Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 44
  1. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Austin TX
    Posts
    7,606
    Quote Originally Posted by Galapolis View Post
    Can't wait to get mine in! The crystal pizza ball says Sept. 5 so stay tuned everyone.
    Sounds good. I believe you are going with these Sachs struts:

    317-541
    317-542

    That's different from mine:

    Front Left = 290-949
    Front Right =290-950

    Hope things work out for you.
    2005 IR / black / 6MT
    157,000 miles

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    879
    Quote Originally Posted by fredo View Post
    Sounds good. I believe you are going with these Sachs struts:

    317-541
    317-542

    That's different from mine:

    Front Left = 290-949
    Front Right =290-950

    Hope things work out for you.
    Interesting, looks like Sachs has discontinued those as well.

    Name:  Screenshot (126).jpg
Views: 1553
Size:  24.5 KB

    According to Sachs, the replacement for your new shocks is 317-539 and 317-540. I wonder what the difference is between those and the 317-541 and 317-542.

    What's interesting is that 317-539 and 317-540 replace the 290-949 and 290-950 (Sachs Super Touring).

    Name:  Screenshot (127).png
Views: 1381
Size:  25.9 KB

    But the 317-541 and 317-542 replace 556-873 and 556-874 (Sachs Advantage).

    Name:  Screenshot (128).png
Views: 1354
Size:  26.4 KB

    That would suggest that they are different, but they do share the first three digits in their part numbers. This might suggest a certain similarity but I would have to ask Sachs to clarify for a clear answer.

    Nevertheless, the part numbers are starting to make more sense. I might give the whole summary thing another shot soon and build on the first post of this thread.
    330i Base | Mysticblau | Slicktop | 6MT

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    62
    I, for one, would be interested in another summary post of a budget friendly performance suspension setup.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    879
    Quote Originally Posted by Hoonin88 View Post
    I, for one, would be interested in another summary post of a budget friendly performance suspension setup.
    I definitely want to amend the errors in the first post now that the past few weeks have uncovered new information. I'm leaning towards starting a new thread for that. I also want to present the information in a more reader-friendly table, and I've already been working on compiling links and part numbers. Hopefully I'll have that posted shortly after I install all my parts.
    330i Base | Mysticblau | Slicktop | 6MT

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    10,243
    Quote Originally Posted by Galapolis View Post
    I definitely want to amend the errors in the first post now that the past few weeks have uncovered new information. I'm leaning towards starting a new thread for that. I also want to present the information in a more reader-friendly table, and I've already been working on compiling links and part numbers. Hopefully I'll have that posted shortly after I install all my parts.
    If you do make a new threat, post a link in the original post of this thread so people can find correct info!

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    879
    I finally got a chance to install everything this weekend. The process was pretty straightforward since this is like the 3rd time I've done the full suspension on this car (don't even ask). The only issue I had is that it was impossible to stack front the spring pads like I hoped. The spring seat always ended up crooked, so I just went back to the normal setup. Many thanks @ZHPizza who let me borrow his non-deadly spring compressor. Made the install so quick and easy.

    I also used this opportunity to check for subrame mount cracks. My car is a Feb. 2004 unit, so no structural foam. The wheel well seams are all fine and the area around the subframe bushings is good too. I did have a medium sized crack at the left rear inner fold though, so it's definitely time for a reinforcement sooner than later.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-24.jpg
Views: 1326
Size:  30.8 KB

    As you can see my old setup was looking very sad. It has 35k miles and a lot of abuse behind it. Several Tail of the Dragon trips and other twisties, at least a dozen autocross events and a road trip through the deep south (some of those New Orleans potholes are endless pits), just to name a few.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-23.jpg
Views: 1306
Size:  142.6 KB
    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-10.jpg
Views: 1319
Size:  87.1 KB

    The E36 M3 rears are thicker but surprisingly also slightly taller than the Konis. My old rubber RSMs were in good shape. I think they are Lemförder so those get a thumbs up from me. The Bimmerworld RSMs are definitely a nice step up though.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-18.jpg
Views: 1277
Size:  156.3 KB

    I also installed the rear reinforcement for the lower spring perch. Makes the rear a little taller than I'd like but those rear Eibach springs are crazy stiff compared to the H&Rs. Speaking of, holding both springs side-by-side for comparison really cemented my disdain for H&R. The Eibachs are basically half the weight. They are so light, the car must have lost at least 10lbs! It's hard to explain, but compressing the H&Rs feels "jittery." They just feel cheap in every aspect. The Eibachs on the other hand feel so nice and premium. I will definitely steer clear of all H&R products from now on. The Eibach spring rates are also interesting. The fronts are extremely soft, softer than the H&R fronts. The rears, like I mentioned, are extremely stiff, much stiffer than the H&R rears. I haven't pushed the car much yet but in theory this setup should drastically improve driving dynamics as the Eibach setup would favor oversteer, unlike the H&Rs which favor understeer.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-20.jpg
Views: 1325
Size:  97.0 KB

    Front strut with the shorter E36 M3 bump stop.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-12.jpg
Views: 1328
Size:  82.8 KB

    I installed the E36 M3 strut mounts correctly, so left side on the left and right side on the right. This should drastically increase caster and minimally increase negative camber. Supposedly, if you switch them left to right you can get up to -3° of camber, but I want to stick with caster since MacPherson struts benefit more from that. I might end up just getting some fixed Turner camber plates if I feel like I still need more camber.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-11.jpg
Views: 1310
Size:  173.6 KB

    The final ride height is so nice. Just compare that to the pic in my signature.

