Vert spring options?

[riverwolf]

Looking to do a suspension refresh on my new to me 2005 Cic ZHP and want to include springs for good measure. Hopefully not a rehash, but I couldn't seem to find a thread here or elsewhere that addressed my concerns.

Standard suspensions (non-Sport) seem to differentiate between Vert/Coupe/Sedan, but I can't seem to find consistent part numbers for OEM sport springs that differentiate between the models. So, does that mean that all Sport suspensions used the same springs, regardless of Vert/Coupe/Sedan? Seems incorrect given that non-sport models got different treatment.

Are there any spring options that *don't* lower the ride height from OEM sport settings? I like the pricing of the H&R Sports from someone like ECS much better than the OEM sport springs, but the documentation seems to suggest they'll lower the car another ~.75 inches from the already 15mm (.6") lowered sport height.

The H&R OE Sports (http://www.hrsprings.com/products/springs/) (bad naming when H&R also makes a separate Sport line) would seem a good candidate for my goals, but they're not listed as a fitment option for 330 w/Sport. I'd swear I read somewhere in my interweb travels that the H&R OE Sports have the same spring rate as the H&R Sports, but are just OEM height, however I can't seem to find that page again.

Thanks. And apologies again if covered elsewhere, but I really have spent literally hours trying to find direct answers.

-Brent

[johnrando]

I'll try to answer your questions but I'm a little confused at all the different terms you're using. To simplify, I can't tell if you want lower or not. If you don't, just go with OEM springs. If you do, then some combinations of H&R, Eibach, Koni, and Biltstiens are good choices, and they all lower. Vert setups are different than standard, so make sure you order a setup for a vert. Also, for reference, they tend to use "sport" as either the zhp or the sport packages when they are talking how much it would lower. So, when ordering, use those as references, and order as if your car has a "sport" package.

I have the H&R Touring Cup Kit on mine, which lowers the car a good bit. Then, you could go H&R Sport Cup Kit which lowers the same height, but the springs are tighter. Then, you have H&R Race springs, but you'd need a different set of shocks/struts for those, and many people use Biltstiens.

Now, I never needed adjust-ability so I did a ton of research, and the H&R was just fine for me. The issue is, with that kit, you can't really use spacers as they will scrape in the rear. But, now that I'm putting in a BBK, I'm going to have to run spacers, so I'm thinking of selling my kit and going to coilovers so I can adjust/use spacers. That's not something I would have figured I'd run into when I bought mine.

I know several others who like the H&R kit too. Verts do tend to sag in the rear so it's lower that you'd think, but it's perfect for me. If you don't want that low, you may want to go adjustible or go with something else.

My sig is when I had race springs on, so ignore that. Here's my setup now below: Hope this helps. Look up my # in members contact section and call me if you want to talk, or feel free to respond here.

EDIT: PS Charlie pointed out my calipers need painting. That's an old pic, they have been painted. Thanks for keeping an eye out Charrie! :)

http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc481/johnrando/BMWJune.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/johnrando/media/BMWJune.jpg.html)

front
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc481/johnrando/BMWDrop7frontfinger.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/johnrando/media/BMWDrop7frontfinger.jpg.html)

rear
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc481/johnrando/BMWDrop6rearfinger.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/johnrando/media/BMWDrop6rearfinger.jpg.html)

[riverwolf]

John, thanks for responding and sorry for any confusion. I was actually trying to be very clear to avoid any confusion, but I guess I did throw a lot of different thoughts into one post.

In short, I'm wondering if there are any spring options besides OEM ($$$) that maintain the OEM ZHP ride height?

I'd prefer not to lower the car any further than stock, but OEM spring packages cost roughly double something like the H&R Sport springs.

-Brent

[ELCID86]

Why do you think you need new springs?

[LivesNearCostco]

+1, if you want OEM ride height you should keep your current springs unless they're broken, in which case you should be able to buy some used OEM vert springs in good condition pretty cheap from someone who upgraded to lowering springs or coilovers. I am not aware of any aftermarket springs that do not lower the car, but maybe if you went Eibach ProKit or Bavarian Auto's springs, they wouldn't lower your vert very much. You could try to go with thicker spring pads in rear to compensate for the lowering in the spring.

If your springs are fine and you want something stiffer but not lower, could consider upgrading swaybars instead.

[sillieidiot]

eibach sportline is the one with the least amount of lowering. when my friend had it, it didn't look like it lowered the car at all.

[gmurphy]

Dinan springs are great! http://dinancars.com/product/d100-0474-performance-spring-set-for-bmw-323i-323ci-325i-325ci-328i-328ci-330i-330ci-2/?series=3-Series&mid=1021/
From what I have heard anyway.


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[ELCID86]

Not Dinan again ... ;-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[TigerTater]

Not Dinan again ... ;-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

Lol. Nice


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[gmurphy]

Not Dinan again ... ;-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

:) http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/28/taha8yde.jpg


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[riverwolf]

Sorry to sort of abandon my own thread. Life and what not...

Anyway, I take it the short answer is no, there aren't any less expensive OEM sport equivalent springs like we can find for other parts (Meyle, Lemforder, Mann, etc.). Bummer.

Some have wondered why I was asking. In planning for a suspension refresh, I was thinking springs since mine are probably as tired as the rest of the kit...in for a penny, in for a pound...pay once, cry once philosophy. However, since posting, I found the ride height section in Bentley. Even without the 350# of ballast and only 1/2 tank of gas, my front sits well low of spec. Rears appear to still be good...sitting a little above spec so proper ballast would likely put them right in line. At this point, I'm still assuming I'm on OEM shocks/springs. I can confirm shocks/strut BWM labels visually, but haven't pulled the wheels yet so can only see enough to know the springs are black when aftermarket springs tend to be some attention grabbing color.

Thanks.

-Brent