If I suffer a mental breakdown and decide to get a set of springs and sacrifice all semblance of sanity for a nicer look, which would I want?

I have stock suspension now with a 19mm Swaybar in the back. Or would I be an idiot to consider anything less than coilovers?

With the swaybar, and non runflats on 17" wheels, handling is quite good, but that SUV look on the 07's really irks me. JCW kit is just to much to spend for a 1cm drop (despite the superior handling it may have).

Or wait, and hopefully someone will come up with a solution that will give me an inch drop and superior handling without too much comfort sacrifice?

Maybe I'll go to the track once in a year, but live in an area with lots of curvy roads.

The other possibility is fabricating new wheel arches with a smaller diameter opening. Any thoughts on that, too?

Thanks,

Jas.

I realize this subject has been beat to death, but like any addict, I continue the same behavior over and over with expectations of a different outcome.

 

Have some patience and in due time there should be some more choices with a variety of drops to pick from. I agree that a 2" drop looks very, very nice, but I'm not willing to give up handling, ride, and suspension travel to get the look. So for now at least I'm content with my Sports Suspension though I am getting ready to add a 22mm rear bar and I'll go for some adjustable camber plates once someone makes some. Perhaps Texas Speed Works will be kind enough to make some smaller diameter, constant rate, springs with just a little drop and then we can get a bunch of negative camber for autocross and track!

 

Hi Jas.

Exact same boat. Stock suspension, 17" with non-runflats, happy with the ride and handling, curvy fun roads with little track time, need the car lowered an 1" more for looks then anything else ... jeez mines even AB/AB !?!

Any who ... if I do anything it will be coilovers as opposed to JCW. Oh ya, I do have to add the RSB. I figure if I'm going to do something, I might as well get the look I want. Besides with a good install, the coilovers w/RSB should handle as well as the JCW and hopefully be slightly softer.

That's what I'm thinking anyway. Needless to say I'll be watching this thread with as much anticipation as you.

 

Oh ya, forgot one thing.
From all I've read, adding springs to the stock suspension doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

I am waiting for Koni yellow shocks. I would then see what springs and sleeves are available to run 2.5" ERS Eibach springs.

Like this setup from Groundcontrol for the E30
http://www.ground-control-store.com/...7020.75_fs.jpg

 

I've run them both, and was happy with both.

I think the stock sport shocks with springs and the 19mm rear bar handles pretty darned well. And the price is right.

Erm...I don't see that happening.

I LOL'ed at that.

If I were you, I'd try the springs. What do you have to lose? Our springs are under 200 bucks. You can do the install yourself if you're halfway handy. If you really, really hate it (and I don't think you will), you can sell the springs to someone else, and you're out, what a hundred bucks?

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

You've got a good point there. I've pulled the rear struts to get the swaybar in, and that was easy enough. How much harder is it to get the fronts off? What do I need to swap the springs? Just a spring compressor? Thanks,

 

I have the Mach V springs on my JCW suspension and really like them...perfect drop...the red color looks really cool in the wheel wells....love the progressive rate.

 

I have the H&R springs, and absolutely Love them! The fronts are easy, I just did the shoot it into a box method instead of getting the spring compressor. It doesn't shoot hard at all. Compared to the rears it's seriously not that much more work. Do it and love it!

 

And that means.......?

 

Is your sig pic before or after the H&R?

 

The pic is before, the springs. If you want to see the after pics here they are https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=115138 The shoot it into the box method is when you setup a box with the suspension aiming at it, and then use a socket wrench to loosen the top bolt and when the bolt pops off, the spring shoots into the box. I used a breaker bar, so that I wasn't close to the suspension and bam it pops off. The first time is a little nerve racking, but it isn't that bad at all. And a link to kind of what I am talking about with the shoot it into the box method https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=105322 and click on the pdf.

 

So you don't need a spring compressor to put it back together because the springs are 1.25 to 1.50" shorter?

 

Correct! You just put the new spring on, and have someone push it down enough for you to get the nut on, and off you go. Simple!

 

Do the Mach V springs work with non-sport suspension....does it hurt the ride? Also are they progressive?

 

They'll work okay. The dampening vs. spring stiffness ratio won't be ideal, though. We developed them with the Sport Suspension shocks in mind.

Yes.

--Dan
Mach V
FastWRX.com

 

I can say that the H&R's on non-sport suspension work REALLY well. I drive highway, and back road, potholes etc. and they work beautifully together. The Germans have REALLY done a good job of balancing the ride with the performance. Plenty firm enough in the twisties, and soft enough for a compliant freeway ride and not the least bit punishing.

I have also riden in a local car with the sport suspension on the H&R's and I felt it was well balanced as well. Thus doubtful the damping values are much different from sport to non-sport cars.


With the lifetime warranty also included with H&R and their reputation from racing, OEM applications, etc. it is VERY hard to argue against them. For more information go to hrsprings.com or go to my website www.altaminiperformance.com

Thanks!

 

Mach V has a long warranty on their springs.....10 years, if I recall (don't quote me on it). Most owners will have sold their cars by then.

I've had H&R OE springs on my CRX (double the drop than spec which H&R seemed to think was ok) and currently have them on my FX35...very nice product for sure.

I've driven Mach V's shop R56 with both H&R and their Technic springs....I think you couldn't go wrong with either setup.

 

If I remember correctly the H&R's give you a 1.4" drop, and the Mach V's come in at around 1.25".

If either of the two produced something closer to an inch, I probably be swayed in that direction. JCW's kit is too expensive, and the 0.4" drop just doesn't seem like enough to justify the investment (at least from an appearance standpoint).

Is there any way to stretch a spring .25-.5"? I guess thats a stupid question because if you could your car would just keep getting lower and lower over time. How about getting custom wound springs?

 

Lurching and squating bother me as much as the SUV-like stance when viewing from the rear. I need to drop my car really bad.....

 

stiffer dampers will help that lurching and squating more then spring. The springs will stop how far it lurches and squats.

 

I think stiffer shocks will aid the stiffer springs. But stiffer springs alone will be a lot better than softer shocks/spring combo.

 

I agree. I think an inch drop would be PERFECT! Just enough to ditch the SUV stance, but not so much that you'd be scraping everything, and lose a huge chunk of suspension travel.

Maybe Eibach will come out with some springs for the R56 soon. They tend to have a pretty mild drop. Until then, I think I'm gonna go with the H&Rs based on the rave reviews they've received on the forum.

 

Post worth reading for anyone wondering what you lose with any drop:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=95275

Particularly the free uptravel, which is 0.2" (yes, that's two tenths of an inch before you're on your bump stops)

 

keep in mind that BMW/MINI knew you would be on those bumpstops and have put them in the suspension system with that in mind. these aint yo grandmas bump stops