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BMW: suspension, yokohama avs, m3 e30


Question
what sport suspension would you recomend for an 86 325e

Answer
Jake,
 That's a broad question... I guess it really depends on what you are planning to do with the car, how much you value ride quality, and how thick your wallet is.
 
 I have owned a couple 325e's, and to tell you the truth, they are not "performance" BMW's (after all the "e" stands for economy).  It is a GREAT engine, but as far as competition use, you would fare better with a 325i.  

 That being said, I think you are probably looking for a little more aggressive stance, and a stiffer, more connected feel from the suspension.

 The options for the ammount of adjustability you want are only limited by how much you want to spend.  

 The best suspension would probably be a coil-over H&R Cup-Kit, with larger swaybars and camber plates, but your talking at least $1,500. AT LEAST!

 If you are on a budget, I would probably buy the Bilstein Sport shocks with Eibach Springs.  This should give you about a 1-inch drop and stiffer, more responsive ride.  All for probably $500-$600.  This is not the BEST suspension, but it's a great compromise between stock and bone-jarring race suspension.  

 You could also find a wrecked M3 (E30) and take its suspension, but it's very hard to find, and very expensive.  

 That being said, make sure to run decent tires when you do this.  It doesn't matter what suspension you have, if you are connected to the road with rock-hard cheap tires.  I would invest in some Yokohama AVS sports, or Yokohama AVSES100's (Great tire for the money).  I'm partial to Yokohama, so if you can find another good tire for the same price.. go for it.

 If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.. I enjoy this kind of stuff!
 
 Take care,
 Josh