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xgeetx

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Posts posted by xgeetx

  2. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Sounds good. Well I'm doing my radiator tomorrow (got all the parts, woo!), so if that all goes well I'll put in an order for the Ultimos! Do you know if you actually have to jack the car up to bleed the radiator properly? My driveway is inclined, and there's a piece of cement that you have to bump over to get in the garage... I was thinking of just putting it there when I bleed the system. Thoughts?

     

    Thanks for all your help, I'm really glad you saved me $400 lol

     

    BTW: Based on the good old finger test, my back wheels currently have no clearance between them and the fender... I guess that means it's a little low? ha! The front I can fit ~3 fingers. I'm assuming it's because the back springs are broken, whereas the fronts are in tact.

  4. Spanner Wrench & Clutch Removal Tool

    in Services Offered/Wanted

    Posted

    Hey guys, newbie here.

     

    I shelled out the $$ for the clutch removal tool & big ass skinny spanner wrench to make replacing my cooling system easier (according to almost everybody). I'll be working on that this weekend. In the future if any of you are doing anything with your radiators and want to borrow them, just let know. I'd much rather you buy me a beer than spend the $65 for the tools :)

     

    Great to meet everyone!

  5. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Alright. Raceland's shipping is like $40??! Come on now! I'll be doing some last minute comparing this weekend to determine what I want to buy :). When would you be available to get together? Why do you have a garage in milwaukee? Are you going to murder me? What would you like for compensation :)?

     

    Why do i get e46 m3 convertible mounts for my e36 non-m? More durable? they'll still fit?

     

    Edit: I'm a little concerned about clearance after seeing this http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1480398-Help-with-installing-coilovers

     

    Was he running non-stock tires? I'll get the numbers off the sides of my tires to be absolutely sure what I've got. Also, I don't see the bump stops on there... and I'd like to replace the stock ones, can you clarify how they're on there somehow? Also, what exactly is the difference between the helper springs and the normal springs? Sorry for all the questions, I really want to understand what's going in my car, and I don't see how these coilovers are equivalent to what I've been shopping for this whole time! I'm warming up to them though

     

    Thanks!

  6. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Alright, Earl, I think you sold me. I've been doing some research and it sounds like they're great for a cheap set. I have one worry: speed bumps. It sounds like they have to lower at least 1"... how low before speed bumps start screwing up your car? I already have some torn pieces underneath my car (do I just get those welded, or just not car?), and don't want it to get much worse :).

     

    I think I'd like to replace the mounts all around, since I'm pretty sure this car went 167k on one set of struts, it's probably best to swap out whatever is easy to do while we're in there! I imagine that means mounts & bump stops... anything else that's a good idea to pick up? Also, I can't believe the springs are so thin! The stock ones (at least on the back) are huge.

  7. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Do you find yourself needing to improve handling for daily driving? I guess my handling has never been an issue, even when my front end is bouncing through turns =)

     

    I agree they seem fantastically priced... I'm wondering if I don't EVER adjust my height (which I agree, I want it a bit lower than stock, but can get that with lowering springs like H&R), are they still a good value in terms of the quality of the shocks and struts? I just want to make sure I"m not paying for height adjustability, I want to be paying for quality shocks! I also want to be absolutely certain these will go on without a snap, no other modded components needed...

     

    Thanks for all your help and patience!

  8. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Damn, I want to resist and not get coilovers simply because lowering isn't my priority... but they're so cheap! What all should I get along with them? I'm assuming that replacing my strut and shock mounts is necessary... anything else?

     

    Oh wait, what is that about helper springs? How much cost are those going to add? I imagine since my shock/struts and springs are worn out, my car is sitting a bit lower, and I like the look that it is... but I can figure out what I prefer later when these suckers are installed! Alright, so it sounds like I'll be picking between Raceland coilovers + helper springs, whatever kit FCPeuro puts up (Sachs), and Bilsteins + BavAuto springs (which say they lower it ~1 1/4")

  9. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted · Edited by xgeetx

    Hmmm. Like I said, I don't have any interest in lowering my car, other than what the springs I purchase lower it. That being said, that strut/shocks/springs set is dirt cheap. Do the spring that comes with coilovers require any other springs? Why is this set so cheap? I don't see much information about what parts are in that kit, do you know the manufacturer of those struts/shocks/springs?

