1997 M3... Too low for Michigan

[Jesus Christ]

Thank you!

I would LOVE to leave it as it is right now, and if I get another E36 as a daily/beater, I very well might go this low. Looks awesome like this, but it bottoms out too often, bump-steers like mad (Yes I know rack spacers will help this) and worst of all, understeers (also accredited to stretch)

Once I have a daily this car will be only for fun runs, driving hard and track days. It'll be staying like this for another week maybe, and my friend already got some awesome shots, she might want to do some more before I raise it. I will be sure to share. A project log will also be started soon, starting with analoid-level paint correction. She's not bad right now, just a bit of swirling that for this car I will not allow.

Thanks for the support and comments/compliments. I'm in love with it.

You could even go lower with a coilover fit for the job. Rack spacers do not help with bumpsteer, they just allow more steering angle. You got a nice clean example, get some M specific coils so you can get your swaybar back, that's the understeer you're feeling not the tires so much.

can't wait to see some progress!

[motocaddy]

that's not too low at all. get some better coils and see if that doesn't change your mind.

[Khalil]

I know some guys that make some insanely awesome coilovers for that car.

Hmm me too!

Me three!

Oh Jaze you so humble

[projekt-H]

Haha thanks guys, but I know I could go lower, even on this setup (which does have a swaybar, though I havent seen what it's attached to yet) but I don't want to. As nice as it looks I want to be able to drive my car and not worry about the next bump im going to bottom out on. That and I would like for my suspension geometry to actually be functional.

To me function > form.

Also, to any of you saying its not too low: Have you driven in Detroit lately? (Not trying to be an ass, just asking. Those who have will understand)

[Drock11]

I didn't know the roads are bad ONLY in michigan and not everywhere else in the united states... the M looks good though!

[SD202]

You will leave it at that height and you will like it.

+1 looks great. No need to raise it.

[creaney]

You will leave it at that height and you will like it.

Talking sense!

[white out]

Wasn't that E36M in GR?

I didn't know the roads are bad ONLY in michigan and not everywhere else in the united states... the M looks good though!

Metro Detroit roads suck, badly. Sections of road are missing, massive expansion joints (up and down), chunks of concrete sitting in the road, 2" vertical transitions, etc. I have literally never seen roads as bad anywhere else in the US and I drive through major cities frequently.

Nick

[e36cruiser]

Well if you do raise it... atleast get some 17x10 or so and run some meat and make it flush. M3's look better with meaty flush rather than a slightly stretched 205...

[HooWybrow]

I must admit, Michigan roads fucking suck. I went down for a weekend and long story short came home with a new oil pan.

That being said. I've spent the last two weeks raising my engine, the car went a half inch lower.

Raise it? Bad, bad dog.

[skrapez]

Also, to any of you saying its not too low: Have you driven in Detroit lately? (Not trying to be an ass, just asking. Those who have will understand)

I didn't know the roads are bad ONLY in michigan and not everywhere else in the united states... the M looks good though!

Ya.... The roads suck everywhere man. I was in my friends lifted land river with 35" tires the other day and hit a bump we didn't even see. Slammed bumpstop soo hard it set the hazards off because it thought we got into an accident.

I understand you want to be able to drive your car hard... But you need to know your roads are not the only ones that are fucked. The rest of us just deal with it. ;-)

[projekt-H]

You will leave it at that height and you will like it.

Nope lol

Talking sense!

Right, because proper suspension geometry doesnt make sense when it's going to be a track/backroad car, right?

Wasn't that E36M in GR?


Metro Detroit roads suck, badly. Sections of road are missing, massive expansion joints (up and down), chunks of concrete sitting in the road, 2" vertical transitions, etc. I have literally never seen roads as bad anywhere else in the US and I drive through major cities frequently.

Nick

Yeah it used to be some dude in Holland, why do you know the car/past owner?

And You are definitely not exaggerating that at all. Only other place I've seen road almost as bad as here was the most hick-looking road of Tennessee south of clarksville

[projekt-H]

Well if you do raise it... atleast get some 17x10 or so and run some meat and make it flush. M3's look better with meaty flush rather than a slightly stretched 205...

Whoever you are, you win the prize. That's what the plan is. No hardparker shit here.

Ya.... The roads suck everywhere man. I was in my friends lifted land river with 35" tires the other day and hit a bump we didn't even see. Slammed bumpstop soo hard it set the hazards off because it thought we got into an accident.

I understand you want to be able to drive your car hard... But you need to know your roads are not the only ones that are fucked. The rest of us just deal with it. ;-)

I know Michigan isnt the only place with bad roads, but I've been other places, trust me. It's bad here. like, unless that Benz in your sig is on air it wouldnt make it out of my driveway let alone a block down my street, level bad.

Besides, even if I lived in the desert with perfect roads and no driveways, it would still go up at close to an inch. I bought this for handling.

To all those concerned only with how low it sits, stay tuned for when I save up and get a winter beater

[e30_vert]

[abest521]

Right now its sitting on Raceland (ick) coilovers, 17x8 Style 5's (205 tire). Carbon hood. Pretty much nothing else done to it than that, (Turner chip, short throw shifter) I'm going to need to raise it up at least 1/2 inch, and hopefully get some more tire under her.

Im 12 and what is this?

No but really, people do not understand our road situation here. Its bad everywhere you go in this state. I understand why you're raising it. Keep making progress on it tho. The murder mitten has to grow its stance scene some more.