[nikitino25]

So I recently installed some Ohlins coilovers on my '07 335i coupe and have put about 400 miles on them thus far to try and get everything settled before getting a 4 wheel alignment. I also wanted to adjust the ride height to exactly where I wanted it before the alignment as well which is where I ran into a little problem. Before I made any height adjustments, out of the box, the front was too high and the rear was to low. So, i was just going to lower the front some and raise the rear to where the fender gaps were same front and rear. But, I ended up lowering the front as far as the adjustment would go and raising the rear adjustment as high as it would go and the front is still higher than the rear. Basically I can't get front and rear the same height. The front is still slightly higher than i would like and the rear still slightly too low but I've maxed out the adjustment range at both ends, anyone else with Ohlins run across this problem? I'm still on 18" wheels and I'll try to post a pic later....

[AtlantaDude]

Sub'd. I've been looking at the Ohlins Road & Track DFV Coilover System. I hope this isn't a known issue or anything. I'm sorry it's happening to you. Best of luck.

[iturbo_bmw]

I'm also looking at getting ohlins but have been concerned about the lowering ability and rear spring rates. how someone can chime in

[Blaster400]

Are you using the springs that came with the Ohlins kit?

I have the same issue with my Ohlins. I went with 9" rear Swift springs and I have plenty of adjustment in the back. My front has 8" Swift springs and is lowered to the lowest setting and it is still a little too high for my taste. I think I should have gone with 7" front Swift springs instead.

With the supplied springs Ohlins are not the best coilovers if you want to go low. I think the only solution is to swap out the Ohlins kit springs. Talk to Harold he should be able to answer for sure.

You can order Ohlins now without the springs this is what I would do if I bought today.

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by iturbo_bmw

I'm also looking at getting ohlins but have been concerned about the lowering ability and rear spring rates. how someone can chime in

I went with 672# rear spring rates and 336# front. Perfect for me I'm very happy with this setup. And the Ohlins dampers are amazing no regrets there. Just order the springs separately from the dampers and you'll be fine.

[nikitino25]

I went with the stock Ohlins springs........I'm not trying to slam my car or anything, just wanted it to be slightly lower maybe than my stock sport suspension was......maybe like a one finger gap between the wheel arch and tire all around. The front is probably low enough but the rear is lower still and a little too low and I can't raise it anymore....I'd be happy if I could raise the rear to the same height as the front is now but looks I may need like one inch longer springs in the rear to be able to do that unless I'm missing something.....I actually thought about putting some spacers at the bottom of the rear springs to jack it up a little but not sure that's a good idea......I was also surprised that there was no rubber base for the bottom of the rear springs....the springs just sit in the camber arms, metal to metal......

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by nikitino25

I went with the stock Ohlins springs........I'm not trying to slam my car or anything, just wanted it to be slightly lower maybe than my stock sport suspension was......maybe like a one finger gap between the wheel arch and tire all around. The front is probably low enough but the rear is lower still and a little too low and I can't raise it anymore....I'd be happy if I could raise the rear to the same height as the front is now but looks I may need like one inch longer springs in the rear to be able to do that unless I'm missing something.....I actually thought about putting some spacers at the bottom of the rear springs to jack it up a little but not sure that's a good idea......I was also surprised that there was no rubber base for the bottom of the rear springs....the springs just sit in the camber arms, metal to metal......

Just swap out the rear springs then. 672 pound rear 9" Swift springs with thrust sheets will solve your problem. Confirm with Harold.

[nikitino25]

Originally Posted by Blaster400

Just swap out the rear springs then. 672 pound rear 9" Swift springs with thrust sheets will solve your problem. Confirm with Harold.

So I guess the Ohlins rear springs are 8 inches? I may do something like this but I didn't want to have to do that. Seems like a poor design in my opinion if you can't even get the ride height even front to back with the settings they give you.......supposedly these are designed for the E9x.....why would you have to set them to max low in front and max high in the rear just to get close to an even ride height (and then not even be able to get it even)? Makes no sense to me and honestly it's a little disappointing.....In fact I was led to believe that you could keep the same stock sport ride height with these coils; maybe in front but not in the rear....

