Suspension/Ride Height Thread

[bmwm3n528]

This was popular on an E30 Forum, and gives folks (like me) a chance to see the ride height/look with different springs/wheels/etc.

Please include:

Model/Motor
Profile shot of the car
Springs
Shocks/Struts
Other Suspension modifications
Wheel/Tire size


Thanks!

[Tammer in Philly]

I'll post two.

535is/M30B34
Racing Dynamics springs (Green)
Koni Sport SA (Yellow)
Suspension otherwise stock except Paul Grey thrust bushings
Wheels: BMW Style 5 16x8 et23 (E38 740iL); the car usually wears the Style 4s on the M5 shot below
Tires: 225/50-16 Toyo T1-R


M5/S38B34 (sold)
H&R race springs
Bilstein Sports
Suspension otherwise stock except Paul Grey thrust bushings
Wheels: BMW Style 4 16x8 et23 (E38 750iL); back on the silver car now.
Tires: Yokohama AVS ES100 225/50-16


-tammer

[tsmall07]

thank you for this thread.

[Dinan e28]

Dinan stage 3 setup (no longer available)
Around a 3/4 inch drop 25/19 sways camber kit and front Dinan strut brace .
Style 9 16in x 7 1/2 off a 91 850i with 225 50 tires

[DRP535]

M535i/M30B34



King lowering variable rate springs. 20mm drop on M-Technic = 40mm drop on standard = 5mm drop on Euro M5. Standard 10mm rake forwards maintained.

Koni Sport adjustable dampers set at 18% hard all round. Stock 19/15.5mm anti-roll bars. No camber correction. Spacers in RHS struts front and rear to correct for RHD lean. Car sits perfectly level side to side with no-one on board. The best that could be achieved with the standard thread lengths. Urethane radius arm bushes. All other bushes brand new but OE.

BBS/BMW M5 wheel 16x7.1/2 et20 match mounted to Yokohama AVS ES100 in 225/50-16 @ 32psi all round. Stick on hidden wheel weights. Rubber valves. Locking wheel bolts with dust caps. No spacers, no hubcentric rings & no wheel has more than 15g stuck at any one location.

Pictured here fat with fuel + extra 9 litres in spare wheel canister.

[Corner Carver]

'86 535i M30/B34 Arctic Blue Metallic



Ground Control Coilovers
Bilstein Sports
IMAC Camber Plates
IMAC Adjustable Trailing Arm Bushings
Racing Dynamics Adjustable Swaybars - Front and Rear
Racing Dynamics Strut Tower Stressbar
Blue Grunts Thrust Arm Bushings
Lower control arms - new, stock
E32 750i Brake upgrade - Front and Rear
Wheels - ASA AR1 17x8
Tires - 235/45R17 94Y Bridgestone Potenza RE050A

It is still a work in progress but suspension and brakes are done.
Great thread idea!

[Tammer in Philly]

Could you guys re-size your pics? I'm on broadband and it's still taking ages to load.

-tammer

[John in VA]

ST springs & Bilsteins, spare in the trunk - from the center of the wheel hub to the lower edge of the fender = 12.63" front & 10.5" rear.

[dino]

Bilstein Sports with Eibachs.

1987 535is
Air dam to ground = 6.5 inches
Side of car to ground = 8.0 inches
Front wheel gap = 1.0 inch
Rear wheel gap = .40 inch



Great thread, btw.

[DRP535]

Could you guys re-size your pics? I'm on broadband and it's still taking ages to load.

-tammer

How's that?

[tsmall07]

i'm not having problems either, but this should be a sticky or a tech faq or something.

[bmwm3n528]

Do we need a "lowering" reference, like distance from bottom edge of wheel well opening to a point on the wheel or ground?

Good idea, forgot about this.

If you wouldn't mind including distance from fender lip down (specify M-Technic arches and non-M).

[DRP535]

Do we need a "lowering" reference, like distance from bottom edge of wheel well opening to a point on the wheel or ground?

Good idea, forgot about this.

