[Liquidpaper]

Okay, so I promised I would do a write up on both of these.

H&R Sport Springs

So, the general consensus in the community is that the H&R Sport Springs are, with regard to street use, pretty much aesthetic only enhancement i.e. moar low. I would agree with this with regard to street use. On the street, car rides like stock, and the only thing I notice is that my car 1. looks way cooler (again, moar low) and 2. scrapes when I go over a pop-tart.

However, it's a very different story on the track. The springs definitely add a noticeable amount of composure when you're doing a buck twenty around turn eight at Willow Springs. If anyone has seen Randy Pobst's review of the M235i, he mentions that the car has too many "secondary motions" on the track (in stock form). The H&R springs help deal with that. Car feels much more composed/stable at track speeds far in excess of what you would or should ever be doing on a public road. I am a big, big fan of the track performance of the springs. Good on you H&R.

Schroth Profi II 6-Point Harness

Thread on my harness install -- http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1110227

Okay, seriously, if you plan on tracking your car a lot, GET A HARNESS. Makes a HUGE difference on the track. You can actually concentrate on driving rather than trying not to fall out of your car. Great, great investment for those of you who are keeping this car for a long time and plan on doing significant track duty. I highly recommend it, and especially the Schroth belts -- extremely easy to adjust very high build quality. Top notch product.

One final piece remains -- my LSD (which should be ready in two weeks). Super excited. I think it should be the last major upgrade I'll need to do for a while. Car should be a track weapon with a proper rear end (sort of already is, but the lack of an LSD does hold it back compared to other cars at the track, I think).

Any questions, leave them here.

[Iceman51sn]

Seen that review and after having the pleasure of seeing Liquidpaper go round the track, I have to agree. The car looks planted!! Can't wait to get those springs on mine!

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

Okay, so I promised I would do a write up on both of these.

H&R Sport Springs

So, the general consensus in the community is that the H&R Sport Springs are, with regard to street use, pretty much aesthetic only enhancement i.e. moar low. I would agree with this with regard to street use. On the street, car rides like stock, and the only thing I notice is that my car 1. looks way cooler (again, moar low) and 2. scrapes when I go over a pop-tart.

However, it's a very different story on the track. The springs definitely add a noticeable amount of composure when you're doing a buck twenty around turn eight at Willow Springs. If anyone has seen Randy Pobst's review of the M235i, he mentions that the car has too many "secondary motions" on the track (in stock form). The H&R springs help deal with that. Car feels much more composed/stable at track speeds far in excess of what you would or should ever be doing on a public road. I am a big, big fan of the track performance of the springs. Good on you H&R.

OP - on the scrape for DD, I have not heard of others scraping or bottoming out. How often and under what conditions does this happen on the HRs?

Thanks for the review on the track, reason #1 I am getting them installed. The lower look is just a bonus to reduce the excessive clearance.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by hoppy6698

OP - on the scrape for DD, I have not heard of others scraping or bottoming out. How often and under what conditions does this happen on the HRs?

Thanks for the review on the track, reason #1 I am getting them installed. The lower look is just a bonus to reduce the excessive clearance.

I'm over exaggerating on the bottoming out. Is not that bad, but I've never owned a car that sits this low before. Looks badass though.

The track performance is really impressive. I was very surprised.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

Okay, so I promised I would do a write up on both of these.

H&R Sport Springs

So, the general consensus in the community is that the H&R Sport Springs are, with regard to street use, pretty much aesthetic only enhancement i.e. moar low. I would agree with this with regard to street use. On the street, car rides like stock, and the only thing I notice is that my car 1. looks way cooler (again, moar low) and 2. scrapes when I go over a pop-tart.

However, it's a very different story on the track. The springs definitely add a noticeable amount of composure when you're doing a buck twenty around turn eight at Willow Springs. If anyone has seen Randy Pobst's review of the M235i, he mentions that the car has too many "secondary motions" on the track (in stock form). The H&R springs help deal with that. Car feels much more composed/stable at track speeds far in excess of what you would or should ever be doing on a public road. I am a big, big fan of the track performance of the springs. Good on you H&R.

Schroth Profi II 6-Point Harness

Thread on my harness install -- http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1110227

Okay, seriously, if you plan on tracking your car a lot, GET A HARNESS. Makes a HUGE difference on the track. You can actually concentrate on driving rather than trying not to fall out of your car. Great, great investment for those of you who are keeping this car for a long time and plan on doing significant track duty. I highly recommend it, and especially the Schroth belts -- extremely easy to adjust very high build quality. Top notch product.

One final piece remains -- my LSD (which should be ready in two weeks). Super excited. I think it should be the last major upgrade I'll need to do for a while. Car should be a track weapon with a proper rear end (sort of already is, but the lack of an LSD does hold it back compared to other cars at the track, I think).

Any questions, leave them here.

Do you have any before/after pics ?

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by pikcachu

Do you have any before/after pics ?

See attached for before and after. First two are before, second two are after. Looks great with the springs, I have to admit.

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

I'm over exaggerating on the bottoming out. Is not that bad, but I've never owned a car that sits this low before. Looks badass though.

The track performance is really impressive. I was very surprised.

Thanks! I also noticed you have aftermarket wheels, so I think I should be good with the stock wheels. I put on spacers, but not far enough to cause any rubbing I think.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by hoppy6698

Thanks! I also noticed you have aftermarket wheels, so I think I should be good with the stock wheels. I put on spacers, but not far enough to cause any rubbing I think.

Just for your reference, these wheels are 18x8.5 ET 38. Depending on your spacers, you might be close. But, once again, I was over exaggerating.

[ocN55]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

Just for your reference, these wheels are 18x8.5 ET 38. Depending on your spacers, you might be close. But, once again, I was over exaggerating.

Apex makes both a 18x8.5 et38 and et45, is the 38mm offset a better fitment?

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by ocN55

Apex makes both a 18x8.5 et38 and et45, is the 38mm offset a better fitment?

If you want to run wide front tires and have camber plates, yes.

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by ocN55

Apex makes both a 18x8.5 et38 and et45, is the 38mm offset a better fitment?

I'd say that the et45 is the better fitment on the basis that you can get 4 of them, run square, and rotate them front to back. The et38 pokes a bit too much in the rear for my taste. To make the et45 work up front you need a spacer.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by rwalker

I'd say that the et45 is the better fitment on the basis that you can get 4 of them, run square, and rotate them front to back. The et38 pokes a bit too much in the rear for my taste. To make the et45 work up front you need a spacer.

If you run some camber in the rear, there is no poke, fyi.

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

If you run some camber in the rear, there is no poke, fyi.

Sorry, you're right. I have 18x9 on the brain...

18x9et41 - 18x8.5et38 = ~3mm less poke than I have.

So the et38s should fit all around just fine and not need spacers.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by rwalker

Sorry, you're right. I have 18x9 on the brain...

18x9et41 - 18x8.5et38 = ~3mm less poke than I have.

So the et38s should fit all around just fine and not need spacers.

To be fair, I have some serious negative camber in the rear (2.25).

[mike@x-ph.com]

Thank you for the review

[WhollySmokes]

Yeah, thanks for the review. I've had lowered cars in the past and they can be pretty annoying on a daily, but to hear that you're seeing increased handling characteristics and after seeing before/after shots... I think I'll have to pick up a set.

[Dattebayo]

Looking forward to installing a set of the H&R's after getting my 228i. It has been atleast a decade since I owned a lowered car. All though in my younger years, I certainly had cars that were obnoxiously low.

[2twenty8]

Are most people running these springs on the OEM shocks?

Just curious how much they will beat up the non-M-Sport base shocks.