<![CDATA[Dirty Delphin Progression Thread]]>Its pretty cool to have a BMW forum for us WI guys. I'm from Chilton, and this is my 8th BMW in the past 4 years. I look forward to meeting up with you guys later on, and here's my car:

1989 325i

215k miles, I'm the 3rd owner, 2nd owner had it since 14k miles.

Clean body, very minimal amounts of surface rust, couple minor dings.

Interior is ripped to shreads, and is currently out of the car for the most part.

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=261572&d=1294600002

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=261573&d=1294600002

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=261574&d=1294600002

Suspension/Tires

So far I have IE Stage 3 Race Springs to drop it 2" front and 1.5" rear.

*H&R 15mm drophats will be coming soon, along with Bilstein Sports and a full susp overhaul :)

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=263910&stc=1&d=1295995188

Picked up these 17x7.5 Kosei K1s a couple weeks back, all five for $300. One tire was slashed, the rest have 60% life. I would have preferred 16s, but these will do!

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=263907&stc=1&d=1295993940

Interior

This will probably be very basic, the stock comfort seats are torn to shreds, it has blue/grey carpet, and blue door cards. Hopefully next week I'll get black door cards from a friend. I decided to pick up these tan sport seats, front/rear for $150. They will be covered black, and the stock carpet will be removed, cleaned and painted black using the Duplicolor fabric paint.

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=263906&stc=1&d=1295993940

Other than that, I'm planning on respraying it this spring, LSD, and a new exhaust with Borla/Magnaflow muffler.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/15/dirty-delphin-progression-threadRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 04:49:45 GMTFri, 11 Feb 2011 02:59:27 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Mon, 14 May 2018 12:32:41 GMT]]>Huh. For all these years I was basically copying someone else's thread title.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/91621https://wibimmers.com/post/91621Mon, 14 May 2018 12:32:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Thu, 10 May 2018 13:57:24 GMT]]>Lol shouldn’t you be bumping Andrew’s thread?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/91519https://wibimmers.com/post/91519Thu, 10 May 2018 13:57:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Thu, 10 May 2018 13:26:51 GMT]]>bump

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/91518https://wibimmers.com/post/91518Thu, 10 May 2018 13:26:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Sun, 29 May 2011 21:40:08 GMT]]>The tires are 225/45/15 if anyone wants some used track tires, guy said they had 3 auto x days on them.

I'm gonna run either 205/50 or 225/50 when I get the JOM kit. With modified housings I"ll get about another 2" lower up front and another 1.5" rear :)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/1354https://wibimmers.com/post/1354Sun, 29 May 2011 21:40:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Sun, 29 May 2011 21:37:50 GMT]]>I know you guys are all gonna be mad/sad/hurt/confused..... But I ditched those ravishingly beautiful gold gems of mine in favor of some 15x7 Borbet Type A :)

They will most definitely need to be repainted, and some minor curbing repaired, but I'm very happy with them. I'm also getting flat caps for them, and I"ll get some legit tires instead of these Hoosier auto-x tires :D

**PS- I found out there was a smudge on the damn lens AFTER I took 22 pics :insert really pissed off face here:

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=280026&d=1306704601

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=280027&d=1306704612

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=280028&d=1306704633

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=280029&d=1306704652

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/1353https://wibimmers.com/post/1353Sun, 29 May 2011 21:37:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Wed, 04 May 2011 01:39:21 GMT]]>Man, that thing has come along nicely...nice work

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/814https://wibimmers.com/post/814Wed, 04 May 2011 01:39:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Tue, 03 May 2011 23:34:42 GMT]]>I think I'm gonna sell my XXRs, just not feeling the 6 spoke like I thought I would 😕 Once I installed them I almost immediately began to miss my simple little 14" weaves..

So now I'm thinking of picking up a set of Enkei 92, 15x7, offset unknown, 4x108 for $150. I like them because they're simple and have a decent lip for 15" rim. I would need to possibly repaint them, re-polish the lips, and buy new rubber + adapters to make them fit.

Opinions?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/805https://wibimmers.com/post/805Tue, 03 May 2011 23:34:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:39:14 GMT]]>I already have the drop hats installed on my car. I'll look into cutting some dead coils on it. If there's reliable info regarding it I'd be willing to give it a try!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/754https://wibimmers.com/post/754Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:39:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:19:43 GMT]]>

straight6pwr said:

I'd be willing to bet that with the 205s and drop hats in front, you'd be happy with how it looked!

Agreed. And drop hats are worth a shot, they're pretty cheap. I heard something about e90 15mm drop hats being a perfect fit, FullBanana has them on his car (I think...) and his setup looks pretty good.

