Ways to bag an e30~

[seven-57]

I know there's a bunch of threads out there and I've read a handful of them, but I'm making this thread in hopes of getting some collective input from people who've run bags on e30's or have experience with them.

I'm currently running Broadway Static coilovers. Now I LOVE these coilovers. Jaze and the guys make a great product, but the roads in my area make it damn near impossible to survive in a static low car. I am looking to spend as little money as possible, so I'm thinking about doing Bag Over Coil setup. The downside I heard is that people don't get enough lift and low with a BOC setup. I'm not opposed to running straight airbag struts, but obviously that's the more expensive route. And I also want to get my money's worth out of my Broadway Static coilovers considering I put big money into getting them not even 7 months ago.

I partly wanna run analog because I think it would look more period correct in the e30 and it would be cheaper.

If any of you were at Guten Parts & Services' GFest 2013 yesterday in South Orange, NJ then you probably saw or heard about that e30 on RS's that got towed from a cracked oil pan. Well that was me and I've gone through more pans this year than I care to admit and I'm thinking it might be time for bags. I live in DC and commute often to NJ in my e30 and roads aren't that great in either areas.

This is a small recap of yesterday's events...

[Brian.]

Reallllll quick question. How do you crack an oil pan on an M20 motor? That shit's above the subframe... unless it's swapped. But I do know that the M30 hangs below the subframe, solely cause I scrape mine all the time.

[seven-57]

Reallllll quick question. How do you crack an oil pan on an M20 motor? That shit's above the subframe... unless it's swapped. But I do know that the M30 hangs below the subframe, solely cause I scrape mine all the time.

Well last ones I cracked because I'm simply too low for the haggard roads of DC. This last pan went I think mostly because my motor mounts are shot, so my pan is sitting right on top of my skid plate, so anything that makes contact with the skid plate transfers right to the pan. There's literally a credit card's worth of clearance between my pan and the skid plate.

[brandunn]

I've got a bagged e30 and I used the airlift struts just because I found them for cheap from a guy who bought them but never used them. The aero sport have 5.5 inches of lift between compressed and extended so that seems plenty, it would just be a matter of how you mount the bags. In the rear I would suggest air house 1 bags. I have air house 2 and they extend to monster truck status so I have to run pretty soft in the rear to ride level. As far as management that's really up to you, it's all gonna do essentially the same thing. I can get some pictures of my setup I you'd like to see it.

[seven-57]

I've got a bagged e30 and I used the airlift struts just because I found them for cheap from a guy who bought them but never used them. The aero sport have 5.5 inches of lift between compressed and extended so that seems plenty, it would just be a matter of how you mount the bags. In the rear I would suggest air house 1 bags. I have air house 2 and they extend to monster truck status so I have to run pretty soft in the rear to ride level. As far as management that's really up to you, it's all gonna do essentially the same thing. I can get some pictures of my setup I you'd like to see it.

Yeah man I'd love to see the setup! I'll pm you.

[Rob&co]

Reallllll quick question. How do you crack an oil pan on an M20 motor? That shit's above the subframe... unless it's swapped. But I do know that the M30 hangs below the subframe, solely cause I scrape mine all the time.

Bro...Do you even m20 in a e30? Shit hangs lower then balls on a old dog!

[Wrinckled]

I remember you! Thanks for letting me try out those center caps.

As far as bagging an E30, why not just raise the motor?

[Average_Jerk]

You can raise the engine about 3/4 of an inch. Then it wont be the low point o the front end anymore. Do that instead of parting with your Broadway Static coilovers in favor of an inferior suspension set up

[Wyatt Lay]

Reallllll quick question. How do you crack an oil pan on an M20 motor? That shit's above the subframe... unless it's swapped. But I do know that the M30 hangs below the subframe, solely cause I scrape mine all the time.

M20 pans in e28s are steel and above the subframe. M20s in e30s are aluminum and hang super, super low. Raising it helps a ton, as long as your pan isn't the lowest thing (just above the sub frame) you are good.

[RonnieC]

Here are some pics of our E30.

Thx

[seven-57]

I remember you! Thanks for letting me try out those center caps.

As far as bagging an E30, why not just raise the motor?

No worries man! Glad we're connecting on all fronts since we met. IG and S|W lol Kinda sounds like the best alternative at this point.

You can raise the engine about 3/4 of an inch. Then it wont be the low point o the front end anymore. Do that instead of parting with your Broadway Static coilovers in favor of an inferior suspension set up

I think raising the engine kind of sounds like the best option. I just swapped in Condor Speed Shop motor mounts and I **** em. So damn stiff my whole car could shake itself to death. But yeah, I'm trying to find any reason NOT to part with my BWS coilovers. I was supposed to go down to Fortune Auto and be the beta car for the e30 version of the air cups, but I couldn't front the cash even at discount at the time. And the air cups rock, but you can't ride on them for extended periods of time, which kind of defeats the purpose for me :\

M20 pans in e28s are steel and above the subframe. M20s in e30s are aluminum and hang super, super low. Raising it helps a ton, as long as your pan isn't the lowest thing (just above the sub frame) you are good.

[6inarow]

M20 pans in e28s are steel and above the subframe. M20s in e30s are aluminum and hang super, super low. Raising it helps a ton, as long as your pan isn't the lowest thing (just above the sub frame) you are good.

528e still has an aluminum oil pan. No way around it. Any fabrication shop can weld it up. I had mine done for 40 bones an have not had a leak yet


Jon

[nickskater09]

528e still has an aluminum oil pan. No way around it. Any fabrication shop can weld it up. I had mine done for 40 bones an have not had a leak yet


Jon

I beg to differ...

Source: I own one. It's steel as fuck.

OP you might be able to switch to a steel pan, just have to sacrifice some oil temperature. I have a B25 in my E28 with the steel B27 pan on it and no issues. I'm not sure about the clearance of the subframe but I can take some measurements of the pan if you want to check it out.

[seven-57]

I beg to differ...

Source: I own one. It's steel as fuck.

OP you might be able to switch to a steel pan, just have to sacrifice some oil temperature. I have a B25 in my E28 with the steel B27 pan on it and no issues. I'm not sure about the clearance of the subframe but I can take some measurements of the pan if you want to check it out.

I mean, I have a b27, so I have a good idea about it. I appreciate it though. I really think I'm just gonna go the bags route in the near future.

[CHIF8008]

i need a e28 steel pan source. my motor is also raised