bigcoupe.com :: View topic - Help me figure out how to get Ground controls for my e12 car

Webblybear

I posted this on bimmer forums as well but alot of this knowledge doesnt go over there so...

I recently got enough money to actually do something good to my car, on the way to having my swap done and Im thinking "Im gunna get a coilover kit and have my car perfect."

So I call ground control and they say they dont have a kit for the e12 cars... But they make that complete kit for the e12, e24, e28, and e34. I say all I need is the coils and perches for the e12 base and he says they dont make one. So All I can guess is that they make e28 based stuff that when mounted to their struts will bolt onto the e12s???

My other question is whats the difference between e28 struts and my e12 struts? apart from the spring perches of course, diameters?

BUELLRIDER · Senior Member

Ierland engineering claims to have them for e12, so does bavauto. AKGmotorsport my as well. I am going to weld up a homebrew set and see how it goes. I think u can use them from e24/e28.

Webblybear

cool Ill check em out, that was my thinking "why not use the ones for an e28?" I mean I thought all that was different between the two was mounting positions but strut and strut housing diameter is what would matter most here

Jon Ackermann · Bigcoupe supporter

Webblybear:

Save yourself a lot of frustration dealing with Ground-Control and contact Jeremy at Ireland Engineering.

I removed and sold my G-C coilovers and Had Ireland make me a custom set of coilovers with Bilstein sport shocks. They cost less than anything from G-C and they WORK.

Jeremy and Jeff are a world of knowledge and are willing and able to share it. They know our cars very well and have owned if not still own the E24/E28 cars.

I am sure they would know exactly what you need for your E12 needs.

When I had my front struts custom made, I could buy any single piece from Ireland to make a set that works with my car.

You will be happy calling them.

Thanks.

Jon

BUELLRIDER · Senior Member

There you have it Thanks JON

Webblybear

Thanks abunch Jon, I emailed them among many other companies looking for the threaded sleeves. Ive got quite a concoction brewing and for now the sleeves are all I need.

BUELLRIDER · Senior Member

What size are the springs are U going to use in the front?

Webblybear

Im thinking 2 1/2 inner diameter but as far as height and rate I havnt done the math yet.

Chris Wright · Senior Member

Webblybear

Thanks for that chris, Ive definitly given some of that a bit of thought. The guy helping me is the one who designed the suspension setup and put me in charge of building it. For the swaybars the rear one we're just gunna remove, as for the front I didnt know they still made them for the early cars. And as this build will be on a budget the front camber plates will be had later but I already have reacr camber adjustable bushings in... although they arent that great.

Update as well on the whole finding parts thing. IRELAND ENGINEERING IS THE BEST. My first email from jeremy there was "call me" I did and he proceeded to tell me they had just what I needed and brought a bunch of factors I hadnt thought about yet. Needless to say Ill be giving him a call for some parts real soon.

-Webb

Jon Ackermann · Bigcoupe supporter

Jeremy is the best.

He know tons about our cars and he is willing to share his knowledge and help you build your car to what you want.

Keep us updated.

Thanks.

Jon

Webblybear

Well theres no point in keeping it secret. Im planning a dual rate setup.

A friend of mine who has worked as a bmw tech, porsche mechanic, race team mechanic, and basic engineer has been toying with the idea of dual rate suspension for a customers porsche. He decided he wanted to "test and tune" on my car so we're trying to locate some parts and since they seem to be very affordable we may be able to start the build soon.

Ill keep you guys updated, and Jon what spring rates are you running right now and how soft are they?

Brucey · 6 Series Guru

its worth noting that the Bilstein front struts have bump stops in the bottom (where you can't see them). These start to work quite early on in the stroke, and becuase they are constrianed from all sides they stiffen with a rising rate more than most other bump stops. They serve to act as part of a dual rate spring system, in effect; they should certainly not be ignored when working out the rest of the spring setup.

Note that they also give increased roll stiffness, and because they are urethane, increased bump damping too. There are three different stops available, plus each of them can be cut down to give a custom setting.

Jon, do you know what you ended up with, bump stop-wise?

cheers

Webblybear

Thanks for the info brucey, Im probably ordering parts next week so Ill make a build thread.

Jon Ackermann · Bigcoupe supporter

Brucey:

I ordered Bilstein sports from Ireland Engineering when I had them make me my coilovers. I am assuming they are stock bump stops of the sport shock.

I was not happy with the stiffness of the Koni's adjustable shocks set to Ground-Control settings. The bump stops were what they called their medium stiff bump stops. In my opinion, the shocks did not work for the street. just too stiff.

My car has been down for a while since I have my custom caliper brackets at the machine shop while they make an extra set of brackets for a fellow member who bought my extra set of Alcon calipers.

When I get my car back on the road and put more miles down on my coilover set, I will post back how I feel about the Bilstein's and bump stops.

Thanks.

Jon

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