E36 Suspension Question: Eibach PRO-KIT Performance Springs

"Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire" (arch-duke-maxyenko) 01/15/2014 at 22:17 • Filed to: Suspension of disbelief

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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! will lower my car by 1.3 inches, anybody have any experience with them? Will I have to buy special shocks and struts to comply with the lower springs or can I use O.E. type shocks? Is there anything else I would need for them? Thanks!

Casper > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:19

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I personally wouldn't buy just springs. Many springs that are a slight adjustment will "work" with non-matched shocks, but not as well as they would if they were matched. Likewise, keeping the shock constantly compressed more than it normally would be can shorten it's life.

I generally buy matched sets of shocks and springs. My logic is if I'm taking it all a part to install them, why would I want to have to do it again when the shocks go out?

N/A POWAAAHH > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:21

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I know some cars' stock struts can't handle lower springs, and they'll eventually break. I'm not 100% sure on your specific case, but upgrading couldn't hurt

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Casper 01/15/2014 at 22:22

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The shocks and struts will be replaced when I do the springs, I've just seen conflicting arguments about stock type versus sport shocks.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:22

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People run Eibach springs on the 86s all the time! People have had them on the car for almost 2 years no problem. Then again they have new shocks, while you may not(or you might). Either way, I rode in one with springs on, and the ride did not seem any worse, plus it looked really nice.

Just remember, that while you are lowering the center of gravity, you aren't changing the roll center. If the car is too low it might actually roll more than before! I would see what people say about handling after installing them

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > N/A POWAAAHH 01/15/2014 at 22:24

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Yeah, that's why I'm fishing Oppo for results, the bmw forums kinda are all over the damn place on this issue and the users won't help you unless you first decide on a combo.

jariten1781 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:24

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You can do it but the shocks will die afterwards. The sport-line is better if you're planning on keeping the stock shocks but even those will wear them out eventually. Quality springs though. Granted my experience with Eibach is on Mazdas and Hondas so BMWs could be different so just take it as a data point.

Casper > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:25

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As long as they are matched to the stroke distance the spring will cause, it doesn't really matter. A good progressive shock will give you the best of both worlds. Personally I have had good luck with Koni adjustables as well as Tokico adjustables. I generally go the adjustable route so I have some flexibility if I'm not happy with how something is feeling after the install.

Depending on how old the car is you might replace the top hat bushings while in there.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > YSI-what can brown do for you 01/15/2014 at 22:25

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The shocks will be new, I just need to know about what type to run.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:29

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You can try Koni, you just have to make sure the shock matches the spring. I would check some forums out and see what people have found works best.

Also, have you thought about coilovers? Cause a shock+spring combo will put you right in the price range of some nice coilovers(at least for my car, don't know how it is for E36s)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > YSI-what can brown do for you 01/15/2014 at 22:31

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Coilover kits are about double the price.

N/A POWAAAHH > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:32

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These Links may help a bit, if you haven't already visited.

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What I got was that upgraded struts are probably a smart choice, as well as mount point reinforcement might help too

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > N/A POWAAAHH 01/15/2014 at 22:39

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:40

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Yeah, I was lying. The spring+shock combo for the FRS is about 1/2 the price of a good coilover.

If you are dead set on springs then go and get some aftermarket shocks. New OEM ones won't do.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > jariten1781 01/15/2014 at 22:41

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Thought the sport lines were lower than the pro kit?

jariten1781 > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:43

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Ah...perhaps I'm backwards...been a few years

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > YSI-what can brown do for you 01/15/2014 at 22:44

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Yeah, but there are so many different options on shocks and struts that it is scary.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:47

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Don't worry, I also have no idea what I am doing. If you are planning on ever driving the car on the street, just make sure the springs aren't to rough, and that the dampening is spot on from the shock.

I would also recommend coilovers as it is basically a combo that works. I recommend the KW V2 or V3. If those are a bit expensive see if they make a V1 for your car.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire 01/15/2014 at 22:54

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They are.

Textured Soy Protein > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/16/2014 at 00:21

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I ran conservative lowering springs with the stock shocks on my old Mazdaspeed 6, and was happy with the result. But the stock shocks on that car were already beefed up and it was still relatively new.

Being as an E36 is pretty old at this point, I would be much more likely to replace the shocks to go with lowering springs.

I'm also lazy and don't feel like dealing with adjustable shocks on a street car, so I would go with Bilstein Sports. I had them on my old Miata and they were solid.

I'd also suggest getting some shorter bump stops that gain you back a little more suspension travel with lowering springs. They're cheap and they help.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-3251-rear-bu…

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > jariten1781 01/16/2014 at 01:43

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I'm slightly disturbed that I knew that without looking online

BKRM3 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/16/2014 at 08:10

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Call someone who deals with them all day long and ask. The best BMW resources are race shops and parts manufacturers. I wondered about toe settings with my ground control camber plates...fished around on forums then eventually just called ground control. I had an answer in 3 seconds from the company who engineered the part. I also find that Turner knows just about everything, not surprisingly. Remember, the Internet is just full of idiots like us =)

markateibach > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 01/16/2014 at 11:00

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The PRO-KIT and SPORTLINE springs have been designed to work in conjunction with your OE Hardware. Everything you need to install the kit comes in the box. Upgrading to a performance damper system can complement the function of the springs, provided it is an OE style damper. For reference, Eibach Europe offers a B12 kit which is a PRO-KIT or SPORTLINE paired with Bilstein Dampers. Always research your damper options to be sure they are capable of handling the shortened travel.

rabidpenguin > Casper 01/16/2014 at 11:12

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You should replace the strut bushings/bearing/pads or whatever you want to call them if you are going to have everything apart. Ideally you would want the shock to match the spring but if you don't mind doing the labor twice and need some time to save up some cash, install the springs with the stock shocks. On my e34 the sport springs blew out the stock shocks after a few months. I went to Koni's after that.

If you do go to sport shocks I would advise you to think about how much you are going to adjust them and whether that justifies the additional cost. I put Konis on the e34 and never adjusted them so I went with billsteins on the e30.