i didn't measure the drop (my mistake) but it seems to be a little more than 1.25" ...H&R publishes it as 1.3" for the m10 318is so that seems about right.

The car handles great.... very supple and precise... I've driven a few cars with super stiff springs and I felt like the handling lost a little feedback.

[VitaminJ]

From the research I've done, the 29664's provide a slightly more aggressive drop. These give the car a very nice stance--check out Febi's updated photos. The 50404's on the other hand don't lower much at all, maybe an inch across the board.

Still trying to decide what route to go? I'm still interested in the springs if you decide to replace them. LMK.


Cool thanks man, yeah, im still deciding, sorry I didnt get back to you sooner, I am so indecisive right now, haha...

My friend is going to quote me a price on KWs 55,35s so when I know the price, I'll get back to ya...!

[Vladi]

I've got blue H&R's from someone taking apart an e30 and nomal gas shocks+205/45ZR16 wheels. The stability is great for my demand. :D

[318-is]

i have just installed HnR 35mm springs on my Is without any other suspension mods (eibachs going on tomorrow) and the handling difference is noticable although i think could be greatly improved with the compliments of other mods (hence the ARBs). Despite this it sits at the perfect hight for a daily car.

im soon to be instaling sports bilsteins i hope so will let you know what the ride is like on Uk roads (which are crap). That set up is very well received over here though!

[mikesjo]

What are ARBs? Do you mind posting pics of your car with the new springs?

[M42boy]

Hey, I am not all that familiar with spring rates (aside from booking hotel rooms in florida, lol) but I asked Drew at turner:

"The spring rates for the #29664 are about 200lbs (front) and 285lbs
(rear)."

The Sport vs HD really depends on what springs you run vs comfort. I don't think the valving is very different (if at all), but you NEED to run Sports if you are using a lowering spring. If not, you run the HD. It's that simple.

I'm just supprised you got someone from Turner to talk to you. Thier products and pricing is great. I just wish thier sales reps understood the concept of customer service. I've had negative experiences that would make your head spin!

[318-is]

What are ARBs? Do you mind posting pics of your car with the new springs?

ARB = anti roll bar, also known as stabalizers, make a masssive difference if you uprate them!

[tim_s]

hi dan. ARBs = 'sway bars' in US-speak
dan, put yourself up in the member's section...

[lordschleife]

i have just installed HnR 35mm springs on my Is without any other suspension mods (eibachs going on tomorrow) and the handling difference is noticable although i think could be greatly improved with the compliments of other mods (hence the ARBs). Despite this it sits at the perfect hight for a daily car.


Hows the ride height compared to mine now Dan?

[318-is]

Slammed mate!

[MattyK]

Has anyone recently gotten the actual 50404, or does anyone know the spring rates on them? I know people have had problems getting them from turner and ending up with the 50404.55 which is no good. Anyone check with tirerack or bmpd to see if they have the true 50404?

Searching Ive found two spring rates for 'H&R sports', any they were both very similar (185/380 and 182/343 I believe) - so I think that those two are the same springs and people got different numbers from them, but I also think that those rates are for the 50406 springs for the 325/M3.

I think I'm still gonna go after the 29664's, but just looking for a bit more info about the alternatives...

[D. Clay]

Good to see someone else softening up the car (compared to the usual mod setup) I've had it with the stiff spring/shock deal. I've got 350# fronts and 450# rears. It rides like a sled and skates on the bumpy curves - it is a rocket on the smooth ones though. My next project is to redo with 225# front and 350# rear. I'm putting M3 links on 318is struts. They make the bar quite a bit stiffer due to the bar movement being greater for the same wheel travel. The strut is an almost 1:1 wheel rate. The stock links are on the control arm a little over half way out toward the hub ball joint.
Sway bars are given way too little attention on E30's and are one of my pet peeves.
Don't get me started, you know how I get!

[dude8383]

Good to see someone else softening up the car (compared to the usual mod setup) I've had it with the stiff spring/shock deal. I've got 350# fronts and 450# rears. It rides like a sled and skates on the bumpy curves - it is a rocket on the smooth ones though. My next project is to redo with 225# front and 350# rear. I'm putting M3 links on 318is struts. They make the bar quite a bit stiffer due to the bar movement being greater for the same wheel travel. The strut is an almost 1:1 wheel rate. The stock links are on the control arm a little over half way out toward the hub ball joint.
Sway bars are given way too little attention on E30's and are one of my pet peeves.
Don't get me started, you know how I get!

actually, I'd like to know more about this...where do the links connect exactly on the the strut?

[///Motorsport]

i like my uber stiff ride... even on the bumpy sections of fast-driving road, (not bad road condition, i mean like bumps/jumps) the car feels like a racecar and its kinda fun to bounce a bit, assuming the shocks do their job and four wheels stay on the ground, as they normally do. i wouldnt trade it for the world. i need sway bars badly, they are next on the list, along with replacing each worn bushing..

[D. Clay]

The mount brackets on an M3 are on the strut tube just below the spring perch and the links run up from the bar. On the regular E30, they run downward to the control arm.
http://e30m3performance.com/installs/GC_susp/GC_susp4.htm
This site mentions that they require reinforcement as they are prone to breaking on an M3 with a stiffer bar.
Here is another picture:
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