<![CDATA[E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders?]]>I picked up a set of German Engineering coilovers, which are much like the Ground Control "kit".

Does anyone have experience with shortening strut housings? Any good welders here?

I'm diving into this head first with no flipping clue as to what to do. From what I've read on r3vlimited, I don't HAVE to modify anything. But running shortened housings and shorter (iX) struts/shocks I'd be able to go lower...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/632/e30-suspension-guru-s-weldersRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 04:52:12 GMTTue, 08 May 2012 05:27:12 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:16:30 GMT]]>

industrialsized said:

if you need the housings sectioned i can take care of you just give me a call and we can setup a date(262)2274160 if any one doesn't have it

I'll shoot you a text. Thanks!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7218https://wibimmers.com/post/7218Tue, 15 May 2012 17:16:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 15 May 2012 02:50:31 GMT]]>if you need the housings sectioned i can take care of you just give me a call and we can setup a date(262)2274160 if any one doesn't have it

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7211https://wibimmers.com/post/7211Tue, 15 May 2012 02:50:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:27:38 GMT]]>

M20_fever said:

They made tourings through '94??

Yep.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7204https://wibimmers.com/post/7204Mon, 14 May 2012 18:27:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:06:12 GMT]]>They made tourings through '94??

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7203https://wibimmers.com/post/7203Mon, 14 May 2012 18:06:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 18:04:46 GMT]]>Or a touring on the cheap in Canada would be fun=) Hows the 318 treating you?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7202https://wibimmers.com/post/7202Mon, 14 May 2012 18:04:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:39:08 GMT]]>No, she's American. They don't allow dual citizenship unless you pay $$$ and the kid stays there for a certain period of time.

Importing is stupid. It's expensive and takes a long time. You're better off going to Canada. I think most of the tourings in the USA are Canadian. It seems to be easier. Also depends on where you register it. Some states seem to have lax rules if you import it as a collector car.

Its a lot of work for s,etching that's really not that cool. A touring alone isn't very cool to me. Maybe an M-tech 2 touring with a swap. But we're talking big money.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7200https://wibimmers.com/post/7200Mon, 14 May 2012 17:39:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:11:38 GMT]]>So your daughter has dual citizenship or no? That'd be cool. And I didn't know the importing rules. Haven't really dug into that=P Now I know

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7199https://wibimmers.com/post/7199Mon, 14 May 2012 17:11:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:08:34 GMT]]>And yes, I met my wife in Germany, she's American. For what it's worth, my daughter was born in Germany too.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7197https://wibimmers.com/post/7197Mon, 14 May 2012 17:08:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:07:10 GMT]]>Dude, I'm sure you've looked into it at some point. The cars have to be a certain age (typically 20-25) the best conditioned one was a 94... So-

Add the months of customs bullshit. Add that it had to be converted. Add the fact that they're rusty fucking cars (not just all e30's, but the touring's hatch is notorious for rust).... Add up the shipping cost ($1000+)... I could go on.

It's not worth shipping a car from overseas. And I'm sure you haven't already forgot... I had an E30 M3, that was a little more exciting than a 80's station wagon.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7196https://wibimmers.com/post/7196Mon, 14 May 2012 17:07:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:56:43 GMT]]>Why you no bring that back with you? You met your wife in Germany?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7194https://wibimmers.com/post/7194Mon, 14 May 2012 16:56:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:55:40 GMT]]>And my 318... An 88 that I got for $400

Posted Image Posted Image

They both had euro weaves mounted at one point, I never really kept up with the mod list on these cars. We maintained them to some extent and then they both crapped out on us and were junked because we couldn't sell them before we left. Inspections were required prior to a sale of a car, so it was really a pain in the ass for sellers of subpar cars... No "as is" sales without a lot of BS to wade through.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7193https://wibimmers.com/post/7193Mon, 14 May 2012 16:55:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:49:34 GMT]]>Ok, I'm jelly... That looks super clean, and very tastefully done!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7191https://wibimmers.com/post/7191Mon, 14 May 2012 16:49:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:45:18 GMT]]>And for good measure, photo of my WIFE'S E30 touring:

(previous owners photos)

It was a 94 318i, he did an M42 swap. It had a chip and a few other goodies.

