lowering: need help!

[jfertita]

Also, I want to lower my 86 325 for better handling because I like to take turns very very fast, but I am trying to decide how to go about lowering. Should I buy a coilover system? if yes, brands? and what should i set the height to? Or, should I go with lowering springs? if yes, brands please

[Rfitz25]

My two cents:

this worked or my 87 325is

Suspension techniques springs
lowered 1.3 inches
15 % stiffer spring rate (critical)

4 Bilstein Sport shocks
awesome

4 new upper shock mounts (better check em out while your at it)
OEM BMW offset camber correcting in front
gives more camber works awesome
(some nice adjustables out ther also some bad ones)
check Ireland engineering and Turner motorsports

Did one auto cross before and one after and it was a totally diferent car.

yes coil overs would be nice too but a few more bucks
Starmavin recommended a killer set???

Many people use H&R springs
I heard some Eibachs arent stiff enough and suspension bottoms out.

I kept stock is sway bars, might do urethane.

Bigger sway bars are the best way to eliminate body roll.
I'm told you must reinforce the mounting points in the rear if you upgrade.
at least the lower point. I think Turner has the pice you can buy to get weld in. easy cheap, save a major disaster later.

A good local independent BMW mechanic should know this.
or a speed shop.

dont go too low or you screw up steering geometry and it will "pitch" you out of a corner. LOL

Tokico and KYB can suck and break on lowered cars if not valved correctly for shorter stroke.

Bilstein or Koni's rule.

BLST sports are built for lowered suspension.
HD shock is good for stock ride height.

Some say a stress bar is a waste unless you doing hard track turns at 100mph plus ie turn one at Willow Springs.

I still like the beeffy BMP desigh bar the best. Looks kool.

good luck.

[Starmavin]

Well, it really depends on how much you want to spend, how low you want to go, and what kind of handling characteristics you want. In that case, like above, Bilstein or Koni are great, or you can get a little more involved and go with coil overs from Ground Control.

Or do you want to lower you car on a budget, but want decent parts. In that case advance autoparts can actually get the Eibach suspension Pro-Kit lowering coil spring set, it'll lower your car approximately front 1.6" rear 1.4" for less than $300 (not bad considering they are usualy next day and over the counter with no shipping)

[gotKRAUT]

i have always fancied high rates on ground controls with the ground control shortened konis...the full kit can be found here

Ground Control Suspension Systems

buddy is running this setup and its GREAT...i love it, i will be running it on my car...

comes with coils, shortened konis, front camber plates, urethane rear shock mounts and the ground control bump stops...everything you need


but i realize this is on the high end of the price scale at $1599.00 otherwise im with starmavin, sport springs from either H&R or Eibach with Koni SA's and new shock mounts and strut bearings will only set you back around $600 or so

if you plan to lower more than 1.5" then stay away from bilsteins or else they tend to sit on the internal bumpstops thus dont function properly

[jfertita]

That system from ground control comes with everything! I guess the coilover system would be the better way to go, even though it is more expensive..but how do i know how low i should set it?

[Starmavin]

Well, look around where you live. If you live in PA or an area with lots of hills, and bad roads, 2 inches may be too much. Or if you live in eastern NC or other areas that are rather flat with decent roads then you can drop it much more. (I saw a car the other day that was dropped so far I couldn't see light from under the car standing from 25 feet away...while bending over looking...)

[ldsbeaker]

^^ Bmw?

[jfertita]

I live in south east virginia, its mainly flat and nice. i like to take rides out into the country on those little roads and just fly, takin turns goin 55, i need my suspension upped because i have a lot of body roll at those speeds, i need strut bars and it to be lowered and inforced.