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03-31-2008, 06:39 PM | #1 |
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My H&R Sport on 135i Impressions
Okay, you probably saw the teaser thread, where I spent a good portion of the day installing the H&R Sport springs. I wanted to post my impressions in a different thread from that teaser thread.
First, I think the drop looks perfect. There's about 3" in front, from the black "flippers" that stick down, to the even pavement. I'll be staying away from parking berms for sure. The car looks a bit wider, now that it's lower too, which is a positive thing to me. In addition to putting the springs on, I removed the metal screw-in alignment nub on top of the front strut hats, which allows me to add more negative camber, which I did. You'll get some negative camber, just by lowering the car as well. So, the wheels look a bit tucked too, and it appears I can get a good bit more tire in there now. Okay, on to driving.... It is raining, and the roads here are pock marked courses that look as if a series of cluster bomb campaigns were successfully carried out. Behind those cluster bombers were repair crews, who knew that the road would be hit again, so they were not at all careful about their hole-filling technique. The result is a patchwork of indents and bumps. I've driven these roads quite a bit with the stock suspended 135i, now I had a chance to navigate it with the new changes.... The car is no more harsh at all. Strangely, I almost thought it felt a bit more compliant. The "thuds" I hear are about the same volume and feel, when hitting the indents, and the bumps made the car feel similar to the stocker. I dunno if that's a good thing, but the ride qualities did not deteriorate. Understeer & Turn-in. I don't know if it's the extra camber, or the lower center of gravity, or a combination of the two, but I was hitting corners in the wet, that would have made the front push slightly in the dry, and in the rain, it just squirted around the corner. I tried to see how much faster I could take the corners by mid corner acceleration, and I could only induce throttle oversteer. The front never really gave up. I assume this will be a bit different in the dry, but I was pretty happy. Highways. I feel the back tramlining slightly in the wet (which it usually is the front that tramlines), and I assume that I'll need to break out my alignment gear, and do some fine tuning. I might just have too much negative camber, now that it's 1.5" lower, and I'll dial a bit out, which is pretty simple. Overall, I'm really pleased. I know that there are those of us that think any drop requires new shocks. If I was going any lower than this, I would agree. The H&R "Super Sports" (formerly called "Race") are the type of spring that I would say require different damping, as well as springs with quite a bit different spring rate too. The spring rates on these things are not too far from the factory M Sports, which feel "stout" themselves. I'll do one reposted pic: |
03-31-2008, 07:02 PM | #2 |
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Man, just when I thought I would do my first track day without any swaybar or spring changes, you go and make me want them even more. I love the look and agree it makes the car look a little wider.
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03-31-2008, 09:11 PM | #4 |
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Larry it looks amazing! Let me know how it rides in Boston though, since MA roads suck. Have any bottoming out problems? Reguardless, your car looks sweet! Can't wait for mine!! :w00t:
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03-31-2008, 11:25 PM | #5 |
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Looks awesome Larry, nice write-up
Can't wait to get this things on coilovers!!!
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04-01-2008, 01:05 AM | #6 |
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Cool.. changing the springs without the suspension is tempting.. I've never done it but you're turning me. Please write us a review after a few thousand to see how it goes (bottoming out, etc.).
Otherwise, looks awesome! Nice work!
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04-01-2008, 01:11 AM | #7 |
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Larry, I had an H&R I-cup suspension on my E-46 and I remember the wheels rubbing in the rear if I hit a bump. Have you experienced any rubbing or hitting of the rear tires?
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04-01-2008, 07:38 AM | #8 |
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There's no rubbing or bottom out. I kept the stock bump stops, which I haven't hit either. Matter of fact, I had these springs in my e90 (they are the same part number for the e90 and e82), and pulling out of dunkin donuts I would scrape in the e90, because the parking lot exit was pretty steep downhill. In the 1er, no scrapage. (I was kind of expecting it to scrape slightly too).
I'll do a followup in a few weeks, but these springs are already broken in, and at their height they'll remain at. |
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04-01-2008, 10:15 AM | #9 |
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Damn, I wonder how it would take on a sleeping cop (Top Gear reference) aka speed bump? I can't believe this slipped my mind but we recently moved and the new neighborhood we live in has speed bumps scattered all over the place. I might be fooked!
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04-02-2008, 11:44 AM | #10 | |
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Quote:
I thought it also had to do with the fact that you are decreasing your suspension travel from stock and thus increasing the chance of bottoming out your strut. I put H&R sports on my VW GTI the struts were gone within a year. I am sure the stock struts are more "robust" for say on the 135i, i am curious to see what the results after many miles are driven on the car. If it turns out ok, this seems like a good alternative to coilovers. I have KW V3's on my GTI now and my ride quality is sh*t. |
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04-17-2008, 01:36 PM | #13 |
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Just mounted the same on mine. Looks good!!
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04-17-2008, 01:38 PM | #14 | |
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Quote:
thats what my gti buddy said when I put springs on my audi...but I've had no issues and the shocks are still fine
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04-17-2008, 03:46 PM | #16 |
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265's on back? Prbably doable. I had 255's on back with room to spare on the inside with a 17x9 wheel with 41 offset. If you did a 45 or 47 offset, you should be able to get 265s in back. 235 or 245 are also doable up front with the correct wheel/offset.
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04-17-2008, 03:55 PM | #17 |
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3 week later update
As an update, I've driven about 600 miles with the springs on it, and it still feels pretty stock. The stock suspension is loud over broken pavement, and you hear things much more than you feel them. This continues to be the case with the H&R sports. As an added bonus, the turn-in is a LOT more crisp, with the added negative camber of the lowering, plus removing the strut hat alignment pin.
There still is no rubbing at all, and although I left the two bottom flaps on the front of my car, I have yet to scrape on anything yet, presumably because of the very short front overhang. Looks wise, it hasn't settled any more, since these springs were in my e90 and are already broken in. I do have one slight negative.... On all the H&R e82 pics I've seen show the front a bit lower than the rear, just as mine is. Although that gives it a more aggressive stance, I'd like it a bit more level.. maybe another 1/2 inch higher in front, or a half inch lower in back. |
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04-17-2008, 05:11 PM | #18 |
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Thanks for the update, that is great news. I just got mine in and have an install appointment for the 29th. I have never installed them and the local Performance shop will install them, give me a 4 wheel laser alignment, and do my BMWCCA Tech inspect all for $400. I didn't think that was too bad. I plan to watch every step as well so next time I can just do it myself.
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04-17-2008, 05:17 PM | #19 |
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Awesome price! The fronts are a bear to get out from under the fender without scratching anything. I had about 15 layers of racing tape on the inside and outside of the fender lip.
I think you're going to like it! |
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04-17-2008, 08:21 PM | #20 |
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thanks for the update!!! I've really been trying to decide if I want to do the H&R sports or do some coilovers. I too thought that the cars with just the springs looked too tall in the back. Anyone put the the car on scales? I may just spring for the coilovers and cornerweight the car.
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04-17-2008, 08:49 PM | #22 |
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No.. I didn't have that on the e90 either. You'll still get the bang, due to the runflats, but the springs add no noise that I can tell, so far. It is a tad firmer, but not much. The 135i already feels pretty "stout" in stock form.. firm and well put together, when driving it.
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