As for cutting springs, there's a 1/2 coil out of my H&R (ix) sports, and it looks better and rides good, but I can't speak for everyone who has cut their springs.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/750https://wibimmers.com/post/750Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:19:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:18:06 GMT]]>I'd be willing to bet that with the 205s and drop hats in front, you'd be happy with how it looked! Not really worth the $400-$1200 and added complexity of coil overs.

Secondly, I'm pretty sure you can remove some of the dead coil on the IE springs with no effects on its function. You can't cut much, maybe 1/2 coil or something and gain another 1/4" of drop.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/749https://wibimmers.com/post/749Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:18:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:34:29 GMT]]>The IE springs, along with many other e30 performance springs, are progressive as Dan mentioned. Meaning there are usually a couple softer springs on top/bottom, and then stiffer coils to improve the handling of the vehicle to match the shocks. I've talked to a couple guys that have cut springs and the results are always the same: looks better, rides like crap.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/746https://wibimmers.com/post/746Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:34:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:39:47 GMT]]>Why "no" to cutting springs? I'm sure there's a few useless coils in there :D

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/745https://wibimmers.com/post/745Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:39:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:46:55 GMT]]>I thought about just keeping my Bilstiens and buying the ground control conversion, but the reason for ultimately wanting to switch setups; go a little lower than I am now. Looking at pics of people running the JOM kits, they're getting awfully low. If I could drop another 1" up front I'd be happy, and cutting springs will most assuredly never happen..

PS: do you know why I cant enable an avatar? Is there a post count limit or something?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/743https://wibimmers.com/post/743Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:46:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:23:22 GMT]]>IE springs are progressive, so they feel softer in their first bit of travel then stiffen up. the JOM kit would be bouncy not because of soft springs, but because of cheap/soft dampening from the struts not properly matched to the spring rate. the JOM kit + bilstein or koni sports would be better.

maybe i missed it, but why did you want to go with the JOMs?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/741https://wibimmers.com/post/741Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:23:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:11:44 GMT]]>Yeah, I'll probably search around for some used 205 50s on CL to see how they fit. From what I've read so far on R3V, and through PM'ing a couple members running them, they really aren't that bad. You can order vert springs for no extra cost (same height, just stiffer), which would keep it from being very bouncy. The IE springs aren't very stiff, so I'm kind of curious how the two setups would compare to each other on a DD that sees over 10k miles a year of straight road commuting?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/740https://wibimmers.com/post/740Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:11:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:38:07 GMT]]>yeah man, 205s your next time around will fill the fenders back up like the pictures with your weaves = perfect drop. from what i've heard, the ride quality of the JOM kit will be worse than your current setup. sacrificing ride quality for adjustability is a step backwards, if you ask me.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/739https://wibimmers.com/post/739Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:38:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:42:48 GMT]]>The JOM kit is really, really looking tempting to me. But as Dan pointed out on R3V, running 205/50/16 would really help get rid of some of that wheel gap..

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/738https://wibimmers.com/post/738Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:42:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:22:21 GMT]]>

Ryan... said:

Well... Installed the new rims tires today, 205 45 16 all around. What I've determined so far is that I need to be at least 1.5" lower up in front :(

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=276314&d=1303859362

+1 for more lows up from, but it sits pretty nicely considering that late models always have a negative rake look about them

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/737https://wibimmers.com/post/737Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:22:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:27:43 GMT]]>Buy a JOM kit, then donate your current suspension to me! :)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/736https://wibimmers.com/post/736Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:27:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:35:49 GMT]]>thanks guys, I"m really considering going to the dark side and selling my suspension setup.. I'd pick up some cheap JOM coilovers to really get the drop I want. This car is my DD, so I dont really need a stiff sport suspension anyways, and everyone on R3V seems to be happy with their $400 JOM kits..

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/730https://wibimmers.com/post/730Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:35:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:37:32 GMT]]>Liking the new look! I am almost done!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/729https://wibimmers.com/post/729Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:37:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:18:41 GMT]]>Looks great!!! Drop it like it's hot

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/727https://wibimmers.com/post/727Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:18:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:14:24 GMT]]>Well... Installed the new rims tires today, 205 45 16 all around. What I've determined so far is that I need to be at least 1.5" lower up in front :(

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=276314&d=1303859362

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=276315&d=1303859362

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=276317&d=1303859362

http://bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=276316&d=1303859362

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/726https://wibimmers.com/post/726Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:14:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Dirty Delphin Progression Thread on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:55:16 GMT]]>I think he had a civic or prelude, judging by the pics he sent me.. But it does have the same flaws you described above, maybe just a coincidence lol

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/659https://wibimmers.com/post/659Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:55:16 GMT