3-Series (E36)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1992-1999. Autodoodad
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I just got my car back, along with a MEGA credit card bill, and I was just wondering if is it absolutley necesary to get shocks if I buy lowering springs???? I mostly use my car as a daily driver, to and from school. As well as meeting up with friends. I usually never have more than 1 passanger in my car, my car is not a Fkn taxi!!!
If I were to get H&R sport springs, without shocks, I would save a buncha money. And 3-4 months down the line I am going to get bilstein shocks anyway, I just dont want to max my card out again. I'm gonna have to roll my fenders too, which will cost me another 50-70 bucks.
Will I be okay for 3-5 months on sport springs, without new shocks???? wont they be stiffer thatn stock springs, which will help to not rub???? Is it absolutley neccesito???? If I did this, what would be the negative side effects???
it can work fine... but defintaly isnt recommended... know some people that if they have more than one other person in their car they cant go without the back wheel hitting and thats with just springs and some halfway worn shocks....
Don't waste your money for installation twice, you'll also end up blowing your struts and shocks out because they are not designed for lowering springs, save up and buy them and install it all at once, I know you're excited to lower it but do it right.
Negative side effects would be blown struts/shocks, crappy ride, car will bounce over dips, I know this first hand because I installed lowering springs w/o doing the right dampers on my e36 a long time ago ghead , never again.
Originally posted by egk2@Mar 26 2005, 09:26 AM Don't waste your money for installation twice, you'll also end up blowing your struts and shocks out because they are not designed for lowering springs, save up and buy them and install it all at once, I know you're excited to lower it but do it right.
Negative side effects would be blown struts/shocks, crappy ride, car will bounce over dips, I know this first hand because I installed lowering springs w/o doing the right dampers on my e36 a long time ago ghead , never again.
I ran VERY low springs with stock shocks for a few months without a problem. I know it wasn't advised, but I figured eventually the stock shocks would go out and that'd give me a good excuse to buy aftermarket shocks. haha
Unless you are doing the install yourself or getting it done for free, it's pointless to pay twice to rip down the struts, just be patient and do it right the first time, this means sport shocks/struts, new rear shock mounts of your choice, depending on mileage, new upper strut mounts, etc... Good luck.
okay okay, I guess I'll wait a couple months and do the shocks and springs at the same time. I guess right now it doesnt look too bad, stock. Also, I got a guy at a local shop to match internet prices and get a good deal on install (bilstien sport shocks and H & R springs, INSTALLED for $800 + tax)
Originally posted by chr328is@Mar 26 2005, 06:22 PM okay okay, I guess I'll wait a couple months and do the shocks and springs at the same time. I guess right now it doesnt look too bad, stock. Also, I got a guy at a local shop to match internet prices and get a good deal on install (bilstien sport shocks and H & R springs, INSTALLED for $800 + tax)
Originally posted by B3M2W5i@Mar 26 2005, 04:26 PM how do you like your lip spoiler? whered you get it?
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Theyre 18's x 9 in back, and 18 x 8 in front. And I got my lip spoiler on ebay . But it works, and will be the same style one bavauto is selling for 199.99. I should have bought the one already paint matched as I learned that I cant paint for shhhhhhhhhh.....t.
your car is looking really good man! but you are making the right choice in holding out! I know how frustrated I get when ANYTHING on my car breaks, today a brake light bulb burnt out and I went nutty. Imagine your shocks goin out, it just wouldn't be fun.
Er.....actually it is fine to run short springs with standard dampers, the only problem you might have is the damper rate will not match the spring rate......but then most people mix and match short springs and dampers anyway and hardly ever think of matching the two.
There is an awfull lot of crap talked about you shouldnt run short springs and standard dampers......well if you run your car with four up all the time you are doing exactly that! You are not going to "blow" the dampers....they are designed to operate correctly throughout the whole suspension travel range, that means from full bounce to rebound.
Standard vehicles are tested by the manufacturer with maximum load for most of the test cycle, that means at the lowest operating range of the dampers, just as if you ran lowered springs.....
The only problem as I said would be a mismatch of the rates between damper and spring, we take a lot of time matching rates so dampers will actually "damp" the spring.
Big damage will occur if you run so low you are running on bumpstops most of the time, this will transmit too much energy through the the body structure, thats when you will damage the car!
Originally posted by Boxbrownie@Mar 27 2005, 11:38 AM Er.....actually it is fine to run short springs with standard dampers, the only problem you might have is the damper rate will not match the spring rate......but then most people mix and match short springs and dampers anyway and hardly ever think of matching the two.
There is an awfull lot of crap talked about you shouldnt run short springs and standard dampers......well if you run your car with four up all the time you are doing exactly that! You are not going to "blow" the dampers....they are designed to operate correctly throughout the whole suspension travel range, that means from full bounce to rebound.
Standard vehicles are tested by the manufacturer with maximum load for most of the test cycle, that means at the lowest operating range of the dampers, just as if you ran lowered springs.....
The only problem as I said would be a mismatch of the rates between damper and spring, we take a lot of time matching rates so dampers will actually "damp" the spring.
Big damage will occur if you run so low you are running on bumpstops most of the time, this will transmit too much energy through the the body structure, thats when you will damage the car!
Best regards David
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You speak from experience? Stop spreading misinformation.
Originally posted by egk2+Mar 27 2005, 06:12 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(egk2 @ Mar 27 2005, 06:12 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Boxbrownie@Mar 27 2005, 11:38 AM Er.....actually it is fine to run short springs with standard dampers, the only problem you might have is the damper rate will not match the spring rate......but then most people mix and match short springs and dampers anyway and hardly ever think of matching the two.
There is an awfull lot of crap talked about you shouldnt run short springs and standard dampers......well if you run your car with four up all the time you are doing exactly that!* You are not going to "blow" the dampers....they are designed to operate correctly throughout the whole suspension travel range, that means from full bounce to rebound.
Standard vehicles are tested by the manufacturer with maximum load for most of the test cycle, that means at the lowest operating range of the dampers, just as if you ran lowered springs.....
The only problem as I said would be a mismatch of the rates between damper and spring, we take a lot of time matching rates so dampers will actually "damp" the spring.
Big damage will occur if you run so low you are running on bumpstops most of the time, this will transmit too much energy through the the body structure, thats when you will damage the car!
Best regards David
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You speak from experience? Stop spreading misinformation.
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Yes I do speak from experience.......I work in a motor vehicle research and development centre, and this is more than just experience of fitting lowered springs one time with standard dampers! Thats probably why you had such a shitty ride and handling experience when you tried it, the spring damper rates were completely mismatched causing your poor ride.
27 years of experience BTW
best regards David
ps. I'd like to see just what part you thought was misinformation?
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If I did this, what would be the negative side effects??? 
ghead , never again. 
. But it works, and will be the same style one bavauto is selling for 199.99. I should have bought the one already paint matched as I learned that I cant paint for shhhhhhhhhh.....t. 
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