The 6er needs some work

[PasadenaE24]

Hey guys,
today my dad and i were driving the 6er, after coming home from returning the Range Rover since the lease was up, and he turned and said, you know we need to fix some things about this. It seems a little floaty, and i hate the way the steering does this (he jerks the wheel left to right about 1/10th of the way back and forth and the car doesnt turn @ all) i cannot believe that BMW would have made them like this. We also need some new seats, cause i keep sliping off of these! So, what do you guys recomend? We just had the entire front suspension replaced 500 miles ago, im not sure if they did bushings tho. Heres what we wanted to do
1) fix the barge-like ride of the car, make it handle better and turn in a little quicker
2)tighten up the steering so that when the wheel turns, the car begins to do the same
3)New seats which we dont slide off the side of during hard cornering.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!
Charlie

[Quadzilla]

You must have quite a bit wrong up front for "barge like" handling.

What suspension parts were replaced and with what type?

The "OEM" stuff that is out there is much softer then it used to be.

Get your alignment checked out. Bringing the toe-in all the way in (maximum toe out) as per factory specs will help out with turn in.

Make sure your tire preasure is good becasue soft tires on an E24 will destroy steering feel.

About tightening up the steering, make sure youre gear box bolts are all there and all tight. The E24/28 chassis' were know to vomit the gear box ontot he road due to poor bolts. If the box is loose steering is lost. You may also just have a dead spot in the gear box due to wear at which point you remind dad that unless he wants to spend his money; "SHUT THE **** UP"

[Mpovrshd]

Suspension:
The shocks are probably worn. If you don't want to lower the car, replace just the shocks. Bilstein "Comfort" shocks or Boge Turbogas will restore the car to stock feeling. Bilstein HD will make the car feel sportier. An extra addition is a set of E28 M5 anti-roll bars or a set of Suspension Techniques anti-roll bars. The M5 bars measure 25mm/18mm f/r and the ST bars measure 25mm/19mm f/r and are adjustable.

If you want to lower the car, I recommend H&R springs coupled with Bilstein Sport shocks. The Sports are just slightly stiffer than the HDs, but have a shorter shaft to use with lower springs.

If the front end has new parts (control arms and tie rods) then the next problem with the steering is the steering box mounting. It could be the inner "hat" shaped mount has broken. It happens alot. See http://www.teamdfl.com/bmw/e28/front.../subframe.html for the repair.

Finally, the steering box can get extra play in it. See http://www.normgrills.net/bcg/Steering_FAQ.html on how to adjust the steering play.

[PasadenaE24]

Thanks guys, ill talk to my dad and see what he thinks. Any thoughts on seats?

[Quadzilla]

Try a set of high back Kirkeys

Honestly any 5, 6 or 7 bucket will bolt in. The factory recarro's from an M run a bit if you want them in leather, cheaper in mouse fur.

try to avoid racing seats if you can help it, it can be a real pain in the ass having no adjustments an no suspension. Supportive yes but at what cost?

[PasadenaE24]

any linkage to the suggested kirkleys?
thanks
charlie

[Quadzilla]

http://www.kirkeyracing.com/page3a.html

A bit extream for daily use but it all depends on how you drive I suspose.

I wouldn't mind a pair of these in my 6 but I know my friends would bitch to no end.

[PasadenaE24]

so buckets from an E39 5 would bolt in?

[azbimmer82]

look into some cheap recaro's too.. a little toned down from the race seat but still a bucket!
i got em in my 320is
hey quadzilla -- i like those rims!!
and a quick question for ya.. your low beams, the circles with the smaller circles in them -- what are those called and where did u get them>
im looking into getting a set for my car
thx

[Quadzilla]

My lowbeams are the factory elipsoid low beams. A lot of light right up front but no down road illumination but thats taken car of with "them" under the bumber.