lowering springs

[00soul]

i want to lower my car, do i just buy lowering springs and replace the stock ones? whats a good amount to lower my car? like between 1-2 inches? whats some good brands H&R, koni,eibach(sp)

[Anfanger]

H&R and Eibach are the best, I don't know if Koni makes springs.
Here is some data on spring lowerage (lowerage, ;) ) for your E30 325i:

H&R OE Sport: 1.0in front, 1.0in rear
H&R Sport: 1.3in front, 1.3in rear
H&R Race: 2.2in front, 1.3in rear
Eibach Pro-Kit: 1.6in front, 1.4in rear

Most tweakers on the board would agree with me by saying I urge you to also get sport shocks to compliment new springs - specifically Bilstein Sports.

[Preppy]

Originally posted by Anfanger

Most tweakers on the board would agree with me by saying I urge you to also get sport shocks to compliment new springs - specifically Bilstein Sports.

Unless you can't afford to get both at the same time......like me :(

[Anfanger]

Originally posted by GWUpreppyazn

Unless you can't afford to get both at the same time......like me :(

Then save up and do both, you silly boy. If you do one at a time (springs, then shocks), you'll kill yourself for having to pay twice for labor and 4-wheel alignment.

[00soul]

how much is labor and 4-wheel alignment? you have to get them aligned just for replacing the springs?

[Anfanger]

For me, all labor (for shocks and springs) with 4-wheel alignment was about $300... and thats damn cheap. Most places would charge about $400 for both. I figure labor for just springs or just shocks would be $200-300, including a 4-wheel alignment. You can always not align the car, and save about $100, but then your handling would get whacked out and you'd wear through your tires in a month. Its not a certainty but its a high probability.

[jsp98m3]

$300? I should start doing them for $250 then. I could use the money for stereo equipment. North San Diego county, no line, no waiting. Open Saturday and Sunday. 3 hour waiting period, free beer.

[Anfanger]

Jim, will you do a 4-wheel alignment and balance too? ;)
I don't like beer, so can Orange Slice be available instead? :D

I payed only (yes, only) $300 because I used to work at the shop, so I got a "friend of owner/manager discount" :) . The guy who did the actual work is my friend's dad. Most other private shops charge like $400 or $450... its pretty horrible. I wonder what the $tealer would charge! :eek:

[jsp98m3]

Dealers typically charge 6-8 hours! It takes 3, 4 if you are really taking your time.

4 wheel alignments done right, 2 miles from my house are $40.

[CarbonBlkE36]

jim did u get ur halos/ angle eyes from brecht's body shop?

[CarbonBlkE36]

nice car by the way............. i saw it over at wheel power....

[jsp98m3]

I got one at San Diego BMW from a mechanic and one from Harloff.

[CarbonBlkE36]

were they off an accident car??

[CarbonBlkE36]

or like a fogged on under warrenty?>??

[jsp98m3]

One was defective from the factory. One was broken. Both were free. I've bought them since then to do another car for $196 each. Dealer to remain nameless.

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by jsp98m3
Dealers typically charge 6-8 hours! It takes 3, 4 if you are really taking your time.
Took Oxcart and I about 6 hours to install Koni shocks on TiChick's 318ti, but it only took us 3 hours to install H&R Sport springs on his 325i the next day. We've got our technique locked down now :D