How do I get that SPECTACULAR stance?

[Nawaaz]

I've been doing tons and tons of reading and searching lately and I've almost come up with the perfect solution when I finally get my new E90 M3. My plan is to use 15mm H&R spacers all around. What I'm having trouble deciding is which springs to go with: *RD springs or H&R springs* Also, will the 15mm spacers all around help the performance of my M3, or will they work against the car?

I've heard that the RD springs will lower it a tad bit more than the H&R's, but I'm hesitating because so many M3 owners use H&R springs compared to RD's.

May I please get your help in deciding what will look and perform the best? My "near future" E90 M3 will have the standard 18 inch wheels and I plan on keeping those wheels. The 18 inch wheels are so underrated, but these pics of fellow owners have inspired me to get the same exact set-up.

The first 4 pics are of "John@BMW's" car (RD springs & 15mm H&R spacers all around)

[Nawaaz]

and more...

[doba_s]

i would go with 12mm front and 15 rear ... RD and H&R will be a good choice to drop it ... not sure if it will perform better ...

[aus]

I thoght most people used 12mm front and 10mm rear spacers?

[signes]

Most are doing 15F/12R from what I have seen. Although Greg posted pics of his car with 12 both front and read and I liked the look. Quite honestly, I don't see a lot of difference between the H&R and RD Sport springs, although the latter looks a little more aggressive. If you are doing it for looks alone, pick the look that you like best. If you are concerned about performance, spacers aren't going to add much and past a point will be detrimental.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by doba_s

i would go with 12mm front and 15 rear ... RD and H&R will be a good choice to drop it ... not sure if it will perform better ...

Would the performance be "untouched" if do the springs and 15mm spacers?
If I don't gain any performance, I'm just worried if the M3's handling won't degrade at all if I do these two modifications. Also, the 15mm all around looks so darn good, I don't know if I'll regret with going for anything different...

Originally Posted by aus

I thoght most people used 12mm front and 10mm rear spacers?

From what I've read, most M3 owners go with 15mm at the front and 12mm at the back (correct me if I've mistaken). Do you feel that it would seem awkward to go with a higher/lower mm compared to the front/rear? I know that the front can use more mm's than the rear, but.......

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by signes

Most are doing 15F/12R from what I have seen. Although Greg posted pics of his car with 12 both front and read and I liked the look. Quite honestly, I don't see a lot of difference between the H&R and RD Sport springs, although the latter looks a little more aggressive. If you are doing it for looks alone, pick the look that you like best. If you are concerned about performance, spacers aren't going to add anything and past a point will be detrimental.

The single most important factor I'm worried about is: Will I hurt the performance of my M3 if I go with 15 mm all around, combined with the RD springs?

I wouldn't think only 15mm would hurt anything, but I feel nervous messing with the excellent stock suspension. You'd probably tell me not to do anything if I feel nervous at all.....But I really, really, really want that aggressive stance without messing up the performance & handling at all. Does anyone feel that I'll degrade the handling or performance of my M3?

[E92Baked]

I hear you brotha, i'm on the fence about spacers too. pple are saying it's fine, but i hear mixed reviews. I'm really confused.....

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by E92Baked

I hear you brotha, i'm on the fence about spacers too. pple are saying it's fine, but i hear mixed reviews. I'm really confused.....

+1,001. Why do things have to be so complicated (besides the fact that I make it so complicated)?

[E92Baked]

I hear alot about turning radius, and tire wear. i'm planning on 15/15 all around but tom from EAS suggested 18front/15rear. I don't know if I can make a full U-turn without backing up. I live in NYC so roads are tight.

[E92Baked]

The aggressive stance looks amazing. Not sure about lowering the car tho, NYC roads are just awful. Potholes everywhere........

