Ownership to date and Tein H-Tech Lowering Springs - Fitted

[NothernDan]

Afternoon all!

I just wanted to share a few small notes on my ownership experience since June ('17) and a little review after fitting Tein H-Tech lowering springs (front only) shortly before a 1,000 mile round trip to Cumbria (which included a good deal of B-road thrashing) over the weekend!

So...... After driving every flavour of BMW 3 (mainly in full M or M-Sport guise) over the last 20 years I'm fairly used to having my fillings rattled out with relatively firm suspension. I was in a 218 Merc CLS just before my recent ISF purchase so my last full year of vehicle ownership has been very comfy indeed. All the reviews of the ISF I'd ever read mentioned that earlier ones had a firmer ride but in my opinion, after owning the card for a few months now, it's actually not bad at all. Way better than any of the M-Sport BM's I've driven and far more refined than any M3. The occasional bounce out of the seat on bigger humps and bumps was a little unusual at first but by no means unbearable. 

I owned a brand new IS250 for a year or so back in 2008 and got the IS bug then. I've have been looking for a low mileage, good condition ISF in Silver ever since then but other interesting cars always presented themselves before I found one (Golf R32, Jag S-Type R, Impreza WRX STI... what was I thinking!). I'm pleased to say I found a near perfect ISF only a few months back.

Mine is a 2008 in (the best colour) Silver and arrived on my driveway with 45,400miles on it in June this year. It's been to Southern France fully laden with family and dogs since then a it's seen a good deal of England too. It's now showing 53,500, soon to go in for it's major service and has managed an average of 25.2MPG since I've been driving it. Not bad at all for what lies under the bonnet and the amount of time it's spent at full tilt!

So, after fitting the obligatory intake (HPS) and panel filter (K&N) in the stock airbox I fitted a H&S catback after only a few weeks. These definitely gave more poke and a much nicer noise.

My next 'fix' was to even out the tyre gap between front and rear wheels and arches. On the stock wheels an shocks I think the rear has the perfect gap but the front appears to be a good 25-35MM higher and the car looks odd from the side with this stance. Coilovers would be a great and highly desirable upgrade but given my shockers were in "near perfect" condition (according to the local stealership) I started looking at lowering springs to get a 1-1.5inch drop at the front but, most importantly, I wanted to preserve or improve handling and ride quality. The US forums all seem to score Swift springs or Tein H-Tech most highly (not many in the UK have fitted springs on the ISF as far as I could see) but many say the swift springs on stock shocks give a slightly firmer ride whereas the Tein springs seemed to actually 'improve' ride quality. Lower stance 'and' better ride from a simple lowering spring?!? Lets see how much truth there is in that.

A full set of 4 Tein H-Tech springs, specific for our cars, cost £205 delivered. My local performance modders fitted them for £240 (3 hours labour). I only fitted the fronts as I am perfectly happy with how the rears look and the ride. A grand total of £445 all in, bought and fitted. I've also got an unused set of rear springs that'll be up for sale soon.

I'll be uploading pics later tonight but in my opinion the look is perfect. The ride height is now perfectly matched between front and rear. The ride quality.........wait for it........... is actually better than before! The car is more definitely more compliant and less bouncy but has retained the positive steering and great feedback it had before. It's just like stock but with less bounce and much less rattle when the road gets rough.

It's definitely more of an aesthetic upgrade over a performance boost but for the money it's definitely on my list of very worthwhile mods.

I love the stock wheels on our cars so my next upgrade after the RR USRS arrive is getting those fitted along with 12MM spacers front and rear and a full realignment.

PICs will follow tonight and anyone who is coming to the RAF-F-FEST on Sunday can see it in person.

See you all then! :)

Dan.

[Big Rat]

@NothernDan Great right up Dan pleased you are enjoying yours, naturally you would having regard the colour can't believe I said that I've mentioned it before on here😏

Minor alterations can help some bond better with there cars always best to keep the original items though IMO, helps saleability in the unlikely event some can prises the keys from you at a later date !

All I've done to mine is the back boxes for now to give it a bit of base over standard a few hundred quid so I will be interested in hearing yours on Sunday, is it with or without X pipe ?

Big Rat

[NothernDan]

Here's the pics (hopefully) . A subtle difference but definitely worthwhile.

