What are the best springs for the e92 M3?

KennyPowers wrote

In what way are they more focused on performance?

They are lower than many others which should compromise performance by severely over extending the range of the stock dampers.

What am I missing?

Malekreza11 wrote

Quite the opposite actually. RD Sport is better for the looks over the actual handling aspects.

RDSport co-designs their springs with the Pirelli Race Team. They also do product development for all of their suspension components (sway bars, struts, etc.) at the same time to maximize performance of each individual piece. While some spring manufacturers focus only on drop and minimal increase in performance, RD gives you the option to make the springs step one, and then continually improve the performance of your vehicle by adding their additional products. Here is a review from a 2009 issue of European Car Magazine sums up their focus on performance.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322971

tlp wrote

I've got a brand new pair of e36 M3 Bumpstops for sale if anyone is interested. $25 pickup or $30 shipped.

Hey where do u live I am interested ? Pm me

Bryan@Jlevi SW wrote

RDSport co-designs their springs with the Pirelli Race Team. They also do product development for all of their suspension components (sway bars, struts, etc.) at the same time to maximize performance of each individual piece. While some spring manufacturers focus only on drop and minimal increase in performance, RD gives you the option to make the springs step one, and then continually improve the performance of your vehicle by adding their additional products. Here is a review from a 2009 issue of European Car Magazine sums up their focus on performance.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322971

Ok, however I think you missed the point being made. The springs made for our cars are not developed with Pirelli's race team.

I have a question will the rd springs affect my Edc on my m3?

Espi03 wrote

I have a question will the rd springs affect my Edc on my m3?

short: no.

Malekreza11 wrote

If you have a competition package, stay away from the Eibach springs, it will actually raise the rear of your car slightly and is replacing the springs with a softer springs too.

The best and better matched springs for ZCP cars are the H&R springs. Stay away from RD Sport.

Good info -

MatthewDavid wrote

How do the Eibach springs raise the rear if they off more drop than the ZCP springs? Is there something mechanically different about the suspension that this would happen? My car with ZCP is arriving in the next month, and I thought about going Eibach..

It's the nature of the Eibach spring compared to the ZCP spring. ZCP cars will exhibit a small tiny drop in the front with Eibach, and a 1/8" raise in the rear.

This spring is not recommended for ZCP cars.

Malekreza11 wrote

If you have a competition package, stay away from the Eibach springs, it will actually raise the rear of your car slightly and is replacing the springs with a softer springs too.

The best and better matched springs for ZCP cars are the H&R springs. Stay away from RD Sport.

So how much did the H&R's reduce your ride height?

MatthewDavid wrote

Whoa. Thanks for saving me from a mistake!!

+1!

Please excuse my ignorance, but what's ZCP?

chock wrote

So how much did the H&R's reduce your ride height?

F 1.0
R 0.6
IIRC

chock wrote

+1!

Please excuse my ignorance, but what's ZCP?

ZCP aka competition package
Cars equiped with Competition Package has lowered suspension than regular M3s.

Malekreza11 wrote

It's the nature of the Eibach spring compared to the ZCP spring. ZCP cars will exhibit a small tiny drop in the front with Eibach, and a 1/8" raise in the rear.

This spring is not recommended for ZCP cars.

Question for you.. I have EDC but not ZCP and I'm between RD sport and H&R. between the two which would you recommend?

walsh wrote

Question for you.. I have EDC but not ZCP and I'm between RD sport and H&R. between the two which would you recommend?

Still H&R.

Personally , I went with the Eibach for my non-zpc car , when I surched for the best springs to get , I found on this forum a pool for the most popular and it was Eibach hands down , also I remember reading that a couple of members tryed Eibach after being disapointed a the ride quality of the H&R and were completly happy with the Eibach ! From what I remember the H&R were more for the look then for the ride agrement ! Anyway , I'm complitly satisfied with my Eibach !

i have zcp and edc and am interested in dinan stage iii. any reasons not to do this? specifics? thanks all

Alex07M3 wrote

Personally , I went with the Eibach for my non-zpc car , when I surched for the best springs to get , I found on this forum a pool for the most popular and it was Eibach hands down , also I remember reading that a couple of members tryed Eibach after being disapointed a the ride quality of the H&R and were completly happy with the Eibach ! From what I remember the H&R were more for the look then for the ride agrement ! Anyway , I'm complitly satisfied with my Eibach !

