[Mark]

Well, there are already some aftermarket suspension out there for the E90, and although BMW come with great handling cars from the factory, a simple spring/shock change can turn a great handling car into a sick handling car

I tried to compile it all into one list for now so we can all use it for reference.. hope this helps, and if anyone has suggestions or finds new products please post them here, it would help everyone out !

For those that don't know, its always better to get a matched spring/shock set for a car in terms of handling performance, ie. a coilover set will be better then just springs, but it may also be overkill for the street, depending on what you use your car for..


I'll try to organize these by the amount of lowering they offer from least agressive to most agressive. ALL LOWERING MEASUREMENTS ARE BASED ON THE STANDARD SUSPENSION, NOT SPORTS SUSPENSION. Obviously, if you have the sports suspension, then these options will lower the car a bit less then listed here.

----------------

Springs:

0.6" --> OEM Stock BMW Sports Suspension
1.2" / 1.0" --> Eibach Pro-Kit (part # 2085.140)
1.2" / ???? --> KW Automotive Springs (part # 25020058)
1.2" / ???? --> Hartge Sport Springs
1.3" / 1.2" --> H&R Sport Springs (part # 50490)
1.35" / 0.8" --> H&R Sport Springs (part # 29187-1) (** Europe-Part# ** this is aparently the same spring as the 50490 but with different lowering listings for some reason.)
1.57" / 1.3" --> Hamann Progressive Springs (part #20 090 120)
1.8" / 0.8" --> H&R Race Springs (part # 29183-1) (** Europe only **)
2.0" / 1.4" --> Eibach Sportline (part # 4.0285)

----------------

Shocks only:

Non-adjustable Shocks:

Bilstein B12 Tuning kit shocks (part # SE5-C043) -- Lowering Range--> 35mm
Bilstein B6 sport shocks (part # VE3-C037 / VE3-C038) -- Lowering Range --> retains stock height


----------------

Matched Sets/Coilover Sets:

Non-adjustable Matched Springs+Shocks:
Eibach Pro-system (part # 70-20-014-02-22) -- Lowering range--> Front/Rear: 1.2"

Height Adjustable:
KW Variant 1 coilovers (part # 10220032) -- Lowering range--> Front: 1.2-2.3" Rear: 0.9-2.1"
H&R Coilovers (part # 29177-1) -- Lowering range--> Front: 1.58-2.78" Rear: 1.19-2.38"
Eibach Prostreet-S (part # 65-20-014-01-22) -- Lowering range--> Front: 1.38-2.57" Rear: 1.38-2.57"
Bilstein B14 PSS coilover (part # HE5-C047) -- Lowering range--> 30-50mm
Hamann Coilovers (part # 20 090 105) -- Lowering range--> Front: up to 2.36" Rear: up to 1.57"

Height Adjustable + Rebound Adjustable Dampening:
KW Variant 2 coilovers (part # 15220032) -- Lowering range--> Front: 1.2-2.3" Rear: 0.9-2.1"

Height Adjustable + Rebound Adjustable + Compression Adjustable Dampening:
KW Variant 3 coilovers (part # 35220032) -- Lowering range--> Front: 1.2-2.3" Rear: 0.9-2.1"
Bilstein B16 PSS9 coilover (part # GM5-C051) -- Lowering range--> 30-50mm
Bilstein B16 PSS10 coilover (part #GM5-D163-H1)
HKS Hipermax III (part # 80140-BE001)


---------

Anti-roll bars:

BMW Stock ZSP: 26.5mm (38291 mm^4) /13mm (2803 mm^4)
Biasing: 93% / 7%

BMW Stock M3: 26.5mm (39310 mm^4) /22.8mm (12904 mm^4)
Biasing: 75% / 25%

BMW Stock e93 M3: 28mm (46380 mm^4) /23.6mm (23000 mm^4)
Biasing: 67% / 33%

Eibach: 28mm (60343 mm^4)/ 15mm (4970 mm^4) (part # 2085.320)
Biasing: 92% / 8%

H&R: 27mm (52714 mm^4)/ 20mm (15707 mm^4) (part # 33211-1)
Biasing: 70% / 30%

Hotchkis: 32mm (75961 mm^4)/ 16mm (6433 mm^4) hollow bars (part # 22834)
Biasing: 92% / 8%

Dinan: 28mm (60343 mm^4)/ 15mm (4970 mm^4) (Front Part #D120-0510, Rear Part #D120-0515)
Biasing: 92% / 8%

UUC (first batch): 27mm (52714 mm^4)/ 19mm (12794 mm^4)
Biasing: 75% / 25%

UUC (Second batch): 28mm (60343 mm^4)/ 19mm (12794 mm^4)
Biasing: 82% / 18%

BMW Stock ZSP Front with BMW M Sport Rear Sway: 26.7mm (39310 mm^4) /14mm (3771 mm^4)
Biasing: 90.5% / 9.5%

BMW Stock Xi or e93: 26.7mm (38291 mm^4) /15mm (4970 mm^4)
Biasing: 89% / 11%

[Bimmer325]

which of the above give a comfortable ride but as low as the 330i on 18" rims?

[Euro90]

Great Info

[ronsil]

what is the drop for factory sport suspension?

[romeo26]

i think the factory drop is .6 inches

[ogrady]

Originally Posted by romeo26

i think the factory drop is .6 inches

romeo, just curious where you heard this from? I've read that the drop from the sports suspension is .75" (15mm)

[E90Newbie]

This is such a newbie-question i'm almost embarrassed to even be asking but here goes:

I researched some prices online: the H&R sport springs are listed at approx. $300... so that's for a set of 4, right? In general, how much would it cost to drop the car (parts + installation)?

