Lowering an e34

[L. Ron Cupboard]

I'm thinking about dumping the front of my 535 slightly, don't wont to scrape the sump,just want to lose a bit of the gap between the front wheel and arch. I was thinking of buying a cheap set of coils of ebay, don't want to go to the expense of shocks, coil overs etc. Any input would be appreciated.

[surprisingskoda]

Pi stuff is good on a budget. MotorSportWorld is your friend.

[rustempire]

I was told that sports are slightly lower (20mm?) than stock from the factory, might be BS though, just thinking that normal height sport springs might give the desired effect?

I can't find good comparison pictures with stock looking cars but here's a start, although they don't look different to me:

Normal:



Sport, normal ride height? Different?



I know that wasn't a very useful post, maybe I can redeem myself, Google brought me right back to this excellent RR inspiration thread:

retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=46852

Rob

[mat91]

good luck on CHEAP coilovers ive never fount any if i could of kept the car longer i would of made some
in end i just cut the springs in half haha was pretty much sat on the bumpstops it was 80mm down and it was low never smashed the sump under normal driving condition did on a kerb once but thats not internet talk how ever i did lift the engine buy about 10-15mm just enough to lift the bottom of the sump to the same height as the bottom of the subframe and i made a sump gaurd in end just for piece of mind heres some pictures got more if your interested

i never miss a chance at some self whoring sorry

[surprisingskoda]

Jan 14, 2012 17:59:22 GMT rustempire said:

I was told that sports are slightly lower (20mm?) than stock from the factory, might be BS though, just thinking that normal height sport springs might give the desired effect?

I can't find good comparison pictures with stock looking cars but here's a start, although they don't look different to me:

15mm IIRC.

[Robinxr4i]

My 535 is lowered on Supersprint springs and shocks 35mm drop, we fitted them when my mate Dave owned the car. We knew it wasn't going to be low enough so we trimmed 2 coils off the back and 1 off the front, TBH it's still no low enough and the ride is still to soft even with the increase poundage of the sports springs and the cutting which should increase the rate too. I'm debating (once the MOT is out the way) on cutting them more and fitting some large poly bump stops, to try and stiffen it up and get it proper low.

BEWARE!!!!!!!
I've seen some cheap coilovers on Ebay listed as E34, from Thailand or somewhere. They are wrongly listed, from the photos they look like E39 ones. Obviously you can convert the front legs/struts with weld on sleeves though.

[rob0r]

I wrote a DIY coilover conversion guide for E34s and E32s (same suspension) over on Trampdrift...
www.trampdrift.co.uk/Forum/TD/showthread.php?t=5039

I wouldn't bother doing this unless you want to stiffen it up massively and/or going for a large amount of lowering. If you just want to drop 20-40mm I would stick to the spring kits as it will be easier and cheaper.

[rustempire]

Jan 17, 2012 22:03:42 GMT surprisingskoda said:

Jan 14, 2012 17:59:22 GMT rustempire said:

I was told that sports are slightly lower (20mm?) than stock from the factory, might be BS though, just thinking that normal height sport springs might give the desired effect?

I can't find good comparison pictures with stock looking cars but here's a start, although they don't look different to me:

15mm IIRC.

Thanks for that, when I was first told this I stood in front of my old sport stroking my chin saying it made all the difference, yet when I posted the pictures the other day I couldn't tell the difference, lol.

Rob - Thank link is awesome and made me bookmark this thread. A combination ghetto grade spring kit and tired old shocks is doing nothing for the enjoyment of my current 535 and this would be a sensible way to go. Top copper slipping BTW, I always wonder why people don't do that.

Rob

[rob0r]

One thing I will say is if you're forking out for new "sports" shocks such as billies and then coilover conversion kits and coilover springs on top, it may just be as wise to spend a little bit extra to get proper coilovers from someone like Gaz or BC Racing (if they do E34 coilies!).

[rustempire]

To be honest I'm not looking for super lows. On better cars I've been very impressed with the stock R+H set up on the sport models, I'm assuming my car currently has something like -40 (or even -60) springs and it seems a bit much to me.

So I'm either looking for some new stock dampers, a similar aftermarket set-up or something flexible.

Last night I was looking at the Bilstein+Eibach kit but at £750 I need to start filling my piggy bank.

I'm also on the look out for some cross spoke metric rims, the last car was on those and looked ace.

Apologise if I've made this a threadjack!

Rob

[rob0r]

You want metric rims... oh dear!

[rustempire]

Jan 19, 2012 15:27:56 GMT rob0r said:

You want metric rims... oh dear!

Well, tyre price aside I thought the old car looked the spuds on it's original rims, here's the thread where I swapped it, bottom of page 1:

retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=downloadattachmentpage&board=want&thread=102932&post=1329805

So I'd love a set for the car I have now, just for those days when I'm feeling the stock appearance.

So Rob, recommend me some suspension as pennance for questioning my sanity / wheel choice! ;D