Ugly Fender Gap - Springs??

[turbosocal]

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...8#post22742248

Guys, looking for an economical solution to eliminate the fender gap on my all stock 08 E90 M3. Anyone have good condition springs you'd be willing to sell at a good price? Thanks in advance. Learning a lot from this forum.

Pic here (updated w/my car): https://www.dropbox.com/s/51g71qy4x1nlml2/car.jpg?dl=0

[kyippee]

Are your rear shocks blown and thus shifting more weight to the rear? My stock suspension doesn't have so much rake.

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Are your rear shocks blown and thus shifting more weight to the rear? My stock suspension doesn't have so much rake.

Not my car--stock photo

[impulsive]

From my experience, swift springs provided the best compromise between performance and ride quality. Definitely not the lowest drop, but sits flush with OEM 19's- the gap gets reduced to about enough room to fit one finger.

Just so happens there is a forum member on the CA forums selling the springs and local to socal (I am not affiliated with him):

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1450661

Hope this helps!

[chief]

I've got some Eibach Pro Kit springs in the garage that I can let go for whatever half price of new ones are these days. They worked well and provided a nice stance and good ride (I went a different direction and now run KW club sports). Let me know if you are interested. I'm in Riverside.

Here is a pic with the Eibach springs:

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by nimbus3

From my experience, swift springs provided the best compromise between performance and ride quality. Definitely not the lowest drop, but sits flush with OEM 19's- the gap gets reduced to about enough room to fit one finger.

Just so happens there is a forum member on the CA forums selling the springs and local to socal (I am not affiliated with him):

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1450661

Hope this helps!

Man, thanks! Checking that out now. Is there anything else I would need when swapping out the old springs? I see a lot of talk about bump stops and bushings, but I don't know much about these. Also, how much $ should my local shop be charging to install these?

[aus]

How old are your shocks?
BMW shocks/struts tend to suck after 40,000 miles.
Might as well change them out and be good for many years for most people.
Dinan shaves down the front strut tower tops to give more travel. They may use slightly shorter bump stops too for the same reason.
There's a nice thread for many years ago on this topic.

.

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by aus

How old are your shocks?
BMW shocks/struts tend to suck after 40,000 miles.
Might as well change them out and be good for many years for most people.
Dinan shaves down the front strut tower tops to give more travel. They may use slightly shorter bump stops too for the same reason.
There's a nice thread for many years ago on this topic.

.

My shocks are stock, 90k miles.

[BayE30]

Originally Posted by turbosocal

My shocks are stock, 90k miles.

gonna ride like crap with lowering springs.

[chief]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

gonna ride like crap with lowering springs.

Stocks shocks with lowering springs ride fine from my experience, however 90k miles may have used then up and simply adding lowering springs will not solve the problem. Since you might need new shocks and springs I would recommend looking at an adjustable coil over set up like the Ohlin, KW, or Bilstein.

[impulsive]

Originally Posted by turbosocal

My shocks are stock, 90k miles.

At 90k miles I definitely recommend ponying up some extra cash and get a coilover setup since you would be due to replace your oem shocks. It will save you a lot of time and money in the very near future. On another note, aftermarket springs with stock shocks work well but they add extraneous stress on your shocks vs oem springs. If your shocks are already at 90k, they will likely wear out even faster with aftermarket springs.

Like others have said, look into brands like KW, Ohlins R&T, or Bilstein. They offer great quality coilovers for both street and track usage.

Shameless plug- I am taking off my KW V3's from my E92 M3 this month and having them completely rebuilt by KW. I was quoted $800 with a 3-4 week turnover. But if you are interested in purchasing them from me and sending them in yourself, I could let them go for $600. Meaning, you could have newly rebuilt KW V3 coils for just $1400. PM me interested!

[TrAcK TRaP]

Stop using lowering springs on these cars guys..

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by nimbus3

At 90k miles I definitely recommend ponying up some extra cash and get a coilover setup since you would be due to replace your oem shocks. It will save you a lot of time and money in the very near future. On another note, aftermarket springs with stock shocks work well but they add extraneous stress on your shocks vs oem springs. If your shocks are already at 90k, they will likely wear out even faster with aftermarket springs.

Like others have said, look into brands like KW, Ohlins R&T, or Bilstein. They offer great quality coilovers for both street and track usage.

Shameless plug- I am taking off my KW V3's from my E92 M3 this month and having them completely rebuilt by KW. I was quoted $800 with a 3-4 week turnover. But if you are interested in purchasing them from me and sending them in yourself, I could let them go for $600. Meaning, you could have newly rebuilt KW V3 coils for just $1400. PM me interested!

Thanks for your input--I think the consensus is I should wait and do the full coilovers. Your offer is tempting. I'll give it some thought, and appreciate it. That said, was really hoping to not spend that much, since I just did an Eisenmann Race Exhaust and that set me back.

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by TrAcK TRaP

Stop using lowering springs on these cars guys..

Rationale?

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by Silverstoneorspacegray

I have H&R sport springs on mine and think the gap is perfect. Stock wheels and snow tires

Yup--that's the gap, or lack thereof, that I'm looking for. Like it. How's the ride, w/stock dampers I assume?

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by turbosocal

Rationale?

Search..

[BayE30]

I bought my e90m3 bone stock, installed lowering springs, car rides like crap over bumps and potholes. and yes I used the shorter bump stops, doesn't help. car bounces all over the place, but felt fine with the stock springs. granted I live in a city with horrendous roads, but not as bad as Manhattan.

Yes the car looks good, but at the cost of comfort and handling? no thanks. Ohlins R&T is my next upgrade.

[turbosocal]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

I bought my e90m3 bone stock, installed lowering springs, car rides like crap over bumps and potholes. and yes I used the shorter bump stops, doesn't help. car bounces all over the place, but felt fine with the stock springs. granted I live in a city with horrendous roads, but not as bad as Manhattan.

Yes the car looks good, but at the cost of comfort and handling? no thanks. Ohlins R&T is my next upgrade.

This is the kind of real-world honest experience I was hoping to get. Thanks for sharing.

[4130]

On the other hand, I'm on Bilstein B6 with Swift Spec-R springs and the car handles beautifully with a ride that is as comfortable as stock, only different.