     

    My price point isn't really that high, that's an absolutely maximum... and would prefer something $300-$500... which puts these guys right in there. I've read that the bilsteins will take you far past 40k miles, do you know anything about these ones quality-wise? I also want to be careful not to change anything too much and then need to buy spring pads, or special tires/wheel spacers (I don't actually know when those are needed, just saying words)... Just want my car to ride really well :)

     

    On the topic of jack pads, PelicanParts made it sound like it's difficult to put the jack stands on after jacking it up, since the lift uses the same jack points. Do you jack from the front/back to do it then?

  10. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Mkoepp: I definitely appreciate the offer, but don't know that before Friday night is long enough! (But I don't really know how long this is supposed to take to do all 4 corners).

     

    Earl: I would say that ~$800 is my max, but lower is better... only because that'd be the cost of bilstein HD's + BavAuto springs (a recommendation from BimmerForums). I think that's a little excessive for my needs (daily driving). That's why I was also pricing out some Monroe shocks/struts/springs... but the consensus there is that they don't seem to last very long.

     

    After ordering some radiator components from FCPEuro, they are supposedly going to put together a suspension kit for me to take a look at that includes some Sachs struts/shocks... we'll see what the pricepoint is on that.

     

    Should I pick up a lift & jack stands or do you have some at your garage :)? What about that nifty BMW jack pad? Should I grab one of those?

  11. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Awesome! Way faster and better responses than I expected, I must admit. Any of you guys have flat places to work on cars? I don't want to be too mooch-ey, so I'd be willing to get my own jack stands... My driveway is tiny and a bit slanted, so I don't think it's worth the damage to my hubs for her to fall off the stands. If nobody has a place, I was thinking of renting one of the lifts at onhandgarage north of Wawatosa for $30/hr (or maybe it's $36)... if I were alone though I may end up paying the mechanic price anyways!

     

     

    Man, this makes me want to order the struts and shocks ASAP :)

  12. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Hey guys! Either of you from Milwaukee?

     

    Also, I don't really have any interest in adjusting my height, so I'd prefer to save money and get something else :). Are something like Bilstein HD too rough for a daily driver, or would they be a nice change from bouncey and give me many many miles? Otherwise I was looking at Sachs, KYB, or Monroes (although bimmerforums has a vendetta against monroes for some reason....). But yeah, basically I'm open except don't want to spend more money for height adjustability... but at the same time... if my shocks are bad, has my car been sitting low anyways? Maybe it would end up higher than i'd like :P

  13. Yet ANOTHER Noob from Milwaukee -- Looking to replace suspension

    in New Member Introduction

    Posted

    Hey WIBimmers. I recently moved to Milwaukee, and am (finally) doing much needed maintenance on my '98 328i. I just started a new job, but instead of getting a new car I decided I like it too much. I got a couple inspections and she's in need of a lot of repairs... I bought it at 140k, and now at 167k not much maintenance has been done (if any... but the radiator is missing top mounting clips, so I imagine the owner lied about never doing ANYTHING... oh well, needs to be swapped out now!). The main issues are cooling system, suspension, and tires. Would you guys recommend dedicated winters?

     

    This weekend I'll be swapping out the coolant system (hoses, pump, thermostat, the works). I've never done anything besides spark plugs or oil change, so this should be fun! I'll be following a couple guides, so it shouldn't be too bad. Probably about 2 weeks from now (since I still need to do some shopping and ordering), I'll be having a go at my shocks and struts... it sounded like the rest of my suspension can go another year or more, but the shocks and struts are BAD. For this one I'm a little more nervous doing it on my own, but I really don't want to pay a mechanic as I want to save money, and I want to learn. Is there anybody in the Milwaukee region (preferably with a driveway ;) ) that has this kind of experience that wants a reason to get their hands dirty :)?

     

    I'm probably going to go through with it no matter what, and possibly check out the HandsOnGarage.com to use their lifts, tools, and expertise if I get into a pinch. Anybody have any experience with the shop over there?

     

    Glad I found this forum!!!

     

    BTW: I didn't know where else to post this (maybe reddit, or bimmerforums), but I shelled out the cash for the spanner wrench and clutch removal tool to help with some of the radiator work... if anybody else in the region wants to borrow them just let me know! I'd much rather you give me a beer, than pay $70 for the tools... but supposedly they make the job MUCH easier.

     

    Good to meet everyone!

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