[uhaulball]

I have installed H&R Sports Springs for my XI for about 3 months now.

These are the only aftermarket springs for the XI and regular aftermarket springs for the I versions of e90's dont fit the XI.

As the informed know, the front sits 0.5 - 0.75 inch higher in the front than the rear.

I'm thinking of finding someone to cut my 2 front springs. Cutting 1 coil on each side max. I know the general consensus will say no to this, how many of you naysayers actually have experience with cut, aftermarket, springs. I wanna hear from you guys. Need advice, thanks.

This is a pic of the difference in front and rear.

[andrew 330i]

chip foose does it to aftermarket lowering springs. i have seen him cut a coil & half off on over-haulin... (a dead coil should be fine imo).

he seems to be the man... pretty well respected guy imo.

as for cutting factory springs... not recommended.

[uhaulball]

who's chip foose?

edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Foose

nevermind :P ok, but i need to know if the average bodyshop mechanic can do this. It cant be that hard to remove just one coil can it??

[uhaulball]

bump

[diesel007]

This is the down fall of springs I know it's your only option but damn that sucks because it should be fully settled now and I am not understanding why the front is sitting so high.

Me thinks your ride will be a lot more bumpy if you cut the springs.

[uhaulball]

so even if its just 1 coil cut, u think it will be a lot more bumpy?

[aapriadi]

and it will hurt your shocks too, i really think that its not a good option...save up for coil over buddy, thats what i'm doing

[uhaulball]

ok... the only springs and/or coilovers that exist for the e90 XI, i have!

[txusa03]

who installed your spring initially? A shop or was it diy? Is the front installed correctly? Can you compress the spring some more? I am not technical here but just trying to brainstorm. Yup, your car looks funny the way it is and I would think you need to compress the front spring more

another brainstorm thought is did the springs come with front and rear springs and you just have it installed backward?

[CA06]

I've cut springs on cars that I owned in the past, basically because I couldn't afford any other solution. It works, but I wouldn't want to do it on a $30K-$40K car.

Any local shop that knows how to remove the springs and owns a grinder/cutting wheel can do the job.

Things to remember - (by means not a complete list)
*Remove springs before cutting!
*Amount of spring removed doesn't equal amount being lowered - you should have them cut 1/4" at a time and check the results.
*Some shops will use a torch to cut the springs, applying to much heat to the spring will cause you problems, stiffer ride and also could cause premature sagging.
*You'll want to get shorter shocks - if not, you could bottom out

[herbz]

i think your car looks nice as is.

[ward]

changing the number of coils completely changes the spring rate,

don't do it, just wait for proper stuff to become available

spring rate and damping rate (shocks) need to be properly matched to have a good working suspension, changing one without the other will lead to bad things

[nine4surfah]

Originally Posted by ward

changing the number of coils completely changes the spring rate,

don't do it, just wait for proper stuff to become available

spring rate and damping rate (shocks) need to be properly matched to have a good working suspension, changing one without the other will lead to bad things

I agree!!

I once cut the two front springs (eibachs) on a mustang I had owned because I thought the front was a little too high. Aesthetically the results looked good but the ride quality went to sh#t. The front was way too stiff and if I went over a slight bump the front end would bounce like a ball. It felt as if someone was standing on the front bumper and slightly jumping up and down for a few seconds. This effect was especially dangerous on the highway. I was cruising at about 70mph one day and drove though a slight dip in the freeway at the very end of the ascending aspect of the dip the front end felt like it sprang up and began to bounce. I had no control of the vehicle, I proceeded to slow down and change lanes but the slight turn on the steering made the car turn wildly and I was "skipping" onto the next lane. If there was a car besides me at the time I'm sure it would of been ugly.

Don't Do It!!

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by txusa03

who installed your spring initially? A shop or was it diy? Is the front installed correctly? Can you compress the spring some more? I am not technical here but just trying to brainstorm. Yup, your car looks funny the way it is and I would think you need to compress the front spring more

another brainstorm thought is did the springs come with front and rear springs and you just have it installed backward?

no it was done by a professional and the ride feels fine so im assuming it was installed correctly. also, i doubt he flopped the front with rear since the front and rear springs are very different and look very different too, not to mention it says "front" on the front springs and "rear" on the rear springs. i dont think this is an issue with installing / settling. other XI owners who installed these springs experienced same results.

