What suspension can you buy

[bmw 0]

For a 1990 318is (facelift)

Prefer something around lowered 40mm so camber isnt too much. With matched shocks aswell

[bravo 34]

You'd have to go for something from shox.com or similar (another site; turners or some such was recommended on another thread), or go second hand. Four new shocks in NZ of any decent nature will set you back around $1200 plus and then springs say $300 plus round figures off the top of my head.

[Palazzo 438]

4 x new bilsteins quoted at $1000 + GST + fitting at Centreline in Auckland.

[m325i 705]

Just get some lowered springs. eg. Kings/Jamex.

Probably cost you $600 fitted incl alignment, maybe less.

Put the $400 towards new tyres. Unless you need new shocks, its a bit of a waste IMO. (unless you track it).

Or Springs + Urethane bushes + strut brace.

[Guest Andrew]

Hell no - springs alone are horrible. You need the shocks. Urethane does nothing without them anyway.

[*sic 1]

Just get some lowered springs. eg. Kings/Jamex.

Put the $400 towards new tyres. Unless you need new shocks, its a bit of a waste IMO. (unless you track it).

Or Springs + Urethane bushes + strut brace.

oh god, never give suspension advice ever again.

im serious.

Edited October 26, 2005 by *sic

[bmw 0]

hahahaha. kingz will suit ma chromez g!!!

Are there any matched springs/shocks you can buy for around this price, or is it all cheap stuff? Mainly street use, but the odd blat around the track. Also, where can you get flashey exhausts from, like remus etc, something euro stz, for the same car.

[Carl 3]

If you budget is $1000 don't go for a zaust alone, tips maybe as an interim solution if it's aesthetics you're after.

I agree with Andy an *sic on this one though, depending on what you want to do with your car:

If you're after a good handling setup then you're better off saving a little more and getting a proper matched spring and shock setup with urethane bushes as an option.

If you're after aesthetics and couldn't care less about the handling then just get the springs but don't cry about your car handling all weird on you.

[bmw 0]

I'd rather not get suspension just based upon aesthetics. Thats why i said, around 40mm would be ok. Im not some other ricer.

What are some good newzealand websites that have prices on, and maybe specialise in the e30, or have stock available. On e30 tech they often talk of the Brand Ground control, is this avail in nz?

And about the exhaust, its the sound i dont like, Id rather something a bit deeper, it gets a bit tinny at about 3k rpm.

[m325i 705]

Hell no - springs alone are horrible. You need the shocks. Urethane does nothing without them anyway.

Ok so Urethane just sounded cool, but i have springs only in my car, springs only in my old car, been in countless cars with upgraded springs only, all of them are better than standard, and achieve the desired asthetic effect.

So why put down $$$$ for shocks? (assuming your std ones are fine).

Of course its better, but so is putting an s50 in. Where do you draw the line?

I reckon a spring upgrade is a good price/performance/looks compromise.

[Guest Andrew]

I wreckon e30s/anything handle worse just doing springs -

they handle bloody awesome with mint good cond. suspension.

You could do a Bilstien/Jamex combo - but they aren't matched to each other. The H&R Cup Kit is - as are a couple of other American combos.

I'd not bother to budget super cheap suspension - just save the extra 200 dollars.

Get a custom exhaust done - around 500 for a downpipe back system. 4 cylinders do sound like that though.

[topless 6]

Don't forget to do a rear anti-roll bar... :bounce: (I am assuming your 318 doesn't have one..)

Edited October 26, 2005 by topless

[petone 0]

His is an 318iS so it will have a rear bar. I agree with m325i on the springs bit. I used to work at a tire/suspension shop, I have a mate who works for a suspension shop and they only time I have heard about shocks blowing or poor handling is on the internet. Seriously my car has had lowered springs with standard shocks for over 2 years now and its fine. One guy on here races his e30 and is only using king springs and kybs. Eventually I will get sport shocks alround but atm i have better things to spend cash on.

I dunno, maybe i'm just a useless driver and can't tell good susp from bad, that said I still managed to win the welly go-karts round.

I don't think bilstein/koni are worth it unless its a dedicated tracl car.

My 2c

*Goes and hides for disagreeing with 3 goderators*

[Gus 5]

having proper shocks is better...you can get away with stock ones, but once you compare proper shocks to stock ones that have been abused by lower springs you can understand...proper rebound control (no bounce) along with compression control....its just so much more stable and driveable. not just for a track car

there are levels of shock/springs and stiffness...some are softer than others

[petone 0]

I get what you guys are saying its just that do you really need to go and buy the flashest/hardest suspension money can buy? For most of us our cars are daily drivers that get properly "driven" maybe once a week/fortnight/month? I reckon a kyb/boge shocks with 40mm whatever springs would be all you need for that sort of driving.

