Should I Lower My Car?

"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s) 01/13/2019 at 02:21 • Filed to: None

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I have been wrestling with this decision for a while. I see a few lowered 4-series Gran Coupes on Instagram and they make me want to lower mine. What’s stopping me is my GC is not an M-sport model and it’s just the N20 straight 4 version and not the sexy N55 straight six . It would make me feel like a poser.

What does Oppo think? Should I leave it stock? Should I put it on air suspension? Should I put it on coilovers?

OR should I just leave my car stock and save the money for the next fun car?

Picture of what I would do to my car. Lowered and Volk TE37sl wheels.

pip bip - choose Corrour > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 02:30

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lower it only if adding a Liberty Walk body kit

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 02:32

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Coils and TE 37’s 

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 02:37

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I’d say go for it. Just because it’s not an M doesn’t mean you can’t do what you want with your car. As for how to lower it... That’s up to you. Air Ride is expensive but you can go lower (or higher) on demand. Good coil overs are less expensive, but it takes some work to change ride height and then you want to be careful because you can unbalance the car if they’re not all adjusted the same. Static lowering springs are the lease expensive, you’re stuck with whatever height you end up at, but the end result can be good.

I went with Eibach lowering springs, because I track the car and don’t want the extra weight of air or the hassle of dealing with coilovers. The payoff is that I like the ride and the stance I ended up with.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/13/2019 at 02:38

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I’m not a f an of liberty walk kits to be honest. I like slammed cars and I know you do too but for some reason the Liberty Walk and rocket bunny kits do nothing for me.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 02:39

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I lowered my Alfa to European spec.  Would not recommend.  Looks epic, but much harder to navigate anything other than perfect roads.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 01/13/2019 at 02:40

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Yes, a proper air suspension kit is expensive and removes some trunk space. I had springs on my BRZ and I was not a fan. It changed the damping too much for my liking so I’d rather get coilovers that have dampers meant to be lowered.

gettingoldercarguy > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 02:49

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If your geometry stays correct, then your car is better than a straight six as they balance and weight is better. As far as being a poser with a smaller engine you’ll have to refer to wagon guy drives a boostang.  

The Dummy Gummy > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 03:02

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Personally if it looks like the header picture, that looks terrible to me. If it makes you happy then follow your heart.

facw > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 03:04

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I mean if you like the look go for it. It’s not an ultra-high-performance mod, and I’d guess most people who do it do it mainly for aesthetics. Personally I wouldn’t do it given that I already bottom out on a nearby speed bump all the time (I’ve stopped going that way now).

pip bip - choose Corrour > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 03:05

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fair enough.

i’m not a fan of slammed cars without bodykits.

but it’s your car, so do whatever you heart desires and ignore me my suggestion then

:)

Nick Has an Exocet > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 03:35

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Not sure what it costs, but I probably wouldn’t do it on a daily. I did minimally lower my Lancer because the slight-lowering-springs were 1/4 of the price of the OEM springs but it’s not even low enough to notice.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > gettingoldercarguy 01/13/2019 at 03:36

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yep, that’s me! Though to be fair, my Boostang beats GTs and GT350s at autocross all the time, for the same reasons you listed...

gettingoldercarguy > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 01/13/2019 at 03:49

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More than a bit tipsy now, done wrenching.  Please believe me when I say I was just trying to shine you on.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > gettingoldercarguy 01/13/2019 at 04:50

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No worries at all! The i4 Mustang guys all get shit from teh GT bros all the time, after a while it all rolls off the back.

Liam Farrell > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 09:11

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Don’t do air suspension, my friend with more money than taste put it in his F30 335xi, and it completely ruined the car. The ride quality got far worse than stock and it’s always broken. It completely ruined a good car and he’s spent so much on that car he could have just gotten an M3. It does look nice though.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 10:02

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No.

Tapas > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 10:34

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It doesn’t matter what engine you have.

But if it makes you feel any better, put a supercharger/bigger turbo and a tune in and then lower it. I’m always in favor of making cars gn ar lier 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/13/2019 at 11:51

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May I ask a question about your car that is not related to suspension stuff?

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/14/2019 at 00:53

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Sure thing. What’s your question?

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Liam Farrell 01/14/2019 at 00:55

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Can I ask what is always broken on the air suspension?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/14/2019 at 01:02

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How is -- or rather, how USEFUL is -- that cargo area? I’m fascinated by liftbacks as I believe in the future I will be forced to shop though them since the used wagon market will be essentially non-existent.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/14/2019 at 01:15

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It’s surprisingly useful. The top rear area that is under the rear window is just a shelf that you can quickly remove and the seats fold down in a pinch. I’ve used it to move several large boxes for work and was pleasantly surprised how much fit in it. We fit four regular sized boxes (those stereotypical square ones) and a dolly to move the boxes in the rear. There was room to spare.

The nice thing is that since the rear shelf is removable you can fit larger objects into it than a sedan with a fold down seat. The only concern I’d have is if I had a taller object that ended right next to the rear window. In that case I’d be worried it might smash into the glass and create an expensive problem.

An interesting about mine and I’m sure some others is they’re powered liftbacks. That means you cannot manually push down on it. You have to use the button. My car freaks out when you try to push it down and it won’t move downward unless you REALLY force it. It will also beep loudly at you too if you try. Same with opening it. You just press the button on the back and it lifts itself up. If you apply any upward force it stops and beeps. You can also set the height it will lift up through the nav though if you have a lower roof in your garage.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/14/2019 at 01:24

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Well, it is a BMW, so a power “gate” is not too startling. Good to know about the removable shelf, makes doggo plus passengers seem like a possibility in a pinch. Adjustable opening sounds kind of neat.

In a few years, look for me to harass you for cost-of-ownership figures!

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/14/2019 at 01:31

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A dog would fit comfortably in it. It’s got a bigger trunk than an SUV and probably more usable rear cargo area. If you can, I recommend you find one with the comfort access option. It lets you open the trunk by waving your foot under the bumper. I used to make fun of people who bought that option and thought it was for lazy people. I was wrong. It’s amazing. I left Target one night with both hands full of things and used it. GAME. CHANGER.

Liam Farrell > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/14/2019 at 19:22

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Bags, lines, and the compressor. The ride quality is terrible, stupidly harsh and a surprising amount of body roll. Complete waste of money. 

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Liam Farrell 01/15/2019 at 01:02

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Well that’s a bummer. I guess air suspension will forever remain a fantasy then. I need good ride quality.

Liam Farrell > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 01/16/2019 at 18:33

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Another friend has a F30 335i M-sport, and riding in them back to back really shows how bad it is. It looks good, but it’s not functional whatsoever .