    Name:  photo_2020-09-05_21-42-16.jpg
Views: 1332
Size:  214.1 KB

    I'm getting an alignment tomorrow and I won't really push the car much with the crack, but comfort alone has increased so dramatically, it's like the car didn't even have suspension before. Now I can go over bumps and feel like something is dampening the impact. I can also put the car in first gear now without the whole body seesawing all over the place. It just behaves normally now. Probably quite unremarkable to most people here but compared to the absolute junk suspension I had before, this is a revelation. Whenever I used to hit bumps with the H&R and Koni combo, it felt like the car was crashing into the road. Literally the opposite of what suspension should be doing.

    I did do a couple of hot laps just to get a feel for performance. The caster was most noticeable. It feels like the car becomes increasingly capable the more you turn in. Very different from what I'm used to. I usually have to dial back or feel like I'm getting closer and closer to the limit the more I steer. The overall setup is also considerably more responsive and no longer floaty.

    All in all:
    Last edited by Galapolis; 09-05-2020 at 06:52 PM.
    330i Base | Mysticblau | Slicktop | 6MT

  7. #27
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    SF Bay, CA
    Posts
    1,266
    Sweet! I wonder what the Eibach and H&R spring rates are, compared to stock which I think is around ~180/380 lbs F/R. If the H&Rs don't maintain the front to rear ride frequency ratio same as stock then that would explain the pitching you seem to have, the fact that the rear Eibach springs are much stiffer than the front is a good sign. I haven't pushed mine but I'm at 440/550 lbs F/R and have a slight hint of pitch, but I haven't driven on really bad roads yet or really pushed it.

    Also those E36 M3 strut top mounts look like a very nice option for a budget. That's a good amount of caster and camber by my best guess looks like -1.8 to -2.0 deg.
    2004 BMW 330CI ZHP (well, technically ZAM)


  8. #28
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Irvine, CA
    Posts
    818
    Nice! Looks like a much more useful ride-height, too. Looking forward to your impressions after alignment.

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    10,243
    So what orange Konis were on there before? Are those the STR.Ts?

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    879
    Quote Originally Posted by t.er View Post
    Sweet! I wonder what the Eibach and H&R spring rates are, compared to stock which I think is around ~180/380 lbs F/R. If the H&Rs don't maintain the front to rear ride frequency ratio same as stock then that would explain the pitching you seem to have, the fact that the rear Eibach springs are much stiffer than the front is a good sign. I haven't pushed mine but I'm at 440/550 lbs F/R and have a slight hint of pitch, but I haven't driven on really bad roads yet or really pushed it.

    Also those E36 M3 strut top mounts look like a very nice option for a budget. That's a good amount of caster and camber by my best guess looks like -1.8 to -2.0 deg.
    Never realized that was the reason for the extreme pitching but I guess it makes sense. Supposedly, the German Eibach Pro-Kit for E46 M3 is 155/375-750 lbs F/R. Not sure what that tells us about non-M but it was the only number I could find. German H&R for E46 M3 is 240/370 lbs F/R. Stock E36 M3 rates are 165/360 lbs F/R, so I think the E36 M3 rears are probably matched quite nicely to the non-M Pro Kit.

    I'm really happy with the E36 M3 mounts as well. Camber really depends on the ride height though, which I'll get to in a bit.

    Quote Originally Posted by BMWCurves View Post
    So what orange Konis were on there before? Are those the STR.Ts?
    Yes they are STR.T. Honestly, they weren't half bad when I had the stock springs. And despite the abuse, they still mostly work to my utter surprise, so I put them up for sale along with the H&R springs. I'd like to be able to say the oranges are good for the price but boy do these Sachs shocks perform. The comfortable ride really just comes down to the fact that I have working suspension now. Outside of that, these babies are STIFF. They really feel more like what I'd imagine B8s or Yellows on max stiffness would feel like.

    I don't really have much to compare it to outside ZHPizza's car and my buddy's E46 M3 with ST X coilovers. The Sachs are definitely leagues above the FSDs in terms of stiffness. They are also considerably stiffer than the ST X. I was able to whip it around a little after the alignment and the body control and response is just mind blowing to me. Granted, even Super Tourings would have probably been a huge improvement over the worn oranges, but still. Really wish I could compare this setup directly to a ZHP with Koni Yellows, B8s or even just stock Super Tourings.

    Here is the alignment sheet. Took it to a VW dealer since they have a Hunter machine and one of my friends knows a guy there.

    Name:  new.JPG
Views: 1311
Size:  464.4 KB

    Camber has basically stayed the same compared to the H&R setup, but my ride height is now a good deal higher, so I'd say camber gains were probably around the -0.5° mark. I'm happy with -2.1° of camber, but I was secretly hoping for either -2.5° or -2.8°. That being said, caster has increased tremendously from 5.2°/4.7° to 7.6°/7.3°. Roughly a 2.5° increase in caster. Very happy with that result. I decided to go for max performance, so about 1° less camber in the rear than front and my usual 0° front toe and 0.1° rear toe. I'm somewhat tempted to throw some Turner fixed camber plates onto the E36 M3 mounts, as that would both increase front ride height a little (there's still some rake) and increase camber (might even hit -3°), but I think the RACP reinforcement takes priority for now.
    Last edited by Galapolis; 09-06-2020 at 03:53 PM.
    330i Base | Mysticblau | Slicktop | 6MT

Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-27-2020, 07:30 PM
  2. Performance Suspension
    By Remixaflip in forum Suspension
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02-18-2018, 03:38 PM
  3. For Sale: UUC/Sachs Performance Suspension System (Springs AND Shocks)
    By bimmeryota in forum ZHP-Related Parts & Accessories (no vehicle sales)
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-08-2012, 06:06 AM
  4. Best Budget Performance/Handling Upgrades < $500
    By HaloArchive in forum Performance
    Replies: 90
    Last Post: 07-19-2011, 07:56 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •