Sport / Non Sport Suspension Ride Height

Another thread on this forum got me thinking about this so I thought I would ask the general forum. My interest in ride height is because I've heard a variety of numbers for the difference between the standard and sport (M) suspension on our non M cars. I've been told everything from 0.5 to 1.5 inches with 0.5-0.75 being the most common. I'm not aware of a spring brand which differentiates the amount of drop between standard and sport suspension oem ride height, if it makes a difference. (The sport/non sport springs could have the same height to maintain the same amount of travel while the spring supports are lower on the sport then the non-sport cars.) Since the question seems to come up on a regular basis, now might be a good time to find out.

To eliminate any differences in height for the various front bumpers, a good standard to use would be:
Option 1: The distance from the top of the fender wheel arch to the ground.
Option 2: Measure the distance from the center of the wheel (center cap) to the top of the fender wheel arch.

Measure both fronts in case there is a side to side difference. Using the fronts also helps to minimize differences in gas tank fill. If you have non stock size tires or springs please identify. For those using English measurement, please round to nearest 1/8 inch.

For those of you who wish to measure both methods and all four corners please do so and post. I can always create another listing with the additional info.

Thanks, I'll try to add to this as people contribute. If there is enough response, I will format into a easy to read/compare list and post.

2007 3.0Si Coupe - Sport suspension Stock tire size. Option 1
driver side = 26 inch passenger side = 26 1/4 inch Avg = 26 1/8 inch

Option 1 Avg Hgt
26 1/8 inch - 07 Si Coupe sport suspension, stock tire size


Option 2 Avg hgt
14 1/8 inch - 03 non sport
13 3/4 inch - 03 as above with Dinan package
14 inch - 07 Si Coupe sport suspension

Option 3 Avg hgt. ("attach measure to rim flange at bottom middle and measure to lower edge of wheel arch.")
601 - 04 SE sport suspension
587 - as above with Eibach Pro Springs (Drop = 14mm = .55inch)

Tire wear, brand, model and inflation amount and make a bit of a difference on the ride height, so you'll get many different measurements from people. I would suggest measuring from the center of the center cap on the wheel to the top of the wheel arch, what way you will be getting a accurate measurement without the tire variable, even with different tire/rim sizes. Also I'd take measurements at all 4 corners. What do you think?

The way the car is parked can also have a huge difference on the measured ride height.

The difference between the sport and non-sport suspension is 0.6" or 1.5cm. This is the official measurement by BMW.

And you should measure from the edge of the fender to the center of the wheel cap instead of all the way to the ground.

I'll add mine in later - got the measurements at home for all 4 corners on sport suspension on a 2004 3.0i (although both back springs were snapped...). I'll be able to add in data for Eibachs too once they've settled.

pungo said:

Tire wear, brand, model and inflation amount and make a bit of a difference on the ride height, so you'll get many different measurements from people. I would suggest measuring from the center of the center cap on the wheel to the top of the wheel arch, what way you will be getting a accurate measurement without the tire variable, even with different tire/rim sizes. Also I'd take measurements at all 4 corners. What do you think?

Click to expand...

I agree that there are a number of variables to deal with, again, trying to keep this simple for everyone.

Thanks for the info.

GP20 said:

The difference between the sport and non-sport suspension is 0.6" or 1.5cm. This is the official measurement by BMW.

Click to expand...

GP20, I've heard that, but have never been able to track it down in print. I'm still fairly new to this stuff.

GP20 said:

...And you should measure from the edge of the fender to the center of the wheel cap instead of all the way to the ground.

Click to expand...

Agree this is more accurate, original post changed to reflect additional option.

Thanks

OK the suggested BMW factory measure point is as follows:
Attach measure to rim flange at bottom middle and measure to lower edge of wheel arch. By rim size you should get:

Series (Standard)
Front Rear (MM)
16" 589 576
17" 605 592
18" 617 604
19" 630 617
20" 643 630

Sport or ///M suspension
Front Rear
16" 574 560
17" 590 576
18" 602 588
19" 615 601
20" 628 614

All should be +/- 10mm

I checked several different ages and engine sizes and the numbers came out consistent between launch and 2006. I do not know of any reason it changed in later years, but my data does not extend that far.

So there we are, series is 15mm higher at the front and 17mm higher at the rear.

Myself and ZetaQtr (sp?) determined that a sport vs non sport has about 3-4 fingers width difference between the wheel and the wheel arch :?

cj10jeeper said:

OK the suggested BMW factory measure point is as follows:
Attach measure to rim flange at bottom middle and measure to lower edge of wheel arch. By rim size you should get:

Series (Standard)
Front Rear (MM)
16" 589 576
17" 605 592
18" 617 604
19" 630 617
20" 643 630

Sport or ///M suspension
Front Rear
16" 574 560
17" 590 576
18" 602 588
19" 615 601
20" 628 614

All should be +/- 10mm

I checked several different ages and engine sizes and the numbers came out consistent between launch and 2006. I do not know of any reason it changed in later years, but my data does not extend that far.

