[OverDrive]

so what are the differences between the eibach and h&r sport springs interms of stiffness and overall ride quality and also the amount of drop? any pics of the h&r dropped xi's? thanx

[OverDrive]

also, would it be a problem to track the car with either of the two spring options, since some of you guys are saying that the springs put more stress on the shocks. I'm really low on the budget so i can't buy coilovers so i'm stuck with getting springs, on the other hand, i like to track my car every now and then, so this is why i'm asking.
thanks again

[DESI4life10]

Originally Posted by OverDrive

so what are the differences between the eibach and h&r sport springs interms of stiffness and overall ride quality and also the amount of drop? any pics of the h&r dropped xi's? thanx

Hey,

I have posted pics of my setup (H&R sport springs) on another topic. Too lazy to post them here so here is the link:
My Setup

I cannot really tell you the differences as I haven't drove in a car with eibach springs. However, H&R springs have slight "front rack" look compared to the eibachs. I personally do not see it and really like the drop so it does not bother me.

[DESI4life10]

Originally Posted by OverDrive

also, would it be a problem to track the car with either of the two spring options, since some of you guys are saying that the springs put more stress on the shocks. I'm really low on the budget so i can't buy coilovers so i'm stuck with getting springs, on the other hand, i like to track my car every now and then, so this is why i'm asking.
thanks again

IMHO if you are really into tracking your car, springs may not be the best way to go. Having these springs on stock shocks will introduce a little more wear and tear on the shocks during normal driving. When tracking the car, you introduce a more harsh drive that really uses the shocks, and with the limited traveling distance with these shocks on sport springs, I am not sure how long the shocks will last.

This is based on what I have read on these boards. Maybe someone that has actually done this with this setup can chime and and explain it a bit more.

[Ph0zenstone]

i played it safe and bought an extra set of oem shocks from a member on the forum so when my oem shocks go bad i will just replace them (assuming no other alternatives come out before then)

[who's ur daddy?]

Originally Posted by OverDrive

also, would it be a problem to track the car with either of the two spring options, since some of you guys are saying that the springs put more stress on the shocks. I'm really low on the budget so i can't buy coilovers so i'm stuck with getting springs, on the other hand, i like to track my car every now and then, so this is why i'm asking.
thanks again

this is one of my biggest concerns. one thing is to have a firmer ride, but when the pavement is rough, sounds like the suspension is going to be a little more unsettled (ie. common complaints of bouncy and floaty feelings when hitting bumps). Can you imagine running the track and having your car become uncontrollable because it starts to oscillate or the shocks aren't effective to control the car? Yikes...

I actually posted a thread in the tracking section re: "Just Springs", but I'm not sure a whole lotta people have experience...

[JeffL]

Most new M3's are just doing spring swaps. Coilovers on those cars defeat the whole purpose of the M adjustable suspension.

[PKumarM3]

Originally Posted by JeffL

Most new M3's are just doing spring swaps. Coilovers on those cars defeat the whole purpose of the M adjustable suspension.

and M adjustable suspension defeated the whole purpose for customers to go to coiloversv

but nothing will outperform what a properly valved and spring rated coilover set up will do for a car.

[kevinbahnz]

great thread. Gave me the confidence to go ahead and order a set of "I" springs for my "xi". I've had good experience with the eibach pro kits in the past. I had it installed on my 330ci for 9yrs and the ride quality was good enough for me to keep it that long. Cant wait to have it installed on my 08. I just hate riding around in an un-dropped car.

[tolkino]

As of yesterday I became a part of the group and got the eibach pro kit installed on my 328xi. Visually the drop looks perfect. I like that the car is more planted on the road and bouncing is greatly reduced. It's been only a day but so far so good. One thing I noticed is going over speed bumps, it feels harsher. But I haven't got my wheels aligned yet, so I will see how it becomes in a week.. I will post a better review with pics..

Are there any news on those Bilstein B8's OR do we have any other options to replace the OEM shocks?

[kevinbahnz]

i just got mine installed 2 days ago and it looks like the lights are aimed a lot lower than before, should I wait a few weeks for the springs to settle, or should I adjust them now. and how does the auto leveler work, isnt it supposed to level the head lamps for you??

[J.P.]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

i just got mine installed 2 days ago and it looks like the lights are aimed a lot lower than before, should I wait a few weeks for the springs to settle, or should I adjust them now. and how does the auto leveler work, isnt it supposed to level the head lamps for you??

mine didnt auto level, a screw driver should fix it.

[BDMBimmer]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

i just got mine installed 2 days ago and it looks like the lights are aimed a lot lower than before, should I wait a few weeks for the springs to settle, or should I adjust them now. and how does the auto leveler work, isnt it supposed to level the head lamps for you??

