[ChrisF3x]

I just got KW Street Comfort Coilovers installed on my 328i yesterday, and while I enjoy the drop, I don't want to mess anything up as I've had a friend mess up his transfer case because he went too low. I'm also worried I may mess up my axles.

Here is a picture of the car as it is now:

View post on imgur.com

According to the person who installed it, it is a 2.0 drop in the front and 1.75 in the rear. From center cap to fender, it is 12.5 all around.

[brigade24]

transfer case would only be a concern if you are running different diameter tires front and rear.

you have some latitude for lowering. I am lowered over 1.5" and have been for several years. axles and transfer case are still in good shape. i opened my transfer case a couple of years ago and aside from the cheap plastic, everything looked good.

[ChrisF3x]

So at this height I don't have anything to worry about?

[dmanb2b]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

So at this height I don't have anything to worry about?

Whenever you mod, there is always a risk. That said, there are a lot of bros with slammed x-drives doing just fine on stock turbo level power. It's the high hp slammed crew breaking the slightly more stressed components. the 1.5' thing is more of a guideline vs. hard rule.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

I just got KW Street Comfort Coilovers installed on my 328i yesterday, and while I enjoy the drop, I don't want to mess anything up as I've had a friend mess up his transfer case because he went too low. I'm also worried I may mess up my axles.

Here is a picture of the car as it is now: [IMG]

View post on imgur.com

[/IMG]

View post on imgur.com

According to the person who installed it, it is a 2.0 drop in the front and 1.75 in the rear. From center cap to fender, it is 12.5 all around.

Tire/fender gaps are really difficult to see in photos especially with a black car unless lighting is perfect.

If you look at the XDrive drops quoted by aftermarket spring makers they don't like to go over 1.5". More than that they must know that they are risking liability.

It's the front driveshafts that can snap if an xDrive is lowered too much. It's a shame that you didn't measure first so that you'd know your starting point

Great choice with the KW coilovers! Best ride!

[alohasurftoad]

this is a good read...
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1514736

i've read enough threads and posts about front half shafts/axles and lowering x-drives, that i'd follow the 38mm guideline if i was planning to.

[ChrisF3x]

So essentially, xDrives can't be lowered more than 3 inches? If so i'm only lowered 2 inches in the front so I should be fine. I also am not tuning my car and don't do launches so that also shouldn't be an issue.

[ChrisF3x]

Originally Posted by dmanb2b

Whenever you mod, there is always a risk. That said, there are a lot of bros with slammed x-drives doing just fine on stock turbo level power. It's the high hp slammed crew breaking the slightly more stressed components. the 1.5' thing is more of a guideline vs. hard rule.

Yea I do not want to do any power mods to the car, it is on stock power and I don't drive it hard or do launches or anything of the sort.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by johnung

Tire/fender gaps are really difficult to see in photos especially with a black car unless lighting is perfect.

If you look at the XDrive drops quoted by aftermarket spring makers they don't like to go over 1.5". More than that they must know that they are risking liability.

It's the front driveshafts that can snap if an xDrive is lowered too much. It's a shame that you didn't measure first so that you'd know your starting point

Great choice with the KW coilovers! Best ride!

johnung provided sound advice (as always).

KW Street Comfort coilovers: a great choice indeed. I had these coilovers on the previous vehicle.

About lowering range - it's a question of how much risk you are willing to consider.

Anything less than 1.5" will carry less risk.

If the vehicle has a tune, then the risk of front drive shafts failing with lowered suspension increases considerably.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

Yea I do not want to do any power mods to the car, it is on stock power and I don't drive it hard or do launches or anything of the sort.

Don't be afraid to tune your car. Installing a BootMod3 Stage1 tune is the biggest bang for your buck by far. You'll really enjoy driving it. Really nothing to worry about as far as suspension. Remember that your F30 suspension and especially now with KW-SC's is designed to handle up to over 500-600hp. With a BM3 Stage1 tune you will be up near the power of a stock 335i so literally nothing to be concerned about.

https://www.kiesmotorsports.com/prod...8;_ss=r?aff=22

[ChrisF3x]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

johnung provided sound advice (as always).

KW Street Comfort coilovers: a great choice indeed. I had these coilovers on the previous vehicle.

About lowering range - it's a question of how much risk you are willing to consider.

Anything less than 1.5" will carry less risk.

If the vehicle has a tune, then the risk of front drive shafts failing with lowered suspension increases considerably.

So I should raise the front by a half inch?

I’ll try and get some better pics of the car’s height and post them.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

I just got KW Street Comfort Coilovers installed on my 328i yesterday, and while I enjoy the drop, I don't want to mess anything up as I've had a friend mess up his transfer case because he went too low. I'm also worried I may mess up my axles.

