My H&R Sport on 135i Impressions

larryn · 03-31-2008, 06:39 PM

Okay, you probably saw the teaser thread, where I spent a good portion of the day installing the H&R Sport springs. I wanted to post my impressions in a different thread from that teaser thread.

First, I think the drop looks perfect. There's about 3" in front, from the black "flippers" that stick down, to the even pavement. I'll be staying away from parking berms for sure. The car looks a bit wider, now that it's lower too, which is a positive thing to me.

In addition to putting the springs on, I removed the metal screw-in alignment nub on top of the front strut hats, which allows me to add more negative camber, which I did. You'll get some negative camber, just by lowering the car as well. So, the wheels look a bit tucked too, and it appears I can get a good bit more tire in there now.

Okay, on to driving....

It is raining, and the roads here are pock marked courses that look as if a series of cluster bomb campaigns were successfully carried out. Behind those cluster bombers were repair crews, who knew that the road would be hit again, so they were not at all careful about their hole-filling technique. The result is a patchwork of indents and bumps. I've driven these roads quite a bit with the stock suspended 135i, now I had a chance to navigate it with the new changes....

The car is no more harsh at all. Strangely, I almost thought it felt a bit more compliant. The "thuds" I hear are about the same volume and feel, when hitting the indents, and the bumps made the car feel similar to the stocker. I dunno if that's a good thing, but the ride qualities did not deteriorate.

Understeer & Turn-in. I don't know if it's the extra camber, or the lower center of gravity, or a combination of the two, but I was hitting corners in the wet, that would have made the front push slightly in the dry, and in the rain, it just squirted around the corner. I tried to see how much faster I could take the corners by mid corner acceleration, and I could only induce throttle oversteer. The front never really gave up. I assume this will be a bit different in the dry, but I was pretty happy.

Highways. I feel the back tramlining slightly in the wet (which it usually is the front that tramlines), and I assume that I'll need to break out my alignment gear, and do some fine tuning. I might just have too much negative camber, now that it's 1.5" lower, and I'll dial a bit out, which is pretty simple.

Overall, I'm really pleased. I know that there are those of us that think any drop requires new shocks. If I was going any lower than this, I would agree. The H&R "Super Sports" (formerly called "Race") are the type of spring that I would say require different damping, as well as springs with quite a bit different spring rate too. The spring rates on these things are not too far from the factory M Sports, which feel "stout" themselves.

I'll do one reposted pic:

Templedogg · 03-31-2008, 07:02 PM

Man, just when I thought I would do my first track day without any swaybar or spring changes, you go and make me want them even more. I love the look and agree it makes the car look a little wider.

eunosracr · 03-31-2008, 07:17 PM

Nicely done. You know I'm biased towards AW 135i's on H&Rs!

Bdh821 · 03-31-2008, 09:11 PM

Larry it looks amazing! Let me know how it rides in Boston though, since MA roads suck. Have any bottoming out problems? Reguardless, your car looks sweet! Can't wait for mine!! :w00t:

Impulse · 03-31-2008, 11:25 PM

Looks awesome Larry, nice write-up
Can't wait to get this things on coilovers!!!

stefan · 04-01-2008, 01:05 AM

Cool.. changing the springs without the suspension is tempting.. I've never done it but you're turning me. Please write us a review after a few thousand to see how it goes (bottoming out, etc.).

Otherwise, looks awesome! Nice work!

Rearro · 04-01-2008, 01:11 AM

Larry, I had an H&R I-cup suspension on my E-46 and I remember the wheels rubbing in the rear if I hit a bump. Have you experienced any rubbing or hitting of the rear tires?

larryn · 04-01-2008, 07:38 AM

There's no rubbing or bottom out. I kept the stock bump stops, which I haven't hit either. Matter of fact, I had these springs in my e90 (they are the same part number for the e90 and e82), and pulling out of dunkin donuts I would scrape in the e90, because the parking lot exit was pretty steep downhill. In the 1er, no scrapage. (I was kind of expecting it to scrape slightly too).

I'll do a followup in a few weeks, but these springs are already broken in, and at their height they'll remain at.

TunedM2C · 04-01-2008, 10:15 AM

Damn, I wonder how it would take on a sleeping cop (Top Gear reference) aka speed bump? I can't believe this slipped my mind but we recently moved and the new neighborhood we live in has speed bumps scattered all over the place. I might be fooked!

J-Sud · 04-02-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryn

Overall, I'm really pleased. I know that there are those of us that think any drop requires new shocks. If I was going any lower than this, I would agree. The H&R "Super Sports" (formerly called "Race") are the type of spring that I would say require different damping, as well as springs with quite a bit different spring rate too. The spring rates on these things are not too far from the factory M Sports, which feel "stout" themselves.

