How to tell if my E92 has been lowered?

WinoGregorio · 01-03-2011, 01:38 AM

I have 2008 E92 335i with Sport package but people are telling me that my car sits lower than normal. It also has 19" wheels. What should I look for to know if it has been lowered? How can I measure the ground clearance and what should it be?

Also, the bolts on the front strut towers have been removed or moved significantly. I am thinking this might mean they have been replaced or maybe a brace was installed at one point.

Thanks.
Greg

Bullet · 01-03-2011, 09:40 PM

Post a pic and lets see

spdy330 · 01-03-2011, 10:24 PM

+1

WinoGregorio · 01-03-2011, 11:14 PM

Great idea. Here is one that I took a while back. Tomorrow, I will take some pics of the wheel wells. Where else?

Thanks,
Greg

onesuperboi · 01-04-2011, 12:20 AM

That looks like the sport suspension to me.

WinoGregorio · 01-04-2011, 12:26 AM

Yes, it does have the Sport package but is it even lower than that? There are lot of areas where the suspension has been worked on. The aforementioned strut tower bolts that have been removed and replaced is one area but the entire rear differential and most of the rear suspension bolts look like they have been hit with wrenches. I am also thinking about going to 235/265 F/R tires and am curious about rubbing.

Gavin@MMW · 01-04-2011, 01:19 AM

Looks like reguler sport suspension, how many miles are on the suspension?

WinoGregorio · 01-04-2011, 10:19 AM

I bought the car with 20,000 miles on the clock. I had it up in the air and it looked very clean like the previous owner never drove it in the rain.

Express · 01-04-2011, 10:20 AM

take a picture of the front shock tower. if its been lowered, chances are, its had an alignment and the stock spec has been drilled out. check that.

I335 · 01-04-2011, 10:25 AM

Looks a bit lowered to me...

WinoGregorio · 01-04-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by express705

take a picture of the front shock tower. if its been lowered, chances are, its had an alignment and the stock spec has been drilled out. check that.

Will do.

Express · 01-04-2011, 10:32 AM

also check the tabs on the trunk liner. if they are all beat up, it could be a sign the car was lowered as well.

but who cares if it was lowered or not? from the picture you put up, that looks like stock ride height on sport suspension

WinoGregorio · 01-04-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by express705

also check the tabs on the trunk liner. if they are all beat up, it could be a sign the car was lowered as well.

but who cares if it was lowered or not? from the picture you put up, that looks like stock ride height on sport suspension

The reason I am asking is because I plan on going up to 235mm and 265mm rubber with a possibility that I might lower the car a little. If I knew it was stock, I'd know where to go.

I could not see anything in the trunk that looked out of the ordinary except that the liner was not tucked under the trunk lip and the rubber stops are missing off the lid.

Here are a couple more pics.

BimmerRob · 01-04-2011, 04:31 PM

Looks to be stock

NiVeDh · 01-04-2011, 09:41 PM

The height looks like stock. The alignment pin on the strut tower looks to be drilled out based on that picture. Perhaps the previous owner had coilovers on it and then he or she reinstalled the OEM suspension?

Express · 01-04-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92hobear

Looks to be stock

false

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

The height looks like stock. The alignment pin on the strut tower looks to be drilled out based on that picture. Perhaps the previous owner had coilovers on it and then he or she reinstalled the OEM suspension?

truth. 100% truth since the trunk liner was messed with.

but who cares? lower it!

WinoGregorio · 01-04-2011, 10:53 PM

Thanks everyone. That is making more sense.

The history is a little checkered on this car. CarFax says it was imported with more than 3,000 miles on the clock which leads me to believe it was Euro Delivery. OK. However, it was leased twice in 20,000 miles. Not so OK. In that time, someone added Aero F/R bumpers and side skirts, painted reflectors, tinted glass, LED side blinkers and 19" rims. No one would make all those changes to a leased car unless they are buying it out. Maybe they defaulted on the loan and the car was repo'd.

Now my biggest fear is that one of the previous owners screwed up the computer that BMW is going to deny my open and unresolved warranty claim. The thread about that is here. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=463985

JayReplay · 01-04-2011, 11:04 PM

Looks like it was lowered in the past. Also the rear fenders appear to be rolled/flared as well!

WinoGregorio · 01-04-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayReplay

Looks like it was lowered in the past. Also the rear fenders appear to be rolled/flared as well!

I didn't think to look there!

Express · 01-04-2011, 11:47 PM

hahah those fenders are JACKED

WinoGregorio · 01-05-2011, 12:28 AM

Actually, the fenders looks very well done. The fold is perfectly formed and very uniform across the whole fender. No paint stretch or peeling at all. There is only one minor wrinkle on the left side but it actually looks like a door ding was pushed out.

