MyE28.com

You could fabricate strut spacers for all four corners and gain height that way. Add distance between the mounts and the body and there you go. No need for spring or tire changes.

Shawn D. wrote:You could fabricate strut spacers for all four corners and gain height that way. Add distance between the mounts and the body and there you go. No need for spring or tire changes.

I do have a buddy that machines his own stuff....he makes some REAL cool stuff for motors and these would be simple enough for him to make....

That is a great idea. I also want new coils and struts because the car is kinda riding like a boat lately.

New stock components will give you a considerable lift. Refresh everything and see if you really need to go higher. You likely won't have to.

BMW skidplates are still available I believe or you could go the Raceskids route because race car.

Stock tire diameter ~ 24.75"

Running a 17" E39 wheel with 235/45/R17 diameter ~ 25.33"

Running the same wheel with a 215/45/R17 diameter ~ 24.62"

I've run the 235/45 up front with no issue, that'll net you a little over half an inch, no rub anywhere.

Frybrid 524td wrote:New stock components will give you a considerable lift. Refresh everything and see if you really need to go higher. You likely won't have to.

BMW skidplates are still available I believe or you could go the Raceskids route because race car.

Thanks, that's what I'm thinking now. I'll fabricate my own if I think it's necessary.

Snakeyestx wrote:Stock tire diameter ~ 24.75"

Running a 17" E39 wheel with 235/45/R17 diameter ~ 25.33"

Running the same wheel with a 215/45/R17 diameter ~ 24.62"

I've run the 235/45 up front with no issue, that'll net you a little over half an inch, no rub anywhere.

Thanks for the measurements.

+1 on new shocks an the largest spring pads avalable.

honestly stock 528e is as high off the ground as your going to get as is, weight reduction will get you some more height but really one would have to get more length out of the strut assembly to get any height on on e28. either custom coilovers with like 10 inch springs and off road billy shock rods in a hd housing or something.

adding a small spacer agnst the strut towers might not be a very stupid idea though... i mean ive seen truck body lifts done with 2x4's and drywall screws. a 1/2in steel plate and quality hardware dosnt sound anymore unsafe then some stancetard that has 1/4in of ground clearance.

Snakeyestx wrote:Stock tire diameter ~ 24.75"

Running a 17" E39 wheel with 235/45/R17 diameter ~ 25.33"

Running the same wheel with a 215/45/R17 diameter ~ 24.62"

I've run the 235/45 up front with no issue, that'll net you a little over half an inch, no rub anywhere.

That's half an inch diameter, which would raise ride height half that or just over a quarter of an inch. Nobody including the OP would even notice.

I agree with getting new shocks/struts. If you put springs from a 535i on a 528e, you will also slightly increase ride height. I'm not sure, but I'd be willing to wager that a US 635csi's springs would raise ride height even more.

I've lowered mine 3.15 inches in the front, and I've got absolutely no problems at all driving on the sh***y roads where I live. A stock E28 should be more than sufficient for any kind of driving. At least up to the point that raising it an inch wouldn't be of any more help than riding it stock.
Anyhow, stiffening up your suspension would be a far better sollution. This because the stock ground clearance might be sufficient, but the ground clearance is poor when the suspension is fully compressed (due to "exiting driving").

I'd say if you think a stock 528e sits too low that your suspension is SHOT. I feel they sit way too high.

My apologies for the grave dog but I had to
You could always look into this http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/4600731737.html

That thing is bad..........ass.

And it has the guzzling 304 stuffed under the hood.

Frybrid 524td wrote:New stock components will give you a considerable lift. Refresh everything and see if you really need to go higher. You likely won't have to.

BMW skidplates are still available I believe or you could go the Raceskids route because race car.

+1

I bought my '82 528i with sagging springs and really tired struts (all factory parts). The skid plate would often hit the ground over bumps and other stuff unless I drove over them at walking space in second or first gear. After refresing the struts with new sachs inserts and OE BMW springs, I can now keep the car in third gear and slow down just a bit to drive over the same places, without any worries about it running aground.

I did notice that the sachs inserts are quite unsettled by the sharpest of bumps (my 2009 renault handles them way better). I might try the HD's in the near future.