I thought it also had to do with the fact that you are decreasing your suspension travel from stock and thus increasing the chance of bottoming out your strut. I put H&R sports on my VW GTI the struts were gone within a year. I am sure the stock struts are more "robust" for say on the 135i, i am curious to see what the results after many miles are driven on the car. If it turns out ok, this seems like a good alternative to coilovers. I have KW V3's on my GTI now and my ride quality is sh*t.

BMWERKEN · 04-10-2008, 12:28 AM

Great write up, sounds like H&R has done it once again

sredish · 04-17-2008, 01:34 PM

just a bump for how good that thing looks with the HR setup.

Endre · 04-17-2008, 01:36 PM

Just mounted the same on mine. Looks good!!

randomquickness · 04-17-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Sud

I thought it also had to do with the fact that you are decreasing your suspension travel from stock and thus increasing the chance of bottoming out your strut. I put H&R sports on my VW GTI the struts were gone within a year. I am sure the stock struts are more "robust" for say on the 135i, i am curious to see what the results after many miles are driven on the car. If it turns out ok, this seems like a good alternative to coilovers. I have KW V3's on my GTI now and my ride quality is sh*t.

thats what my gti buddy said when I put springs on my audi...but I've had no issues and the shocks are still fine

sredish · 04-17-2008, 02:37 PM

so whats the chances of getting a 265 on the back of that thing and maybe a 235 or 245 up front, that car, stock wheels and HR springs..

larryn · 04-17-2008, 03:46 PM

265's on back? Prbably doable. I had 255's on back with room to spare on the inside with a 17x9 wheel with 41 offset. If you did a 45 or 47 offset, you should be able to get 265s in back. 235 or 245 are also doable up front with the correct wheel/offset.

larryn · 04-17-2008, 03:55 PM

As an update, I've driven about 600 miles with the springs on it, and it still feels pretty stock. The stock suspension is loud over broken pavement, and you hear things much more than you feel them. This continues to be the case with the H&R sports. As an added bonus, the turn-in is a LOT more crisp, with the added negative camber of the lowering, plus removing the strut hat alignment pin.

There still is no rubbing at all, and although I left the two bottom flaps on the front of my car, I have yet to scrape on anything yet, presumably because of the very short front overhang.

Looks wise, it hasn't settled any more, since these springs were in my e90 and are already broken in. I do have one slight negative.... On all the H&R e82 pics I've seen show the front a bit lower than the rear, just as mine is. Although that gives it a more aggressive stance, I'd like it a bit more level.. maybe another 1/2 inch higher in front, or a half inch lower in back.

Templedogg · 04-17-2008, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the update, that is great news. I just got mine in and have an install appointment for the 29th. I have never installed them and the local Performance shop will install them, give me a 4 wheel laser alignment, and do my BMWCCA Tech inspect all for $400. I didn't think that was too bad. I plan to watch every step as well so next time I can just do it myself.

larryn · 04-17-2008, 05:17 PM

Awesome price! The fronts are a bear to get out from under the fender without scratching anything. I had about 15 layers of racing tape on the inside and outside of the fender lip.

I think you're going to like it!

Justin(OKC) · 04-17-2008, 08:21 PM

thanks for the update!!! I've really been trying to decide if I want to do the H&R sports or do some coilovers. I too thought that the cars with just the springs looked too tall in the back. Anyone put the the car on scales? I may just spring for the coilovers and cornerweight the car.

TunedM2C · 04-17-2008, 08:38 PM

Any "popping" over bumps or in hard turns from the springs? I had this issue with my previous M3's.

larryn · 04-17-2008, 08:49 PM

No.. I didn't have that on the e90 either. You'll still get the bang, due to the runflats, but the springs add no noise that I can tell, so far. It is a tad firmer, but not much. The 135i already feels pretty "stout" in stock form.. firm and well put together, when driving it.

