Suspension/Ride Height Thread

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

DRP535 wrote:[quote="bmwm3n528]ST claims a 1" drop on front/back. That seems lower that that!
John's car might be parked on a slight hill there and held by the handbrake. That will be pulling down the rear suspension a bit ofcourse, so allow for that possibility. Allowing for that, his car looks to be at the same level as mine which is ~40mm lower than stock Euro springs and ~20mm lower than M-Tech springs. So yeah, if you're comparing to stock springs, it's much more drop than 1" all round.[/quote][/quote]

Yeah, I noticed that.

I really like the stance on John's car, along with your own. It's just where I want mine to be.

Of course your M-Tech goods definitely help lower the appearance also.
Jon in Richmond
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Re: Suspension/Ride Height Thread

Post by Jon in Richmond »

Model/Motor - M535i/M30b34
Springs - Mtech springs
Shocks/Struts - Koni yellow front/ Bilstein sports rear
Other Suspension modifications- none
Wheel/Tire size - 17" throwing stars/235-45


Image
John in VA
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Post by John in VA »

DRP535 wrote:John's car might be parked on a slight hill there and held by the handbrake. That will be pulling down the rear suspension a bit of course, so allow for that possibility. Allowing for that, his car looks to be at the same level as mine which is ~40mm lower than stock Euro springs and ~20mm lower than M-Tech springs. So yeah, if you're comparing to stock springs, it's much more drop than 1" all round.
The car is at the relatively-flat top of the driveway, in "Park" w/out the handbrake. The front wheels are turned a bit to the right.
DRP535
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Post by DRP535 »

bmwm3n528 wrote:[Of course your M-Tech goods definitely help lower the appearance also.
To be honest my car is a bee's dick lower than I was actually going for. I wanted a 15mm drop on M-Tech which would have made it the same height exactly as a Euro M5. But I also wanted progressive springs to soften the ride when I wasn't in the mood to be thrashing it. Those requirements + cost/availability as a factor obviously limited my options for replacement springs meaning that the closest I could get to my ideal 15mm drop was more like a 20mm drop.

It's not enough of a difference to bother me though. All it means is that the car looks to my eye from some angles just a fraction too low when it's loaded with full tanks. Then again it looks absolutely perfect to me with < 1/2 tank full and unloaded. So if the amount of fuel in the tank is enough to make the difference it isn't significant by any means. I'm probably much more critical than other people about it and would notice things others never would.

Ground clearance isn't an issue. I overhauled the exhaust system as well not long after the suspension with all new hangers and a header system replacing the manifolds as well. All that meant the pipes/mufflers were lifted by ~5 - 10mm as well, so there's no danger of bottoming anything on kerbs or stuff like that. Obviously you're still careful about negotiating obvious danger points but more for the approach and departure angles with the tupperware on my car than banging the mufflers underneath.
DRP535
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Post by DRP535 »

John in VA wrote:
DRP535 wrote:John's car might be parked on a slight hill there and held by the handbrake. That will be pulling down the rear suspension a bit of course, so allow for that possibility. Allowing for that, his car looks to be at the same level as mine which is ~40mm lower than stock Euro springs and ~20mm lower than M-Tech springs. So yeah, if you're comparing to stock springs, it's much more drop than 1" all round.
The car is at the relatively-flat top of the driveway, in "Park" w/out the handbrake. The front wheels are turned a bit to the right.
Even hanging on a gear (or in this case the pawl in an auto), the rear suspension gets pulled down slightly when loaded.
shadyb
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Post by shadyb »

Here is my 1987 535iS. recently done. (check eye candy)

Koni SA's front and rear with H&R Sports...I love it.

