Pictures of Lowered 1 Series Cabriolet

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by 135iam

Looks good 135Pats! That looks a good bit lower than mine, and I like the level vs raked look.

Thanks man.

Yea I don't think 245 will fit up front at my ride height, it would eat the fender pretty good. But I think i'm going to raise it a bit, the front lip is going to get destroyed so fast when I put it back on (took it off for Winter). So we'll see I guess.

[135iam]

Originally Posted by SalemChiro

@135iam will you leave your ride height there or lower it?

I'm not sure. From this angle I like where the front is, I just think the rear needs a little drop and spacers. (Just not sure what size)

[SalemChiro]

135Pats your car looks great.

My car appears to sit exactly like yours. It just looks much lower now and I need to get use to it. I have my fingers crossed that the spring won't settle much!

[135iam]

Originally Posted by SalemChiro

Up front 12 1/2 inches from the center cross hatch of the BMW wheel center cap, up to the center quarter panel arch. The stock tire profile is almost flush to the fender...maybe 1-2mm. With the PSS it will be slightly tucked. Apex et45 up front.

So you haven't driven it yet with the Apex wheel combo? I think it's gonna rub in the front.

Sounds to me like those swift springs are significantly lower on a convertible compared to a coupe. I didn't think the swifts were that low.

[SalemChiro]

Originally Posted by 135iam

So you haven't driven it yet with the Apex wheel combo? I think it's gonna rub in the front.

Sounds to me like those swift springs are significantly lower on a convertible compared to a coupe. I didn't think the swifts were that low.

I haven't driven it yet at all.

Would it rub the fender liner, or the actual fender?

If these springs end up not working, I might have to swap back to the stock springs...the other thought is Swift for the e92.

[135iam]

Originally Posted by SalemChiro

I haven't driven it yet at all.

Would it rub the fender liner, or the actual fender?

If these springs end up not working, I might have to swap back to the stock springs...the other thought is Swift for the e92.

Not positive I would guess both, but the liner for sure when driving and the fender I would think if you compress the suspension while turning(like going to fast into a steep driveway)

Dinan camber plates will make it work for $199. They would raise the front 1/4" and add 1.5 degrees of neg camber. Not sure what you can do in the rear, a ride height adjuster with the oem style springs with the stock rubber pads might fit easily, but I'm not sure on measurements.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by SalemChiro

I haven't driven it yet at all.

Would it rub the fender liner, or the actual fender?

If these springs end up not working, I might have to swap back to the stock springs...the other thought is Swift for the e92.

Originally Posted by 135iam

Not positive I would guess both, but the liner for sure when driving and the fender I would think if you compress the suspension while turning(like going to fast into a steep driveway)

Dinan camber plates will make it work for $199. They would raise the front 1/4" and add 1.5 degrees of neg camber. Not sure what you can do in the rear, a ride height adjuster with the oem style springs with the stock rubber pads might fit easily, but I'm not sure on measurements.

Salem if you are at my ride height, expect it to rub up front and out back. Worse up front but it rubs on all 4 corners. In the rear it’s exclusively against the fender lip, up front it rubs on full lock against the oil cooler plastic screen, on the fender under compression, and on the fender liner at higher speed compression. I’ve had the car like this since I think September or so, and no serious detrimental effects. So it’s not like anything is going to explode, this isn’t stanced or something crazy.

You’ll very likely need spacers to clear the strut as well. Not sure if the shorter swift spring means you’ll need even more space for the ride height collar. IDK.

[SalemChiro]

This is what it looks like...I pulled the strut alignment pin and after M3 control arms I should be at -1.5 camber. There isn't much room between the top of the tire and fender liner.

[135Pats]

Looks like you are a tiny bit higher than me, so maybe you can pull it off with no rubbing. Stock wheel width I’m sure you’d be fine. With the 8.5 up front, not so sure. Like you said, it’s very tight up front to both the strut and fender.

[135iam]

to anwser the OP's original request.

- What suspension you have (ie. KW, H&R, etc.)
- How much you lowered your Vert
- Brief review of suspension setup
- Any rubbing issues or concerns

135iam
- suspension (M3 upper and lower front control arms, M3 rear guide rod and upper link, Whiteline rear subframe bushings, KWv3 coilovers with Dinan fixed camber plates)
- wheels/tires Apec ARC-8's in 1 series fitment 18x8.5 +45mm front and 18x9.5 +62 rear. 245/35/18 Front and 265/35/18 rear Bridgestone S04 tires. 3mm front spacer needed coilover spring adjuster in the front.
- lowered to 12 5/8" front and 12 7/8" rear (measurement from top of fender opening to wheel center.
- I wanted the OEM 1M width tires (245/265) and M3 arms. The above combination works well. Another user on this forum, VMA1788 has the same setup with PSS10 coilovers on a coupe and I followed his lead.
- no rubbing issues at current ride height

[Rob Daman]

it's hard to tell from that angle but it seems good unless you want less rake.

maybe a 5mm spacer would work and not rub.

i'm staring at my fronts and i think i will need a spacer once i get my camber dialed in from alignment on monday.