I'm trying to get the best combination of looks and performance... I know its hard to do both wit jet springs. But the eibach doesn't lower it enough for my taste.

bbs_lm wrote

ZCP aka competition package
Cars equiped with Competition Package has lowered suspension than regular M3s.

Thanks mate. Are you happy with the H&R's?

I have the HR Sport Springs.

I keep the car on Comfort mode and it rides great. The car needs to be dropped IMO. But I do think another .5" in the front would make it even better.

Some spring makers suggest to change the control arms if you get for example the H&R Race Springs. Do eibach require them too, and how much is it to install them?

advanced101 wrote

I have the HR Sport Springs.

I keep the car on Comfort mode and it rides great. The car needs to be dropped IMO. But I do think another .5" in the front would make it even better.

i think with that height it would be perfect if you go with bigger rims dont you think?! maybe 19 or 20's perhaps...

No kw slevee kits love ? I personally love kw slevee just got installed on my car today and also improve a bit performance

Written by: Rldzhao (http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427147)

This is a good read:


Technical White Paper: Lowering Springs and Bump Stops, Take Three
After playing with various suspension set ups over the past two years (H&R, Dinan, Moton Street Sport, and soon Moton CS), I've learned quite a bit about this M3's suspension, and I thought it's time to write another article regarding the highly contentious topic of lowering springs and bump stops.

I will attempt to do this with no equations and pure common sense.

Bump Stops

Bump stops, as most of you know, are engineered elastomers. The main advantage of bump stops vs. a traditional spring is that the former can be engineered to provide variable stiffness at a very light weight.

In the old days bump stops are simply installed to prevent the suspension from topping or bottoming out; they do not affect the suspension except at the limits of travel. However, modern day bump stops have started to play an increasingly more important role on street cars, especially on a every day sports car like the M3.

Comfortable on the Street and Handles Well on the Track

The E9x M3 has been praised by almost all car magazines in the world as the best all-around sports car on the market today... because you can comfortably take your kids to school and then pass everyone on the race track.

The M3 is comfortable on the street because its springs are relatively soft, both the front and rear have wheel rates (lb/in) in the mid-hundreds. Having soft springs means that the wheels have greater travel with less abrupt transitions over bumps, which eliminates the rough ride experienced dedicated track cars.

But softer springs are not usually well suited for the race track, because they allow too much suspension travel when the car is under high G forces, i.e. in a corner, or under braking, and this prolongs transitions and unsettle the platform.

M3's Bump Stops

The extensive use of bump stops is one reason why the M3, even with a very comfortable ride, can handle the race track so well.

As Steve Dinan has pointed out, there is only about 0.5" of suspension travel before the front bump stops come into play; a similar situation applies for the rear.

This is exactly the intention of the BMW engineers.

These bump stops are engineered so that they are initially very soft (compressible by hands), but as compression increases, they get progressively harder. The bump stops gradually increase the effective wheel rate to control suspension travel and maintain the platform of the car.

This is how the M3 gets away with soft springs.

The "Cardinal Sin" of Riding on Bump Stops

Bump stops have become a catch phrase for those who are considering lowering springs. Dinan has of course extensively used "modified bump stops" as the chief marketing slogan for why their kit is superior.

But as I have explained above, even in stock form, the M3 is designed to ride on its bump stops more often than you think.

Consider this, when there are four people in a car, your M3 will be already on its bump stops... and that is perfectly OK, as the bump stop is initially very soft.

What is NOT OK
Excessive lowering: M3's bump stops are initially very soft, but when compressed to a certain length, they will become very stiff.

This is why it is not a good idea to excessively lower your M3 with spring kits. The M3 has roughly 2.25 inches of compression travel. If you lower too much you would be constantly bottoming out on the bump stop.

Uneven front/back lowering: the M3 is designed to be pretty neutral (with slight understeer) at the limit. The point here is that the front and rear suspension are balanced to produce this effect. If one end of the car is lowered significantly more than the other, that axle will likely bottom out, loose grip sooner, and change the balance of the car.
My Recommendations
Do your research!
Be moderate when lowering!
Have a qualified mechanic install your kit.

Remember, it is OK to ride on bump stops, but ride with good judgement.
__________________

RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats