To Drop or Not to Drop - BMW Forum

loveless4577 · 03-12-2008, 11:04 PM

I have a 2001 525i. I just put some 19x8(front) and 19x9.5(rear) wheels on the car. It is sitting up a little higher that I would like. I planned on purchasing some Vogtland lowering springs but I am getting mixed signals on whether or not it is a good idea to lower the car (due to ride quality and other factors). The research that I did says the Vogtland springs are a quality product and the ride should not be compromised dramatically. The car is a daily driver. What should I do? Help?

AlpineSixAndSeven · 03-12-2008, 11:08 PM

hows your drive many speed bumps?

loveless4577 · 03-12-2008, 11:28 PM

Drive is pretty straight forward. Mostly highway and one speed bump.

d3ity · 03-18-2008, 02:49 PM

be picky about the springs.

Personally, I'd rather have gone with the bavarian autosport springs as they have a "closer to stock" ride quality (so i've heard). I dropped my e34 with H&Rs and while it handles like an absolute wet dream, there are some times I wish I wasn't driving a goddamn racecar and getting bumped around by every little piece of gravel.

That said, I have almost negligible body roll now in corners. The car feels like it's nailed to the road.

loveless4577 · 03-18-2008, 02:59 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. I have done alot of research on the Vogtland springs and 99.9 percent of the feedback and reviews have been positive. I just want to make sure that I will not do more harm than good.

Torque · 03-18-2008, 03:02 PM

Vogtlands are generally on the low side as far as ride height goes with lowering springs. That said, they are a very quality product.

Eibach and H&R are also good choices.

Stay away from BavAuto springs; lots of people complaining about them being too soft and causing lots of bottoming out. You do not want a lowering spring that's not really any stiffer than stock ... if you want to go lower, you need a stiffer spring.

loveless4577 · 03-18-2008, 03:13 PM

Thanks for the feedback. That is what I have been hearing so I am comfortable making this purchase. I don't mind a little lower ride height. Right now my 525i resembles less of a M3 and more of a H3!

loveless4577 · 04-16-2008, 07:36 AM

I did it and I like it.
Before

After

Torque · 04-16-2008, 08:27 AM

I hope it settled since that pic ... because if not, you got ripped off; I sure as hell don't see any drop.

dannyb · 04-16-2008, 08:36 AM

+1 ... mine took a while

RoadsterMadness · 04-16-2008, 09:06 AM

^^^yeah, it's those closer to stock type springs. I don't see much lowering but have a poor screen this moment to look with. As long as you're happy, that's all that counts! I hope the ride quality is great and what you were looking for. I lowered my already low car with H & R coilovers and the ride is super tight with pretty much no body roll at all, but it "loosened up" from ridiculously tight (CD skipping over every crack in the road) to its current race-like ride where the seatbelts come in handy to prevent ejection - especially of passengers who don't know what they're in for...

That said - it looks great and takes turns like a champion. Enjoy your ride!

AlpineSixAndSeven · 04-16-2008, 09:58 AM

I cant get the pic to load.....

loveless4577 · 04-16-2008, 10:07 AM

I dont think that the picture does the drop any justice. I did not want a drastic drop because I line in the NE and the roads can be pretty bad. It will settle some more and look nice and even. Exactly what I wanted.