<![CDATA[E30 coilovers or spring/shocks]]>Alright folks here's the scoop, I have myself a 91 e30 318is and I need some help. The cars stock with probably most of the original parts, It's got 118,000 miles on it. I got plans to drive it daily in the summer for now so I can kind of work all the bugs out of it. I have read so many forums and comments on the Frickin computer that my mind is gonna explode and I still feel clueless on what to do. The suspension.......is junk. The car is super bouncy and not good. You hit the gas to the floor and the car squats alot alot. Now first of all I should let you know that it aint gonna be much of a track car cause I live in the valley and there ain't nothin for tracks so yets call it a fun weekend car, that's what it's gonna be after this year. I was considering on buying some bc coilovers with swift springs. I read a lot about how they were good quality at a resonable price but I wasn't sure on whether it was really worth it (cause they are still like $1000 which is a lot of money I could put towards other parts) but if they are worth it I'm willing to spend it. Am i better off spending less and getting a nice set of springs and shocks? but which ones? How do they compare? Any help would be sweet. :) I also should include that when I say weekend fun, I mean like reckless driving and drifting so whatever I get better be able to handle my unlawfully crazy driving ;)

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/4789/e30-coilovers-or-spring-shocksRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 05:42:03 GMTThu, 06 Apr 2017 22:30:57 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Wed, 19 Apr 2017 12:54:46 GMT]]>I would see spring rates attributing much more to ride quality than using camber plates vs isolated mounts.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78490https://wibimmers.com/post/78490Wed, 19 Apr 2017 12:54:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Wed, 12 Apr 2017 21:24:04 GMT]]>'ride fine' is very subjective. the ride quality doesn't bother me.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78339https://wibimmers.com/post/78339Wed, 12 Apr 2017 21:24:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:34:07 GMT]]>

straight6pwr said:

i don't think i've ever seen a coilover set for an e30 that had rubber top mounts.  'pillow ball' camber plates are the norm.

And they ride fine on wisconsin roads?

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78337https://wibimmers.com/post/78337Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:34:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:08:46 GMT]]>i don't think i've ever seen a coilover set for an e30 that had rubber top mounts.  'pillow ball' camber plates are the norm.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78334https://wibimmers.com/post/78334Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:08:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:24:24 GMT]]>This just for the front coilovers, the rear shocks have rubber tophats. I should also include that the guy from bc racing said that they do this so they can include camber plates for adjustment.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78332https://wibimmers.com/post/78332Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:24:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Wed, 12 Apr 2017 18:40:50 GMT]]>Okay I'm running into an issue. I was going through about to order the bc racing br series coilovers and I called the company as well asking about this. I guess they no longer provide rubber top mounts for the e30 coilover sets, only pillow ball. Now I did some reading up on the pillow ball top mounts and people were saying that the ride isn't gonna be as smooth as the rubber top mounts. I guess I really don't have a choice cause thats all they offer. Should I just go for it anyways or maybe look at a different brand?....did they use to have rubber top mounts or was it always this way?

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78328https://wibimmers.com/post/78328Wed, 12 Apr 2017 18:40:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Tue, 11 Apr 2017 17:49:56 GMT]]>i would think you have to if you order them. I believe the 'e30' kit is going to have unbalanced rates like 6k/6k or 8k/8k

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78259https://wibimmers.com/post/78259Tue, 11 Apr 2017 17:49:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Tue, 11 Apr 2017 14:09:08 GMT]]>

Jdesign said:

I had H&R and Billys on my car and swapped over to BC's. I will always suggest BC's if you can afford it.

Did u get custom spring rates?

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78251https://wibimmers.com/post/78251Tue, 11 Apr 2017 14:09:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Tue, 11 Apr 2017 14:06:09 GMT]]>I had H&R and Billys on my car and swapped over to BC's. I will always suggest BC's if you can afford it.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78250https://wibimmers.com/post/78250Tue, 11 Apr 2017 14:06:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:49:22 GMT]]>0a5979e204573274d73f4f9ca8adf20d.png

11616a8f47d43e0034b95ccf58d3e6a9.png

Yep, just as straight6pwr said, 6k/10k would be like h&r race spring rates

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78189https://wibimmers.com/post/78189Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:49:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:19:23 GMT]]>Okay well the bc racing coilovers have the rear springs located in the trailing arm like the stock ones so that would just mean that I would need stiffer springs for the rear. That explains what straight6pwr did....10k in the rear while 6k in the front to kind of even it out because of the mechanical advantage

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78188https://wibimmers.com/post/78188Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:19:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sun, 09 Apr 2017 12:17:18 GMT]]>Keep in mind that if you are selecting your own custom spring rates that the trailing arm creates a mechanical advantage that requires the rear springs to be extra stiff. If you choose a coil over that relocates the spring on top of the damper then that mechanical advantage is lost.

