H&R Springs

#1

Been looking but haven’t found it, what is the rate of our springs? Been thinking about putting them on a street car. Has anyone driven them on the street for any distance?

#2

I have H&R race springs with Bilstein sports on an E30 M3 street car. It’s certainly a firm ride and not something I would enjoy on my everyday ride, but great for weekend joy rides.

#3

Found this a couple yrs ago:

Spring---------------------Front(lb/in.)-------------Rear(lb/in.)

Stock 325i*-----------------------106------------------------245
Stock 325is*----------------------118------------------------265
Stock 325ix*----------------------106------------------------308
Stock M3*-------------------------114------------------------314
Stock M3--------------------------140------------------------250
Dinan Sport-----------------------172------------------------300
H&R OE Sport---------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport-------------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport (29664)---------------200------------------------285
H&R Race-------------------------315------------------------ 570
H&R Coilovers***----------------340------------------------380
Eibach Pro-Kit--------------------102-------------------------277
Eibach Race----------------------160-------------------------445
IE SIII----------------------------315-------------------------570
Koni Coilovers-------------------342-------------------------407
Cosmo Coilovers----------------450-------------------------560
Tokico----------------------------165-------------------------265
TMS J-Stock**-------------------680------------------------1026
Alpina(est.)---------------------~200-----------------------~350
FK 60/60 cup kit-----------------379--------------------------379
Vogtland Standard***--------115/197-----------------------360
Vogtland CS***---------------137/200-----------------------400
Vogtland--------------------------225--------------------------360
Intrax-----------------------------126--------------------------250

#4

I’ve had the Bavarian Autosport Sport Springs on my 87is for 10 years. Cheap and stiff enough for autox and track. I think the shocks have more to do with the ride harshness than the springs though.

#5

Scott, thanks for the list!

RP

#6

Thanks for the info. Might give a set a try, can always move them to a SpecE30. Been thinking about a 302V8 swap and the H&R’s would help with the weight diff.

#7

I haven’t yet driven very far on it, but I can say that I was surprised at how soft and compliant the so called “race” suspension still was after I got it on the car. Of course I’m still running on street bushings. The spring rates are roughly equivalent to the ones I drive with in the Cobra which has taken numerous longer trips. It won’t exactly leave you feeling rested at the end of a long trip, but it’s tolerable. I’ll let you know for sure about the E30 after its first Mid-Ohio jaunt.

#8

That remind me…There’s someone on Craigslist, Charleston SC maybe, that is selling an E36 V8 swap.

#9

My brother has just finished up an E30 5.0 swap with H&R sport springs. It seems to sit and ride really well. I don’t know, but the race springs may be just a bit short.

Matt

#10

Hey, Matt - would like to chat with him about the conversion. Does he think it was worth the effort? Did he use FI or a carb? Ask him to send me an email if he has the time. joel@barberraceworks.com - thanks

#11

That sort of thing should be done to an unloved car. I hear 2nd gen rx7s are good for v8 swaps. There’s always the displacement replacement aka a turbo.

#12

I just bought an e30 with the spec suspension install and have been driving it to work and back for a few months.

I’d say for a street car its a bit stiff. Its great on nice smooth roads but if you have alot of bumpy roads around you will feel them all.

I swear I’m getting air over this one bump that is before a bridge, lol. Yee Hawwwww!

#13

Fully agree. Most of the time, you’ll think “this isn’t bad at all.” But every time I drive through intersections in Boston that are 80% potholes and trolley tracks, I fear that I’m going to break something on the car or my person.

#14

Fully agree. Most of the time, you’ll think “this isn’t bad at all.” But every time I drive through intersections in Boston that are 80% potholes and trolley tracks, I fear that I’m going to break something on the car or my person.[/quote]

I agree…I have a street commuter with H&Rs and Bilstein Sports with the stock swaybars. Great on smooth roads, gets a bit annoying on choppy pavement. Overall I like the look and the sporty feel.