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      10-16-2019, 08:51 AM   #1
Stillswingin26
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Megan racing coilovers not low enough in the rear

I just recently had some Megan racing coilovers installed on my 2012 135i. However when I went to pick the car the front was dropped but the rears were about 1-2" higher and the installer said he had them maxed out. While the front had no space between fender and tire the rear still had a considerable amount. I just found it odd to be that far off and maxed out in the rear???

Are these coilovers known for this? I didn't find anything while doing a search. Maybe installation not right? The car rides fine no noise or issues in handling? Seems to ride as if installed correctly.

I'm not sure why photos came out as they did. I tried messing with it but still came out all stupid.
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Last edited by Stillswingin26; 10-17-2019 at 08:42 PM.. Reason: add photos
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      10-16-2019, 06:21 PM   #2
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Need photos to help you.
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      10-17-2019, 12:51 PM   #3
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Years ago I had this issue when I put a less expensive coil over kit on my 318ti. Turned out that the vendor had sent me the wrong rear spring perches and rear springs that were too long.

I had the same experience walking up to a car was that low in the front and 4x4 in the rear.
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      10-17-2019, 12:57 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spidertri View Post
Years ago I had this issue when I put a less expensive coil over kit on my 318ti. Turned out that the vendor had sent me the wrong rear spring perches and rear springs that were too long.

I had the same experience walking up to a car was that low in the front and 4x4 in the rear.
I emailed Megan racing, it just seems a bit odd to me.

Last edited by Stillswingin26; 10-17-2019 at 08:50 PM..
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      10-17-2019, 01:39 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
I was looking at the rear set up last night and I believe they did not adjust the shock length and just the spring length. I'm going to take a better look today or this weekend.
take a picture and reply.
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      10-17-2019, 06:56 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
I just recently had some Megan racing coilovers installed on my 2012 135i. However when I went to pick the car the front was dropped but the rears were about 1-2" higher and the installer said he had them maxed out. While the front had no space between fender and tire the rear still had a considerable amount. I just found it odd to be that far off and maxed out in the rear???

Are these coilovers known for this? I didn't find anything while doing a search. Maybe installation not right? The car rides fine no noise or issues in handling? Seems to ride as if installed correctly.
Pics added. Still knocking my head. Installer said strut length/adjustment had nothing to do with it. I just need about an inch more but feel something isn't right from what I've read these coilovers should go a lot lower.
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      10-17-2019, 07:40 PM   #7
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Pics not showing up OP
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      10-17-2019, 08:51 PM   #8
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Quote:
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Pics not showing up OP
Fixed, ridiculous but at least there are pics.
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      10-17-2019, 09:15 PM   #9
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Easy things to check:

Does the spring have play at full droop or is there preload.

Is the upper spring cup supposed to be between the coil spring adjuster and the frame.

Is the damper installed correctly or upside down.
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      10-18-2019, 09:27 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
Easy things to check:

Does the spring have play at full droop or is there preload.

Is the upper spring cup supposed to be between the coil spring adjuster and the frame.

Is the damper installed correctly or upside down.
I honestly didn't check the spring to see if it had any play. It wasn't noticeably loose.

I believe the spring cup is ok it shouldn't lift the car that much, right?
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      10-18-2019, 10:41 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
I honestly didn't check the spring to see if it had any play. It wasn't noticeably loose.

I believe the spring cup is ok it shouldn't lift the car that much, right?
It will if it's preventing the adjuster from sitting properly. Not familiar with your kit.

That said... Are the spring pads removed from the cup and lower camber link?
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      10-18-2019, 10:51 AM   #12
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check 5:30 You need to put the body down (black threads go into the silver). The black collar needs to be undone first. Looks like you are at full length on the body right now.
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      10-18-2019, 12:55 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt@EuroJerks View Post

check 5:30 You need to put the body down (black threads go into the silver). The black collar needs to be undone first. Looks like you are at full length on the body right now.
Are you talking about the strut? There is some strut threaded into the silver body.
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      10-18-2019, 01:52 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
Are you talking about the strut? There is some strut threaded into the silver body.
Yes. Can you move the black collar up the strut more and twist the body into the silver part? That's what it looks like you can do from the video and also the pics you posted. So in theory the "wet" black part goes into the silver part by moving the black collar separating the two up the "wet" black part.