[Nawaaz]

^^I've heard about the turning radius and wearing out the tire issue also, but I don't know what to make of it. I don't know why, but I strongly feel that lowering the car with springs and 15 mm spacers will have no negative affect...Or at least that's what I want to believe. I would be perfectly ok if doesn't help the performance, but if it hurts it....Then I may have to change my mind on the whole thing, despite how badly I want that stunning look.

[tightie]

20mm upfront.

12mm in the rear

[niqui]

i want to put spacers too, but dont want to drop the car...just spacers for a better stance...but have heard that more stones and crap flies up from the wheels and chips the side panels...is this an urban legend/?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by aus

I thoght most people used 12mm front and 10mm rear spacers?

They do on e46 M3s. Most e9X M3s get the 12/15mm treatment.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

Would the performance be "untouched" if do the springs and 15mm spacers?
If I don't gain any performance, I'm just worried if the M3's handling won't degrade at all if I do these two modifications. Also, the 15mm all around looks so darn good, I don't know if I'll regret with going for anything different...

Quote the opposite - you're actually gaining approximately 1" of additional track width.

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

From what I've read, most M3 owners go with 15mm at the front and 12mm at the back (correct me if I've mistaken). Do you feel that it would seem awkward to go with a higher/lower mm compared to the front/rear? I know that the front can use more mm's than the rear, but.......

The 15/12 kits are the most popular, go simply with what you feel is best.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Quote the opposite - you're actually gaining approximately 1" of additional track width.

The 15/12 kits are the most popular, go simply with what you feel is best.

Definitely, the 15/12 combo is the most popular......But I saw those pics above and it's hard for me to settle with anything less than what they did. What do you think Tom? I'll be running with the same standard 18 inch wheels as the cars in the pics (if that puts me at an advantage compared to the 19's). I really want to go with 15mm all around since it looks so darn good in the above pics. I may give it a shot, but I just hate to do something I'll regret. I want to get it right the first time. I'd really hate to go through additional stress because of a quick decision. I just don't want to alter the stock handling & performance if it's going to affect my M3 in even the slightest "negative" way.

[MrHarris]

15F/12R

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

Definitely, the 15/12 combo is the most popular......But I saw those pics above and it's hard for me to settle with anything less than what they did. What do you think Tom? I'll be running with the same standard 18 inch wheels as the cars in the pics (if that puts me at an advantage compared to the 19's). I really want to go with 15mm all around since it looks so darn good in the above pics. I may give it a shot, but I just hate to do something I'll regret. I want to get it right the first time. I'd really hate to go through additional stress because of a quick decision. I just don't want to alter the stock handling & performance if it's going to affect my M3 in even the slightest "negative" way.

here's a recent install on factory 18s using the 15/10mm setup:

[Nawaaz]

^^Hmmmm....I guess it's so hard to tell since we're looking at only millimeters. I still can't get over looks of the first pics that I posted . I don't know why, but I strongly feel that if I space the front out by 15mm, then I should space the rear with the same. That way both ends would have changed equally, and I'd know that also. If I do 15/12, I'll always know that the front will always be space a little more than the back.

When I do the spacing, shouldn't it all be evenly modified so that I don't throw off the balance of the car?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

^^Hmmmm....I guess it's so hard to tell since we're looking at only millimeters. I still can't get over looks of the first pics that I posted . I don't know why, but I strongly feel that if I space the front out by 15mm, then I should space the rear with the same. That way both ends would have changed equally, and I'd know that also. If I do 15/12, I'll always know that the front will always be space a little more than the back.

When I do the spacing, shouldn't it all be evenly modified so that I don't throw off the balance of the car?

2mm will not throw off the balance, it would be mostly for aesthetics if anything. Suspension and wider tires play more of a factor than the difference between a 12mm and 15mm spacer.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

2mm will not throw off the balance, it would be mostly for aesthetics if anything. Suspension and wider tires play more of a factor than the difference between a 12mm and 15mm spacer.

One last important question for you Tom:

Will I degrade my M3's stock performance and/or handling if I go with lowering springs and 15mm spacers all around?