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7190https://wibimmers.com/post/7190Mon, 14 May 2012 16:45:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:38:25 GMT]]>I think I'm going to bite the bullet and do it the "right way" and shorten the strut housings. Anyone have any experience with that? Coilovers will be here tomorrow, just need the iX bilsteins from FullBanana.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7189https://wibimmers.com/post/7189Mon, 14 May 2012 16:38:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Wed, 09 May 2012 00:51:58 GMT]]>I'm not sure I have bilstein struts/shocks. I have to look. The concern is I may have some cheap stuff and it won't mate well with the camber plates. And won't be decent ride with the shorter springs.

I could be wrong...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7094https://wibimmers.com/post/7094Wed, 09 May 2012 00:51:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Wed, 09 May 2012 00:15:29 GMT]]>Why can't you do exactly what the other man has done?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7093https://wibimmers.com/post/7093Wed, 09 May 2012 00:15:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 22:11:43 GMT]]>I don't know that I want to waste money on having a shop do it. Maybe I'll have them modify the strut housings but nothing else.

The guy who's car I posted, said all he did was cut off the spring perches, he's still running stock (well bilstein sport) struts and shocks.

I'm not sure what I have for suspension right now, but it's definitely stock or oem replacement. I'm not looking to spend a ton.

FullBannana has iX strut/shocks for me, but I'd have to do the cutting....

Idk....

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7087https://wibimmers.com/post/7087Tue, 08 May 2012 22:11:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:35:46 GMT]]>wish i had a welder, i'd do it for ya.

if you need a shop

milwaukee: pat kummrow @ kummrow automotive

kenosha: steve tredup @ autosport (if he does fab, not sure)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7083https://wibimmers.com/post/7083Tue, 08 May 2012 19:35:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:11:00 GMT]]>WTF two e30 tourings??

As for the welding aspect, isn't that something any competent machine shop could handle? I wouldn't trust just anyone with cutting/welding on my suspension... The pics you posted have perfect height too.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7080https://wibimmers.com/post/7080Tue, 08 May 2012 19:11:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 18:47:40 GMT]]>

someone said:

You had two e30 tourings? Never knew this

Doesn't come up in conversation very often...

This was when I was living in Germany. I have photos somewhere, I'll post later.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7078https://wibimmers.com/post/7078Tue, 08 May 2012 18:47:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 18:44:53 GMT]]>You had two e30 tourings? Never knew this

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7077https://wibimmers.com/post/7077Tue, 08 May 2012 18:44:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:20:46 GMT]]>I'm going to be running 16 inch wheels so that should be about right.

But I think I'll have to cut the housings and just run the adjusters at a higher setting. And of course run the iX bilsteins...

I just need someone with some expertise and tools lol.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7075https://wibimmers.com/post/7075Tue, 08 May 2012 16:20:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:04:44 GMT]]>^That's a great height=)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7074https://wibimmers.com/post/7074Tue, 08 May 2012 16:04:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to E30 Suspension Guru's / Welders? on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:41 GMT]]>I should have clarified, I'm not looking for a slammed look.

This guy on R3v has pretty much the setup I'd like:

thebutcher37 said:

Finally posting.

  • Car is 1991 318is m42 motor
  • GE coils 450f 6"/650r 4.5"
  • I.E. Race front camber plates
  • Bilstein sport strut/shock
  • Rolled/pulled fenders
  • on 16x9 wheels et10
  • Front is all the way down
  • Currently need to lower the rear a bit more

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg525/scaled.php?server=525&filename=screenshot20120424at115.png&res=landing

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg718/scaled.php?server=718&filename=screenshot20120424at112.png&res=landing

P.S.

Sig below: wheels are poked with 20mm spacers. making wheels et -10 and rear is lower about an inch.

He didn't modify anything besides cutting the spring perches. I'm not sure that I have bilsteins sports though. I have to look. The other option is chop 2 inches off of the strut housings and run iX bilsteins which a member has for sale here...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/7071https://wibimmers.com/post/7071Tue, 08 May 2012 15:19:41 GMT