I have seen E30 kits come with both styles of rear spring. Over the damper, and in the stock location with an adjustable collar.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78186https://wibimmers.com/post/78186Sun, 09 Apr 2017 12:17:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sun, 09 Apr 2017 04:42:47 GMT]]>Well when u say 6k/10k.....6k in the front and 10k in the rear? Or vise versa

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78185https://wibimmers.com/post/78185Sun, 09 Apr 2017 04:42:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sun, 09 Apr 2017 04:41:00 GMT]]>

AsparagusMike said:

Straight6pwr, you live around or near the oshkosh area?

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milwaukee.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78184https://wibimmers.com/post/78184Sun, 09 Apr 2017 04:41:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sat, 08 Apr 2017 02:15:19 GMT]]>

m42b32 said:

Isn't cxracing the same company that makes ebay turbo kits and things like that? If that's the case I wouldn't go that route for coilovers 

A good way to put it:

If eBay was weed it would be the shitty stuff sold by the sketchy guy in the back alley

Cxracing is the shitty stuff sold by someone not in a back alley, and puts it in baggies with their name on it.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78158https://wibimmers.com/post/78158Sat, 08 Apr 2017 02:15:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Sat, 08 Apr 2017 02:10:47 GMT]]>Straight6pwr, you live around or near the oshkosh area?

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78157https://wibimmers.com/post/78157Sat, 08 Apr 2017 02:10:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:59:01 GMT]]>its closest to the ie3/h&r race spring rates, which is the best compromise in handling/comfort for me. anything softer doesn't handle great and anything stiffer is just masochistic on WI roads.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78156https://wibimmers.com/post/78156Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:59:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:04:53 GMT]]>That wouldnt be such a bad idea, how did you chose what spring rates you wanted for the front and rear?

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78155https://wibimmers.com/post/78155Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:04:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:00:34 GMT]]>forgot to add, you're welcome to ride/drive/inspect my car if you want some baseline. i have BC coils, 6k/10k. the ride is.....direct? you feel everything, but it doesnt bother me in the least, i love it. your results may vary if you have a woman's opinion emanating from the passenger seat. the quality of the parts seems really good, we will see on longevity.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78153https://wibimmers.com/post/78153Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:00:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:50:53 GMT]]>Isn't cxracing the same company that makes ebay turbo kits and things like that? If that's the case I wouldn't go that route for coilovers

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78149https://wibimmers.com/post/78149Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:50:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:42:32 GMT]]>i'm definitely a proponent of going with a kit that has a good reputation, so do your research on if the cxracing stuff is any good - i've never heard of it before.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78147https://wibimmers.com/post/78147Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:42:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:09:41 GMT]]>

AsparagusMike said:

I read a couple other forums that they were a really good set for street use and hooligan activities, not so much for track though which is perfect!

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Hooligan-rated parts are best parts.

you should send paypal right now

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78146https://wibimmers.com/post/78146Fri, 07 Apr 2017 19:09:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 18:39:57 GMT]]>Lol didn't tag that write, I'm such a tard

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78145https://wibimmers.com/post/78145Fri, 07 Apr 2017 18:39:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 coilovers or spring/shocks on Fri, 07 Apr 2017 18:30:55 GMT]]>if you have the initial budget and ability to get your struts welded, go for the coilovers. it will make it cheaper/easier to tweak your preference down the line. 

Yup I gotta a good friend that welds for a living so that won't be a problem.....I also just found out that the 91 318is has the 51mm strut housing, didn't know that. Also, for coilovers, what u guys think of the cx racing set? I read a couple other forums that they were a really good set for street use and hooligan activities, not so much for track though which is perfect! And a little cheaper then the bc racing ones.

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]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/78144https://wibimmers.com/post/78144Fri, 07 Apr 2017 18:30:55 GMT