[rvphuerta]

Hello everyone

I'm doing a complete suspension refresh.
Nom m Bilstein B8 Fronts
M3 Bilstein B8 rears
Tein lowering springs
M3 front control arms

I went with Tein lowering springs because the spring rates give me flat ride. I like the advertise drop, but it seems the drop is much lower than advertised. I haven't seen the Tein lowering springs paired with Bilstein B8. The spring rates are 24% stiffer in front and 22% stiffer in rear compare to OEM sport spring rate. My suspension frequency is 1.39hz front and 1.53hz rear, so not to stiff. I went with M3 rear damper because I don't like the design of the non m, I got the M3 lower control arm for less than $200 both used on eBay. M3 Bilstein B8 rear damper do not come with bump stops or dust boots. I got E46 rear bump stops and cut them to 40 mm(kept the softer end).

I do have concerns with the front suspension travel. I contacted Bilstein to get the suspension stroke for the front dampers. I know the bump stop is 65 mm. I'll probably end up getting the E30 upper spring perch for more suspension travel.

Why I didn't get coilovers? All OTS coilover have terrible springs rates that have pitch. My wife drives this car so it has to be comfortable, and a car with pitch is definitely not going to be.

[wrevilo]

Interesting! Look forward to seeing it fitted and your feedback.

[rvphuerta]

This can't be right. I contacted Bilstein to get the Bilstein B8 suspension stroke. This is what I got. It's the stroke 2.68 inches.

After more research, the 2.68 included the bump stops. The bump stops are 2.55 inch, overall stroke is 5.23 inch.

[rvphuerta]

Have it all installed. Can't drive it yet. I'm installing front F30 Brembo calipers and 135i rear brembo calipers. The rear I have the dust boot hanging because I want to see how much suspension travel I have at static height. With the M3 rear camber arms a different spring pad is needed. It expensive $50 each. I didn't get it. I had extra upper spring pads so that's what I used.

[rvphuerta]

I'll drive on these springs for a year or two. Probably get them revalve at Fat Cat Motorsports. Future upgrade springs will be front 280lb and rear 850lb. I already got the front springs on sale sale Eibach Ground Control $70 for both. I hate finding deals.

[rvphuerta]

The car is actually comfortable. I didn't know what to expect. Still need an alignment and to drive it more. Suspension is subjective, but I did see review that Bilstein B8 are harsh. I'll update when I put 1000 miles. Definitely softer than my E46 with 400lb front and 850lb rear. Didn't drive hard as it needs alignment and I'm bedding the new brakes.

[rvphuerta]

The Tein lowering springs are too low for me. It's even lower than on my E46(13.5 inch front and 13.25 inch rear). Will be getting E30 upper spring seat and pad to raise the car 15mm. For the rear 15mm(E46) spacer between the chassis and upper metal spring seat. The advertise drop is .9 inch front and 1.1 inches rear. I would assume the drop is based and the OEM sport suspension and not the standard suspension.

[mattanderson]

Your car looks awesome in those pics but I feel your pain.

I'm running the Eibach Pro-Kit on my E92 328i, and was not happy with the front drop until I re-did the setup with the E30 spring seats.

Your solution sounds like an awesome setup to me.

[whyzee125]

You need e30 front perches and pads to make the tein springs livable. I really liked mine after that

[minulache]

The drop is perfect. For sure it will go down a bit in time, as it will settle. Btw, what rims are those?

[rvphuerta]

Originally Posted by minulache

The drop is perfect. For sure it will go down a bit in time, as it will settle. Btw, what rims are those?

E46 CSL replicas 18x9+35 255/35r18 square. The drop is to low. For the rear I'm going to get this 20mm spring pad spacer.

[rvphuerta]

The height is 12.875 inch front 12.5 inch rear. This is the height the Tein lowering springs will give you. The springs have not settled, so it could get lower. Raising the front and rear 20mm will put me at 13.66 inch front and 13.28 inch rear. At this height the fronts are rubbing on my fender liner.

Will be using this instead of the E30 upper spring seat.

[rvphuerta]

For the front I use this for a temporary fix. I put it on the highest setting and it won't fall off. These put me just above 13.125 inch center wheel to fender lip.

[rvphuerta]

I have a rear height adjuster. I'm going to try to make it work with a OEM style springs.

[rvphuerta]

I installed rear height adjuster on OEM style springs. On the lowest setting it put me at 13.625 inch center wheel to fender lip. The upper pad you see is the lower springs seat that comes on the non m.

[mattanderson]

Originally Posted by rvphuerta

Will be using this instead of the E30 upper spring seat.

I'm guessing you know this, but for everyone out there, the advantage of the E30 spring seat vs. a simple spacer is that it actually adds strut travel.

[rvphuerta]

Originally Posted by mattanderson

I'm guessing you know this, but for everyone out there, the advantage of the E30 spring seat vs. a simple spacer is that it actually adds strut travel.

Yes. For the front it's only temporary. I haven't gotten my car align yet, it's to low to go on alignment lift. I will go with the e30 parts.

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by rvphuerta

Yes. For the front it's only temporary. I haven't gotten my car align yet, it's to low to go on alignment lift. I will go with the e30 parts.

You're gonna be blown away by the difference that extra travel makes. Keep us posted!

[rvphuerta]

Here is my alignment

This is my ride height
Front 13.125 inch or 22.875/ according to specs sheet, should be (23.1 min 23.9 max)
Rear 13.625 inch or 23.375/ according to specs sheet l, should be (22.3 min 23.1 max)


Hopefully raising the front more will lower the rear a bit. After driving more the front went down from what it was 13.5/23.25.

[rvphuerta]

Order
Part #31331128524 or URO-015577 upper spring perch
Part #31331128522 or URO-012565 upper spring pads

I got the URO brand both from FCP Euro

Going to try to install without removing the top mount. Let me know if it's possible. I have done it on my E46, but with coilovers.

[rvphuerta]

I had to enlarge the E30 perch strut hole to 17.5 mm. I got the aftermarket part from URO. I don't know if it needs to be done to the OEM part.

[rvphuerta]

Installed the E30 upper springs perch and 9 mm pad the height is now 13.125 inch in the front, that is only .25 inch or 6.35 mm difference. That probably just the 9 mm pad. I'm a bit disappointed that is all the height I got, maybe it's may rake. These springs are not designed with rake. Next would be to lower rear again. It is comfortable and could benefit from a bump stop trim. The spring booster made the car not ride well as it was limiting suspension travel in the front. It definitely doesn't ride like stock. I didn't think my car was bad even with blown damper. I believe that is the result of the flat ride that comes from the factory. I still need to drive it more. I did contact Tein, I lost the page with the info to trim the bump stops. What I want to do is cut the bump stop or switch it to a softer bump stop. The current bump stop is 200lb. I found 5x racing sells bump stops 36 mm in length and should give me another 29 mm or 1.14 inch of travel. The information others have already gathered suggest that's enough bump stops protection.

I think I'm wrong on the E30 upper perch. The pictures that I have seen the Tein seems to lower the car more, almost to the point of tucking tires. My measurements were done before the springs settled.