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Suspension Springs, sway bars, shocks.

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Old 04-05-2015, 04:01 PM   #1
BlackBMWs
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Thumbs up Installed CA Tuned Coilovers for 98 Cali Sport

This weekends project was a CA Tuned Coilover suspension upgrade for my 1998 Cali Sport. I acquired the Coilovers from a friend who's recently restored DASC TI was T-boned at an intersection. The Coilovers had less then 500 miles on them.


I am replacing Bilstien HDs on M-Tech springs. They were a comfortable ride, but I wanted a but more cornering stability. I'll move the HD's to Wifey's Active.





The previously installed front and rear Mason strut braces with the lower OEM X-brace finish up this project.




I'll likely raise the front of the Cali 1/2" from a practicality standpoint as it's my DD.

Front:



And drop the rear 3/4"
Rear:



The TI on the right has the Coilovers, the TI on the left has Billy Sports with HR Super Sports.


I have the valve dampening adjustment at the midpoint. Firm, but not spine jolting. I'll need to read up on adjusting the camber plates. I'll see how it rides after I get over this stomach flu or whatever it is. I suspect I'd make myself puke driving like I stole it...

Next project is a M3 brake booster and Master Cylinder in prep for 330CI front brakes.
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1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top
1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52
1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior
1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior

Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it

1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP
1995 318ti Active - RIP
1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold
1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold
1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold
1985 635csi sold
1984 533i "Max" Sold
1984 318i sold

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Last edited by BlackBMWs; 04-06-2015 at 04:16 AM. Reason: Better photos
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Old 04-05-2015, 04:31 PM   #2
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very nice. Looks damn good.

Questions.... your TI on the right with the Billie's and H&R Super Sports.... are they H&R Sport springs that drop 1.4" front and 1.0" rear? Did you install strut mount reinforcement plates and new springs pads?

if you did install new rear spring pads were they 5mm, 7.5mm or 10mm? And why? Thank you sir.
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Old 04-05-2015, 06:18 PM   #3
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Give them a few days driving to let everything settle, but I suspect that you should bring the rear down on the Cali a little bit.

I don't see reinforcement plates for those front towers, I recommend them.

Looks great otherwise!
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James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW!
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Old 04-05-2015, 07:39 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolferj View Post
I don't see reinforcement plates for those front towers, I recommend them.
Plates on in there. Just look at the first picture!

Looks like a great suspension setup! I had MAJOR thoughts about getting rid of my 318ti, but the loss I'd take has made me once again look for a better suspension system for autocross. I gotta spend about $500 to make me happy with the 318ti, plus a coilover system. It never ends!
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Old 04-05-2015, 08:29 PM   #5
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Good Thread on the brake upgrades on Bimmerforums

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-Brake-upgrade

Looks like the trick is getting the correct front/rear bias.

Please post up how the brake upgrade goes too.
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Old 04-05-2015, 08:58 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trusted-1 View Post
Good Thread on the brake upgrades on Bimmerforums

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-Brake-upgrade

Looks like the trick is getting the correct front/rear bias.

Please post up how the brake upgrade goes too.
E39 rears are bolt on and perfect bias for the 330 brakes
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Old 04-05-2015, 09:43 PM   #7
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- James, I left the reinforcing plate out as the camber adjustments barely fit. I'll grind down the inner lip of the reinforcement plates so they will fit and still allow camber adjustment. It'll be done before fest.

Ya, I'll drop the rear 3/4" and raise the front after all settles in.

- Nice, thanks John. All years E39 or select years?

- Thanks Bryan! I know I will enjoy the improved handling. I trust you are doing well!

- James, (in NYC). Kept the stock spring pads knowing I could adjust in the height I wanted. If I didn't have the upper strut brace, I would definitely use rear e46 tower reinforcement. As such, the Mason brace is the rear reinforcement plate. As mentioned above, I will modify the E36 reinforcement plates to work with my CA Tuned camber plates.


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1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top
1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52
1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior
1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior

Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it

1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP
1995 318ti Active - RIP
1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold
1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold
1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold
1985 635csi sold
1984 533i "Max" Sold
1984 318i sold

BMWCCA #160411

SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!
Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW!

Last edited by BlackBMWs; 04-06-2015 at 04:30 AM.
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Old 04-06-2015, 12:06 AM   #8
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ahhh i see but why rear E46 tower reinforcements? I didn't know E46 ones fit ours.
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94 Del Solo SI - The Go Get Her - sold
94 auto Prelude "S" for slowww - Daily schmaily - sold
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Old 04-06-2015, 02:37 AM   #9
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The sheet metal for the rear tower fatigue over time and accelerates the metal fatigue with firmer shocks. The reinforcement plates provide extra support for way less the the repair to fix it. I use them on the rear of all the cars where I don't have a rear brace.


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1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top
1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52
1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior
1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior

Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it

1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP
1995 318ti Active - RIP
1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold
1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold
1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold
1985 635csi sold
1984 533i "Max" Sold
1984 318i sold

BMWCCA #160411

SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!
Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW!
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Old 04-06-2015, 03:02 AM   #10
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right.... i got alil confused when you said rear E46 tower reinforcement plates as if they were different compared to rear E36 tower reinforcement plates but i just found out both chassis use the same tower reinforcement plates.

Just found it weird you mentioned E46. Sorry.
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94 Del Solo SI - The Go Get Her - sold
94 auto Prelude "S" for slowww - Daily schmaily - sold
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Old 04-06-2015, 03:49 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackBMWs View Post
Nice, thanks John. All years E39 or select years?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Actually, it's the E34 rears. NOT E39

I believe all years.
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Old 04-06-2015, 04:23 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E36 TI-M View Post
Actually, it's the E34 rears. NOT E39

I believe all years.
Ah, yes, I run the E34 rears now on a couple of the TI's. I've been watching for a E34 wagon. Dual rear pistons per caliper. Only certain years fit. I forget which years.

Anyway, I watch for those as well.

James: No worries, I mentioned E46 as that's what I purchased. Both E36 and E46 fit.
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1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top
1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52
1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior
1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior

Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it

1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP
1995 318ti Active - RIP
1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold
1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold
1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold
1985 635csi sold
1984 533i "Max" Sold
1984 318i sold

BMWCCA #160411

SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!
Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW!

Last edited by BlackBMWs; 04-06-2015 at 04:26 AM.
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Old 04-06-2015, 05:18 AM   #13
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I didn't have any fitment issues with the D2 camber plates, fortunately...

Just don't forget about them down the road...
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James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW!
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Old 04-06-2015, 07:03 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolferj View Post
Just don't forget about them down the road...
They'll be done before our meet on the 18th. Just gotta get a proper grinding wheel.

Thanks!
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1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top
1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52
1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior
1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior

Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it

1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP
1995 318ti Active - RIP
1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold
1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold
1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold
1985 635csi sold
1984 533i "Max" Sold
1984 318i sold

BMWCCA #160411

SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE!
Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW!
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