03-31-2008, 06:39 PM	#1
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	My H&R Sport on 135i Impressions Okay, you probably saw the teaser thread, where I spent a good portion of the day installing the H&R Sport springs. I wanted to post my impressions in a different thread from that teaser thread. First, I think the drop looks perfect. There's about 3" in front, from the black "flippers" that stick down, to the even pavement. I'll be staying away from parking berms for sure. The car looks a bit wider, now that it's lower too, which is a positive thing to me. In addition to putting the springs on, I removed the metal screw-in alignment nub on top of the front strut hats, which allows me to add more negative camber, which I did. You'll get some negative camber, just by lowering the car as well. So, the wheels look a bit tucked too, and it appears I can get a good bit more tire in there now. Okay, on to driving.... It is raining, and the roads here are pock marked courses that look as if a series of cluster bomb campaigns were successfully carried out. Behind those cluster bombers were repair crews, who knew that the road would be hit again, so they were not at all careful about their hole-filling technique. The result is a patchwork of indents and bumps. I've driven these roads quite a bit with the stock suspended 135i, now I had a chance to navigate it with the new changes.... The car is no more harsh at all. Strangely, I almost thought it felt a bit more compliant. The "thuds" I hear are about the same volume and feel, when hitting the indents, and the bumps made the car feel similar to the stocker. I dunno if that's a good thing, but the ride qualities did not deteriorate. Understeer & Turn-in. I don't know if it's the extra camber, or the lower center of gravity, or a combination of the two, but I was hitting corners in the wet, that would have made the front push slightly in the dry, and in the rain, it just squirted around the corner. I tried to see how much faster I could take the corners by mid corner acceleration, and I could only induce throttle oversteer. The front never really gave up. I assume this will be a bit different in the dry, but I was pretty happy. Highways. I feel the back tramlining slightly in the wet (which it usually is the front that tramlines), and I assume that I'll need to break out my alignment gear, and do some fine tuning. I might just have too much negative camber, now that it's 1.5" lower, and I'll dial a bit out, which is pretty simple. Overall, I'm really pleased. I know that there are those of us that think any drop requires new shocks. If I was going any lower than this, I would agree. The H&R "Super Sports" (formerly called "Race") are the type of spring that I would say require different damping, as well as springs with quite a bit different spring rate too. The spring rates on these things are not too far from the factory M Sports, which feel "stout" themselves. I'll do one reposted pic: Attached Images
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03-31-2008, 07:02 PM	#2
Templedogg Captain 49 Rep 799 Posts Drives: 135i, Trailblazer SS, 1934 PU Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lake Stevens, WA iTrader: (1)	Man, just when I thought I would do my first track day without any swaybar or spring changes, you go and make me want them even more. I love the look and agree it makes the car look a little wider.
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03-31-2008, 07:17 PM	#3
eunosracr Colonel 157 Rep 2,231 Posts Drives: a car Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: here iTrader: (4)	Nicely done. You know I'm biased towards AW 135i's on H&Rs!
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03-31-2008, 09:11 PM	#4
Bdh821 Major 44 Rep 1,265 Posts Drives: 2021 M550i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MA iTrader: (3)	Larry it looks amazing! Let me know how it rides in Boston though, since MA roads suck. Have any bottoming out problems? Reguardless, your car looks sweet! Can't wait for mine!! :w00t:
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03-31-2008, 11:25 PM	#5
Impulse BMW ONE 15 Rep 630 Posts Drives: 93 RX-7 R1, 135i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00] 1993 Mazda RX-7 R1 [0.00]	Looks awesome Larry, nice write-up Can't wait to get this things on coilovers!!! __________________ 135i - Alpine White - Black Leatherette - 6-Speed - Sport Package - Aluminum trim - 6FL
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04-01-2008, 01:05 AM	#6
stefan Brigadier General 2350 Rep 4,253 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North iTrader: (2)	Cool.. changing the springs without the suspension is tempting.. I've never done it but you're turning me. Please write us a review after a few thousand to see how it goes (bottoming out, etc.). Otherwise, looks awesome! Nice work! __________________ ///M Power
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04-01-2008, 01:11 AM	#7
Rearro Lieutenant 24 Rep 507 Posts Drives: Bmw 135I Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Silverdale, Wa. iTrader: (0)	Larry, I had an H&R I-cup suspension on my E-46 and I remember the wheels rubbing in the rear if I hit a bump. Have you experienced any rubbing or hitting of the rear tires? __________________ 2008 135i,Dinan Stage 2,Dinan Free flow exhaust.
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04-01-2008, 07:38 AM	#8
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	There's no rubbing or bottom out. I kept the stock bump stops, which I haven't hit either. Matter of fact, I had these springs in my e90 (they are the same part number for the e90 and e82), and pulling out of dunkin donuts I would scrape in the e90, because the parking lot exit was pretty steep downhill. In the 1er, no scrapage. (I was kind of expecting it to scrape slightly too). I'll do a followup in a few weeks, but these springs are already broken in, and at their height they'll remain at.
