[335i101]

I have never messed with shocks, lowering etc....but am pretty mehcanicly inclined. (can\'t spell though)

I have an e92 335i sport.

How difficult is it to lower the car? Is it something I can do? What is the first steps (what products do I need)?

How low to go... I don\'t wanna look ricer and I don\'t wanna bottom out.

Thanks in advance.

Also, what is reasonable cost for parts??

[edirtaynine]

theres a DIY thread if u wanna try it... its in the DIY forum. lol

[edit] here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=172

[335i101]

Originally Posted by edirtaynine

theres a DIY thread if u wanna try it... its in the DIY forum. lol

[edit] here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=172

"if u wanna try". I am guessing it is difficult by that quote.

[335i101]

Looked at the DIY that helps for sure.

What do you guys all replace springs, shocks, coils etc???

[mike3000fl]

if you are putting new springs in, the hardest part is using the spring compressor without killing yourself. everything else is nuts and bolts and create wiggling to get things out from under the wheel well. there are some awesome diys on here.

cheapest and easiest way to lower is new springs, and leaving your stock shocks or replacing those at the same time.

more expensive and better solution are coil overs, more adjustable and better matched.

[335i101]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

if you are putting new springs in, the hardest part is using the spring compressor without killing yourself. everything else is nuts and bolts and create wiggling to get things out from under the wheel well. there are some awesome diys on here.

cheapest and easiest way to lower is new springs, and leaving your stock shocks or replacing those at the same time.

more expensive and better solution are coil overs, more adjustable and better matched.

Ok so I can do it and would only have to purchase 4 springs???

Any brand, model (if there are "models") recommendations??

[mike3000fl]

yea 4 springs at a minimum to lower your car. 4 springs and shocks if you want to save time in the future. coilovers if you want to be able to customize ride height and quality (at a greater price though).

these cars dont look ricer when lowered conservatively, just aggressive. you may rub a little though based on wheel tire combos. ride quality can suffer too, stiffer springs don't soak up bumps as well and lowered cars have less travel.

HR sport springs provide an nice ok drop, HR race are pretty low.

HR also makes "cup kits" which are springs that come with matched shocks. They get confusing though because the touring kit has the sport springs, while the sport kit has the race springs. go figure.

eibach is another popular brand.

do some research on here on what the drop would be compared to the sport setup you have now. if you measure what kind of gap you have and look up the drop from a sport suspension, you will be on the right track.

most people would recommend buying shocks at the same time so they can be installed by you or a shop all at once. you can run your stock shocks but they will eventually wear out prematurely because they weren't designed to operate in a lowered configuration. when that happens you have to basically do the work a second time to put in new aftermarket shocks. that's why some say its easier to do the shocks at the same time. i kept my stock shocks and have had no issues.

[tibra1]

Take it professional install depending on where you are the cost is ~ $300 all around..suspension is not something u wanna fool with especially if you are unfamilar w doing it.

Go no lower than 1 inch all around from where you are on stock if you want the car to ride and handle well

[LocDawgg]

Bottom Line:

Springs are a cheap way to lower your car. They do not lower your car as much as Coilovers would. Also in the long run, springs will increase and wear down your shocks and struts faster. Springs also call for a bumpy ride. There are a lot of brands you can choose from just do a search. I see most people go with H&R Sport Springs, this gives an adequate drop. But i noticed that the H&R Race Springs gives quite a drop. The first time i saw a car on those springs it fooled me for coilovers.

Coilovers is a safer bet for your car. Ride is smoother and you can adjust the height of your car anytime with coilovers. But they are more expensive. They are also better for your car in the long run

The difficulty with springs is just compressing them. I take it to a shop to install them. Coilovers is just as difficult or actually maybe even easier if you know what you are doing. Check out the DIY. My Coilovers are coming in this week, maybe ill make a DIY when i install them

[335i101]

Thanks to all for the info....looks like the best bet is to get coilovers and shocks....and have someone else install it

Thanks for the info, I should know more about suspension...but never dealt with it over the years or as a youth (just tried to keep my car running back then

[Express]

its easy as pie

[335i101]

Originally Posted by express705

its easy as pie

Ok sound good

[335i101]

[QUOTE=LocDawgg;10526137]Bottom Line:

Springs are a cheap way to lower your car. They do not lower your car as much as Coilovers would. Also in the long run, springs will increase and wear down your shocks and struts faster. Springs also call for a bumpy ride. There are a lot of brands you can choose from just do a search. I see most people go with H

[boostd92]

I've installed two sets of springs on my car now (Eibach Prokits with SP perches and H&R sports). It's super cake on a lift but should be do-able in the garage without to much trouble.

With a good spring compressor I can do a full set of springs in 2.5 hours. All you need to do is loosen the thrust rod and control arm bolts at the body, then after disconnecting everything on the strut, you can bend it down enough to clear the fender without removing any other suspension items.

One tip, you should probably bunjee chord up the spindle after removing the front struts like this, or have them sitting on the jack. If you don't, that assembly will hang from the brake line (bad).