With my new wheels ready tomorrow, the next project is to lower the car a bit.
I am still hunting some Jamex springs (-40mm), but it slowly becomes a mission impossible.

It seems however I can get some x300 XJR springs for free.
Will these fit (I think the front suspension was slightly changed for the x308, right?), and if so, how much lower will the car be (compared to my present VDP comfort springs)?

I looked up the various part numbers, but got lost in numbers and executions ..

Eric

 

Coincidentally, I have the ride heights for the X308 scribbled down ...

non-sport worldwide F=389mm, R=370
XJR, non-US F=370, R=362

The measurement is taken from the center of the wheelcap to the apex of the
wheel arch.

No idea of the relationship to the X300, unless ride heights match, then it could
be extrapolated or inferred.

 

Have you tried contacting a Jamex dealer?
Otherwise, the Mina springs on Ebay will get you close, but they're meant to be closer to an inch (25mm) drop, not 40mm

 

Thanks to both of you.

I actually got those numbers too, then measured my own car, only to find out the right passenger side rides 10mm lower then the driver side.
Got stuck in BMW forums on the same issues, then forgot all about it.
Will need to check my own ride height again against those numbers.

The Jamex springs are on various Japanese websites, incl. their biggest dealer on Yahoo.
Unfortunately, if you check, they are sold out.
They checked for us in a good Japanese way, but did not manage to locate a pair.
I read the Mina springs are not much lower on the front, I will wait to see how you get around with them first.

I got my wheels fitted yesterday, and actually I start to doubt if lowering is necessary.
The car looks pretty great, without the tires strangely sticking out under the fenders, so considering bad roads, I might leave it for a while.

 

That's about the same look as mine.

And that's with the european R springs at 360mm/360mm in
real life.

What size tires are you running?

The point that is most likely to conflict is between the rear of the
front tire well and the tire when you turn.

 

You got a good eye: I re-measures my ride height, and come to F: 360 and R: 350 with a 1/2 full tank.
As said, those are +5 on the left, and -5 on the right side.

I am running F: 145/45/18 on 8J, and R: 175/40/18 on 9J.
These run the same outer tire dimension as my original 225/60/16, although wider of course.
We tried to check each front tire on full suspended lock, without issues.

Above basically rules out the XJR and the Mina springs, as I do not expect any lower ride from them.
Perhaps I leave it like it is .

 

Well I'm running the same 245/45/18 on 8J all around as the ones
you have on the front.

So I already know that it is just about the biggest you can run
on the front. At full lock there is barely room for one finger in
there.

Either you have the non-US R springs already, or the springs have "settled"
due to age. Either way, it looks good now, so why change

 

I think your car looks great and doesnt need to be lowered at all. I also recently got new wheels and tires, but I went with 255/40-18s. I initially thought the next move would be to lower the car, but now that I installed the new shoes, she absolutely doesnt need to be lowered either IMO. Your car seems to be sitting even lower than mine, I wouldnt change a thing

 

I actually got those numbers too, then measured my own car, only to find out the right passenger side rides 10mm lower then the driver side.

Will need to check my own ride height again against those numbers.


Good Luck


Paul Mild

 

I posted a similar question some time ago and recall one reply stating that although the XJR springs are lower, they are stiffer so may not lower the suspension that much on a non-S/C car....

 

Thanks for all the input.
As suggested, I will put the suspension a whole lot lower on my list for now.
I am sure it will come up again, but will work on other issues first.

E.

 

That's two votes for lower on the right.

The battery in the trunk is well behind the right rear wheel
and weighs around 60+ pounds.

 

If you read about this issue on the Beemer forums, you see heated discussions on the matter.
Seems half of the ppl. who measured have up to ~10mm difference (seems BMW allows 10mm difference in their manual) , the other half has level cars.
One can argue that the difference is to compensate for the driver's weight, but then all cars should have this....
And what about UK cars with the driver on the other side ?

 

For those who really care, there are spring packers available for
the X300/X308/X100.

Sounds like some of those BMW owners have too much time on
their hands.

You will find that perhaps one percent of the moaners will actually
get their hands dirty to fix something that they have moaned about
once challenged to do the dirty deed. Apparently, moaning about the
factory tolerances is more satisfying.

 

Up until your above notice of available spring packers it was absolutely no issue to me, now I know there is a way to fix it .... loosing all my sleep .

Serious, 10mm is NOT visible at all, and you can really find out by measuring only.
Besides, intently done by Jaguar or not, put my 85kg in the driver seat, and that car is perfectly level with its soft springs.
Not even 55kg of the wife can change that ...

 

Has anyone here tried the H&R springs which promiss a 30-40 mm drop? They are what I am looking for... My XJ just looks like it is on stilts...

 

As far as I have done my research, the H&R's are for the x300 only.

The front suspension of the x308 changed to reduce tram-lining, and I can't figure out if the springs changed (hence my question in post #1).

You might want to check on a German forum as well, I would be interested to know as well.

 

If not, then I'll have them compressed and retempered by pros. Did that with my C30 too...