[NothernDan]

2 hours ago, Big Rat said:

@NothernDan Great right up Dan pleased you are enjoying yours, naturally you would having regard the colour can't believe I said that I've mentioned it before on here😏

Minor alterations can help some bond better with there cars always best to keep the original items though IMO, helps saleability in the unlikely event some can prises the keys from you at a later date !

All I've done to mine is the back boxes for now to give it a bit of base over standard a few hundred quid so I will be interested in hearing yours on Sunday, is it with or without X pipe ?

Big Rat

Mines with the X-Pipe for less drone Big Rat. You can hear it's not stock (not too obnoxious though) up to 85 but it's silent beyond. Perfect for this type of car. Silent cruising, noisy round town! Yeehaaa!

[Rusty Crobar]

Looks good and will be even better with spacers 🖒

[Big Rat]

23 minutes ago, NothernDan said:

Here's the pics (hopefully) . A subtle difference but definitely worthwhile.

@NothernDan Thers a couple on here who will be having trouser troubling moments looking at your motor matey @Flytvris one can't quite remover who the othe one or two are at this moment.............. seriously though looks great 👍

🐀

[CharlieC]

Looks better with the front dropped a bit, you need to change your wheels round though as they are facing backwards!

[Warrington guy]

Yep CharlieC is correct. Mind you mine was wrong way around for 12 months. 

[Big Rat]

@NothernDan Sorry Dan couldn't wait to listen to your exhaust on Sunday so I went through my little data base and have decided to give us all a little taster now sorry 😐 

I hope you don't mind 😬

Big Rat

[Big Rat]

I know this is naughty on some one else's thread but we all like a naughty IsF noise....... wind the volume up 😍

 

[NothernDan]

10 minutes ago, Big Rat said:

I know this is naughty on some one else's thread but we all like a naughty IsF noise....... wind the volume up 😍

 

Gotta love that noise!!

[Warrington guy]

Does sound good . May be a touch loud for me tho . Big rat especially at our age 

[NothernDan]

25 minutes ago, Warrington guy said:

Yep CharlieC is correct. Mind you mine was wrong way around for 12 months. 

Haven’t you heard? Backwards is the new forwards!

Cheers both! I’d hand never known.

Assuming this will mean all wheels off, tyre swap, refit and balance, then refit though right?

Spendy!!

[NothernDan]

Or even I’d “have” never known. Stupid iPad.

[Warrington guy]

No mate . Just swap front right to left same at back . No need for tyres off 

[Big Rat]

11 minutes ago, Warrington guy said:

Does sound good . May be a touch loud for me tho . Big rat especially at our age 

@Warrington guy Dave know what you mean but some things in life are good at any age 😉

🐀

[Warrington guy]

Big rat that’s true . Can’t beat a good exhaust note . Even flytvr has his exhaust rumbling now 

[Mark G]

1000 miles Hertfordshire to Cumbria and back, bloody hell did you go via Scotland!!!!! that's a hell of a trip...........

Nice car.........

[Big Rat]

5 minutes ago, Mark G said:

1000 miles Hertfordshire to Cumbria and back, bloody hell did you go via Scotland!!!!! that's a hell of a trip...........

Nice car.........

@Mark GProbably using your old Blat sat nav 😂

🐀

[Warrington guy]

Mark g . You know what it’s like when we first get the new f . Always the longest routes. 

[NothernDan]

Did take the long way round a few times! 

Lots of intracumbria travel and set off from Portsmouth on the way up so I had a good head start. Got a 31.4 tank average on the way back. That’s (1995... crap... tiny-engined) diesel figures!

[Warrington guy]

Northern dan . Where abouts are you? If your heading down to cosford can meet up on way down . I’m in Warrington so be heading down the M6 

[NothernDan]

Northern by birth but not by location I’m afraid? Will be heading up from Hitchin in Herts. A507 - M1 - M6  - M54 I reckon. Anyone else heading that way?

[Mark G]

20 hours ago, NothernDan said:

Did take the long way round a few times! 

Lots of intracumbria travel and set off from Portsmouth on the way up so I had a good head start. Got a 31.4 tank average on the way back. That’s (1995... crap... tiny-engined) diesel figures!

Apart from the day I picked the isf up I never saw more than 28-29, that's impressive in my book to get over 30mpg

[Ace8800]

I love the drop.. i was thinking of doing the same.. drop us a link of the springs you bought.. beacuse i saw some on eBay for 168£.