Ride Height

G_Anders · 10-31-2010, 07:48 PM

So I bought a 08 few days ago and Im thinking its really low to the ground. Maybe its just me but the clearance on the 18" rims to the fenderwell is really close. How do I tell if its been lowered (springs, shocks,etc) only because Im looking to get the 19" style 220 rims. I need to know if I'll have enough room or will it rub

M3fan-atic · 10-31-2010, 07:58 PM

If you go to a 19" rim and a little lower profile tire you shouldn't have any problems with rubbing.

montreal red · 10-31-2010, 08:01 PM

the car looks like its lowered ... the factory set up is significantly higher off the ground than that.

u can still fit 19s. u will just need lower profile (thinner sidewall) tires.

jdgamble · 10-31-2010, 08:26 PM

Definitely lowered... Mine sits a lot higher.

ooowowizstev · 10-31-2010, 08:27 PM

Check the springs. My car sits like that on H&R springs.

G_Anders · 10-31-2010, 08:39 PM

Should I leave it this way or is it better to put the OEM springs back in. I like the slammed look but dont want to bottom out my car on speed bumps or driveways. Its aprox. 6" from the ground to the oil pan if I were to guess

G_Anders · 10-31-2010, 08:43 PM

Ok I just went and measured it and from the garage floor to the oil pan is 4"

LateBraking · 10-31-2010, 08:47 PM

Firstly, if you take a look and your springs are a color other than black (red, blue), then yeah, modded. Just get under your car and take a look.

Pretty sure that's a formerly modded car, I mean, former owner even painted the calipers red! Calipers also look like paint is chipping a little in photo 1?

G_Anders · 10-31-2010, 08:55 PM

With it being lowered does it effect the way it handles? Sorry for all the questions but Im concerned with it being that low to the ground

G_Anders · 10-31-2010, 09:21 PM

Alright, I just went back out and checked the springs I have red on all four corners

LateBraking · 10-31-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G_Anders

Alright, I just went back out and checked the springs I have red on all four corners

Congrats, you have H&R Springs. And for free too, hell, others pay to get them.

Anyways, will they negatively impact handling? That's the subject of much, much, much debate on these forums, but the generally accepted answer is no, as long as you don't lower your car too excessively. Lowering a vehicle can (but not always will) actually improve handling. It's just not as simple as lower=better.

H&R lowers around 1 inch in the front and 0.6 inches in the rear, so it's not too bad IMO. There will be those that agree, and those that disagree though.

montreal red · 10-31-2010, 10:35 PM

you should be ok driving on those lowered springs. if you really want to go back to oem u can always get someone to trade with you. i am sure someone in the area will be willing to swap oem springs for some lower aftermarket springs.

you just have to be careful when you go up and down curbs and ramps thats all. and your handling should be close to stock with those springs installed. it doesnt change the characteristics of the car all that much.

GewoW · 10-31-2010, 11:06 PM

go back to OEM. it takes more than just replacing springs to make sure the suspension works nicely. i.e. did the person change the bump stops and shave the guide supports? who knows...don't take the risk - go back to stock or make sure what I just mentioned was changed

JCtx · 10-31-2010, 11:57 PM

Car is too low to the ground stock already IMO, even though it looks better lowered. I'd put it back to stock if you can, and get it realigned as well. Good luck.

kaykay · 11-01-2010, 03:01 AM

Yeah, lowered 100%

ambroses · 11-01-2010, 06:29 AM

I have the h&r on my e90 daily driver In Michigan and have no problems though you do need to watch steep driveways.