Here is a picture of the car as it is now:

View post on imgur.com

According to the person who installed it, it is a 2.0 drop in the front and 1.75 in the rear. From center cap to fender, it is 12.5 all around.

That 12.5" measurement doesn't sound right. I just measured my 2015 335i XDrive that has been lowered 0.8" (20mm) in front with Eibach springs. My measurement from the center point in the BMW wheel logo straight up to the fender lip is 14 7/16"

So you should recheck those 12.5" measurements. My car would be sitting on its tires. The stock tire diameter is 26.0" or 13.0" diameter so 12.5" really doesn't sound right. Also you can find the same model at local used car lots and see what they measure stock.

[ChrisF3x]

Originally Posted by johnung

That 12.5" measurement doesn't sound right. I just measured my 2015 335i XDrive that has been lowered 0.8" (20mm) in front with Eibach springs. My measurement from the center point in the BMW wheel logo straight up to the fender lip is 14 7/16"

So you should recheck those 12.5" measurements. My car would be sitting on its tires. The stock tire diameter is 26.0" or 13.0" diameter so 12.5" really doesn't sound right. Also you can find the same model at local used car lots and see what they measure stock.

Yea I measured myself and from center cap to fender it is 13.25"

[johnung]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

Yea I measured myself and from center cap to fender it is 13.25"

I have no idea what's the stock height of an F-328i XDrive. Suggest measuring some stock cars to see what you get and decide on any adjustments from there

[ChrisF3x]

Originally Posted by johnung

I have no idea what's the stock height of an F-328i XDrive. Suggest measuring some stock cars to see what you get and decide on any adjustments from there

I'll ask a friend of mine to measure his stock height and get back to you.

[ChrisF3x]

Originally Posted by johnung

I have no idea what's the stock height of an F-328i XDrive. Suggest measuring some stock cars to see what you get and decide on any adjustments from there

My friend's stock 328i xDrive center cap to fender is 15 inches.

So it should be a 1.75" drop in the front and 1.625" drop in the rear.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

My friend's stock 328i xDrive center cap to fender is 15 inches.

So it should be a 1.75" drop in the front and 1.625" drop in the rear.

That's not bad at all. You could raise the front a smidge if you like but you might be okay

How do like the ride on the KWs? I believe the Street Comforts are adjustable. Where in the range did he set them?

[ChrisF3x]

Originally Posted by johnung

That's not bad at all. You could raise the front a smidge if you like but you might be okay

How do like the ride on the KWs? I believe the Street Comforts are adjustable. Where in the range did he set them?

Sorry for not replying, was very busy the past couple days, but the very first night I drove it after getting it installed was very stiff and not comfortable at all. After about 2 days though it started to get a lot more comfortable. I don't know if that's just because I got used to it or the settings the installer put or if the suspension just settled but it's very close to stock feel. I saw you mentioned that you had these same coils on a car before, would you mind sharing what settings you had, I might give them a go.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

Sorry for not replying, was very busy the past couple days, but the very first night I drove it after getting it installed was very stiff and not comfortable at all. After about 2 days though it started to get a lot more comfortable. I don't know if that's just because I got used to it or the settings the installer put or if the suspension just settled but it's very close to stock feel. I saw you mentioned that you had these same coils on a car before, would you mind sharing what settings you had, I might give them a go.

A friend of mine had the KWv3's. He said that they felt a little stiffer than stock. But his installer set all of the adjustments right in the middle setting. I probably would have begun by setting everything to full soft and work up from there.

[Onizukachan]

I’m running 1.5” down exactly in the front and 1” down in the rear. Either the rake ruined the aerodynamics or the shafts are more draggy in this position as I lost several mpg freeway.

Have considered raising the fronts 0.25 (couple minute by hand once up on jack) also considered dropping the rear 0.25” to take some rake out.

Rear one is more a pain because right now I’m running the supplied kw adjuster spacers, and am full down on adjusters… so to go lower I have to disassemble the rear suspension and take the spacers out and raise the adjusters back up to just below where the spacers were.

[casualDIYer]

Originally Posted by ChrisF3x

My friend's stock 328i xDrive center cap to fender is 15 inches.

So it should be a 1.75" drop in the front and 1.625" drop in the rear.

1.75" seems a tiny bit low. If it was my car I'd go with the popular 1.5" as a lot of forum users on lowered suspension are at this range and have been running their cars for years with no issues.

[squaredphoto]

I'd say you're fine at that height. I can measure my heights and let you know where I'm at with my KW V1s. Been on this setup for over 10k mi. Front has a finger gap, rear has no gap

I haven't noticed any issues besides maybe having very mild bump steer when giving it the beans coming out of a turn. This can be corrected with roll center correcting tie rod ends