Originally Posted by 135iam

I'm not sure. From this angle I like where the front is, I just think the rear needs a little drop and spacers. (Just not sure what size)

[135iam]

Originally Posted by Rob Daman

it's hard to tell from that angle but it seems good unless you want less rake.

maybe a 5mm spacer would work and not rub.

i'm staring at my fronts and i think i will need a spacer once i get my camber dialed in from alignment on monday.

I have a set of 3mm at home I am going to slap on. I'm pretty happy with it overall, especially since its not rubbing, but I dont love how the rear wheels are a bit more inset than the fronts.

For spacers look at titanwheelacc on Ebay. I bought four 3mm spacers from them, $37.95 for all 4 shipped, and they are good quality. I bet they have what you need at a good price.

[Rob Daman]

cool thanks

here's a pic with the fronts on only. BMW Performance springs and GC camber plates at guestimated -1.5 camber.

I'm hoping when I do the rears it will squat to bring up the front a lil more.

[SalemChiro]

I'm installing the stock springs back in there...don't want to chance rubbing all the time. Oh well... at least the install is much quicker the second time around!!!

Maybe in a few months I'll try the e9x Swift springs.

[135Pats]

Rob_Daman We have basically identical ride height up front, but I love the raked look you have. Rear could be a touch lower but I prefer your look to my car’s right now. The rear loves to rub when you lower it also, just fyi. Front is more of an issue under lock, the rear rubs allllll the time.

[Rob Daman]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Rob_Daman We have basically identical ride height up front, but I love the raked look you have. Rear could be a touch lower but I prefer your look to my car’s right now. The rear loves to rub when you lower it also, just fyi. Front is more of an issue under lock, the rear rubs allllll the time.

Well I ended up doing the deed and installing the rears. i spent 20 minutes removing all the trunk plastics to get to that shock but i didn't have the right 6mm socket to hold the shock. I didn't read that you can open the top partially to get the boot vertical so i could use my impact wrench to pop it off! then I just for the life of me get that lower control arm bolt right. I literally spent 40 minutes trying to get it with my 2 boys hovering around lol.

Anyhow check out my night shots for now. i thought maybe the front would go up a little bit since the rake was reduce but I think i'm totally wrong. lol

i had my nearly 3 and 6 year old boys in the back (not too heavy) but I didn't notice any rub so far. I have a fender roller if I gotta attack it.

boy I haven't even tackled the whiteline inserts. i'm kinda scared to do them.

[brocklanders]

Those are bmw performance springs? That is quite a drop for bmw springs, are those advan's 19"? Do you have a pn for the springs, are they yellow springs from an e90?

[Rob Daman]

yea. bmw and was told for a 1 series. i got them used. i bet they were for a coupe. like salem i guess the vert weight drops them more. the only thing i saw on the spring i think was T1?

advans are 18

[brocklanders]

Your car looks great, I would be extremely happy with the results. I had eibach sportlines on an old e90 and got maybe an inch drop all around over sport it ended up growing on me but it initially pissed me off because they were claimed 2" drop. I have made up my mind on the bushings, I'm going with the m3, but still up in the air about if I'm going to do springs or not. Your photos have me wanting them again, but I will probably get the eibach sway spring set because of cost.

[Rob Daman]

Thanks brocklanders. Yea i asked my buddies about the drop and they all gave the thumbs up. They all liked my evo so i think they have certain expectations of my mods.

I'm not scraping anything so I can live with this height.

Your E90 looked good. The Eibachs seem like a favorite here on the site. Lots of part outs going on so I think you can even score a nice used set and not worry about the settling time.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by Rob Daman

yea. bmw and was told for a 1 series. i got them used. i bet they were for a coupe. like salem i guess the vert weight drops them more. the only thing i saw on the spring i think was T1?

advans are 18

Why do I feel like i've seen those Advans, on those tires before? Buy them from another member? Sweet either way.

Love your ride height up front man. I really need to raise the rear a bit, it's too low and makes the rear wheel look too sunk for a 265.

[135iam]

looks bad ass Rob! I really like the aggressive look of those wheels.

Camber plates look to be a "must have" with those springs (or any lowering springs) on a convert with any wheel/tire combo taller/wider that stock.

Thanks for all the info guys! I've learned more on lowering 1 series convertibles the last few weeks that I did searching on here for months before.