[Adamb0530]

I recently installed eibach/koni setup on my 06 325xi and now the car is lower in the rear than front. Is this normal, will new perches fix this, and the plate/spacer thats on the top of the front strut mount can i remove to get the front a bit lower? Anyone else experience this?

[zipstic]

Yes, with that setup you're going to have a reverse rake. Most spring/shock combos are going to give you that.

[Adamb0530]

Its almost an inch difference between the front and rear. Running this setup is going to have that reverse rake look but that much? Does anyone have pictures of this setup intalled on an xi so I can compare?

[dubsesd]

The forum is filled with photos and comparisons. Just use the search function. You should have research this before you bought your setup. Only way to get a proper ride height is coil overs with the xi/x drive models

[ajsalida]

First of all, search. This is a common problem even when install is done correctly. The front XI strut lower perch is higher than non XI, so non XI springs of any type will sit a bit higher than they would otherwise.

In addition, two most common XI errors on install are not getting the front struts all the way down into the spindle, and not cutting front bump stops. Again search.

One way to get proper ride height if the rake bothers you and you installed everything correctly is to use appropriate OEM ZSP rear springs instead of eibachs. Again search.

[ajsalida]

Originally Posted by dubsesd

Only way to get a proper ride height is coil overs with the xi/x drive models

I am not sure I agree with this 100%. I have come to understand more about the XI, mainly that the front lower perch sits higher by about 1/2" than on a non XI. So any non XI springs will give a rake. A cheap solution is to use the right springs to lower the front where you want it and the rear not so much. For example I tried eibach pro kit and eventually could not stand the low rear. I swapped out D2 ZSP and gained 3/8"-1/2" ride height in back, it is perfect with the front eibach. So you mix and match front and rear springs.

You must pick the right ZSP rear to go with your cars weight vs whatever front you have. There is a thread in this section on "I spring on XI" or something like that. For example if you know a certain ZSP code spring set would drop your non-XI car 1" front and .8" rear, since the XI front is higher by 1/2 inch you need something that drops the front 1.3" to get an even drop of .8" f/r (roughly). Or something that only drops the rear .3". There is some guess work here, XI is heavier, more of it on the front, so you have to look at the various ZSP spring codes for which options packages and make a guess.

Now about coil overs. I do not think many coil over manuf take into account the taller lower spring perch (and therefore taller top of the strut housing) for XI. However one vendor/manuf does, TCKline. Their SA coilover kit has shortened shock bodies to allow lower perch right off the bat.

What you get into when you don't do this with trying to lower the front to match the rear is too little travel in front. Then you are always bottoming out. TCK are the only folks I know of so far that have addressed this issue.

If I keep this car and want to spend more on suspension this is the way I'd go. Esp since the whole kit (koni SA based with custm valving) including camber plates cost about the same or less than KW V3's.

edit: the problem with those upper strut lowering perches, even if you get the right strut mounts so that they work, you are losing another 1/2" of travel on the struts so you'll be bottoming out even more often.

[stashtrey]

I have an 08 e90 335xi.

Originally out Koni sports and H&R sport springs all the way around. I too had the ugly rear dumper look. Drove me crazy but Iived with it.

Last month I made a move on the HP rear adjustable ride height perches, OEM thrust bearings, Swift Thrust sheets and 60mm Swift 572 in springs.

Swapped them out in my garage and put the rear perche collars flush with the end of the perch and it raised my rear up a good .50-.75". PERFECT!

Next up is the Swift koni coilover conversion for my fronts.

Highly recommend HP and their Swift solutions for Koni and the e9xi

[Adamb0530]

stashtrey do you have a link where you bought the rear perches and springs.

Im about to pull the front apart and see if the struts are fully in the spindle. If not then its either going with front supreme power lowering perches and "i" mounts or rear perches and springs. Can these rear ride height adjusters work with the eibach springs or am i going to have to invest in new rear springs as well?

[Nonecure]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=780476

Check out this old thread. I used lowering perches to give a 1/2" drop. The problem is the XI needs new tophats, so for me it was not any lower. After about 6 months it now sits very nice (I should take a new picture and post). Basically the tophats take a few months to settle (rubber compresses), so this is not a good/quick solution.