Does that make sense?
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      10-18-2019, 02:13 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt@EuroJerks View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
Are you talking about the strut? There is some strut threaded into the silver body.
Yes. Can you move the black collar up the strut more and twist the body into the silver part? That's what it looks like you can do from the video and also the pics you posted. So in theory the "wet" black part goes into the silver part by moving the black collar separating the two up the "wet" black part.

Does that make sense?
Yea no I get that, but talking to the installer they said that the strut length how it was had nothing to do with lowering the car further. :
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      10-18-2019, 02:14 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
I honestly didn't check the spring to see if it had any play. It wasn't noticeably loose.

I believe the spring cup is ok it shouldn't lift the car that much, right?
based on these pictures, the car is sitting as low as it will go. See the "wet looking" threads on the rear strut? If you can make the strut LONGER (it already looks like it is thread out as much as possible) then maybe you can reduce preload on the spring which would in turn let the car sit lower. otherwise, you might need a shorter spring. How long is your rear spring? 9"? 8"?

The rear is a bit more complicated than the front since the spring is divorced. Spring length DOES matter and so does strut length. with the rear wheels on the ground, remove the nut on the bottom rear strut mount. Then jack the car up slowly. See how much the car rises before the spring becomes LOOSE. That is how much shorter you can make your spring. Also, what is the front and rear spring rates? If the rear spring rate is crazy high then maybe that is why the car is sitting high. Could be a combo between a stiff and long rear spring.

Last edited by bbnks2; 10-18-2019 at 02:29 PM..
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      10-18-2019, 08:52 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bbnks2 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
I honestly didn't check the spring to see if it had any play. It wasn't noticeably loose.

I believe the spring cup is ok it shouldn't lift the car that much, right?
based on these pictures, the car is sitting as low as it will go. See the "wet looking" threads on the rear strut? If you can make the strut LONGER (it already looks like it is thread out as much as possible) then maybe you can reduce preload on the spring which would in turn let the car sit lower. otherwise, you might need a shorter spring. How long is your rear spring? 9"? 8"?

The rear is a bit more complicated than the front since the spring is divorced. Spring length DOES matter and so does strut length. with the rear wheels on the ground, remove the nut on the bottom rear strut mount. Then jack the car up slowly. See how much the car rises before the spring becomes LOOSE. That is how much shorter you can make your spring. Also, what is the front and rear spring rates? If the rear spring rate is crazy high then maybe that is why the car is sitting high. Could be a combo between a stiff and long rear spring.
I have to measure the rear spring but my spring rates are 7 for front and 12 for rear. Could this be why?
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      10-18-2019, 11:20 PM   #18
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The rear spring cup probably needs to be removed. Like others have said, check the length of the rear spring. Ultimately going with a shorter rear spring will solve the problem.
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      10-19-2019, 02:06 PM   #19
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Have a look at the instructions. Most of coilovers height adjusters do not need the OEM spring cup to center them.
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      10-19-2019, 06:15 PM   #20
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I pretty much reinstalled them today. I took the rear spring cup off and I removed the "spacer" between the spring and adjusters. The spacer was about 1-1.5'' thick and looking at other Coilovers set ups I didn't think it was that important. If I'm wrong let me know . The car now sits how I want it. May raise it up a tad more pending my new tires and wheels. Pics are below. I don't know why they are upside down, sorry.
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      10-21-2019, 09:13 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stillswingin26 View Post
I pretty much reinstalled them today. I took the rear spring cup off and I removed the "spacer" between the spring and adjusters. The spacer was about 1-1.5'' thick and looking at other Coilovers set ups I didn't think it was that important. If I'm wrong let me know . The car now sits how I want it. May raise it up a tad more pending my new tires and wheels. Pics are below. I don't know why they are upside down, sorry.
wow I didn't even see that spacer thing lol. Yeah definitely not needed in this case. Probably just comes with the kit as a generic item where softer springs are used. Easy enough "fix!"
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      10-21-2019, 10:05 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HP Autosport View Post
Have a look at the instructions. Most of coilovers height adjusters do not need the OEM spring cup to center them.
This is the right answer, you need to take the stock spring cup out. The adjuster will not sit in the stock cup properly and could come loose. You'll probably want to put the spacer back in when you take this out.
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