[Jason]

Originally Posted by E90Newbie

This is such a newbie-question i'm almost embarrassed to even be asking but here goes:

I researched some prices online: the H&R sport springs are listed at approx. $300... so that's for a set of 4, right? In general, how much would it cost to drop the car (parts + installation)?

No such thing as bad questions here, everybody had to learn somewhere/sometime right?

Yes, it's $300 for a set of 4 springs. Figure about $250-$350 for installation.

[E90Newbie]

Originally Posted by jwocky

No such thing as bad questions here, everybody had to learn somewhere/sometime right?

Yes, it's $300 for a set of 4 springs. Figure about $250-$350 for installation.

Thanks jwocky!

Alright, one last question:
If i'm planning to put on aftermarketwheels and H&R springs right away... would getting ZSP be a waste of money???

Originally Posted by E90Newbie

If i'm planning to put on aftermarketwheels and H&R springs right away... would getting ZSP be a waste of money???

Okay, kinda weird answering my own question, but i spoke with a friend about it and here's a list of reasons to KEEP ZSP even if you're getting aftermarket wheels and springs:

* sport seats and steering wheel
* special tuning (steering ratio, etc.)
* you can always sell the 18" 162's
* you get the more aggressive SP look (for the time before you get the other wheels)

Is there anything missing off this list?? Or, better yet, i'd like to hear someone make a case for NOT KEEPING ZSP.

[YYimports]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Okay, kinda weird answering my own question, but i spoke with a friend about it and here's a list of reasons to KEEP ZSP even if you're getting aftermarket wheels and springs:

* sport seats and steering wheel
* special tuning (steering ratio, etc.)
* you can always sell the 18" 162's
* you get the more aggressive SP look (for the time before you get the other wheels)

Is there anything missing off this list?? Or, better yet, i'd like to hear someone make a case for NOT KEEPING ZSP.

Weird, how come your post shows you as "unregistered" Anyways, in my opinion the sports seats and steering wheel are almost worth the sports package alone... esepecially the sports seats, they make a huge difference. He's right about the 162 sports wheels, you'll be able to get a nice penny for them especially if you sell pretty soon since there wont' be that many for sale yet.

Another thing to consider is that if you're only replacing the springs, then that means you'll have the more aggressive shocks of the ZSP package, which means more aggressive handling available. Of course if you're replacing both springs and shocks or using coilovers then you'll be replacing the entire sports suspension, which makes it a bit less valuable for you to get the ZSP. But I guess you could always try to sell the entire sports suspension to someone who didn't order ZSP. Hope that helps.

[SilvertE90]

Ok,so is Sport suspension just springs and shocks? Also is it a bad idea to replace springs and not the standard shocks too? i had never heard the steering ratio was different ?

thanks,

[SilvertE90]

Anyone ?

[res_ipsa]

Originally Posted by SilvertE90

Ok,so is Sport suspension just springs and shocks? Also is it a bad idea to replace springs and not the standard shocks too? i had never heard the steering ratio was different ?

thanks,

Sports suspension is definitely upgraded springs and shocks, but may also include more aggressively setup swaybars (anyone know if the swaybars are different?).

On your question of just replacing stock springs and not shocks, assuming you bought aftermarket springs with a spring rate matched proprly to your stock shocks, your ride quality will be fine. But, your stock shocks may wear down prematurely because you're replacing the stock springs with more aggressively sprung springs. Hope that helps.

[Heartware]

I am currently using the Height Adjustable:
H&R Coilovers (part # 29177-1) -- Lowering range--> Front: 1.58-2.78" Rear: 1.19-2.38"

I think the H&R kit uses the B14PSS system from Bilstein
since they looks the same.

Overall it's a really good setup. The picture I have included is the maximum drop with 18 inch wheels and still clear the major speed bumps in Sweden.
Although I have to crank up the car to be able to have more than 2 passengers + luggage and manage my aggressive driving. I have highten it by 0.5cm at the front and 1cm at the back. This gave the car a more rigid feel.

The car still have rolls and will be needing additional stabilizers/ anti-roll bars to be installed at the front and back of the car.

[nicky]

hello sorry I do not speak well in English but who already put a suspension hr share # 29177-1? me I put it and the car rebounds. I have the suspension sport thank you

[D-Rock]

ok ummm so whats some good ass springs and also say if i have a bunch of ppl and shit in my car will it go even lower?

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by MarkE90M3

Non-adjustable Shocks:

Bilstein B12 Tuning kit shocks (part # SE5-C043) -- Lowering Range--> 35mm
Bilstein B6 sport shocks (part # VE3-C037 / VE3-C038) -- Lowering Range --> retains stock height

Good info!!! If I have the factory sport package do I get the B6 sport shocks?

[Mark]

Originally Posted by mdemange

Good info!!! If I have the factory sport package do I get the B6 sport shocks?

Yea if you wish to maintain the stock sports height and handling characteristics, they are probably the best shocks to use

[Steven]

Any sport suspension kit from SACHS for E90/320i? I like SACHS because it is the OEM of the E90 standard shocks.

[c1pinang]

This is probably a stupid question for you guys... I will lower my E90 Sparkling Graphite, dont have the sport suspension package. My only concern with lowering the car is: will it void the warranty or worst will they void the full service maintenance 4yr/50K?

When I asked the salesman, he has never heard anybody ever lowering the car bought from this dealer, hmm which is strange I thought...

Please help

[Jason]

I've updated the first post of this thread with Hamann's lowering springs and coilovers information.