lowering a 325i

[yuhou411]

hi guys i jsut noticed today how my car looks like a monster truck..8.5 inches off the ground in the front. so i have bilstein shocks ... not sure if their sport or HD (BMW 1994-2000 318ti (E36) - Bilstein Right Front HD Shock F4-VE3-4401-H0 >> Bilstein Heavy Duty (HD) Shocks)

i was wondering if theirs anyways i ca lower the car, i know getting H&R springs will help but i dont have taht kind of money to spend rightn now.

also im not sure wut kind of spirngs i have... their black.. is there anyways to check?

[325IConvertible]

Making out your springs are black im guessing they are Factory !!!!!! But then I could be wrong. As you probably already know by now addding shocks simply wont lower your car unless you have an adjustable setup you are installing. Yes H&R is probably one of the best to install, I know that because I just used them recently myself or you can go with eibach but dont expect the 100% drop as it as shown before to some you dont get the complete drop.

My guess on your question would be to try and save up for some sort of Lowering Spring ,I wouldnt recommend anything else but there are probably others on here who know other ways if there are any.

[harper]

Buget racer trick, cut your stock springs! Start by cuting one coil should yeild about 3/4 inch drop. because the rate goes up as you shorten the spring your ride will stifen
Best

[drz]

DO NOT CUT YOUR SPRINGS!

This is dangerous. The springs were designed to work as they were built --as a unit.

[harper]

BMW didn't design the car to use H&R or eibach or diferent mfg. parts it voids waranty. What do you think sport springs are shorter with stifer rates
Best

[drz]

I wasn't talking about the car's design, but the design of the springs themselves. The spring rate is not constant throughout the entire spring. The spring is designed so that there is a progression in spring rate along the length of the coil. Furthermore, cutting introduces the risk of bad fit. Moreover, the springs would have to be cut EXACTLY the same, or he would be driving with a sideways car. Springs are cheap. Just save up for a few months.

Also, if you put in lower springs and don't change the shocks, you will ruin your shocks. So whether you cut them () or put in lowering springs, you will need new shocks anyway.

[dannyb]

+1 on what drz said. Please dont cut your springs, its the stupidest thing to do. If you dont have the money wait until you get it or check for used one in the classified section.

[320Ibeccyz]

If you dont want to spend a fortune on springs then you might find some places that will heat shrink your springs and remould them..I don't think its legal so they probably won't admit that they do it but it might be worth ringing around and asking if they will "reset your current springs?"

[Numark318i]

yea bro. save up the money. In the long run it will be the best investment.