Lowering the 525
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From: Toronto
The H&R springs are in - it's decision time.
Reason: I think the car would look better (sleeker) if dropped - plus I find the stock ride a bit "floaty" and want to stiffen the ride. I understand from my dealier that changing the springs will achieve these objectives.
Questions:
1)Installing the spings I've been told takes approx 10 hours including re-alignment, so the bill for this job is close to CAD$1800. Is this worth it?
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
3) How low should I go? I was thinking 30mm.
Thanks for your opinion/feedback.
Reason: I think the car would look better (sleeker) if dropped - plus I find the stock ride a bit "floaty" and want to stiffen the ride. I understand from my dealier that changing the springs will achieve these objectives.
Questions:
1)Installing the spings I've been told takes approx 10 hours including re-alignment, so the bill for this job is close to CAD$1800. Is this worth it?
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
3) How low should I go? I was thinking 30mm.
Thanks for your opinion/feedback.
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From: SF Bay Area, California
Originally Posted by ddkk' date='Oct 13 2005, 09:28 AM
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
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Originally Posted by ddkk' date='Oct 13 2005, 09:28 AM
The H&R springs are in - it's decision time.?
Reason: I think the car would look better (sleeker) if dropped - plus I find the stock ride a bit "floaty" and want to stiffen the ride.? I understand from my dealier that changing the springs will achieve these objectives.?
Questions:
1)Installing the spings I've been told takes approx 10 hours including re-alignment, so the bill for this job is close to CAD$1800.? Is this worth it?
Sorry, my friend.? Installing springs on the E60 is not a 10 hour job.? I've done the install myself w/o a lift and did it in about 5 hours (not including alignment of course).? If you brought it to the dealer, figure about 1 hour per wheel, plus 1 more hour for an alignment.? Total of 5 hours.? No more.
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
The OEM shocks on the E60 should be able to handle the increased load from dropping the car and lowering the COG.? But do expect your shocks to wear out much faster.? Just guesstimating here, but figure that you will need to replace the OEM shocks after 10k.
If you can, and can find a good price, I would definitely do coilovers.? Sure, it might be more expensive now, but when your shocks go in about a year or so, you'll have to buy new shocks (which costs $$) and then pay again for installing the new shocks (which is again more $$).
3) How low should I go? I was thinking 30mm.
This is really up to you and the springs you decide to buy.? I wouldn't go much lower than 25mm personally for two reasons.? One, is to avoid the obvious rubbing issues (what size wheels you got?).? Two, I think the offsets on the 525/530 are not right for lowering the car too much - that is, once you drop the car, the wheel wells tend to look as if they hover over the car.? You can add spacers to push out the wheels to mitigate this effect, however.
Also - be reminded that the lower you go on after-market springs, the more likely the OEM shocks will wear out sooner.
Thanks for your opinion/feedback.
Good luck and post pics when you are done. ?
Reason: I think the car would look better (sleeker) if dropped - plus I find the stock ride a bit "floaty" and want to stiffen the ride.? I understand from my dealier that changing the springs will achieve these objectives.?
Questions:
1)Installing the spings I've been told takes approx 10 hours including re-alignment, so the bill for this job is close to CAD$1800.? Is this worth it?
Sorry, my friend.? Installing springs on the E60 is not a 10 hour job.? I've done the install myself w/o a lift and did it in about 5 hours (not including alignment of course).? If you brought it to the dealer, figure about 1 hour per wheel, plus 1 more hour for an alignment.? Total of 5 hours.? No more.
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
The OEM shocks on the E60 should be able to handle the increased load from dropping the car and lowering the COG.? But do expect your shocks to wear out much faster.? Just guesstimating here, but figure that you will need to replace the OEM shocks after 10k.
If you can, and can find a good price, I would definitely do coilovers.? Sure, it might be more expensive now, but when your shocks go in about a year or so, you'll have to buy new shocks (which costs $$) and then pay again for installing the new shocks (which is again more $$).
3) How low should I go? I was thinking 30mm.
This is really up to you and the springs you decide to buy.? I wouldn't go much lower than 25mm personally for two reasons.? One, is to avoid the obvious rubbing issues (what size wheels you got?).? Two, I think the offsets on the 525/530 are not right for lowering the car too much - that is, once you drop the car, the wheel wells tend to look as if they hover over the car.? You can add spacers to push out the wheels to mitigate this effect, however.
Also - be reminded that the lower you go on after-market springs, the more likely the OEM shocks will wear out sooner.
Thanks for your opinion/feedback.
Good luck and post pics when you are done. ?
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From: Singapore
Originally Posted by ddkk' date='Oct 14 2005, 12:28 AM
The H&R springs are in - it's decision time.?
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
3) How low should I go? I was thinking 30mm.
2)I asked about coilvers (which would be more $$) and I was told that the bmw shocks can handle the load from the tighter springs eliminating the need for coilovers.
3) How low should I go? I was thinking 30mm.
I upgraded my Sports Suspension, so it is 20mm lower in front (35mm lower than stock), and 10mm lower in the rear (25mm lower than stock) than when it started.
No problems with rubbing whatsoever, even with the M5 front wheels with a 12mm offset (vs 20mm stock).
I'd suggest you go for the matching H&R shocks. Save the stock shocks for when you sell the car.
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