We had a plan for our 318is’s engine, but now we needed one for the suspension. Our goal? Build a comfortable street car that could still out-corner a real E30 M3. We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, but we did need to make some careful choices: should we run expensive coil-overs, for example? What about the bushings: rubber or …
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How do Eibach's spring rates compare to stock or an M3 of the era? How are bar sizes compared to those two?
I once owned a 318is (why I sold it I'll never know) but I installed the Bilstein BTS spring/shock combo and it was fantastic, just as advertised, ride firm but not uncomfortable with handling limits far beyond my driving ability. Great HPDE combo.
I would love to compare them when yo are done, but alas mine is gone
Most of the suspension stuff also applies to the 325is, does it not? I have an '89 and my goals are pretty similar to this project.
With my old 318is track car, I ran:
- Turner Motorsports J-Stock springs
- Bilstein Sports revalved to “Firehawk spec”
- Ireland Engineering front & rear ARBs, mounts, and bushings
- K-MAC camber plates
- Urethane engine, trans, diff, and rear subframe mounts (don’t remember the brand...AKG?)
- Various low-end tires: generally Toyo RA1s
Handling was completely neutral and benign. You could easily 4-wheel drift through pretty much any corner. Fast as heck around Tremblant.
Is there any logic to using the adjustable bushings vs welding on the adjustment tabs? I'm sure the welded one is a much bigger job, but is it worth it vs just doing the bushings?
Will you be revealing specifics on the components, settings, etc? I'm building my own e30 project using a Honda K24A2 engine from a 2008 TSX. The suspension setup you plan on using for Project 318is sounds perfect for my car, too.