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04-01-2008, 10:15 AM	#9
TunedM2C Brigadier General 828 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: 2016 LBB M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	Damn, I wonder how it would take on a sleeping cop (Top Gear reference) aka speed bump? I can't believe this slipped my mind but we recently moved and the new neighborhood we live in has speed bumps scattered all over the place. I might be fooked!
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04-10-2008, 12:28 AM	#11
BMWERKEN Banned 0 Rep 35 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2007 iTrader: (0)	Great write up, sounds like H&R has done it once again
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04-17-2008, 01:34 PM	#12
sredish Private 2 Rep 76 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	just a bump for how good that thing looks with the HR setup.
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04-17-2008, 01:36 PM	#13
Endre Lieutenant 17 Rep 420 Posts Drives: E36 M3 3.2 (321hp) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Molde iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E82 120d [10.00]	Just mounted the same on mine. Looks good!! __________________ 120d, M-sport, H&R springs,Remus Exhaust, 135I kidneys, 18"BMW performance with Toyo T1R.(summer) 17" style 207 with Michelin Xice(winter), 17" M3 replica with Toyo R888 (Track), Hardwired H/K GPS 810. SOLD! Now driving E36 M3 3.2 (321Hp) Track and Autox
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04-17-2008, 02:37 PM	#15
sredish Private 2 Rep 76 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	so whats the chances of getting a 265 on the back of that thing and maybe a 235 or 245 up front, that car, stock wheels and HR springs..
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04-17-2008, 03:46 PM	#16
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	265's on back? Prbably doable. I had 255's on back with room to spare on the inside with a 17x9 wheel with 41 offset. If you did a 45 or 47 offset, you should be able to get 265s in back. 235 or 245 are also doable up front with the correct wheel/offset.
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04-17-2008, 03:55 PM	#17
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	3 week later update As an update, I've driven about 600 miles with the springs on it, and it still feels pretty stock. The stock suspension is loud over broken pavement, and you hear things much more than you feel them. This continues to be the case with the H&R sports. As an added bonus, the turn-in is a LOT more crisp, with the added negative camber of the lowering, plus removing the strut hat alignment pin. There still is no rubbing at all, and although I left the two bottom flaps on the front of my car, I have yet to scrape on anything yet, presumably because of the very short front overhang. Looks wise, it hasn't settled any more, since these springs were in my e90 and are already broken in. I do have one slight negative.... On all the H&R e82 pics I've seen show the front a bit lower than the rear, just as mine is. Although that gives it a more aggressive stance, I'd like it a bit more level.. maybe another 1/2 inch higher in front, or a half inch lower in back.
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04-17-2008, 05:11 PM	#18
Templedogg Captain 49 Rep 799 Posts Drives: 135i, Trailblazer SS, 1934 PU Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lake Stevens, WA iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the update, that is great news. I just got mine in and have an install appointment for the 29th. I have never installed them and the local Performance shop will install them, give me a 4 wheel laser alignment, and do my BMWCCA Tech inspect all for $400. I didn't think that was too bad. I plan to watch every step as well so next time I can just do it myself. Attached Images __________________
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04-17-2008, 05:17 PM	#19
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	Awesome price! The fronts are a bear to get out from under the fender without scratching anything. I had about 15 layers of racing tape on the inside and outside of the fender lip. I think you're going to like it!
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04-17-2008, 08:21 PM	#20
Justin(OKC) Major 77 Rep 1,376 Posts Drives: 1988 M3, 1990 M3, 1998 M3/4 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK iTrader: (7) Garage List 1998 BMW M3/4 [10.00] 2011 BMW M3 Sedan [9.28] 1988 BMW M3 [9.40] 1990 BMW M3 [10.00] 2008 BMW 135i - sold [0.00] 2003 BMW M3 - sold [0.00]	thanks for the update!!! I've really been trying to decide if I want to do the H&R sports or do some coilovers. I too thought that the cars with just the springs looked too tall in the back. Anyone put the the car on scales? I may just spring for the coilovers and cornerweight the car. __________________ 1988 BMW M3 - Hennarot/Black 1990 BMW M3 racecar - Diamond Schwarz/Black 1998 BMW M3 - Alpine White/Mulberry 2011 BMW 328i racecar - LeMans Blue/Black
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04-17-2008, 08:38 PM	#21
TunedM2C Brigadier General 828 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: 2016 LBB M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	Any "popping" over bumps or in hard turns from the springs? I had this issue with my previous M3's.
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04-17-2008, 08:49 PM	#22
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	No.. I didn't have that on the e90 either. You'll still get the bang, due to the runflats, but the springs add no noise that I can tell, so far. It is a tad firmer, but not much. The 135i already feels pretty "stout" in stock form.. firm and well put together, when driving it.
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