Eibach vs. Stock Sport Springs

I am also curious about springs - I have an E39 with standard suspension and am considering going to sport suspension with Eibach Springs or the OEM Sport Springs. What is the difference in height from sport to Eibach? Eibach states that they lower 1.3" front and 1" rear.

 

I have stock sport springs it's not that low. I think Eibach is the best and H&R. I might get H&R cause they're a little bit cheaper.

 

Not quite sure if this helps but they say a picture (although not the greatest) is worth a thousand words. I own 2 e39's, both sitting on 19" wheels. The sedan has sport suspension while the touring has Eibach Pro-Kit springs. The sedan originally had standard suspension, then I went with the sport suspension. I lately put the LM reps on it and just purchased another set of Eibach springs for it.

On the sedan, Standard to Sport suspension lowered the car about 3/4" to 1". The touring originally had sport suspension and when I installed the Eibach springs lowered it about 1.25".

Will be listing the "SPORT" springs for the 540 sedan for sale as soon as I get my Eibachs in next week. Hope this helps.

 

Here's mine with H&R springs.
It's hard to see but the tops of the tires are all but even with the top of the wheel arch.
Only 3.5" of clearance from the road to the lower engine cover.

 

If you are running lowering springs you are no longer running sport suspension. Do you mean oem sport suspension height vs. lowering springs height?

I am also curious about springs - I have an E39 with standard suspension and am considering going to sport suspension with Eibach Springs or the OEM Sport Springs. What is the difference in height from sport to Eibach? Eibach states that they lower 1.3" front and 1" rear.

Just a word of caution if you run Eibach or any other lowering springs with oem shocks it will cause the shocks to wear prematurely as they are not designed to work with lowering springs. Then you either have the aggravation of a second DIY or paying a second time. Not sure if that is what you meant or not. In any case if you go with lowering springs you need to get appropriate shocks koni yellow/ aka sports and bilstein sports or hds seem to be the most popular options.

Suspension questions are one of the most asked questions on the forum you will probably find what you are looking pretty quickly with a search. Run a search for lowering springs or the spring bring of your preference and you should get a lot of threads. There should be some in there is before and after pics. Also not trying to talk down to you, but just in case you are new to all this suspension stuff Eibach, H&R, B&G, vogtland, Dinan (some say custom some say just rebranded H&R or Eibach don't remember which one) are some popular lowering springs.

 

If you are running lowering springs you are no longer running sport suspension. Do you mean oem sport suspension height vs. lowering springs height?

Just a word of caution if you run Eibach or any other lowering springs with oem shocks it will cause the shocks to wear prematurely as they are not designed to work with lowering springs. Then you either have the aggravation of a second DIY or paying a second time. Not sure if that is what you meant or not. In any case if you go with lowering springs you need to get appropriate shocks koni yellow/ aka sports and bilstein sports or hds seem to be the most popular options.

Got it. I was thinking that if I went with OEM Sport springs I would need to match with OEM struts/shocks, and going with Eibach would call for the Konis or something made for that spring tension.

Thanks for making sure I was straight!

 

I went from oem stock non sport height to used oem Sachs sports w/ Eibach springs. The shocks and struts have held up fine so far(6months) with the lowering springs but the rear is way too high compared to the front. I would either go another route/brand of springs or cut a coil off the rears before installing. I will be cutting mine before replacing to see how it feels/handles. The Eibachs are known to cause this rake that is so ugly on a sedan imo.

 

Megathread with lowered cars. You need patience to go the 50 plus pages, there are certain hints of what type of suspensions the guys use.

P.S.: Suspension survey, suspension debate

 

While most here will disagree, I purchased new OEM SACHS sport strut/shocks installed with new Eibach Pro-Kits. My car originally had sport springs and the Pro-Kits are just a tad bit firmer than sport springs. The pro-kits are fine with OEM Sachs (granted they are new). The ride is perfect, not too stiff and definitley no longer soft. I also ride on 19-inch wheels. If you go to a more agressive springs then maybe I would consider Koni or Bilsteins. Its been more than 6 months now and everything has held up well. I do regret getting te Eibachs. On a sport model, it pretty much lowers the front perfectly (1 finger gap) but the rear is a little to high for me (2.5 fingers). Some people like the "raked" look, some don't. I will probably re-do my springs next year to HR.

 

Hr sport springs but with koni yellow not stock shocks

 

Finished installing Billstein HD's and Eibach Pro-Kit springs on my 02 540 yesterday. Here is a pic how it came out. As mention above, I did cut (1) coil off the top of the rear spring do get rid of the raked angle. Came out alright.

 

Finished installing Billstein HD's and Eibach Pro-Kit springs on my 02 540 yesterday. Here is a pic how it came out. As mention above, I did cut (1) coil off the top of the rear spring do get rid of the raked angle. Came out alright.

Looks great, but I wouldn't cut springs. :nono:

 

So the top is where to cut them? Cant cut the bottoms? That looks alot better than the raked look I have. Now ur front is a little higher lol. Hows it feel? I gotta get around to cutting mine now after seeing the difference. Almost perfect imo, what size wheels?

 

Actually in a different pic the front and rear have the same gap. New springs, expect it to settle another half a inch up front at least. That's what happened on my touring after about 200+ miles.

 

Nice topic all... im just as confused in which one to buy Ebich or H&R because of the hight off set. I was wondering if the H&R (SPORT) will be too low for my 18's and in the winter when i go back to my 16's will it rub on 225/55/16? anyone... can help me on this? thanks

 

 

Sound to me like those cut springs aren't going to be engaged at full rebound. Just seems a little dangerous to me.

 

Koni and hr sport

 

bilstein sport shocks and bavauto springs

 

bilstein sport shocks and bavauto springs

Sharp looking ride! Thats one of the cleanest looking Bimmers Ive seen!

 

I found a better pic of mine, I had sport suspension and replaced the springs with H&R, #50464.

 

I found a better pic of mine, I had sport suspension and replaced the springs with H&R, #50464.

Jim, do you have a profile picture of the entire car? I'm thinking of using the same springs and would like to see how it looks from the side.

 

I have a better one somewhere, here is the one I could quickly find.

 

Nice drop. Does the front bumper hit going over bumps or dips?

 

No, the bumper doesn't but the plastic lower engine cover will sometimes scrap on speed bumps if you don't go over them slow or at an angle.
There is only 3.5" clearance between the road and the lower cover.
Here's a few more pics.

 

Another question for y'all. Did you guys just replace springs or both springs and shocks? Is it bad to just replace springs..?

 

You could, but its suggested to replace struts and springs at the same time.

But, if you were to replace just the springs you'd have to make sure the spring fits. By this I mean, if you wanted to use a lowering spring you would have to match that with the proper length strut, such as a Bilstein Sport. If you were to replace the spring on a non sport strut you would have to use a regular length strut.

Using a lowering spring on a non sport strut could caused the strut to bottom out.

 

Ordering my shocks tonight. Best/cheapest website to buy?

 

How much does a good lowering kit cost for a 2000 528i?

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Bimmer

 

I got my bilstein sports with bavauto springs from bavauto for $740.

 

I just ordered h&r springs for $300 on tunermotorsport.com will order shocks in a week.