Filed under: BMW
Project Track Slut, Part Two: Suspension
by Damon Lavrinc on May 28th 2008 at 11:58AM 
Click above for a high-res gallery detailing the install
With over 140,00 miles on the clock, the stock suspension of our BMW 318is project car was far from ready for its upcoming track assault, and the stiffer sidewalls and stickier rubber we fitted in our first installment accentuated the tired springs and shocks. Thankfully, the popularity of the E36 chassis makes shopping for new suspension bits an easy, if slightly overwhelming, affair. The choices range from pieced together spring/shock combos to race-ready coilovers, so we decided to split the difference with one of H&R's Touring Cup Kits (31005T-1). The package includes springs and shocks that lower the front by 1.5-inches and the rear by one inch, balancing ride comfort and stiffness while allowing us to traverse speed bumps without having to worry about teetering on our oil pan.
Hit the jump to read our impressions on how the H&R kit fared during our first week of testing and you can read through the entire suspension swap in our tagged gallery below.
The installation took just under three hours, but with the right equipment and a minimum of smoke breaks, there's little doubt that you could be on your way to stiff bliss in two hours or less. We should also mention that we performed a mild roll of the rear fenders, since the right-rear tire would rub due to a minor dent on the back edge of the blister. The process was painless enough, but might be unnecessary on other E36s.
After getting everything torqued to spec and going for a quick jaunt around the block to allow everything to settle in, the new springs and struts were a revelation over the 16-year-old stock setup. The on-center steering feel impressed before we even left the parking lot, providing noticeably more feedback during small corrections. Turn-in felt more direct when tackling a few corners outside the shop and as the week wore on, our confidence continued to grow during a handful of late-night performance "tests."
Most of the understeer that we experienced before has been dispatched in favor of a more neutral feel that allows easier mid-corner corrections through both the steering and throttle. Trail-braking, which had little effect with the squishy stock suspension, has become a regular routine on the back roads, predictably rotating the rear and allowing the Bimmer to take a set with a minimum of drama. Overall, we're suitably impressed with the setup and are confident that the H&R kit will balance our needs both on the road and on our first track day in July.
Next on the agenda is trying to source a used 3.91 LSD and dealing with some damage caused by a minor (okay, major) on-road argument between our Bimmer and a large chunk of metal on 680 North. It hit with enough force to take a chunk out of our license plate before cracking the bumper, shredding the auxiliary fan and shroud, slicing open a couple of power-steering hoses and destroying three of the four radiator mounts. Those parts are en route as you read this and should be installed by the end of the week.
UPDATE: Due to popular demand, we've added a gallery of the damage. Click the pic below for a handful of images with captions.
Special thanks to Modacar in Livermore, CA for giving us place to wrench.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Carlos 12:13PM (5/28/2008)
Have you guys considered upgrading your bushings too? That will make a big difference in handling characteristics.
Reply
Damon Lavrinc 12:19PM (5/28/2008)
Yes, it's on The List, but swapping out the stock bushings (which are admittedly worn) for poly bits has the potential to compromise ride more than we'd like. We're investigating it and should address it the bushings in another installment.
n!ck 12:35PM (5/28/2008)
@ Damon
Rubber bushings only last a couple years. They ride nice for a little while, but soon ride like crap once worn. Poly bushings will most likely improve both performance and comfort at this point. Depending on how worn your stock pieces are.
I know my alltrac needs new bushings everywhere. motormounts, suspension, crossmember, differential.
but then again its a 1990.
Keep up the good work.
Yar 12:46PM (5/28/2008)
I'm not going to agree with that. If the bushing are worn, they need to be replaced. You may sacrifice a tiny, insignificant amount of ride by going to poly, but it is well worth it. When bushings start to wear, bits stop rotating and may even start making contact with each other. When that happens, the paint/undercoat gets worn off and you get rust/corrosion. Your funeral...
CarbonBlack 1:00PM (5/28/2008)
Hey damon, is this your arm/tattoo/pic?
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/project-bmw-318is-handr-cup-kit-install/825649/
Damon Lavrinc 1:08PM (5/28/2008)
Yes, it is.
CarbonBlack 1:45PM (5/28/2008)
It is a pretty sick tatoo, I am one of those guys that has a goal of total body inkage!
-props for turning your own wrench
3seriesisking 2:04PM (5/28/2008)
Hey Damon,
Would you guys consider putting a rough total price quote for each part's post??
b. wood 2:16PM (5/28/2008)
@ n!ck
Rubber bushings last much longer than that, its poly bushings that car wear in a couple years of street driving, which is why they aren't recommended for street use. A lot of the wear depends on the type of load the bushing is getting (directional or compression), some cases its better to use a stiffer rubber as it more giving.
Damon Lavrinc 2:17PM (5/28/2008)
Sure. I was planning on putting a total cost breakdown in another installment, but real briefly...
Wheels and Tires = $600
H&R Touring Cup Kit $750
New fan = $130
We're going to be getting a set of lightweight wheels before our first track day (>$1k) and I'm still looking for a 3.91 LSD from a 325is (depends on the junk yard). After that, it's all bits and pieces that will test our financial tolerance. Plus, my skinny ass is sliding around the driver's seat like I'm coated in Crisco, so a new seat might be part of the equation.
YourNameHere 12:22PM (5/28/2008)
forget all the parts and just go out and drive the car! as long as the car is safe just get on a track. all the parts in the world wont make you a better driver.
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JayP 12:33PM (5/28/2008)
I'd agree to a point. Stock cars in good condition give the noob a better feel for driving, giving the limits at a lower speed.
The difference here is that the 140k suspension is not going to behave nicely and cause problems when pushed. Maybe even fail.
mxrz 12:37PM (5/28/2008)
"all the parts in the world wont make you a better driver."
-------------------------------------------------------
False, if the car is more "connected" with the road, providing a finer, more accurate feedback through the controls, one can learn better.
CarbonBlack 12:50PM (5/28/2008)
"the easiest way to get faster, is to tighten the "Nut" behind the wheel" -someone smarter than myself
Damon Lavrinc 12:55PM (5/28/2008)
Having done my fair share of HPDE events and having taught advanced driving for 8 years, couldn't agree more.
YourNameHere 1:28PM (5/28/2008)
I specified it had to be safe. so i agree the suspension is a good idea. put a set of brake pads on that beast and get out there.
MXRZ. Parts do not make you a better/faster driver. I autocross regularly. I have an 2007 GTI. At the last event i beat a BMW 335xi by 6.35 sec and a Lotus Exige SC by 3sec. BUT got my ass handed to me by 4 secs by a BONE STOCK Mini Cooper. NOT AN S EITHER.
Damon Lavrinc 1:50PM (5/28/2008)
The brakes are next, but having just driven a friend's E30 318is with an LSD, I'm planning on doing some serious searching in the next few weeks.
Liquid 12:36PM (5/28/2008)
Struts = hold the wheel in position and provide damping
Shocks = provide damping
Just FYI if you end up talking shop with suspension experts.
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EndlessMike 12:44PM (5/28/2008)
I don't think you're allowed to mention an accident like that and not show us the damage.
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Damon Lavrinc 12:53PM (5/28/2008)
You have a point. Lemme take a few shots and I'll add them to the gallery. Check back in a bit.