steering and suspension Economic Suspension Upgrade??

[Rob H002]

Hey 02'ers!

 

What would you recommend for economic coil springs, sway bars and shocks/struts? I’m almost 53 years old and not looking to race may 1972, 2002, Two Barrel baby and the wife has me on a $300 a month budget! I want it lowered 1.25 to 1.50 inch and a good ride! I’m also considering an electronic ignition, what would you guys recommend? Some of the forums I’ve read don’t seem to have great things to say about the Plantronics, should I change my Bosch coil when I go to electronic??

thank you all in advance!!

 

[jrhone]

I take it u mean Pertronix. I like it a lot. Used it for years without issues. Makes life easy. No condenser or points. Simple. Since then I have gotten a 123/Tune that replaces the distributor and is completely electronic yet looks stock. As far as suspension goes I.E. stage 1 sounds like what u want.  I have stage II and bilstein sport shocks. Stiff but I like it. It's also got a nice aggressive stance. I cut the front springs an additional half coil to get it to sit just right. Hope this helps. 

[Buckeye]

A few options:

1). Eibach Pro-kit springs will lower the car 1" and then you can go with  Sachs-Boge  struts and shocks

2) Eiback pro-kit springs with Bilstein HD struts and shocks

3). H&R springs will lower car 1.25 - 1.5" and Bilstein HD struts and shocks

any of above options should give very smooth ride. I would stay away from KB shocks and struts. Might want to ask wife if she can advance next month budget. There was probably time when $300 would've got you all suspension parts you needed, but not these days.

As far as ignition, a healthy distributor with leas than 0.005" vertical movement, clean, well lubed and new ignition rotor, cap, point, condenser, set of new spark plug wires and dependable coil will make your car "Ultimate Driving Machine" again for many yeas to come. I would stay away of Bosch product except for coil. Look for Beru brand

Edited August 31, 2016 by Buckeye

[Maximillian]

Bravo for you wives being the rational ones in our hobbies!!!! But we find ways to support our habit. Look, If it is going to be a source of stress in the budget, go buy a Honda (excellent brand) that is $199 a month with zero down and 0.09% interest loan. Sept is when the car car makers all run sales. OR, stake a claim to the dedication of owning THE classic BMW and rationalize it by saying "its paid for". I tell the wives of our customers: hey its really ok he spend $$$ on his BMW this month because: a) it's not another woman, b;) he is not gambling or doing drugs and c) you know where to find him- in the garage. 

 

Now regarding the suspension, I have one question to ask you: Have you ever driven a bone stock 2002 with fresh suspension stock components ? Suspension set-ups are all about compromise. I am in my early 50s and wish I had never installed the oh so rare quick ration steering box and wider tires. I personally find stock 02s (with all fresh bits) to be some of the most tossable, comfortable, sporty cars on earth. (yeah, outside of E30 M3). So many customers call in and say: this suspension is too soft, loose, etc. Of course it is because it is 40 year old worn out system!! So go drive a 2002 wth a fresh COMPLETE stock rebuild. Also, pls note as soon as you start messing with the divine right of Bavarian engineering, things go a stray. Did the shock engineers know which spring it was going to be paired with ? Just an FYI, Bilstein HD shocks were a factory option.

 

All the best & call me if you get stuck,

Max

 

[AceAndrew]

2 hours ago, jrhone said:

As far as suspension goes I.E. stage 1 sounds like what u want.  

 

-I would tend to agree on this one.  The setup was designed to work together with Bilstein HD shocks (and yes, the spring rates were determined around the HD's dampening profile).  

 

-As also mentioned, fresh rubber bits are essential.  However, even then I love to corner a bit more flat.  

 

-When you say "lower it 1.5-ish", please note that your stock springs (assuming you still have stock springs) are now forty years old and could have sagged more than where a "lowering spring" will put the car.  Meaning that in some cases a lowering springs will raise the height of your car. 

 

-Please also not that there are a million threads on suspension setup of all types .... racing, weekend warriors, take-you-grandma-to-church, etc.  If you use the search function you will find hours-worth of feedback (all of it contradictory at some point).  Everything that I've said can be found numerous times.  My best suggestion would be to try and ask for a few rides from local 02 owners in your area.

['76mintgrün'02]

That is nice of your wife to give you $300 a month to spend on your car!

 

Let's see, I have owned mine for five years, which is sixty months.

At three hundred dollars per month, that would equal $18000!

 

I have about one third of that invested, so I guess my budget has been $100/month.  

... or $3.33/day... or $.14 per hour... or $.01 every 4.2 minutes... or so.

 

I took the "while I am in there, I might as well just..." approach to suspension, when I first bought the car.

The rubber bits were tired and the shocks and struts were shot.  I put in H&R springs with the HDs and added ST sways a couple years later.

 

Incremental improvements are fun, but it is often more efficient to tackle a few things at once, while it is apart.  

Perhaps putting the money aside and driving it as is, while saving up for a suspension 'package'? 

[Rob H002]

Hey Guys,

thanks for the tips! I will save up and sell a few extra parts i have to support my new hobby.. Right now it sits at 8 3/4" at rear and front, measuring at the bottom of rock panel spot welded lip. However it looks higher in the front and want to bring it down a bit.  I may just put new shocks/struts and 4 new lower springs, change all F/R bushings and give that a try. Thanks again!

[Simeon]

1 hour ago, Rob H002 said:

Hey Guys,

thanks for the tips! I will save up and sell a few extra parts i have to support my new hobby.. Right now it sits at 8 3/4" at rear and front, measuring at the bottom of rock panel spot welded lip. However it looks higher in the front and want to bring it down a bit.  I may just put new shocks/struts and 4 new lower springs, change all F/R bushings and give that a try. Thanks again!

 

Looks like you could have the ride height spacers still in place. If so, removing them is free or just the skin on your knuckles. 

 

Seriously, I would start with renewing all the rubber bushes with new rubber. Do the same for the steering joints too. A nod to performance is to use polyurethane bushes on the sway bars since firmness is only a positive here. See how that feels before planning anything else. 

[Maximillian]

BMWs of this era are designed to sit higher in the front as they need the clearance during braking.