[Keik E92 M3]

I am looking into lowering my car, I have a 2011 335 M sport. My first question is, if i lower my vehicle will i loose handling performance and ride comfort? I have sports suspension on my car and it rides perfect to me...

I have 19" rims running 235 35 19 in front and rear 265 30 19...

What are my options?

Thanks

[mrj25]

I'm going with the oem performance shocks from tischer and eibach pro springs. My tires are like yours at 235/35/19 and 260/30/19. How wide are your rims and offset?

[Keik E92 M3]

- 19"x8.5" ET35mm Front 235/35/19
- 19"x9.5" ET33mm Rear 265/30/19

[mrj25]

If you want a conservative drop with handling similar to the stock sport, I'd stick with eibach pro sport. If you want to go more aggressive, go with h&r sport.

[Keik E92 M3]

Like these correct? http://www.**********s.com/Eibach-Pr...90-E92-E93.htm

Thanks for helping me to i really appreciate it.

[mrj25]

Originally Posted by keikdasneak

Like these correct? http://www.**********s.com/Eibach-Pr...90-E92-E93.htm

Thanks for helping me to i really appreciate it.

Yup you found them. With the set up you got, your ride will look clean.

[Gavin@MMW]

The Eibach Prokit will be exactly what your looking for, and the ride will be very close to the aport ride you have now. And won't wear the OEM shocks that fast.

Or are you planning on swapping shocks also?

[Keik E92 M3]

Originally Posted by Gavin@MMW

The Eibach Prokit will be exactly what your looking for, and the ride will be very close to the aport ride you have now. And won't wear the OEM shocks that fast.

Or are you planning on swapping shocks also?

Thanks, would i need to swap the shocks? How much would all that be?

[Gavin@MMW]

You can't have too many miles on the OEM stuff if its a 2011, so they will last for a while. But with a shock upgrade normally ride comfort changes, koni yellow is a good option because they adjust. They are a little pricey though, and konis + springs runs very close to a coilover setup, so at that point its a choice between the 2 systems, what they offer, and your wants for the car.

[Keik E92 M3]

Well my car has 2k miles on it. I plan on having it for three years MAX... Will springs alone last that long?

[cssnms]

Originally Posted by keikdasneak

- 19"x8.5" ET35mm Front 235/35/19
- 19"x9.5" ET33mm Rear 265/30/19

That is a pretty agressive offset in the rear for an LCI, you may find you will rub after lowering your car, so a fender roll might be needed.

As to your question, yes, you will impact the ride comfort and handling performance of your car and not necessarily for the better if you were to JUST put springs on. You need to pair a lowering spring with a shock better designed for the lower ride height and spring rate of the springs.

Take a look at the BMW performance dampers from Tischer (they are a sponsor under the vendors suspension forum). The dampers will be moderately more stiff than your zsp shocks and they are designed to work with a slightly lower spring. The shocks are only $133 on close-out (retail for $800+). Inventory is running VERY low and once they are gone they are gone.

Based on your needs (drop, improved handling performance, while maintaining some of the stock ride comfort) I would recommend pairing the performance dampers with the Eibach Pro Kit Springs. (I have this set up too)

[Keik E92 M3]

Originally Posted by cssnms

That is a pretty agressive offset in the rear for an LCI, you may find you will rub after lowering your car, so a fender roll might be needed.

As to your question, yes, you will impact the ride comfort and handling performance of your car and not necessarily for the better if you were to JUST put springs on. You need to pair a lowering spring with a shock better designed for the lower ride height and spring rate of the springs.

Take a look at the BMW performance dampers from Tischer (they are a sponsor under the vendors suspension forum). The dampers will be moderately more stiff than your zsp shocks and they are designed to work with a slightly lower spring. The shocks are only $133 on close-out (retail for $800+). Inventory is running VERY low and once they are gone they are gone.

Based on your needs (drop, improved handling performance, while maintaining some of the stock ride comfort) I would recommend pairing the performance dampers with the Eibach Pro Kit Springs. (I have this set up too)

I heard the BMW dampers don't work with LCI versions???

Thanks!

[cssnms]

Originally Posted by keikdasneak

I heard the BMW dampers don't work with LCI versions???

Thanks!

Yes they will work with your e90 lci. After confirming part numbers (pre lci vs lci) with Evan at Tischer the shocks are viturally the same, same part numbers except the pre lci rear shock is off by one digit and Evan couldn't tell me what that 1 digit meant. Based on this I purchased the performance shocks for my e90 lci.

