I pulled the trigger on some of the $100 springs from Bavarian Autosport, even though it cost me more to ship them up north than to buy them in the first place. I'm still learning as far as this car thing goes - see my "Hiya" post in 1st Gear - and am curious: on installing these springs, what else should I keep in mind? I don't know much about alignment. I have some family out here who restores BMWs and knows them back and forth; is alignment something that can be done in an overblown home-shop, or does it need to go to the shop? I have a pretty good professional shop, I think, but they're deep into Hondas and such, so I thought I'd ask the board first.

These springs lower my car about 30 mm, according to Bav Auto; will I need to adjust camber somehow to keep my (brand-new, very-nice) tires from wearing out in 10k km? I really don't think I'm ready to get into mods like that. (In fact, I don't really want my car lowered at all; I just want stiffer springs.)

I don't actually think I'll install these until next spring anyway - I had some other things to order too, so I tacked these on - so I can just keep in mind whatever else I might need to do. I'm just curious what else I ought to be thinking about... Big thanks from a newbie!

 

30mm = 1.15" inches, not a lot really. 13 mm = 1/2"

Re front end - I don't suspect camber will change to a point where you notice aggressive tire wear. You may in fact work the tires a bit more evenly if you drive fairly hard on twisty roads...the outside edges of the front tires will wear less. you should still have the car aligned so that toe is corrected...lowering will add more toe in.

Re rear - multi-links can be funny about camber/toe curves. I would pay attention to static camber after the car is lowered. I would keep the rear camber and toe as close to stock as possible...but that may require replacing either the upper or lower stock arms with adjustable arms. I would replace the lower control arms if cost is a big deal. If not replace both upper and lower.

EDIT: even though I wrote 1.15" is not a lot, it is quite enough for a mini...these cars do not have a lot of suspension travel. I lowered mine about 10mm with great results.

 

I also just bought the same Bavarian MS springs, going to start install today I hope.
My questions is if anyone knows what that little black box with some kind of link/arm is that is attached to the left lower arm???? It is wired to something and I have no idea what the heck it is and if I install adj. lower qrms what do I do with it?

 

Headlight levelers...one in back and one in front. Do you have Xenon lights?

 

Huh, i would have never guessed that.
SO if I end up replacing the lower arms im either SOL or I'll have to fabricate some type of bracket to reconnect the thing.

 

ok did the rear springs last night, was fairly easy. that "box" headlight levelers is actually ont he upper arm so no need to worry if I want to replace the lowers with adjustable.

 

rear springs from bavarian are too low for my wheel/tire set up. May have to go with coil overs, anyone want a set of springs? will even consider selling the entire spring & strut assembly for easy bolt on installation

 

Got my springs. They LOOK good, at the very least! I also will be getting some spacers for the rear from another user on this board, because I'm worried a bit about suffering the unbalanced drop some others have seen with these springs - and anyway, I don't want the drop so much as the stiffness. Thanks everyone for your suspension insights for a newbie!

 

yup rear springs def too low for me, tires rub on bumpy roads.

Brand new Bavarian springs for sale!?

 

If you are just looking for stiffer springs and not really to be lowered 30mm than I would suggest different springs. Maybe something like the TSW springs from Way Motor Works which drop about 19mm (3/4") however the TSW springs are more expensive than your $100 springs.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-min...e-springs.html
There are a few advantages with these TSW springs with less drop. One, the TSW springs will work better with the stock shocks. Two, you may be able to use the stock rear camber adjustment to get the rear camber back within spec without having to purchase aftermarket adjustable lower control arms.

If you stay with the 30mm drop springs you will need to purchase aftermarket adjustable rear lower control arms because the limited stock rear camber adjustability will not be enough to make up for the increased negative camber induced by the shorter springs. The front will not need any aftermarket parts to go with the new springs.

With a 30mm drop your stock shocks will wear faster because they were not designed for the shorter springs. If your car already has many miles, you might want to replace the shocks when replacing the springs.

 

i ended up going with megan coilovers and a set of hotchkis lower arms. thi should be more than adequate for daily driving and a few track days here and there.

 

checking in to see if you've gotten around to installing the springs

marcus

 

I have not got around to it yet, and am still debating whether or not to do it before winter. I'm also waiting for a set of home-machined spring spacers from another NAM'er to keep the rear end up another 3/8".

I'll probably install them with the stock shocks (which have 86k km on them), blow those up without (I hope) doing any other harm, and then replace the shocks if I like the springs, or the whole kit if I don't. We'll see...

 

That's me. Have you received the spacers yet?

Marcus

 

Oh, right! I have not received the spacers yet. But I VERY MUCH suspect Canada Post is to blame; they usually are for even the slightest delay. If I start to suspect they're lost, I'll be in touch... But I'll give it at least another week! Thanks for checking in.

 

Please do so. I think I also e-mailed the customs# to you. Let me know if it hasn't reached you!


Marcus