re: E30 suspension, 87 325i

[jkerouac@xxxxxxx]

Hi Ken,
    I played with the E30s for a lot of years, so here is a minor
'memory dump' of suggestions for your suspension.
You're correct about switching to Konis, and using E30//M3 springs.
They are an excellent sport spring for any E30.  There's a lot of
inexpensive used sets of them available, too.  If you want a slightly
lower front ride you can cut or torch a half coil off the top of the
spring, and then heat the spring halfway around until red hot.  then,
with _heavy_ leather gloves on, press the spring perch down on the red
hot coil so the top half coil sits flat again.
    Bilsteins are notorious on E30 for punching through rear shock
towers, cracking front shock arches, giving jouncy rides, and actually
raising the ride a bit due to the high pressure gas design.
    The ballpark initial setting for Konis is halfway between firm and
soft in the rear and one half to one turn from full soft in the front.
Springs from the 87 and 88 models will be better, the later E30 //M3
weighed more so will result in little lowering from your stock ride
height.
    Also, you can leave out the rubber spring spacers for a touch lower
ride height and so the springs react immediately rather than needing
rubber to compress before the spring does.
    I didn't notice in your posting if you stated you installed solid
front control arm bushings, either Delrin or the solid //E36M3
lightweight style.  If not, these will make a huge difference in how the
overall front suspension 'bites' the road.  The Delrin style are half
the cost and lots easier to install.  Your wheels _must_ be well
balanced and not out of round at all or Delrin will amplify any out or
round or out of balance right back to the steering wheel.  The //M3
lightweight solid bushings have a slight gap in them, so are slightly
forgiving.  They go onto the control arm easier if you freeze them solid
as a hockey puck first.
    One last thing with E30 and sway bars, use the stock rear bar.  More
bar than that generates inside rear wheel lift prematurely.
Of course ymmv.
Good Luck,

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