G_Anders · 11-23-2010, 09:33 PM

Thanks everyone

Dengel · 11-23-2010, 10:32 PM

get some spacers too. bull dog stance on 19's is awesome

10-31-2010, 07:48 PM	#1
G_Anders Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Ride Height So I bought a 08 few days ago and Im thinking its really low to the ground. Maybe its just me but the clearance on the 18" rims to the fenderwell is really close. How do I tell if its been lowered (springs, shocks,etc) only because Im looking to get the 19" style 220 rims. I need to know if I'll have enough room or will it rub Attached Images
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10-31-2010, 07:58 PM	#2
M3fan-atic New Member 1 Rep 19 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: CORONA iTrader: (0)	If you go to a 19" rim and a little lower profile tire you shouldn't have any problems with rubbing.
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10-31-2010, 08:01 PM	#3
montreal red chris 278 Rep 12,144 Posts Drives: White Boat Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (31)	the car looks like its lowered ... the factory set up is significantly higher off the ground than that. u can still fit 19s. u will just need lower profile (thinner sidewall) tires. __________________ Current: 2013 F10 M5 & 2016 Mini JCW 2013 GLK350 (gone), 997.1 GT3RS (gone), 2009 WRX STI (gone), e92 M3 (gone)
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10-31-2010, 08:26 PM	#4
jdgamble Captain 298 Rep 798 Posts Drives: 18 CQM M3 - My family car Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (0)	Definitely lowered... Mine sits a lot higher. __________________ 18 CQM M3
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10-31-2010, 08:27 PM	#5
ooowowizstev Brigadier General 141 Rep 4,903 Posts Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles, Irvine iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [10.00]	Check the springs. My car sits like that on H&R springs. __________________ '08 E92 ///M3 - AW/BLK/CF, M-DCT, 19's H&R, Vorsteiner, Eisenmann, BMC, BBS More to come...
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10-31-2010, 08:39 PM	#6
G_Anders Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Should I leave it this way or is it better to put the OEM springs back in. I like the slammed look but dont want to bottom out my car on speed bumps or driveways. Its aprox. 6" from the ground to the oil pan if I were to guess
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10-31-2010, 08:43 PM	#7
G_Anders Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Ok I just went and measured it and from the garage floor to the oil pan is 4"
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10-31-2010, 08:47 PM	#8
LateBraking Brigadier General 327 Rep 3,882 Posts Drives: Relatively Quick. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.S.A. iTrader: (27)	Firstly, if you take a look and your springs are a color other than black (red, blue), then yeah, modded. Just get under your car and take a look. Pretty sure that's a formerly modded car, I mean, former owner even painted the calipers red! Calipers also look like paint is chipping a little in photo 1?
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10-31-2010, 08:55 PM	#9
G_Anders Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	With it being lowered does it effect the way it handles? Sorry for all the questions but Im concerned with it being that low to the ground
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10-31-2010, 09:21 PM	#10
G_Anders Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Alright, I just went back out and checked the springs I have red on all four corners
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10-31-2010, 10:35 PM	#12
montreal red chris 278 Rep 12,144 Posts Drives: White Boat Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (31)	you should be ok driving on those lowered springs. if you really want to go back to oem u can always get someone to trade with you. i am sure someone in the area will be willing to swap oem springs for some lower aftermarket springs. you just have to be careful when you go up and down curbs and ramps thats all. and your handling should be close to stock with those springs installed. it doesnt change the characteristics of the car all that much. __________________ Current: 2013 F10 M5 & 2016 Mini JCW 2013 GLK350 (gone), 997.1 GT3RS (gone), 2009 WRX STI (gone), e92 M3 (gone)
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10-31-2010, 11:06 PM	#13
GewoW #thatsanicemovebro 202 Rep 3,920 Posts Drives: E92 M3 LSB/Black 6MT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.34]	go back to OEM. it takes more than just replacing springs to make sure the suspension works nicely. i.e. did the person change the bump stops and shave the guide supports? who knows...don't take the risk - go back to stock or make sure what I just mentioned was changed
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10-31-2010, 11:57 PM	#14
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Car is too low to the ground stock already IMO, even though it looks better lowered. I'd put it back to stock if you can, and get it realigned as well. Good luck.
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11-01-2010, 03:01 AM	#15
kaykay Lieutenant Colonel 90 Rep 1,769 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E93 328i Conve ... [9.50] 2011 E92 M3 ZCP [8.66] 2008 550i Sport [10.00]	Yeah, lowered 100% __________________ '12 CLS550 Palladium Silver - loaded '11 E92 M3 ZCP - SG/B-EXT/CF, M-DCT, loaded '11 E93 328i, BSM over Saddle Brown, sport, loaded '08 550i M-Sport, Carbon Black (Gone but not forgotten), '06 W211 E55 AMG (Gone, miss this animal),'01 E39 540i Sport
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11-01-2010, 06:29 AM	#16
ambroses New Member 2 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 16 M3 ZCP MG/B; 16 M4 SO/SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Howell, Mi iTrader: (1)	I have the h&r on my e90 daily driver In Michigan and have no problems though you do need to watch steep driveways.
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11-23-2010, 09:33 PM	#17
G_Anders Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone
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11-23-2010, 10:32 PM	#18
Dengel Non-Guido Jersey Resident 35 Rep 676 Posts Drives: Slow Jeep Rubicon Join Date: May 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (3)	get some spacers too. bull dog stance on 19's is awesome
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