So there we are, series is 15mm higher at the front and 16mm higher at the rear.

Click to expand...

More good info, thanks for posting.

As a side note, I checked my 07 sport suspension coupe and came up with front 600 mm and rear 600 mm. Rear probably is sitting higher due to low fuel amount.

I've measured mine using the BMW method of measuring ("attach measure to rim flange at bottom middle and measure to lower edge of wheel arch.")

Z4 3.0i SE (2004) on Sport suspension and 18"s:
Front = 601mm
Rear = 598mm
(front matches BMW's official figures but back is 10mm higher but within tolerances)

Z4 3.0i SE (2004) on Eibach Pro springs and 18"s:
Front = 587mm
Rear = 583mm


Similar fuel load in both cases (just over 3/4 tank) and sitting on flat ground in my garage, handbrake off)

That equates to a 14mm drop at the front and a 15mm drop at the rear, changing from Sport springs to Eibach Pro springs. Bearing in mind that I've only just fitted the springs and driven a total of <20 miles so far, hence expect them to settle a bit more. I hope they don't settle much lower because my purpose for fitting these wasn't to lower the car, but to replace my BMW springs because the 2 rears were both snapped (one of them had snapped twice...) and sod replacing them with more BMW springs which would do the same again

a11y said:

......That equates to a 14mm drop at the front and a 15mm drop at the rear, changing from Sport springs to Eibach Pro springs. Bearing in mind that I've only just fitted the springs and driven a total of <20 miles so far, hence expect them to settle a bit more. I hope they don't settle much lower because my purpose for fitting these wasn't to lower the car, but to replace my BMW springs because the 2 rears were both snapped (one of them had snapped twice...) and sod replacing them with more BMW springs which would do the same again

Click to expand...

Great info on the height difference between sport and Eibachs. Questions like this come up fairly often and this is a real world answer. Let us know what the height is after the springs settle. Any info from Eibach on the expected time to settle? Did you retain the oem struts/shocks or change those out also? Thanks

ally the rear measurement is taken with IIRC what they called normal set up and that involves something like 55kg in the trunk and weight in the drivers seat. (I'd need to check this if important to anyone)

I'd now be really worried about dropping mine another 14mm. OK it may look cool but there are places I'd never even get to any longer :thumbsdown:

Interested to see how's yours settle after a week or two

Incompatible - Yep I hope this info is of use to members in future . I'm still on the OEM shocks for the moment but would be something I'll consider changing in future perhaps, depending on how the ride is like this. Do idea on how long they'll take to settle, but IIRC from reading soemwhere Eibachs shouldn't drop much more than they currently have.


Cheer CJ - that'll explain the slight difference then. And yep, I'm a bit worried too. The only place I've had a problem on original sport springs/height was in the Lakes recently up and over Hardnott Pass (in retrospect, not the most sensible road to take a low car with limited suspension travel over - especially last weekend's weather!). If there was a standard height alternative to OEM springs then I'd have gone with that instead.


But honestly, I'd rather be this that have another spring snap on me. Especially considering the Eibachs cost me less for a set of 4 than I could get 2 rear BMW springs for. And 14mm isn't really that much - I can't notice any visual difference so far, and was quite surprised when the tape measure showed up the actual amount of drop.

How much do the springs cost? Thanx

Am I right in thinking that all the early (2003) 3.0 se came with sport suspension as standard. I have a set of eibach springs in my garage ready for fitting but if my car has standard springs, the drop on the eibach's should be about 30mm (according to their info). I think this may be too much, but if I've got the sport suspension the extra drop should be about 15mm and this should be fine. Is there anyway of checking?

De4n
Yes - the 3.0i came with ///M sport suspension set up.
Clearly noted in the 2003 sales brochure spec.

Your comment that it will lower it only by 15mm makes the assumption that the suspension is identical except for lower springs on the ///M sport set up. That I'm unsure about??

De4n said:

Am I right in thinking that all the early (2003) 3.0 se came with sport suspension as standard. I have a set of eibach springs in my garage ready for fitting but if my car has standard springs, the drop on the eibach's should be about 30mm (according to their info). I think this may be too much, but if I've got the sport suspension the extra drop should be about 15mm and this should be fine. Is there anyway of checking?

Click to expand...

A place to start is to measure you're ride height from the center of the wheel and post them. See earlier posts in this thread.

I have 19" wheels, so I am not sure measuring will work. I am guessing my car has sport suspension and should already be about 15mm lower than standard.

De4n said:

I have 19" wheels, so I am not sure measuring will work. I am guessing my car has sport suspension and should already be about 15mm lower than standard.

Click to expand...

Go back 1 page - I provided a full guide to OEM heights by wheel size, as a basis to work from