This article is a reproduction stored for archival purposes. The original can be found here.
To take the mystery out of picking parts for your E30 suspension build, the following are some of the most common applications, with some suggestions for the best parts and settings for that kind of use.
Daily Driver, Realistic Wheel Fitment
Bushings: New rubber strut mounts, new rubber subframe bushings, new rubber offset control arm bushing, new rubber trailing arm bushings, new rubber shock mounts
Wheel & Tire: 16x7.5 wheels, ET25 215/45R-16 tires
Springs & Shocks: H&R Sport lowering springs, Bilstein Sport struts (Koni adjustable option)
Sway Bars & Braces: Stock 325is front bar, 14.5-mm factory or aftermarket 19-mm rear bar
Brakes: Stock wheel bearings, hubs, and brakes
Brake Lines: Stainless braided
Brake Pads: Axxis Ultimate
Brake Rotors: New, quality (Brembo or ATE)
Alignment: 1/16 toe-in at front, -1.5/-.5 camber front/rear (if adjustable).
Notes: This is a great daily driver setup that lowers the car but not so much that you damage anything. Suspension remains soft enough for daily use but stiff enough for good handling.
Daily Driver, Aggressive Stance
Bushings: New rubber strut mounts, new rubber subframe bushings, new rubber offset control arm bushings, new rubber trailing arm bushings, new rubber shock mounts
Wheel & Tire: 17x7.5 wheels, 25-mm offset with 215/40R-17 tires
Springs & Shocks: Ground Control coil-overs with Bilstein inserts, around 300 lb/in front, 500 lb/in rear Sway bars/braces: Stock 325is front bar, 14.5-mm factory or 19-mm aftermarket rear bar
Brakes: Stock wheel bearings, hubs, and brakes
Brake Lines: Stainless braided
Brake Pads: Axxis Ultimate
Rotors: New, quality (Brembo or ATE)
Alignment: 1/16 toe-in at front, -1.5/-.5 camber front/rear (if adjustable).
Notes: This is the setup for serious lowering. Add a skid plate to protect the oil pan if you lower more than a couple of inches.
Weekend Autocrosser (Street Prepared Legal)
Bushings: Camber plates, new rubber offset control arm bushings, new rubber or urethane trailing arm bushings (eccentric or slotted mounts), new urethane subframe bushings, metal/urethane shock mounts; option: aluminum front control arms
Wheel & Tire: 15x7 wheels, 25-mm offset with 205/50R-15 R-compound tires; or 15x8 with 225/45R-15
Springs & Shocks: Ground Control coil-overs with Bilstein inserts, around 450 lb/in front, 600 lb/in rear rates.
Sway Bars & Braces: 22- to 25-mm front bar, stock 12-mm or no rear bar, front strut tower bar, subframe reinforcements, trailing-arm reinforcements
Brakes: Stock wheel bearings, hubs, and calipers
Brake Lines: Stainless braided
Brake Pads: Axxis Ultimate
Rotors: New, quality (Brembo or ATE)
Alignment: 0 toe in front, -2.5/-2.0 camber front/ rear, maximum caster
Notes: The higher spring rates should work great with no bar. If the car does not want to rotate, add the stock rear bar or keep increasing the rate. The bushings can be either rubber or urethane depending on your noise/performance tolerance level.
Occasional Street Driver/Track Day Warrior
Bushings: Camber plates, new rubber offset control arm bushings or aluminum/Delrin bushings, new urethane trailing arm bushings (eccentric or slotted mounts), new urethane subframe bushings, metal shock mounts
Wheel & Tire: 15x7 wheels, 25-mm offset with 205/50R-15 R-compound tires; or 15x8 with 225/45R-15
Springs & Shocks: Ground Control coil-overs with Koni inserts, around 450 lb/in front, 500 lb/in rear rates
Sway Bars & Braces: 22- to 25-mm front bar, stock 12-mm or no rear bar, front strut tower bar, subframe reinforcements, control arm reinforcements
Brakes: Stock wheel bearings, hubs, and brakes
Brake Lines: Stainless braided
Brake Pads: Race-compound
Rotors: New, quality (Brembo or ATE)
Alignment: 0 to 1/16 toe-out in front, -2.5/-2.0 camber front/rear, maximum caster
Notes: The higher spring rates should work great with no bar. If the car does not want to rotate, add the stock rear bar or keep increasing the rate. The bushings can be either rubber or urethane depending on your noise/performance tolerance level.
All-Out Road Race Car
Bushings: Camber plates, spherical adjustable control arm bushings, Delrin or spherical metal trailing arm bushings, solid aluminum subframe and differential bushings, metal shock mounts; option: racing front control arms, raised subframe
Wheel & Tire: 16x8 with 225/45R-16
Springs & Shocks: Remote-reservoir racing shocks, springs around 450 lb/in front, 500 lb/in rear
Sway Bars & Braces: 22- to 25-mm front bar, stock 12-mm or no rear bar, front strut tower bar
Brakes: Big brake kit or E36 brake hub conversion
Brake Pads: Race-compound
Rotors: New, quality (Brembo or ATE)
Alignment: 1/16 toe out in front, -2.5/-2.0 camber front/rear, maximum caster
Notes: Spring rates and shock valving choice are very track dependent. Alignment varies as well.
Spec E30
Bushings: Camber plates, new urethane offset control arm bushings, urethane subframe bushings, urethane trailing-arm bushings (offset)
Wheel & Tire: 15x7 ET15 with 205/50-15 Spec Toyo tires
Springs & Shocks: H&R Race lowering springs, Bilstein Sport struts
Sway Bars & Braces: 25-mm front bar, 19-mm rear bar, front strut tower bar
Brakes: Stock wheel bearings, hubs, and brakes
Brake Lines: Stainless braided
Brake Pads: Racing-compound
Rotors: New, quality (Brembo or ATE)
Alignment: 1/16 toe-in at front, -3/-2 camber front/rear, spring pads for corner weighting
Notes: Alignment settings are a baseline, which varies depending on driver and track.