First make sure all your bushings, tierods etc are all good then lower it. If these guys are right and its awful then get some shocks. Im assuming that you have M-tech suspension so you might have some stiffer shocks standard.

Sorry if im confusing things for you, Its just $1000 is alot for something you may decide you dont need. Anyway im going to STFU and let these guys talk you into buying some quality gear.

[m325i 705]

I should note my above comments by saying that pretty much all the cars i am refering to are jap 4wd.

And are my shocks different to std? i dont know but its got new ones in the back.

I just wondering if you guys are suspension geeks?

I need 5.1 audio for DVDs, but alot of people are happy with good 2.0 sound. Know what i mean?

But i have never driven a car with uprated shocks/combo, so really I'm just another internet spammer.

[Guest Andrew]

M325: you have bilstiens

Its night and day with a car with a good suspension combo and one without.

I wouldn't use a Bilstien/Spring combo round the track - its just not correctly made for it. Either go a dedicated track setup like TMS J-stock - or coilovers.

[m325i 705]

I know the replacments in the back are monroes, point is they are probably better than 'normal' shocks i 'spose.

All i know is that i drive my car fairly hard on the road, (all legal), and i find my set up of Jamex + m325 shocks totally sweet. Other cars i have driven with only spring upgrades are sweet as on the road. I would rather put the shock money into tyres/brakes/power.

[Palazzo 438]

Our m325 has had the Bilsteins replaced with Monroes and most of the time it's absolutley fine, in fact it's great fun. The convertible has had Msport springs and bilsteins put in by me (who knew that convertibles and coupes had different ride heights??) and even with the flexi conv body, it is IMO, better. But only at higher speed cornering. If you hit a compression in the road just b4 a corner, give me the bilsteins. Their control over the body for rebound etc is def superior. The ride is pretty hard around town ,but that's a reflection of spring height, not the bilsteins, which will be replacing the Monroes at some stage. Does this make sense, or am I just ranting?

[bmw 0]

back ot.

Is there a website that has good suspension deals in nz? Can i get shocks + springs for 1k, of resonable goodness?

[Guest Andrew]

back ot.

Is there a website that has good suspension deals in nz? Can i get shocks + springs for 1k, of resonable goodness?

I'd personally go a KYB/King combo for that money -

Any shop can do hast for you.

[Gus 5]

suspension hardness is a matter of personal taste too...IMO my setup is fine for the street....i find having control more comfy than wallowing around

my old setup felt harsher, but this one is firmer. its hard to comprehend but it really is like that. once you have been in a car with proper shocks its easier to understand...i felt the same before as well, but you do realise

[Palazzo 438]

If the CD stops playing on bumps, the suspension is hard IMO.

[petone 0]

back ot.

Is there a website that has good suspension deals in nz? Can i get shocks + springs for 1k, of resonable goodness?

I'd personally go a KYB/King combo for that money -

Any shop can do hast for you.

Thats what I suggested before, my mate had that setup and liked it. Ians also using it in his targa race car. Just ring round a few shops and see if they can do some sort of deal for you. AFAIK there aren't any decent online shops in NZ. unless someone wants to correct me. The M-Tech suspension might cause you problems, when I was looking for shocks they asked I had M-tech susp. I'm pretty sure its similar to standard but just stiffer/lower and with beefier sways but double check with someone anyway.

Gus- I get what your saying about the handling being way nicer, I just don't think its as bad with normal shocks as everyone makes out. I also think its weird none of the people I worked with mentioned the shocks blowing faster at all?

Sorry for the thread hijack. Let us know what you decide to go for and what you think of it.

Mike

[E30-323ti 66]

I get what you guys are saying its just that do you really need to go and buy the flashest/hardest suspension money can buy? For most of us our cars are daily drivers that get properly "driven" maybe once a week/fortnight/month? I reckon a kyb/boge shocks with 40mm whatever springs would be all you need for that sort of driving.

First make sure all your bushings, tierods etc are all good then lower it. If these guys are right and its awful then get some shocks. Im assuming that you have M-tech suspension so you might have some stiffer shocks standard.

Sorry if im confusing things for you, Its just $1000 is alot for something you may decide you dont need. Anyway im going to STFU and let these guys talk you into buying some quality gear.

They are by no means talking about the flashest/hardest shocks around.

They are talking about the readily available UPGRADE shocks, Koni/bilstein.

Which are well worth the extra $$$ but still nowhere near a track shock's (in terms of $$ or performance) and are shouldn't recomended as a track car setup.

The likes of KYB Monroes etc... are your run of the mill replacement shocks, and will always perform better than 15yo OE Boge's or Sach's shocks, but are not an UPGRADE.

My 2c.

If you are on a budget and really want to do something, get the springs, drive it bouncing around till you have the $$$ to get some Konis or Bilsteins and stick them in, you'll be amazed at the difference.