Recently refinished Style 5's, tires mounted, balanced and ready to go. For the Spring/Summer.
Image
Last edited by shadyb on Jan 10, 2007 3:58 PM, edited 3 times in total.
M635CSi
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Re: Suspension/Ride Height Thread

Post by M635CSi »

Jon in Richmond wrote:Model/Motor - M535i/M30b34
Springs - Mtech springs
Shocks/Struts - Koni yellow front/ Bilstein sports rear
Other Suspension modifications- none
Wheel/Tire size - 17" throwing stars/235-45


Image
Jon, is this your car? it's beautiful...
shadyb
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Post by shadyb »

and one more.....
Image
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

shadyb wrote:and one more.....
Image
Style 5s are going to look great. You have them refinished like factory?
shadyb
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Post by shadyb »

Yes, they are refinished to factory spec. Two were already done when I got them, otherwise I may have had them polished and had the centers done in different color.
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

C.J....Hope you don't mind...

Image

Bavarian Autosport springs
17x8"? s32s/s32 Replicas?
riddler
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Post by riddler »

have a question, what would you suggest to lower the suspension! how much, I had an idea of 60mm lowering the front and 30mm rear is that ok for good look or maybe more or less? wheels are 8J R17 front and 9J R17 rear tyres 225/45 front and 235/45 rear :?

comparing to complete stock, car - 528i with M30B35 engine :|
riddler
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Post by riddler »

Image

I would like to gain look somthing like this, and will the lower spring be compatible with m535i original Bilstein shox :?
athayer187
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Post by athayer187 »

In my sig:

Bilstein HD's with stock springs
17" Style 29's
originalMJG
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Post by originalMJG »

Image
Image
Image

1982 525i with b35.

Spax adjustable PSX suspension kit (45mm front - 30mm rear lowering). Front springs are pretty much cut in half, rears have 3 coils cut. Approximately 100mm drop front, and 80mm drop rear.

Uprated bushes etc but no camber mods and stuff.

Front wheels are 16x8 et10 with 205/50/16s, rear wheels are 17x10 et20 with 245/40/17.

Arches very modified.
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

Looks very stealthy. How's the ride quality?
rowingdude
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Post by rowingdude »

Noob post :)

Will E30 springs/shocks work on an E28?
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

rowingdude wrote:Noob post :)

Will E30 springs/shocks work on an E28?
Very, very doubtful. Obviously the spring rates and shock/strut valving would be horribly wrong.
originalMJG
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Post by originalMJG »

From looking at e30 springs/shocks etc, I can say that the rears would not as they are mounted below the hub on the damper, and the spring is seperate (unlike the coilover type on the e28). The front springs might fit but wouldn't be great due to lighter car and different lengths etc.

My ride quality isn't really very good. I blew the shocks straight away so I can't comment, but it's not ideal. It needs to be stiffer so that I can judge properly,as most of the time the sump is hitting the ground
C.J.
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Post by C.J. »

bmwm3n528 wrote:C.J....Hope you don't mind...

Image

Bavarian Autosport springs
17x8"? s32s/s32 Replicas?
Yeah, I don't mind. But the wheels are actually 18X8 style 32 replicas. Sold those and it's now on 16X8 BBS RSs.
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

theseeker411 wrote:
bmwm3n528 wrote:C.J....Hope you don't mind...

Bavarian Autosport springs
17x8"? s32s/s32 Replicas?
Yeah, I don't mind. But the wheels are actually 18X8 style 32 replicas. Sold those and it's now on 16X8 BBS RSs.
I thought they looked larger than usual. Thanks for the correction. I take it yours is a B34?
C.J.
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Post by C.J. »

Umm...the guy I bought the wheels from had them on an e34, but I definitely have an e28.
bmwm3n528
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Post by bmwm3n528 »

theseeker411 wrote:Umm...the guy I bought the wheels from had them on an e34, but I definitely have an e28.
M30B34
DRP535
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Post by DRP535 »

originalMJG wrote:My ride quality isn't really very good. Most of the time the sump is hitting the ground
:shock: :shock: :shock: Yep, I guess that would tend to have some sort of an affect on the ride quality for sure! :laugh:
C.J.
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Post by C.J. »

bmwm3n528 wrote:
theseeker411 wrote:Umm...the guy I bought the wheels from had them on an e34, but I definitely have an e28.
M30B34
Lol, sorry missed that. Yeah, it's a b34.
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