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Thread: spring compatability

  1. #1
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    spring compatability

    Good morning. I have a 1984 325e lowered on bilstein sports shocks and H&R springs. Tired of the rough ride. I've found a 1988 325 IC in a salvage yard, and am wondering if the springs on the 325 IC will fit my car. Checked with real OEM and the part numbers for the springs are different for the two cars. Thanks for any input or ideas. John

  2. #2
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    1987 325iS...edan
    The number is different because they use stiffer springs than a sedan. Which H&R spring?
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  3. #3
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    You are so lucky to find an e30 vert in a yard. so many vert specific parts. I had one locally that I went to several times, then one day it was gone. Kicking myself hard for not harvesting more of the vert specific stuff.

  4. #4
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    1992 e30 318i vert
    It probably won't work. I have a 91 vert and got 2 sets of used E30 springs without really thinking - one set from an E36 M3 sedan and another supposedly from a coupe. I got the rear springs on and it looks like a monster truck - the fronts just will not fit period. I've read the vert is either 200lb or 200 kg lighter than a coupe (I don't know about the sedan) and clearly uses softer springs. Putting teh vert springs on anything other than a vert will overload the springs and your ride will probably be worse but in a different way than it is now. I think it is best to buy exactly the springs you need for your vehicle - that is what I learned.

  5. #5
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    Thanks to those above for the good advice and information. Of course I was trying to get the job done on the cheap, and forgot that springs come in differing degrees of stiffness.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texaslonghorn1 View Post
    (...) I've read the vert is either 200lb or 200 kg lighter than a coupe (I don't know about the sedan) and clearly uses softer springs. (...)
    The vert is actually the heaviest E30 possible.
    ^ true story



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  7. #7
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    1992 e30 318i vert
    I stand corrected on the weight then. But the Monster truck stance is 100% accurate because those springs are sill on my car today. I won't be taking them off until I get new correct springs.

  8. #8
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    No e30s, again :(
    E36 m3 springs lower a regular e30 about 3/4 of an inch. I have ran those before
    No e30s again.

  9. #9
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    TRIUMPH tr250,tr6, bmw 325i
    My 1985 325e has E30 m3 oem bmw brand front springs and HR oem sport rear springs, koni sport adjustable shocks all the way around giving just the right amount of lowering, as much ride comfort you can get with non original suspension,
    Last edited by BEANCENT; 09-16-2018 at 04:43 PM.

  10. #10
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    All good information above. Anyone know if H and R OEM Sport springs are compatible with Bilstein Sport shocks? Those springs are purported to lower the car only about an inch and come closest to a stock ride. I would like to use the Bilstein sports that are already on the car.

  11. #11
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    No e30s, again :(
    Yes, the bilsteins work with those
    No e30s again.

  12. #12
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    Yes they are compatible.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by superj View Post
    E36 m3 springs lower a regular e30 about 3/4 of an inch. I have ran those before
    Not to hijack, but how do these ride?

  14. #14
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    No e30s, again :(
    Rode fine when i had them. Good for a fun daily and worked ok for autocross.
    No e30s again.

  15. #15
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    My head is still spinning a little. Real OEM lists a gazillion different parts numbers for E30 springs on different models. But I am getting the sense that all or most of them fit any E30, but spring stiffness varies with the model of the E30. Does that sound about right? I'm tempted to drive to Dallas and pull the front and the back springs off a mid 80's 325 vert that is sitting in a yard, buy some oem replacement shocks and call it a day. What do you guys think? John

  16. #16
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    No e30s, again :(
    you can. they do indeed all fit any e30 but have some higher or lower spring rates. there is a guy selling e30 m3 springs on craigslist in san Antonio. you might be able to get him to ship them to you for hardly anything, just have to ask him. those would be better than convertible springs because they would lower you a little bit instead of possibly raising you up a little
    No e30s again.

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