[coolchu001]

sorry to budge in.... but I have a non sport suspension, can I get those BMW performance shocks (from tischer) + the eibach pro springs? Will I need anything else?

[Keik E92 M3]

Originally Posted by cssnms

Yes they will work with your e90 lci. After confirming part numbers (pre lci vs lci) with Evan at Tischer the shocks are viturally the same, same part numbers except the pre lci rear shock is off by one digit and Evan couldn't tell me what that 1 digit meant. Based on this I purchased the performance shocks for my e90 lci.

Okay thanks! So it made a noticeable different from stock suspension? any pictures with the lower ride?

I am going to order mine today! THANK YOU!

[SV Concepts III]

With aftermarket springs, you are going to a firmer spring rate that will reduce roll and improve handling. You certainly won't lose control or handling by upgrading the springs.

[Gavin@MMW]

Originally Posted by keikdasneak

Well my car has 2k miles on it. I plan on having it for three years MAX... Will springs alone last that long?

All depends on driving style, you will probably get 20K miles out of it before they blow, maybe more. (with Eibach prokit)

[cssnms]

Originally Posted by coolchu001

sorry to budge in.... but I have a non sport suspension, can I get those BMW performance shocks (from tischer) + the eibach pro springs? Will I need anything else?

Yes. Mine is/was a non sports suspension as well.

[cssnms]

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

With aftermarket springs, you are going to a firmer spring rate that will reduce roll and improve handling. You certainly won't lose control or handling by upgrading the springs.

I disagree with that statement, at least in a general sense. OEM suspension components are engineered to work in concert with each other. Simply slapping stiffer/lower springs on a car will not necessarily improve handling and quite the contrary, it could create a situation of instability under certain conditions as well as compromising ride comfort. OEM shocks are not designed to handle the higher spring rates of most lowering springs, nor are they engineered for the lower ride height.

That said, I would say there are exceptions; the Eibach Pro Kit springs with a moderate drop have a spring rate closer to that of the zsp springs in which case they should peform better then others mentioned, albeit the zsp dampers are not engineered for the lower drop of the eibachs.

[SV Concepts III]

Originally Posted by cssnms

I disagree with that statement, at least in a general sense. OEM suspension components are engineered to work in concert with each other. Simply slapping stiffer/lower springs on a car will not necessarily improve handling and quite the contrary, it could create a situation of instability under certain conditions as well as compromising ride comfort. OEM shocks are not designed to handle the higher spring rates of most lowering springs, nor are they engineered for the lower ride height.

That said, I would say there are exceptions; the Eibach Pro Kit springs with a moderate drop have a spring rate closer to that of the zsp springs in which case they should peform better then others mentioned, albeit the zsp dampers are not engineered for the lower drop of the eibachs.

You are correct in that opting for the stiffest suspension possible can upset the car's balance, especially in a track situation. Part of a suspension's job is to absorb road imperfections so the car is not bouncing off of bumps and causing it to become unstable.

However, the upgrades he is considering are designed to improve the car's handling without ruining the balance that the car is designed to have from the factory. The Eibach Pro Kit and H&R Sport Springs are both options that would maintain this poise while still providing a substantial improvement in handling and reduction in body roll.

[cssnms]

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

You are correct in that opting for the stiffest suspension possible can upset the car's balance, especially in a track situation. Part of a suspension's job is to absorb road imperfections so the car is not bouncing off of bumps and causing it to become unstable.

However, the upgrades he is considering are designed to improve the car's handling without ruining the balance that the car is designed to have from the factory. The Eibach Pro Kit and H&R Sport Springs are both options that would maintain this poise while still providing a substantial improvement in handling and reduction in body roll.

The higher spring rate and lower stance of the H&R's makes them an unsuitable option when the intent is to pair them with OEM shocks IMO. The mere fact that OEM shocks prematurely fail is an indicator they are not designed to be paired together. There are plenty of threads/reports regarding the composure and ride quality of these springs when paired with OEM shocks and they are not all favorable.

[SV Concepts III]

Originally Posted by cssnms

The higher spring rate and lower stance of the H&R's makes them an unsuitable option when the intent is to pair them with OEM shocks IMO. The mere fact that OEM shocks prematurely fail is an indicator they are not designed to be paired together. There are plenty of threads/reports regarding the composure and ride quality of these springs when paired with OEM shocks and they are not all favorable.

OE shocks will fail over time with either the Eibach or H&R kit, they are both stiffer spring rates that put more stress on the factory shock valving so that is to be expected. This is why most replace the springs and shocks at the same time to find a matched set and avoid double labor charges by doing the swap at once.