E30 Suspension Changes

["Kenneth Hillers" <kjhillers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a 87 325i in great shape with 125k miles. I started to change and
upgrade some suspension components and that's where the fun/problems began.
The car is stock except for installed HD Bilsteins that have 100k on them



1.     I first upgraded the stock sway bars to Eibach (22mm F, 16mm R) and
replaced the front factory sway bar links with BMP sway bar links.

This upgrade presented no problems and cornering was fun again (also since one
of the end links had popped out on the factory bar, my rear bar was now active
again).

2.      I then upgraded the stock control arms to the M3 aluminum control
arms. This was a nice upgrade that reduced unspung weight and wheel wander.

3.     This next upgrade is where my problems begin. I replaced the stock
springs with Eibach springs that lowered the car 1" to a 1-1/2". The car looks
really aggressive but is way too harsh over some tar strips and bottoms out
even going into my drive way. Over certain bumps or undulations in the road
you get that sick "pothole" response. The steering wheel is slightly off to
the left but does not pull to the left.

Obviously the lack of suspension travel is creating the above problems, but I
did not think that they would be as extreme. Is the problem compounded by
having the wrong shocks for the spring i. e. Bilstein sport shocks should be
used or perhaps an adjustable shock as Koni to better match the shock to the
spring? Would M3 springs have been better to use? Since I only use the car for
the street, I'm leaning to putting back the stock springs and adjusting the
sway bars to the stiffest setting.

Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated!



Ken Hillers

Freehold NJ

kjhillers@domain.elided

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