maintenance/mod help for my 328...

[Zaks]

Hey guys. I've decided to save money and focus on some preventative maintenance and some suspension upgrades. please add anything else you can think of and also suggest what order i shoud do all of this in. thanks


Cooling system
-radiator
-t-stat housing
-waterpump
-hoses

Supension upgrade
-control arms with both ball joints
-control arm bushings with mounts
-sway bar end links F
-sway bar end links R
-sway bar bushings
-tierods
-RTABs
-rear shock mounts
-rear shock mount gaskets
-bilstein sport shocks/struts
-H&R sport or race springs
-wheel bearings front
-wheel bearings rear

[Zaks]

could you guys please tell me what other things i need to add to the list as far as cooling system goes? i'm trying to research some prices so i can get this stuff done soon. thanks

[mkacain]

I've done every thing on that list for the supension. I went with H&R sports. For the struts and shocks I suggest any kind of KONI will do. The Bilsteins are a stiff ride, and a great strut/shock setup, but the spring perch on the struts is a little higher then normal. your car will not sit as low in the front as it should. Get e30 Control arms, and 97+ Solid M3 control arm bushings. The e30 control arms are the same exact geometry as the e36, except they cost half as much. Its going to cost you good money for the entire suspension. Mine toped the 2 grand mark.

[Zaks]

I've done every thing on that list for the supension. I went with H&R sports. For the struts and shocks I suggest any kind of KONI will do. The Bilsteins are a stiff ride, and a great strut/shock setup, but the spring perch on the struts is a little higher then normal. your car will not sit as low in the front as it should. Get e30 Control arms, and 97+ Solid M3 control arm bushings. The e30 control arms are the same exact geometry as the e36, except they cost half as much. Its going to cost you good money for the entire suspension. Mine toped the 2 grand mark.

wow how come so expensive? can you PM me a list of things and prices you upgraded? i figured about $1000 for control arms/bushings and shocks/struts and springs and then no more that $300-400 for the rest. idk tho so if you can let me know what you did. thanks

[Zaks]

bump... can people please let me know what else, if anything, i need to add to the either list. thanks

[BMWFanatic]

i think the list looks pretty complete for now, but for the springs, get the RACE:buttrock

[Zaks]

oh and please recommend brand (include link if possible) for any aftermarket part you think i should go with isntead of OE. i'm thinking this would apply mostly to suspension components, because as far as i know, once you go with a lower suspension, other parts go quicker if they're OE. thanks

[E36Bimmer]

there is a cooling kit you can buy. Radiator, t-stat, rad hoses, belts, o-ring's, Water pump, aluminun t-stat housing. its 250.00 on bimmerparts.com

[Zaks]

there is a cooling kit you can buy. Radiator, t-stat, rad hoses, belts, o-ring's, Water pump, aluminun t-stat housing. its 250.00 on bimmerparts.com

the only reason i don't want that kit is because i have new belts and i have the low temp t-stat that's about a month old, came with my fan delete kit. can you, or anyone, post the part #s of the hoses that i would need when replacing the cooling system stuff. i mean i can find the radiator, water pump, housing and o-rings but i'm confused on the hoses. as far as i know there are the two that connect to both sides of the t-stat housing. any others that i need to replace? thanks

[E36Bimmer]

there are 2 hoses an upper and lower radiator hose. There is a tiny hose from the expansion tank to the block but usually that one is ok. check out realoem.com for part numbers.

[Slick Willi]

get koni adjustables with the race springs you cant go wrong there BUT! thats about 850$ right there the components for the suspension are $$$$, are u doing this yourself (labor)? get a bentley or i can write sumthin up for u on tips n stuff for the suspension & components, youll love koni :)

[Zaks]

get koni adjustables with the race springs you cant go wrong there BUT! thats about 850$ right there the components for the suspension are $$$$, are u doing this yourself (labor)? get a bentley or i can write sumthin up for u on tips n stuff for the suspension & components, youll love koni :)

i'll be doing everything myself and i think i've made up my mind with bilsteing/H&R setup for my first suspension. later i may go with koni or coilovers, we'll see. thanks for the offer, i might ask you some questions when it comes down to doing this