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      05-20-2013, 03:33 PM   #1
Jamesons Viggen
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H&R Sport spring review

The F30 has a way of being a bit of a let down out of the box in regards to steering(heft and feedback) and handling(body roll).

Here, we have a great stiff unibody @ 30% more rigidity over it's predecessor but it seems as if controls and feedback have a layer of cream making it hard to feel the benefit.

It started proper sticky non RFT Michelin PSS' mounted on 20% lighter wheels. Combined with the H&R springs, this should almost be a trifecta or complete option package.

To be honest, I did this mainly as an aesthetic mod, but I would say it's 70/30 as the 30 is actual performance benefit.

Steering:
Heft has definitely increased. I have not driven an E90 in a couple of months, but I feel like it's closer without it being annoyingly heavy.

Feedback is a notch better as well. It is not the return of hydraulic feedback, I feel that is impossible. But I feel an peelback in layers now, I get a bit more communication as to the road surface, more of what I love about the helm of my E36.

Handling:
More information is being transmitted and with a feel of less weight shift/weight transfer. This is felt in braking and even lower speed corners. There is definitely less body roll, certainly not an elimination, but I do not expect that in a 3 series.



Summary:
I feel like this is how the car would have felt if it was an E90+F30 offspring. We get the increased F30 dimensions and stiffness and only a smidge of softening. This can be taken further with a rear swaybar to truly tackle the body roll and struts/shocks to shift it even more from a sedan and more towards SPORTS sedan. I will wait for a rear bar and see if it is worth stopping there.



Here is a pic of the car FILTHY. The springs will settle and lower it a bit more in the front.
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Last edited by Jamesons Viggen; 05-20-2013 at 03:38 PM..
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      05-20-2013, 04:30 PM   #2
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Hey Jameson that is a perfect stance IMHO. What would you say the affect will be on the other susp. components since you went springs only, Do you think that coil overs is the only way to go to insure that other front end components do not suffer failure? I realize you did just the springs but you read so much on the net about spring only change outs being a short cut to lowering stance with long term negative results. I have the adaptive susp. in my sport line and have been one button away from buying the H&R sports myself. Just don't want to regret the move and have to reverse the install. Thanks
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      05-20-2013, 04:38 PM   #3
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nice, how big are your wheels?
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      05-20-2013, 05:16 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1bad335 View Post
Hey Jameson that is a perfect stance IMHO. What would you say the affect will be on the other susp. components since you went springs only, Do you think that coil overs is the only way to go to insure that other front end components do not suffer failure? I realize you did just the springs but you read so much on the net about spring only change outs being a short cut to lowering stance with long term negative results. I have the adaptive susp. in my sport line and have been one button away from buying the H&R sports myself. Just don't want to regret the move and have to reverse the install. Thanks
The H&R Sports are mild, I do not see an issue in regard to premature failure of other components. I have done similar drops with stock struts on previous cars with no such issue. I only had an issue killing struts when I put on Intrax springs which were aggressive and had the nickname "Strut Killers".

Quote:
Originally Posted by superkevx View Post
nice, how big are your wheels?
19x8.5 f 19x10 r 235f/275r for tires.
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      05-20-2013, 06:36 PM   #5
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Not the same angle, but you get the idea:
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      05-20-2013, 06:41 PM   #6
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Thanks. Looks like H&R is added to my list.
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      05-20-2013, 07:09 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1bad335 View Post
Thanks. Looks like H&R is added to my list.
Yep.

Wife came home and showed her, we agree it's perfect. Lowered without screaming LOWERED.

It took a lot of control to not buy Super Sports when I saw them for sale cheap. But $245 shipped for the Sports was a good deal and worth the hold out.

I also scored NEW MPerformance grilles for $55 shipped. I will have pics later this week when they are on. I was on the fence and was going to do a color matched outer, but for $50 bucks I can't go wrong.
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      05-22-2013, 01:06 PM   #8
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Jamesons,

Car looks great. I love my Sport springs also, but I started getting a squeak/squeak noise coming from the rear (after 3000 kms of driving with the new springs). Even opened a thread about it here.

Did you modify anything to install the rears at all? Added anything? Curious. Thanks!
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      05-22-2013, 01:21 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TJF30 View Post
Jamesons,

Car looks great. I love my Sport springs also, but I started getting a squeak/squeak noise coming from the rear (after 3000 kms of driving with the new springs). Even opened a thread about it here.

Did you modify anything to install the rears at all? Added anything? Curious. Thanks!
Nope.

Since time has gone by for you, I would just take it back to where it was installed. Maybe the spring perch/rubber isolator has walked a bit.
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      05-22-2013, 01:40 PM   #10
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Makes sense. I'll take it there this week.
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      05-22-2013, 08:43 PM   #11
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what kind of rims do you have James? They look nice

edit: jamesons?
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      05-22-2013, 09:00 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by momo3605 View Post
what kind of rims do you have James? They look nice

edit: jamesons?
ForgeStar F14 in gunmetal 19x8.5f/19x10r
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      05-23-2013, 02:58 PM   #13
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I share your sentiments to the T. The springs, tires and wheels gave me enough feel while still benefiting from the efficiency and added space of the f30. I'm a satisfied customer now
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      05-24-2013, 12:38 PM   #14
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Looks great...how's the ride quality and any bounciness?
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      05-24-2013, 02:38 PM   #15
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Agree that is the perfect, not over the top, drop. For what these cost I think this will become #1 on my list of future mod plans.

(already have M Performance Grills, painted reflectors and some other cosmetic mods sitting here in boxes waiting for the new ride to finish that trip across the Atlantic...)
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      05-24-2013, 04:51 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dinh335 View Post
Looks great...how's the ride quality and any bounciness?
Nothing negative to report at this time.
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      06-07-2013, 11:31 AM   #17
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offset?

What's the et on your wheels?
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      06-07-2013, 11:45 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_n1 View Post
What's the et on your wheels?
Dunno, Forgestar kind of does whatever lol.
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      06-07-2013, 01:04 PM   #19
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Sorry to thread jack, I just did the springs and love them! I did em last week and since then my headlights point to the sky... Anyone else have this happen/know of a fix? I hadn't heard about this prior to my experience and I'm completely baffled
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      06-07-2013, 01:11 PM   #20
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IDK about pointing to the sky, but I did adjust mine after having the springs on for a week but I had to point mine up as when they were on dim and a car was coming at me i could not see the road at all.
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      06-07-2013, 02:10 PM   #21
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There's a thread for adjusting the headlights somewhere. It's literally a philips screw that you access from opening the hood. It takes about a minute to do.
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