Best way to lower?

[pweizman]

Hey guys -

I'm new to the board (and BMW world)... I'm a car nut, but this is my first BMW.

2012 128i 6-speed manual base.

I've attached a picture of the car (not a great one...sorry). I'm the second owner & I bought from a dealer, so I don't know the history of the car.

Two questions:
1. What model wheels are these?
2. What is the best way to lower the car a little (and still maintain ride quality)

Thanks,
Patrick

[Blacksport]

H&R sport springs will lower it 3/4" to 1".....price is around $220 (from ECS tuning)....you won't need an alignment with those...

I've been looking at the Eibach coil-over set (part # 2085.712). These are very cool...they can be dropped from 0" to 2.5", plus the shocks are adjustable, and the struts are stainless steel...very nice....not cheap at around $1800....should get an alignment, but probably not necessary if you keep the drop under 1"....Eibach has camber plates for about $450.

[Dafttt]

I had my heart set on Eibach Pro Kit springs + Koni Yellow dampers before finding a good deal on coil-overs (Mod*bargains has the springs listed for $243.9 and dampers for EDIT:$699). I hear it's the bee's knees. Don't get new springs without appropriately changing the dampers.

That's my recommendation, but you can see lots more suspension/spring examples here from Dinan, H&R, Eibach and BMW Performance.

What wheels do you have? Those 17's look sharp. Mint little 1 you got there.

[MZWIE]

I did the BMW Perf Suspension. Lowered about 3/4" and fit perfectly.

[TheSt|G]

Just doing lowering springs will prematurely wear out your shocks as they are not designed for that ride height.

Lowering more that 3/4"-1" will compromise the functionality of the rest of the suspension components.

[lastMleft]

Originally Posted by pweizman

Hey guys -

I'm new to the board (and BMW world)... I'm a car nut, but this is my first BMW.

2012 128i 6-speed manual base.

I've attached a picture of the car (not a great one...sorry). I'm the second owner & I bought from a dealer, so I don't know the history of the car.

Two questions:
1. What model wheels are these?
2. What is the best way to lower the car a little (and still maintain ride quality)

Thanks,
Patrick

Wheels look like VMR's but hard to tell on this pic, Best way to lower a little Koni struts and shocks with swift spec R sport springs

[Stupenal]

.

[A_Squared]

Originally Posted by Stupenal

I got all excited when you said they had Koni yellows for $319.

Its $699 for front and rear, $319 (actually $315) for rear only

+1 haha

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by Stupenal

I got all excited when you said they had Koni yellows for $319.

Its $699 for front and rear, $319 (actually $315) for rear only

aaaand I'm an idiot. Sorry guys, haha.

In hindsight that does seem too good to be true!

[pweizman]

Originally Posted by e34m5

I did the BMW Perf Suspension. Lowered about 3/4" and fit perfectly.

Is that a kit you can buy from someone…or was it OEM only?

Also, here is a better pic of my wheels. Are these stock BMW, just powder coated?

Thanks,
Patrick

[pweizman]

Bump…any idea what wheels these are guys?

I might list them in the classifieds…but I need to know what to call them first.

Thanks.

Also…is throwing a set of BMW M sport lowering springs on a base car a bad way to lower? Did the springs / shocks come as a matched set from BMW?

Patrick

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by pweizman

Also…is throwing a set of BMW M sport lowering springs on a base car a bad way to lower? Did the springs / shocks come as a matched set from BMW?

Patrick

Yes, MSport came as a matched set. Putting MSport springs on a stock car will prematurely wear the stock shock.

I actually happen to have a set of MSport springs and shocks if you are interested.

[pweizman]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Yes, MSport came as a matched set. Putting MSport springs on a stock car will prematurely wear the stock shock.

I actually happen to have a set of MSport springs and shocks if you are interested.

Maybe...how much will it lower the car?

How much $$?



Patrick

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by pweizman

Maybe...how much will it lower the car?

How much $$?



Patrick

I think it is half an inch to an inch? Not entirely sure as BMW no longer says on their website.

[cmcdonald]

Why are you looking at getting rid of those wheels? Trying to go to a stock set? I also have a black 12' 128i. I love the blacked out look of your car with the shadowline trim, the gloss black grills, and those wheels. If you end up getting rid of the wheels send me a PM, I may be interested.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I think it is half an inch to an inch? Not entirely sure as BMW no longer says on their website.

My recollection is 15 mm, PS is plus 10 mm more.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

My recollection is 15 mm, PS is plus 10 mm more.

So a little more than half an inch then.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

So a little more than half an inch then.

Close enough, and the total drop available from BMW is pretty much your inch.

[pweizman]

Originally Posted by cmcdonald

Why are you looking at getting rid of those wheels? Trying to go to a stock set? I also have a black 12' 128i. I love the blacked out look of your car with the shadowline trim, the gloss black grills, and those wheels. If you end up getting rid of the wheels send me a PM, I may be interested.

I just bought the car. Not sure I want to keep the all black look.

What is Shadowline trim?

I might be interesting in selling the wheels. What kind are they? Are they stock BMW?

Patrick

[cmcdonald]

I love the all blacked out look of your car. I am slowly taking mine in that direction. The shadowline trim is the black trim around your windows. Mine has aluminum finish around the windows but I plan on covering it with gloss black vinyl. As for your wheels they look like VMR but it's hard to tell just from the pics. Definitely not a stock BMW 128 wheel. Are there any markings on them indicating the manufacturer? I'm assuming your car most likely originally came with the same ones as my car. See my sig pic. Let me know if you decide to sell yours.

[pweizman]

Originally Posted by cmcdonald

I love the all blacked out look of your car. I am slowly taking mine in that direction. The shadowline trim is the black trim around your windows. Mine has aluminum finish around the windows but I plan on covering it with gloss black vinyl. As for your wheels they look like VMR but it's hard to tell just from the pics. Definitely not a stock BMW 128 wheel. Are there any markings on them indicating the manufacturer? I'm assuming your car most likely originally came with the same ones as my car. See my sig pic. Let me know if you decide to sell yours.

Was the shadow line trim from BMW or aftermarket?

I didn't even realize my car had that! I guess I never noticed other 1 series cars not having it.

Patrick

[cmcdonald]

Shadowline trim came on your car from the factory. One of the pieces of it is actually part of the rear window so you can't swap it out later on. Thus the reason I plan to do mine in vinyl.