[Phil325i]

OP I wonder if your rear springs have been wrongly installed. Here are two pics, one of my car with Ohlins installed and one of the rear in which you can see there's loads of adjustment left. Ohlins supplied springs and 18" wheels.

[nikitino25]

Hmmm, maybe I did install something wrong....I don't see how but i will check it later and post a pic.....my rear is lower than yours with no adjustment left. My front looks slightly higher also with no room to go lower......kind of strange

[Blaster400]

Here is my car with lowest Ohlins setting. I'd still like to go lower but I'll have to swap springs to do it.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by nikitino25

Hmmm, maybe I did install something wrong....I don't see how but i will check it later and post a pic.....my rear is lower than yours with no adjustment left. My front looks slightly higher also with no room to go lower......kind of strange

probably a dumb question, but did you confirm the front & rear springs aren't swapped around? it might not be even possible, but you never know.

[nikitino25]

Originally Posted by mike-y

probably a dumb question, but did you confirm the front & rear springs aren't swapped around? it might not be even possible, but you never know.

That is a good question, I could swear though that the front coils came already pre-assembled with the springs already on.......I can't remember for certain, can anyone verify this? I think the rear springs should be slightly longer?

Also, I'm looking for a ride height like phil325i's, that's about perfect and blaster400, my front looks about like yours which isn't bad and may even settle some more but my rear is too low...

[nikitino25]

Also, just to make sure I'm not a complete idiot....with reference to phil325i's pic above of the spanner rings, compared to his, my rings are all the way down to the bottom of the threaded tube (lower towards the ground than his).....to raise the car, you lower the spanner rings in the rear correct? I don't have that backwards do I?

[iturbo_bmw]

Originally Posted by Blaster400

Here is my car with lowest Ohlins setting. I'd still like to go lower but I'll have to swap springs to do it.

damn is this on the ohlin springs or the shorter swift springs?

I was hoping they would go a little lower than that. I was thinking about getting these wheels and achieving this stance: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861432

not sure if ohlins can do that anymore..

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by iturbo_bmw

damn is this on the ohlin springs or the shorter swift springs?

I was hoping they would go a little lower than that. I was thinking about getting these wheels and achieving this stance: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861432

not sure if ohlins can do that anymore..

It's with swift springs but they're the same exact 8" length as Ohlins kit springs. 7" springs would have lowered it more.

Here is a picture I took after the car had settled in a little. This is with 19" wheels. Looks pretty close to what you are looking for but definitely not slammed.

[Ml3456]

Ohlins rear are 10" I think. Most people use 9" rears.

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by Ml3456

Ohlins rear are 10" I think. Most people use 9" rears.

correct.

[mike-y]

Originally Posted by nikitino25

...to raise the car, you lower the spanner rings in the rear correct? I don't have that backwards do I?

you are correct. in the rear, the adjusters are on top of the spring, so you need to lower the perch (exposing more threads) to raise the car.

[nikitino25]

I will check when I get home to make sure I didn't somehow use the front springs in the rear and vice versa......pretty sure I didn't, I have the exact same car as phil325i and he has plenty of adjustment in the rear.....something fishy going on here......I noticed he's in the UK though, maybe there is some difference.....my car is pre LCI

[iturbo_bmw]

Originally Posted by Blaster400

It's with swift springs but they're the same exact 8" length as Ohlins kit springs. 7" springs would have lowered it more.

Here is a picture I took after the car had settled in a little. This is with 19" wheels. Looks pretty close to what you are looking for but definitely not slammed.

that looks better and is really close to what i want. I guess i'll go with a 7" spring so i can be just a little bit lower than you. Were 9 inches good enough in the rear? or would you have gone with 8"? thanks for the help btw

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by iturbo_bmw

that looks better and is really close to what i want. I guess i'll go with a 7" spring so i can be just a little bit lower than you. Were 9 inches good enough in the rear? or would you have gone with 8"? thanks for the help btw

9" is perfect for the rear. Plenty of adjustability to either raise or lower your car.