[Atam]

Hey everyone, I was recently listening to a podcast where Steve dinan mentioned that a lot of guys are lowering their cars too low and ultimately affecting performance and comfort.

I just got a set of ohlin r&T and would love to lower it for aesthetic purposes as well as performance, but how low is too low? I don't want to affect performance just to have it look a certain way.

[M Fifty]

According to the first post in this thread a little further down the page, about 10mm:

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1258577

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Atam

Hey everyone, I was recently listening to a podcast where Steve dinan mentioned that a lot of guys are lowering their cars too low and ultimately affecting performance and comfort.

I just got a set of ohlin r&T and would love to lower it for aesthetic purposes as well as performance, but how low is too low? I don't want to affect performance just to have it look a certain way.

Stock ride height is 620/620.
BMW recommends 595/600 for their MPS, and it's the most common street set up.
Second common is 590/595, which seems to be the limit for a street car in terms of overall performance.

When you start getting down to 580/585 you're talking more about race cars, but much more care must be given to the balance of everything.

The safe bet is 595/600. If you want to go a bit more aggressive then choose 590/595.

[DadVibes]

FWIW - Ohlins recommends 610/610.

However, I have mine set at 595/604 with 265/30/19 and 295/30/19 tires. Absolutely no issues and performance is fantastic.

Personally, after testing a few different height variations, I can't imagine how anyone runs less than 595 (let alone 580) without tucked tires and/or scraping on everything.

[Atam]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Stock ride height is 620/620.
BMW recommends 595/600 for their MPS, and it's the most common street set up.
Second common is 590/595, which seems to be the limit for a street car in terms of overall performance.

When you start getting down to 580/585 you're talking more about race cars, but much more care must be given to the balance of everything.

The safe bet is 595/600. If you want to go a bit more aggressive then choose 590/595.

Thanks man I'll probably go with the 595/600. Wish I could see how that visually looks before letting the installer know.

[Atam]

Originally Posted by DadVibes

FWIW - Ohlins recommends 610/610.

However, I have mine set at 595/604 with 265/30/19 and 295/30/19 tires. Absolutely no issues and performance is fantastic.

Personally, after testing a few different height variations, I can't imagine how anyone runs less than 595 (let alone 580) without completely tucked tires and/or scraping on everything.

Oh man that looks perfect. Unfortunately I'm on 255/275 35/19 . With 10 spacers all around so that same height would actually be a little too low for my car I'm thinking.

PS. Love the wheels what are they?

[DadVibes]

Originally Posted by Atam

Oh man that looks perfect. Unfortunately I'm on 255/275 35/19 . With 10 spacers all around so that same height would actually be a little too low for my car I'm thinking.

PS. Love the wheels what are they?

Yeah, with the taller sidewall, I'd stick to a minimum of 600mm. Doing some quick math, I'd try starting with 600/607 (or 603/610 to be even safer) and see how you like it. With your tire dimensions, both options should give you even tire-to-fender gap front/rear, with enough clearance to prevent any rubbing.

And thanks! The wheels are Apex EC-7. Dimensions are:
Front: 19x9.5 ET28 (w/5mm spacers**)
Rear: 19x10.5" ET45 (no spacers)

The dimensions were recommended by Apex for a nearly flush setup with 265/30 & 295/30 tires. The only reason why I have 5mm spacers in front is that after installing the Ohlins, there was very slight rubbing of the front tires on the spring perches. 5mm spacers solved the problem.

[David.m]

Originally Posted by Atam

Oh man that looks perfect. Unfortunately I'm on 255/275 35/19 . With 10 spacers all around so that same height would actually be a little too low for my car I'm thinking.

PS. Love the wheels what are they?

I'm also on PS4S 255/275, spacers 10 front & 7.5 rear.
When I originally installed the Ohlins I went with their recommended which gave 610, I later installed Millway Street plates & with -2.0 camber dropped to 606. I've not bothered to re-adjust the strut to get back to 610.
Rear I went a little higher, 613, also adjusted the shock with the spring out so I could have max compression travel without rubbing (our country roads can be pretty bad).

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Atam

Thanks man I'll probably go with the 595/600. Wish I could see how that visually looks before letting the installer know.

My flickr is full of 595/600 shots.

KEY:

Shots with the Ferric 437M's have stock Conti tires.
Shots with the 9.5 & 10.5 KL11's have 265/30 & 285/30 Firehawks.
Shots with the 9.5 & 10.5 FI-R's have 255/35 & 275/35 V601's.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/visualechos/

Pay close attention to the FI-R pix, as they have your sized tires on them, and can look quite different (as far as lowness) depending on the angle.

Case in point is these two photo's. Same everything, but the shadows make them appear very different.

Now overcast days never turned me on... by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

Baked. by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

[Reddevils7]

You guys are measuring from bottom wheel lip to fender?

[MR RIZK]

Originally Posted by Reddevils7

You guys are measuring from bottom wheel lip to fender?

Yes.. that is how oem dictate their heights.