01-03-2011, 01:38 AM	#1
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	How to tell if my E92 has been lowered? I have 2008 E92 335i with Sport package but people are telling me that my car sits lower than normal. It also has 19" wheels. What should I look for to know if it has been lowered? How can I measure the ground clearance and what should it be? Also, the bolts on the front strut towers have been removed or moved significantly. I am thinking this might mean they have been replaced or maybe a brace was installed at one point. Thanks. Greg
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01-03-2011, 09:40 PM	#2
Bullet Major 55 Rep 1,069 Posts Drives: 09 e92 335i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: So cal iTrader: (6)	Post a pic and lets see __________________ Cobb // Helix // BMS // E9X Picture game: 1
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01-03-2011, 10:24 PM	#3
spdy330 Major General 530 Rep 6,149 Posts Drives: 05 Tundra, 15 FIT, 17 CRV Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA iTrader: (163)	+1 __________________ If you will be purchasing ANY AT&T services online or in store could you mention that you were referred by me? My Employee Referral ID is eo4489. This would be a great help and it costs you nothing, thank you!
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01-03-2011, 11:14 PM	#4
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	Great idea. Here is one that I took a while back. Tomorrow, I will take some pics of the wheel wells. Where else? Thanks, Greg
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01-04-2011, 12:20 AM	#5
onesuperboi Major 52 Rep 1,357 Posts Drives: '08 e92 335i COBB 4.01 Stage 1 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA (Alameda) iTrader: (6)	That looks like the sport suspension to me.
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01-04-2011, 12:26 AM	#6
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	Yes, it does have the Sport package but is it even lower than that? There are lot of areas where the suspension has been worked on. The aforementioned strut tower bolts that have been removed and replaced is one area but the entire rear differential and most of the rear suspension bolts look like they have been hit with wrenches. I am also thinking about going to 235/265 F/R tires and am curious about rubbing.
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01-04-2011, 01:19 AM	#7
Gavin@MMW Brigadier General 406 Rep 3,879 Posts Drives: MMW Supercharged E90 328i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: 818/805 iTrader: (18)	Looks like reguler sport suspension, how many miles are on the suspension?
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01-04-2011, 10:19 AM	#8
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	I bought the car with 20,000 miles on the clock. I had it up in the air and it looked very clean like the previous owner never drove it in the rain.
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01-04-2011, 10:20 AM	#9
Express Major General 369 Rep 8,693 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	take a picture of the front shock tower. if its been lowered, chances are, its had an alignment and the stock spec has been drilled out. check that.
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01-04-2011, 10:25 AM	#10
I335 Brigadier General 123 Rep 4,249 Posts Drives: '08 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (11)	Looks a bit lowered to me...
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01-04-2011, 10:32 AM	#12
Express Major General 369 Rep 8,693 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	also check the tabs on the trunk liner. if they are all beat up, it could be a sign the car was lowered as well. but who cares if it was lowered or not? from the picture you put up, that looks like stock ride height on sport suspension
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01-04-2011, 04:31 PM	#14
BimmerRob Lieutenant 47 Rep 486 Posts Drives: F36 435i xDrive Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	Looks to be stock __________________ FOR SALE - 2014 Scion FR-S 6 spd, 27,000 ODO $17k pm me 2010 e92 Mojave Metallic - farewell old friend /2013 2015 435i xDrive Gran Coupe Sparkling Brown \| Cocaine White interior \| JB4 \| BMS Intake \| Wagner Intercooler Evo I \| VRSF Downpipes \| ER Chargepipes
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01-04-2011, 09:41 PM	#15
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	The height looks like stock. The alignment pin on the strut tower looks to be drilled out based on that picture. Perhaps the previous owner had coilovers on it and then he or she reinstalled the OEM suspension?
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01-04-2011, 10:53 PM	#17
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone. That is making more sense. The history is a little checkered on this car. CarFax says it was imported with more than 3,000 miles on the clock which leads me to believe it was Euro Delivery. OK. However, it was leased twice in 20,000 miles. Not so OK. In that time, someone added Aero F/R bumpers and side skirts, painted reflectors, tinted glass, LED side blinkers and 19" rims. No one would make all those changes to a leased car unless they are buying it out. Maybe they defaulted on the loan and the car was repo'd. Now my biggest fear is that one of the previous owners screwed up the computer that BMW is going to deny my open and unresolved warranty claim. The thread about that is here. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=463985
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01-04-2011, 11:04 PM	#18
JayReplay Lieutenant Colonel 85 Rep 1,523 Posts Drives: E46 M3 6MT Sunroof Delete Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: River Forest, IL iTrader: (18)	Looks like it was lowered in the past. Also the rear fenders appear to be rolled/flared as well! __________________ 2002 Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 6MT 2017 White C63 AMG Coupe 2002 Oxford Green E46 M3 6MT - Sold
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01-04-2011, 11:47 PM	#20
Express Major General 369 Rep 8,693 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	hahah those fenders are JACKED
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01-05-2011, 12:28 AM	#21
WinoGregorio Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2020 m550i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Los Gatos iTrader: (0)	Actually, the fenders looks very well done. The fold is perfectly formed and very uniform across the whole fender. No paint stretch or peeling at all. There is only one minor wrinkle on the left side but it actually looks like a door ding was pushed out.
	Appreciate 0 Quote