E34 Lowering Summary

[Bahnstoermer]

'92 535i

According to this forum it seems to lower the vehicle properly I need new springs (of course) but also new shorter sport struts to go with them. This I didn't really anticipate. In contrast, I expected to need camber kits, but no one mentions them. BavAuto and Dinan both sell them, but are they not needed for a lowered E34? They're marketed as a track tuning item, maybe that's all they're for?

How many vendors have struts for the lowered car available? I've found Bilstein and Koni so far.

Thanks~

Alex

[sp0rky]

Since I am about to lower my e34 too, I did tons of research and asked on many forums.

Here's what they all told me.

The camber kit is not necessary unless you track your car, however - if you were looking for the camber kit because of tire wear, a lowered e34 is still within the alignment spec in the camber area. What causes the extreme tire wear in a lowered e34 is excessive toe in. This means that the tires are constantly scrubbing with each rotation (the are point inward toward eachother). This is mostly in the REAR, not the front. The toe is not adjustable on the e34 and the only way to cure this is to get adjustable or eccentric bushings and have them pressed in. I hear it's extremely tedious and can be expensive.

Few people have had good luck with tire wear, while others have been down to 10,000 miles and under per set. That all depends on size, tread, etc of the tire, too though.

good luck.

[Bahnstoermer]

Originally posted by sp0rky@Nov 6 2004, 10:17 AM
Since I am about to lower my e34 too, I did tons of research and asked on many forums.

Here's what they all told me.

The camber kit is not necessary unless you track your car, however - if you were looking for the camber kit because of tire wear, a lowered e34 is still within the alignment spec in the camber area. What causes the extreme tire wear in a lowered e34 is excessive toe in. This means that the tires are constantly scrubbing with each rotation (the are point inward toward eachother). This is mostly in the REAR, not the front. The toe is not adjustable on the e34 and the only way to cure this is to get adjustable or eccentric bushings and have them pressed in. I hear it's extremely tedious and can be expensive.

Few people have had good luck with tire wear, while others have been down to 10,000 miles and under per set. That all depends on size, tread, etc of the tire, too though.

good luck.

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Haha, thanks for the response.... I just found that thread. I can't believe the issue isn't black and white, but I guess suspensions on street cars don't work like the more expensive setups I imagine in my mind

[billB]

I thought BMWs come out of the factory with NEGATIVE camper; Don't they?

[sp0rky]

Originally posted by billB@Nov 6 2004, 09:18 PM
I thought BMWs come out of the factory with NEGATIVE camper; Don't they?

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yes.... but it's still affected when you lower the vehicle.