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      03-10-2009, 08:16 PM   #1
kkhurr
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Want to get the car lowered but is it worth it? What do you guys think?

I just got the car about a month ago and changed over from the E46 M3. I changed over the wheels too and added spacers.
10mm in the front and 13mm (had them grinded down) in the rear. It helps but the gap in the front is driving my crazy lol.
Im still surprised that BMW left such a huge gap there...it looks terrible...

I want to get the car lowered but with all this reading ive been doing about the car riding on the bump stops and the OEM
shocks going out in about a year etc...it makes me wonder if its worth it. Plus BMW did this for a reason.
So much research goes into having the car this height with this much gap that it makes me wonder if i should mess with it...

A LOT of guys have already lowered the car and to those guys who did it looks GREAT. But im wondering if its worth it...

Heres pics of the car. I feel the car looks ok but it could be sitting a lot better on those wheels...

Also its nice to meet everyone on M3post. Everyones rides looks awesome!
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Last edited by kkhurr; 03-10-2009 at 08:21 PM.. Reason: make it easier to read
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      03-10-2009, 09:14 PM   #2
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drop it too much gap
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      03-10-2009, 10:05 PM   #3
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Hey nice M3. I say to definitely drop it. I also contemplated on doing it but ended up just doing the H&R's and I couldn't be happier with it. Ride changes a bit but well worth it IMO. It'll look 10x better!
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      03-10-2009, 10:07 PM   #4
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DROP IT!
Needs a drop!
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      03-10-2009, 11:00 PM   #5
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If you are concerned about the BMW shocks giving out (and it's a very legitimate concern), I wouldn't listen to ANYONE's opinion that has less than 12-15,000 miles on a springs-only setup.

Just my opinion.
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      03-10-2009, 11:08 PM   #6
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It's so much better dropped.
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      03-10-2009, 11:12 PM   #7
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YES, YES, YES, YES, and YES
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      03-10-2009, 11:16 PM   #8
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IMO, i think drop only make it looks good. It has no performance gain what so ever which could even potential worsen the track performance in some extent.. I think it all depends what your are looking for. If the gap bother you that much, then drop it. If you plan to take it to the track regularly, i will say stick with the stock spring... I also have been so tempting to drop, it certainly looks better. But not until single evidence that can prove a after market spring perform better than stock setup, i dont think i will a put a new spring on a 65k track ready car..

just my 2 cents
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      03-11-2009, 08:16 AM   #9
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I think your rim choice over emphasizes the wheel gap unfortunately

Dropping it for looks only, prob no performance gain that you can demonstrate on the track
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      03-11-2009, 09:25 AM   #10
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Im in the same boat.

I originally was going to go with RD springs but thought it might be to low for city driving and being a PITA going up drive ways and such.

Then I was thinking HR being the happy medium but not sure if it makes the ride worse and negative affects in handling.

Fcking BMW.........why did they make a M3 Xi???
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      03-11-2009, 01:08 PM   #11
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Whoa - is that an M3xi? That's SWEET!

Just kidding. I'd lower it, though. Nice ///M
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      03-11-2009, 03:17 PM   #12
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Honestly I cant see any drawback from lowering the car other than the shocks wearing out sooner (i doubt they will go out in a year). I could be wrong but, BMW has the car so raised not because of performance but because of the bumper height needed to pass crash safety inspections (thats why other countries--japan--have lower m3's from the factory).

If you are worried about scraping the bumper I honestly can say I have put close to 1000 miles on RD sports on 18" wheels and have yet to rub anywhere (even my dirveway which is super steep compared to anything you will find in miami). Previous M3's seem to have been lower than these for some reason. I havent rubbed on a single speed bump, entrance, etc. Just keep it slow.
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      03-11-2009, 03:33 PM   #13
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You need a drop for sure, as already mentioned before, there really is no down side to lowering your M, other then the already mentioned pre-mature wear of the shocks.

Sport springs will do, or even a set of coilovers if you want adjustability.
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      03-13-2009, 12:28 AM   #14
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your rims definitely emphasize the problem. With the stock 19's my rears look perfect, especially while driving. The front does have some gap but i can deal with it. The spacers on OEM 19's make the car look wider and much better.
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      03-13-2009, 02:25 AM   #15
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springs should be the first mod you do on a car
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      03-13-2009, 03:43 AM   #16
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Yeah springs actually aren't all that bad
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      03-13-2009, 10:35 AM   #17
kkhurr
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Thanks for the input guys. I decided to go ahead and have it lowered i ordered the springs and hopefully will have them in by next week.

Thanks to m34jlp for recommending a reputable place in Miami to have it done.

I actually went to the place m34jlp recoomended in person to check it out and i saw a New Black Nissan Skyline on the lift and a Porsche Turbo being worked on. I figured im in the right place. Thanks to everyone who gave input. Hopefully after lowering it the car will look the way it should and not like an some sort of a Desert racing baja race car made by BMW...

Since im using my old rims from my E46 M3 i hope it sits ok afterwards and i wont need to change spacers...I guess well have to wait and see.

Have a good weekend everyone.
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      03-13-2009, 12:16 PM   #18
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Glad I could help. Post pics after install.
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      03-13-2009, 10:09 PM   #19
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Do it right. Get Coil overs.
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Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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      03-14-2009, 02:52 AM   #20
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get coilovers.
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      03-14-2009, 10:04 AM   #21
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If tightie still has his coild for sale, you could buy his. Don't just do springs.
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Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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      03-14-2009, 10:16 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m34jlp View Post
I could be wrong but, BMW has the car so raised not because of performance but because of the bumper height needed to pass crash safety inspections (thats why other countries--japan--have lower m3's from the factory).
The 335 coupe rides about an inch lower than the M3 coupe, so the bumpers are clearly not the issue.
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