[Adamb0530]

Originally Posted by Nonecure

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=780476

Check out this old thread. I used lowering perches to give a 1/2" drop. The problem is the XI needs new tophats, so for me it was not any lower. After about 6 months it now sits very nice (I should take a new picture and post). Basically the tophats take a few months to settle (rubber compresses), so this is not a good/quick solution.

do post pictures im very interested on the height after the perch install

[critical05]

I was curious how mine sat, koni/eibach, so i just went and measured mine. I'm sitting at 25" ( to fender
Iip on 18" rims) on all four corners, give or take 1/16 of an inch.

I'm feeling lucky, i have some pics on my profile.

[critical05]

Oh, 1" difference? What did you do for the front bumpstops? I didn't get full drop on the front til i cut the bumpstops, don't recommend that since i replaced them later for the shorter e30 m3 bumpstops

[ajsalida]

Originally Posted by critical05

I was curious how mine sat, koni/eibach, so i just went and measured mine. I'm sitting at 25" ( to fender
Iip on 18" rims) on all four corners, give or take 1/16 of an inch.

I'm feeling lucky, i have some pics on my profile.

That is funny, almost exactly the same as mine. The ground to fender lip was nearly identical all 4 corners (measured up on a line perpendicular to ground and axle line). But to the eye it looked lower in the rear because the fender lip to top of tire was smaller in back by about 1/2". I think this is what people mean when they complain about the raked look.

Anyway I swapped out the rear eibachs for some D2 OEM rear springs, got the fender to tire gap equalized all around. Looks a lot better to me.

[critical05]

Gotcha, using wheel gap comparsion. I typically use the gap from the pavement to the rocker panel to asses rake.

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Make sure you are on level ground whilst benchmarking .....

[ajsalida]

Originally Posted by critical05

Gotcha, using wheel gap comparsion. I was using the bottom of the rocker panel to asses rake.

Have an e92 (coupe) do not know what the e90 measures out at. Also have 12/15mm spacers F/R on 18" 189's. Visually now it looks like equal gaps, on level ground Slight tilt or bump on pavement forget it.

Measurements were made on flat concrete slab in my garage, same place each time.

[SaviorXi]

I have Bilsteins with Eibachs and a set of BBS RGR 18s with no spacers and the drop is perfect on my E92 335i Xdrive. I also have M3 rear subframe bushings and M3 rear sway.

[Nonecure]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1383611029

When I first installed my springs and lowering perches, I got less than 1" drop in the front. Now after about 10 months the front is drop 1.5" and looks good to me. I still haven't gotten around to new wheels yet, but at least if does not look like a 4x4.

I contribute the additional .6" drop to springs and tophats settling. The lowering perches require new tophats and they were taller than the old ones.

[Adamb0530]

Alright just installed a set of lowering perches and tophats with new bumpstops. The car is a bit lower but only time will tell after the new mounts settle for the full effect. The only problem now is I'm getting a weird noice from the front only at slow speeds. It sounds like metal on metal. Thinking its the sway bar end links. Supreme did say not to use the upper rubber between the spring and perch but could that be my issue?

[BigHoncho]

When you guys are talking about Eibach springs, which ones do you mean?

There is a solution officially from Eibach for the E91 335i xdrive.
One could use these spring in front, that means all E90 and E92. Since the rear axle is the same you could use the Eibach spring from the RWDs brothers (the E91 xdrive springs are too stiff because of the axle load).

That "mix up" (E91 xdrive in front, E90/E92 RWD in rear) is not officially supported by Eibach, but should work quite well.

[Nonecure]

Originally Posted by Adamb0530

Alright just installed a set of lowering perches and tophats with new bumpstops. The car is a bit lower but only time will tell after the new mounts settle for the full effect. The only problem now is I'm getting a weird noice from the front only at slow speeds. It sounds like metal on metal. Thinking its the sway bar end links. Supreme did say not to use the upper rubber between the spring and perch but could that be my issue?

Yes Supreme does say not to use the rubber between the spring and perch, but I used it anyways. I was worried about getting metal on metal sounds. I still say that automakers don't add parts for no reason, and BMW had a reason to put the rubber there.

How much drop did you see?

[Nonecure]

Originally Posted by BigHoncho

When you guys are talking about Eibach springs, which ones do you mean?

I am using the 2092.140 Eibach Pro-Kit for 07-10 BMW 335i Coupe/Sedan