Originally Posted by nine4surfah

I agree!!

I once cut the two front springs (eibachs) on a mustang I had owned because I thought the front was a little too high. Aesthetically the results looked good but the ride quality went to sh#t. The front was way too stiff and if I went over a slight bump the front end would bounce like a ball. It felt as if someone was standing on the front bumper and slightly jumping up and down for a few seconds. This effect was especially dangerous on the highway. I was cruising at about 70mph one day and drove though a slight dip in the freeway at the very end of the ascending aspect of the dip the front end felt like it sprang up and began to bounce. I had no control of the vehicle, I proceeded to slow down and change lanes but the slight turn on the steering made the car turn wildly and I was "skipping" onto the next lane. If there was a car besides me at the time I'm sure it would of been ugly.

Don't Do It!!

how many coils did u cut? will i have this problem if i just cut 1/4-1 coil?

[nine4surfah]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

how many coils did u cut? will i have this problem if i just cut 1/4-1 coil?

It was just 1/2 a coil but it sat lossely in the spring seat. This was done in a mustang with Eibach springs so I'm not sure how the performance of H&R's will be in a BMW. I f I were you I'd save ca$h, the head ache and get adjustable coil overs; leave the R&D to the big companies.

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by nine4surfah

It was just 1/2 a coil but it sat lossely in the spring seat. This was done in a mustang with Eibach springs so I'm not sure how the performance of H&R's will be in a BMW. I f I were you I'd save ca$h, the head ache and get adjustable coil overs; leave the R&D to the big companies.

thats the thing though, the R&D for the 330xi is non-existent, i have the only aftermarket option available for the XI.

[obLu]

I thought I'd read before that the XI has less suspension travel than the I and that's why it can't go too low.

The other option you might want to look at is getting your shock bodies modified. I know of two race prep shops in my town that'll customize koni shock bodies to be height adjustable. Basically they just cut threads in the body so that they're doing home-made coilovers.

Also, KW lists applications for the XI with lowering rates the same as the I. Maybe check into those?

I'd also maybe talk to H&R about why the car is sitting wonky. They've got a lifetime warranty and they might be willing to give you a new set to try out.

[18LLC]

i have the same problem with my car, too. H&R sport on xi. i am thinking get a set of h&r race, and only install the front. the rear will leave it as sport. But i don't know if the car will look more funnier or not, tho... can anyone use the currect measurement to photoshop it please?

[klinkerklu]

This morning I spoke with the guys at Bilstein and H&R about new shocks for my own 330xi. Both companies are currently developing products for the e90 xi which should hit the market within the next few months.

Not sure about the offerings from KW or Tein.

Bilstien PSS9
MSRP. ~$2,200
Front drop: 25-40mm
Rear Drop: 0-30mm

H&R
$1,580
Front drop: 1.5" - 2"
Rear drop: .75"- 2"

[uhaulball]

Originally Posted by klinkerklu

This morning I spoke with the guys at Bilstein and H&R about new shocks for my own 330xi. Both companies are currently developing products for the e90 xi which should hit the market within the next few months.

Not sure about the offerings from KW or Tein.

Bilstien PSS9
MSRP. ~$2,200
Front drop: 25-40mm
Rear Drop: 0-30mm

H&R
$1,580
Front drop: 1.5" - 2"
Rear drop: .75"- 2"

are those ratings based on stock springs or aftermarket springs?

[Getagrip]

My front end sits higher that the rear or vice-versa. I was just thinking to myself this morning what I could do to get the correct the leveling. If the front seems low enough, one could maybe lift up the rear a little with threaded adjusters like what is use for the adjustable coil-over set up for the rear of our cars. Just a thoght. Oh, and here is a pic of may lowered car. It's not that bad but still a little noticable. At least the bottom rocker panel is level to the ground.

[longtran]

just cut it. it will be ok.