If you wouldn't mind including distance from fender lip down (specify M-Technic arches and non-M).

Check this thread: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=13509

My answer is located within.[/url]

[bmwm3n528]

We need some folks that have used Suspension Techniques and Bavarian Autosport, etc. !

[Corner Carver]

Could you guys re-size your pics? I'm on broadband and it's still taking ages to load.

-tammer

Resized, hope that helps

I have used Bavarian AutoSport to purchase much of my suspension stuff, namely....

Bilstein Sports
IMAC Camber Plates
IMAC Adjustable Trailing Arm Bushings
Racing Dynamics Adjustable Swaybars - Front and Rear
Racing Dynamics Strut Tower Stressbar
Lower control arms - new, stock

I also used the Bilstein sports and Bavarian Autosport lowering springs on my '87 535is. Don't have any pictures yet but I will post as soon as I have some

[bmwm3n528]

Could you guys re-size your pics? I'm on broadband and it's still taking ages to load.

-tammer

Resized, hope that helps

I have used Bavarian AutoSport to purchase much of my suspension stuff, namely....

Bilstein Sports
IMAC Camber Plates
IMAC Adjustable Trailing Arm Bushings
Racing Dynamics Adjustable Swaybars - Front and Rear
Racing Dynamics Strut Tower Stressbar
Lower control arms - new, stock

I also used the Bilstein sports and Bavarian Autosport lowering springs on my '87 535is. Don't have any pictures yet but I will post as soon as I have some

Yeah, Definitely post some pictures...Have some BavAutos, contemplating using them or replacing with the ST springs.

[Tammer in Philly]

Thanks to both of you. Not the end of the world for me with my 1440x960 display and broadband at home and work, but there had to be some folks hurtin' bad.

-tammer

[Corner Carver]

Yeah, Definitely post some pictures...Have some BavAutos, contemplating using them or replacing with the ST springs.

The BavAuto Springs are definitely not for tracking, to soft. They give nice ride height and are a little more aggressive than stock. Mostly just a comfortable ride. For more aggressive ride I would recommend H&R's or Eibachs.

[Tammer in Philly]

WOT, but here's some stuff (suspension and otherwise) the E36 gets tomorrow. The weld-in bits I'm not doing myself, of course.

Should make for a pretty, umm, firm ride when coupled with the PSS9 coilovers (which are really quite nice in the ride deparetment). With the exception of a few minor bits, the only rubber under the car will be the tires. The solid motor and trans mounts will go in later; they're not here yet.

-tammer <--about to remove any semblance of streetability ... where's my kidney belt?!

[bmwm3n528]

Yeah, Definitely post some pictures...Have some BavAutos, contemplating using them or replacing with the ST springs.

The BavAuto Springs are definitely not for tracking, to soft. They give nice ride height and are a little more aggressive than stock. Mostly just a comfortable ride. For more aggressive ride I would recommend H&R's or Eibachs.

Oh yeah. I've heard all about their springs with E30s, and they definitely don't have any sporting credentials...Thus, the reason I'm still on the fence about installing them.

[bmwm3n528]

Bump.

Let's see some Suspension Techniques springs!

[JamusMcFamus]

Bump.

Let's see some Suspension Techniques springs!

Look at John in Va's car a couple posts up. The gray one without the center caps. Those are STs.

[bmwm3n528]

Delete.

[bmwm3n528]

Bump.

Let's see some Suspension Techniques springs!

Look at John in Va's car a couple posts up. The gray one without the center caps. Those are STs.

Whoops!

Missed it.

ST claims a 1" drop on front/back. That seems lower that that!

[DRP535]

[quote="bmwm3n528]ST claims a 1" drop on front/back. That seems lower that that![/quote]

John's car might be parked on a slight hill there and held by the handbrake. That will be pulling down the rear suspension a bit ofcourse, so allow for that possibility. Allowing for that, his car looks to be at the same level as mine which is ~40mm lower than stock Euro springs and ~20mm lower than M-Tech springs. So yeah, if you're comparing to stock springs, it's much more drop than 1" all round.