Help - Need to raise ride height

[Peter-E36]

It’s a 2003 3.0i on standard sport suspension. I guess the splitter doesn’t do it any favours but it needs to be significantly higher in the front anyway. What are my realistic options? what are 3.0i non-sport springs like? Will I need to change shocks as well? What about anything else I’ll need to change? Any other options?

I’ve really had it...

Either the car goes up or it goes for sale.

I love my car but it’s just TOO LOW for these $h!!ty Irish roads with absolutely nowhere to go without endless extreme speed bumps in your way. It’s not fun. It’s totally ruining the ownership experience. I’m sick of it!

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Standard height springs should add 15 mm but unless your shocks have been replaced recently you might as well do them too. Don't get OE springs, believe Sachs do std height.

Coilovers are also an option, BC racing do some and the added benefit is adjusting shock settings to suit as well as height.

If you want to keep long term then have a good look at the suspension overall, lots may be tired if original, front arms, drop links, arb bushings all make a massive difference to how the car feels.

 

[rally-chris]

Note also that there are different thickness rubber spring seats available from BMW so you may be able to find a few mm extra ride height by replacing the rubbers with thicker versions.

Chris

 

[Chris1981]

I've recently been through the same, although mine was lowered on H&Rs.... as nice as it looked and how well it drove on perfectly smooth roads the journey to and from work on the back roads of Warwickshire was a bit too much! I have now fitted BC racing coilovers and absolutely love them, still fiddling around trying to get it spot on but the front never catches on speed pumps and the damping is nicer too.

If you set up to max height I think it'd be somewhere between SE and M-Sport so might be just what you want and is of course completely adjustable.

It is the most expensive solution at £750 a set (includes front ARB drop links and rear mounts) but like Steve pointed out you'd probably want to do a suspension refresh with this approach.

 

[philbo909]

I have some suplex SE springs for sale, not sure about coupling them with msport struts though.
They'll get you an arch gap like this though

 

[Chris1981]

I have some suplex SE springs for sale, not sure about coupling them with msport struts though.
They'll get you an arch gap like this though
_20180514_132813.JPG

Off topic.... but love those wheels! Can't quite make out the centre caps, what are they?

Back on topic... My coupe came with M-Sport suspension but had been fitted with SE springs by a previous owner but still had M-Sport dampers, so SE springs will physically fit! The M-Sport damper is shorter than an SE (on e86 it is, can't confirm this is the same for pre-facelift though!) it took a lot of compressing to remove, just as an FYI if you do go down the SE spring route.

 

[jock156]

BBS XL BOSS?

 

[philbo909]

I have some suplex SE springs for sale, not sure about coupling them with msport struts though.
They'll get you an arch gap like this though
_20180514_132813.JPG

Off topic.... but love those wheels! Can't quite make out the centre caps, what are they?

Back on topic... My coupe came with M-Sport suspension but had been fitted with SE springs by a previous owner but still had M-Sport dampers, so SE springs will physically fit! The M-Sport damper is shorter than an SE (on e86 it is, can't confirm this is the same for pre-facelift though!) it took a lot of compressing to remove, just as an FYI if you do go down the SE spring route.

Bbs ch-r got them last year to replace some shabby black mv2s the car came on

 

[Scooba_Steve]

They'll get you an arch gap like this though

Offroader :lol:

 

[philbo909]

They'll get you an arch gap like this though

Offroader :lol:

https://youtu.be/cns6jqHL4rw
All rounder 8)
My coupé's happy on msport springs, no higher, no lower

 

[Peter-E36]

Thanks guys.

The car just had a full suspension refresh bar shocks and springs. I’m really interested in the rubber spring seat suggestion, wonder how much I can get in terms of mm, I reckon 30mm at the front would do the trick nicely. I don’t care about arch gap anymore, especially if it’s either arch gap or no Z4!

I like the idea of BCs too, been in cars with them fitted and they were great but need to be 100% sure they’d give me the right clearance.

By the way, I genuinely mean it when I say the road in that video is smoother than roads over here, and you know what? It doesn’t have speed bumps!!!!!

So frustrated, finally have my perfect car and I can’t drive it anywhere.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Get some suplex/sachs springs, new pads and some b4 shocks along with new mounts then?

 

[srhutch]

OP, no way is this standard ride height, assuming it is still as pictured.

 

[Peter-E36]

Are B4 shocks supposed to be softer / taller?

@srhutch nope, certainly isn't :wink: that's how it was when I bought it (FK springs), I've since fitted the original BMW springs. Here's a comparison.

Before:



After:



Still having difficulty going to work, shops, and pretty much anywhere I need to go

Splitter even rubs the road sometimes they're so bad!

 

[philbo909]

Are B4 shocks supposed to be softer / taller?

@srhutch nope, certainly isn't :wink: that's how it was when I bought it (FK springs), I've since fitted the original BMW springs. Here's a comparison.

Before:



After:



Still having difficulty going to work, shops, and pretty much anywhere I need to go

Splitter even rubs the road sometimes they're so bad!

Bilstein b4 are SE equivalent, but supply is low so maybe worth just going with sachs oem SE shocks?
Your set up might be worn out from running fk springs anyway
(drop me a message if you decide to change and you can have some nearly new SE springs for the cost of postage)
Edit: could you remove the Splitter to gain more clearance at the front?

 

[Peter-E36]

Are B4 shocks supposed to be softer / taller?

@srhutch nope, certainly isn't :wink: that's how it was when I bought it (FK springs), I've since fitted the original BMW springs. Here's a comparison.

Before:



After:



Still having difficulty going to work, shops, and pretty much anywhere I need to go

Splitter even rubs the road sometimes they're so bad!

Bilstein b4 are SE equivalent, but supply is low so maybe worth just going with sachs oem SE shocks?
Your set up might be worn out from running fk springs anyway
(drop me a message if you decide to change and you can have some nearly new SE springs for the cost of postage)
Edit: could you remove the Splitter to gain more clearance at the front?

I'm sure new shocks will be an improvement anyway, and thank you for the generous offer.

I thought about it and I can't remove the splitter without the sides and rear splitters which would be a waste, as I really like the kit and the issue is only at the front really.

Definitely considering SE setup but I need to see photos of what a 3.0i e85 sits with them on before pulling the trigger.