I had the same problem, just make sure that the 2 light sensors didn't get bent or loose. There should be one on the front drivers side and on the rear side also. My rear one was was loose and the head lights where quite low.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...55&hg=31&fg=05

[tolkino]

How is everybody doing with eibach's?
I'm getting a little paranoid because I'm not liking the idea of sport springs on stock shocks.. as nothing is available yet I'm feeling that I will damage my shocks very soon. Toronto roads are really terrible and its getting me worried

Anybody else feel the same?

[Ph0zenstone]

Originally Posted by tolkino

How is everybody doing with eibach's?
I'm getting a little paranoid because I'm not liking the idea of sport springs on stock shocks.. as nothing is available yet I'm feeling that I will damage my shocks very soon. Toronto roads are really terrible and its getting me worried

Anybody else feel the same?

buy an extra set of oem struts on the forum...ppl with xi's who went to coilovers should have them for sale.

[PKumarM3]

Originally Posted by tolkino

How is everybody doing with eibach's?
I'm getting a little paranoid because I'm not liking the idea of sport springs on stock shocks.. as nothing is available yet I'm feeling that I will damage my shocks very soon. Toronto roads are really terrible and its getting me worried

Anybody else feel the same?

Thats the main reason I returned the springs. I did not like that I was purchasing springs rated for the weight of a 335i sedan and my car was a 335xi sedan. Thats a difference of a few hundred lbs. That wont immediately damage the shocks, but it will put additional stress on the shocks that will eventually damage them. Its the whole analogy of - would you put 10lbs of sh!t in a 5 lb bag? No!

If I were you, I would save my money on springs and just save up and get a KW V1 coilover set up. It will not rust in the Canadian winters, and is height adjustable. If you want rebound and dampening, get the KW v3, but if you just want a nice shock/spring set up that is ride height adjustable -- go V1. It will be rated for your car, and you wont need to worry about damaging your shocks.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by JeffL

Most new M3's are just doing spring swaps. Coilovers on those cars defeat the whole purpose of the M adjustable suspension.

All those M3s also have much stiffer shocks than the stock xi suspension, so dropping it won't drastically affect the suspension's characteristics. However, with the soft xi suspension, the lowering springs are indeed limiting the suspension travel, and accelerating the wear and tear of the shocks.

[tolkino]

Yeah thats right.. but I wish I havent already wasted my money on these.. Buying another set of same shocks wont solve the problem as the new ones will eventually wear too. My concern is mostly the comfort here I'm not too happy with the ride quality. I always heard coilovers were too harsh, and they perform as if the car is on rails.. am I wrong?

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

Thats the main reason I returned the springs. I did not like that I was purchasing springs rated for the weight of a 335i sedan and my car was a 335xi sedan. Thats a difference of a few hundred lbs. That wont immediately damage the shocks, but it will put additional stress on the shocks that will eventually damage them. Its the whole analogy of - would you put 10lbs of sh!t in a 5 lb bag? No!

If I were you, I would save my money on springs and just save up and get a KW V1 coilover set up. It will not rust in the Canadian winters, and is height adjustable. If you want rebound and dampening, get the KW v3, but if you just want a nice shock/spring set up that is ride height adjustable -- go V1. It will be rated for your car, and you wont need to worry about damaging your shocks.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by tolkino

Yeah thats right.. but I wish I havent already wasted my money on these.. Buying another set of same shocks wont solve the problem as the new ones will eventually wear too. My concern is mostly the comfort here I'm not too happy with the ride quality. I always heard coilovers were too harsh, and they perform as if the car is on rails.. am I wrong?

Get a set of fully adjustable coilovers like KW V3 and set it to the softest setting.

[BDMBimmer]

Originally Posted by tolkino

How is everybody doing with eibach's?
I'm getting a little paranoid because I'm not liking the idea of sport springs on stock shocks.. as nothing is available yet I'm feeling that I will damage my shocks very soon. Toronto roads are really terrible and its getting me worried

Anybody else feel the same?

The shocks are coming, maybe not this year but they will come. I only threw on the springs for the looks mostly. As soon as the shocks come out I will purchase them and install them. I don't know of anyone with the KWs 1 or 3 so I couldn't feel the ride. I have driven a car with KW3s for an S4 and even on the softest setting they were too harsh for me. They might be different for the 335 but I didn't want to take that chance for $1700.

One of my other cars is an Olds Alero that I lowered back in 01, I didn't change the struts and it's still going strong with the original ones. So I'm not that worried with our OEM ones, I'm certain they are of better quality than the Olds's.

[ium3]

Originally Posted by Kev

Get a set of fully adjustable coilovers like KW V3 and set it to the softest setting.

But by setting it to softest setting or even as soft as stock, you probably couldn't go that low at all because of possible rubbing issue. So there must be a balance between comfort and appearance.

[ska///235i]

the funny thing is that some ppl are complaining that the KWs have sweaking problems, then the H&Rs have rust problem....lol, there's nothing perfect for us XI owners