E30 Lowering Springs Installation Part 2 - Front

Fixing the ride height on the E30 by installing new H&R Sport Springs for the convertible model. Unboxing, step by step install, before and after.
Also, some lessons learned the ward way.
Follow up to Part 1: • E30 Lowering Springs I...

[@chrisniw1987]

It's funny you're just like me, making all the mistakes, learning as you go lol, nice e30!!! Getting mine 3rd in Monday can't wait

[@NoGaragE30]

The best way to learn!

[@leonvan1963]

"Ask me how I know." 😂 classic

[@OpenAirAdventureFirewood]

Great job, I'm looking for your wheel and tire size, I have 1992 e30 convertible in restoration and want to upgrade wheels and tires plus lower just a little. What do you recommend?

[@NoGaragE30]

These are 17x8.5 ET20 with 215/40 tires. Certainly on the aggressive side but it works at this ride height wihtout issues. Going much lower would require negative camber and some fender work to get the right fitment and avoid rubbing. A 16x8 is probably sweet spot on these cars if you ask me, but wheel size and fitment is all subjective.

[@OpenAirAdventureFirewood]

@@NoGaragE30 i was thinking 16×7.5 et 20 and same coils you have, not sure about tire size, I definitely want to play it safe.

[@alejaz8403]

So you raised your car higher, which is perfect, mine to low, hard to put on recover truck, so whats coils springs you recomment anf height as yours thx

[@lonerider5315]

what rims

[@smapili]

New subscriber here! How many ft/lbs did you end up tighten the strut nut?

[@johnbradley3887]

Funny looking at this video you look familiar I am an ex Citrite from PR Office, John. I have the same car again even same color and about to lower it and put on alpine replicas in 16 as my previous one had 17 and the ride was harsh I lowered it also with the H&R and Bilsteins

[@NoGaragE30]

Hey man! Small world, I remember you. Good to know you also have one of the best cars ever made. This car is going even lower soon with a set of CAtuned coilovers that I got earlier this year. Im also considering getting some 16" wheels in the future. I have great roads where I live so I can get away with it. Roads in PR are rough for any setup.

[@johnbradley3887]

@@NoGaragE30 I am living in West Haven Ct still have the house in PR but the car is here along with my Chevelle better car shows and roads definitely I am looking at 16” max lite wheels on eBay

[@bombakdik]

Is it okay to do first the left side and then the right side? I saw on the video that the entire front was raised and was wondering where did you jack it up? Centrally somewhere? Is it possible to pry the tie rods out with a rubber mallet? Thanks for the video!

[@NoGaragE30]

You can certainly do one side at a time if you wanted to. I always lift the front completely and place on jack stands for better balance, etc. Use the middle of the subframe as your jacking point. Tie rods are usually hard to snap out and I dont think the rubber mallet would help much. I highly recommend a ball joint separator as shown at 3:14 in the video. These are cheap to buy or free to rent at many auto parts stores.

[@bombakdik]

NoGaragE30 this is a very very clear answer. I will do it by lifting the middle of the subframe! I was wondering where to put the jack stands. I was thinking where the factory jack points are. Reason I would start side per side is because I am afraid that my jack won’t be able to reach the subframe from the front. I don’t know if it is “long” enough..? Those tie rods, are they easy to put back on when reassembling everything? As I am in Belgium I was wondering how those are called in Dutch or French. Many thanks already for the clear answer!

[@NoGaragE30]

I put the jack stands right on the factory points on the side sills. You can use pinch weld adapters if you want to protect the sills while on stands, although the E30 sills seem to be very strong and I have not had any problems putting the car straight on the stands. Here is a good picture of the different jacking points: www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.php/Jacking_Points The tie rods are very easy to attach back on the strut assembly, no need for force other than torquing down the nuts. I would recommend you get new nuts for the job while you are ordering parts, these are supposed to be used/torqued only once.

[@bombakdik]

NoGaragE30 and the jack allows to reach to the middle of the subframe? Aren’t you damaging the trimpieces around the sills when the jack stands are directly on the factory jack points? Many thanks for the replies given already!

[@bombakdik]

My first question where I asked whether it is okay to lift one side, put it on a jack stand and to raise the other side afterwards I meant this: is it okay to lift the left front side while the right front side is already resting on a jack stand?

[@sunnybeachweddings7037]

I have stock BMW E 30 convertible 1987 stick shift - B6 with stock springs or B8 with H&R sport springs? Roads around where I live are nice... i’m OK with sportier feel, but I don’t wanna have it super hard like a go cart

[@NoGaragE30]

This B8 + H&R Sport combo is widely used in the E30 community because of the balance it offers with regards to quality, comfort, and looks. Suspension feel can be subjective though. I doubt you will be dissapointed with this setup. I wouldnt bother with B6 and stock springs unless you are simply replacing a blown stock suspension and want to keep the OEM feel and look.

[@sunnybeachweddings7037]

@@NoGaragE30 Ok ok...I forgot to mention...I have the original 14”BBS BASKETWEAVE...do you think will still look good with the h&r lowered ?

[@NoGaragE30]

Absolutely. You should find plenty of pictures of that setup online for reference.

[@luisortiz1128]

great video! what size are your wheels?

[@NoGaragE30]

Thanks! Wheels are 17x8.5 +20

[@zaydogg]

How many self locking nuts should i need?

[@NoGaragE30]

I dont remember to be honest, but I think the service manual recommends you replace them all. I doubt many people actually do and I have reuse them from time to time. I guess it depends on what the nut is holding.

[@michaellovell3659]

Bro when you put the ratchet down on top of the battery at 4:08...bro.

[@NoGaragE30]

I know... that was stupid mistake on my part. Not something I usually do.

[@hussainjaber9787]

Where do I find the special tools to open Springs

[@NoGaragE30]

If you are asking about the spring compressor I rented it from the local AutoZone store. Harbor Freight also sales this for about $30.

[@AndyTN64]

Thanks for the vid, btw what size are your wheels and tires they look nice

[@NoGaragE30]

The wheels are 17x8.5 ET20 and tires are 215/40/17.

[@VidiSLTU]

​@@NoGaragE30 BBS wheels ?

[@NoGaragE30]

Im pretty sure they're replicas but they look really good.

[@sax_peter]

Hi. great work. How much deeper you get with the H&R springs? Are they 35mm lower than stock height?

[@NoGaragE30]

I have not measured this myself but, according to H&R the Sport "convertible" springs drop the car 1.4 inches front and .75" in the rear.

[@Churchill.T]

What is the size of the ball joint remover?

[@NoGaragE30]

That is standard tool to fit most ball joints. Opening slot of 7/8"

[@1188clean]

fyi next time dont put the jack stands on the fenders. they are going to bend the fenders. the e30 has 2 frame rails to put the jack on underneath kind of in the middle of the car

[@NoGaragE30]

Those are the factory jack points which seem to hold fine but I have been using the frame rails lately. The only problem with that is the jack stands have been scraping off the undercoating.

[@zenferguson4843]

Great vid!

[@katarzynarychlik8975]

Great work but please do not put tools on top of the battery, ever.

[@NoGaragE30]

You are absolutely right. I was waiting to see if someone caught the tool on the battery, I realized I did that after watching the video. Big no no, I know. You can see I even removed the battery completely later in the video.