OEM E46 Sport suspension vs H&M vs Eibach?

[BMWAccelerator]

Basically I want to maintain the same or better ride smoothness.
Also I'd like to know how much of a difference in ride lowness vs the OEM sport suspension. I don't want super low. But I am planning on getting 18s or 19s. I've seen pictures of an E46 on the stock sport suspension and 19s, and it looked fine to me.

The most important thing to me is ride smoothness - that is, I want it to feel like I'm driving a luxury car, I don't want to feel the road, I like it to feel like I'm on air (metaphorically). Honestly I don't care about lowering, and I don't like riding "low". I did that before, and it drives me mad having to go at an angle up even a driveway. And where I live, I know I'll end up ripping off the front bumper. I'm finished with the "low" phase.

When I saw the E46 with oem suspension on 19s (link (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=611235)), and I thought it was fine (the link is NOT sport, so the oem sport suspension is about 1" lower than the pictures), I would upgrade the springs only to lower it 1/2" to 1" (it would look a little better if lowered a tad), and only if it made no degradation at all in ride smoothness.


Not only that, but see this picture,
I think this looks absurd. I don't like it at all. I like the wheel well to be nice and uniform with the wheel.
http://i.imgur.com/5nBUSMg.jpg

Here are the links to the springs I referenced:
H&R OE Sport (http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?make=H%26R&model=OE+Sport+Spring+Set&group=OE+Sport+Spring+Set&cat=Springs)
H&R Sport (http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?make=H%26R&model=Sport+Spring+Set&group=Sport+Spring+Set&cat=Springs)
H&R Racing (http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?make=H%26R&model=Race+Spring+Set&group=Race+Spring+Set&partNum=50484.88&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=330i+Sedan&autoYear=2002&autoModClar=Sport+Package)
Eibach Sportline (http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?make=Eibach&model=Sportline+Spring+Set&group=Sportline+Spring+Set&partNum=4.6720&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=330i+Sedan&autoYear=2002&autoModClar=Sport+Package)
Eibach Pro-Kit (http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?make=Eibach&model=Pro-Kit+Spring+Set&group=Pro-Kit+Spring+Set&partNum=2067.140&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=330i+Sedan&autoYear=2002&autoModClar=Sport+Package)

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All that said, I think this setup looks ideal:
I wonder what he's running on?
http://i.imgur.com/VxyGDH6.jpg


However this one is too low, I don't like it:
http://i.imgur.com/gCO15cr.jpg

- - - Updated - - -

I just saw, for the Eiback Pro Kit springs,

Front and Rear Fitment
Ride Height: Moderate Lowering
Note: Avg Low 1.3"F 1.2"R
Lowering dimensions are based on models without sport suspension. Sport models will receive minimal drop increase from sport ride height.

So I wonder, if I lower it, how low it will need to be to make a difference over my OEM sport springs?

[e39hamann]

Sounds like you want a lexus/buick...

[Zodiacbw]

This is one of those times where you cannot have it all. Need to decide if ride/comfort is the priority or if the lows and big wheels are what you're after.

[BMWAccelerator]

This is one of those times where you cannot have it all. Need to decide if ride/comfort is the priority or if the lows and big wheels are what you're after.

ride/comfort is more important to me.
I'm getting 19s this coming week. That much is already decided.

[Zodiacbw]

With the 19" wheels, you're going to want to stay with stock springs (maybe oem sport or H&R OE sport) and something like a Koni sport damper for a decent ride. Basically no tire there to absorb shocks/bumps, so the dampers will be doing all of the work.

[BMWAccelerator]

With the 19" wheels, you're going to want to stay with stock springs (maybe oem sport or H&R OE sport) and something like a Koni sport damper for a decent ride. Basically no tire there to absorb shocks/bumps, so the dampers will be doing all of the work.

Thanks, that helps a lot.