[fanofbmwe46]

In just the last 3 days of ownership, I’ve encountered multiple instances of road debris (tire tread, raccoon size road kill, etc) that appeared right in front of me as other traffic drove over it with the debris centered under the cars ahead. I’ve had to also go over in this manner due to traffic on both sides and not enough time or space to dodge. Thankfully there has been enough clearance each time to not make any impact. But I keep imagining if I was lowered and or with a front lip, I would have made impact.

Second guessing things a little now knowing how often this type of situation can arise.

Hmm

[yousefnjr]

What if there was a bar going across the road and your car had to do the limbo, though

[kjx]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

What if there was a bar going across the road and your car had to do the limbo, though

Allow me to illustrate:
https://youtu.be/xmqbI8kvQ3w

Decisions, decisions. $5 saved in parking garage or $3000 on a new lip and bumper repaint.

[shawndean22]

I think stock height is good for clearance. If you lower for looks, you will definitely be hitting stuff up to you.

[Tethys]

I lowered my M8 Comp, after having that lowered and driving that I will not be lowering this car.

[wazzza]

I have mine lowered and have a lip. Clearance is about 4.8 inches. I’ve never really worried about things on the road as something like that can easily cause damage, lowered or not.

However, I will tell you that it’s a lot of hassle to go to places, esp when pulling into peoples driveways or encountering random speed bumps.

I’ve hooked up IFTTT with Apple Maps to send me location-based texts for all known places that I know to have issues with a lowered car. For example, if I go near my local Whole Foods, I get a text saying “ALERT: Don’t enter with M3, there is speed bump!” I still haven’t figured out how to distinguish between cars, so I get text regardless of what I’m driving, even my GX470, which is raised massively and can pretty much go over boulders … but well, it works as a safety net, lol.

Things you have to do for a few millimeters 😂

[Psychos1s]

As others have said, after past experiences with lowering I am choosing to keep the stock height this time around. I have pretty much zero anxiety driving around and don't need to plan my trip ahead of time based on store entrances or spying Google Map street view to see if I can even enter a parking lot or how big the speedbumps are. I had all of that with my F80 on KW HAS.

I have the OEM CF front lip and at the stock height have 6.25" of clearance. You can definitely get a front lip and still be safe.

#stockheightFTW

[JDUNITNOW]

I have the minimum drop at 20mm I believe. My car was lower but the anxiety of scraping and hitting stuff along with going over speed bumps was too much for me to enjoy car. My goal was just to get rid of the finger gap. Haven't scraped since then and don't worry about getting in and out of most places.

[fanofbmwe46]

Yea maybe the move is lower it 20mm but go without a lip. That’s the same overall clearance but reduces the wheel gap.. could do Alpha N splitters which enhances the front but doesn’t lower clearance.

[RDG80M3X]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

I have the minimum drop at 20mm I believe. My car was lower but the anxiety of scraping and hitting stuff along with going over speed bumps was too much for me to enjoy car. My goal was just to get rid of the finger gap. Haven't scraped since then and don't worry about getting in and out of most places.

Which lip are you running? I’m lowered 20mm up front and have my eyes on the M performance lip but have hesitation on pulling the trigger for the exact same reason as above. My car is a daily and I’m loving the driveability in its current state (drop with no lip) as I haven’t scraped the front end so far in the two weeks it’s been lowered *knocks on wood*
I3 years ago I used to daily a slammed IS350 with crazy offset wheels + full kit which would scrape, rub and bottom out on anything and everything. I had to plan my route to avoid certain roads/parking lots or even street park if necessary. I cringe when I think of those days.

[RDG80M3X]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

Yea maybe the move is lower it 20mm but go without a lip. That’s the same overall clearance but reduces the wheel gap.. could do Alpha N splitters which enhances the front but doesn’t lower clearance.

I’m lowered 20mm up front with no lip and the driveability is perfect for me right now. Thought about the Alpha N splitters which look OEM but they are too pricey at 1k for such a small change in appearance IMO. At that price point I’d rather go for a full lip (but then run the risk of banging it up)

[fanofbmwe46]

Originally Posted by eggwoll

I’m lowered 20mm up front with no lip and the driveability is perfect for me right now. Thought about the Alpha N splitters which look OEM but they are too pricey at 1k for such a small change in appearance IMO. At that price point I’d rather go for a full lip (but then run the risk of banging it up)

Yea it’s a dilemma lol. Are you on eibach? How many miles on them.. any strut issues?

[cubanbimmer3]

Originally Posted by eggwoll

I’m lowered 20mm up front with no lip and the driveability is perfect for me right now. Thought about the Alpha N splitters which look OEM but they are too pricey at 1k for such a small change in appearance IMO. At that price point I’d rather go for a full lip (but then run the risk of banging it up)

I’m in the same boat. There’s an Amazon version of the M Perf lip… considering trying that, since it won’t hurt as much if it does get ruined.

[fanofbmwe46]

Originally Posted by cubanbimmer3

I’m in the same boat. There’s an Amazon version of the M Perf lip… considering trying that, since it won’t hurt as much if it does get ruined.

It’s one thing to tap a cheap lip on a curb and replace it but imagine snagging a dead raccoon or chunk of tire tread with a front lip going highway speeds. Sure the lip is toast, but I imagine it’s going to yank pretty hard on the bumper and maybe the lip gets torn off and does underbody damage. Ugh, I hate being someone who is always thinking worst case scenario..

[wazzza]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

It’s one thing to tap a cheap lip on a curb and replace it but imagine snagging a dead raccoon or chunk of tire tread with a front lip going highway speeds. Sure the lip is toast, but I imagine it’s going to yank pretty hard on the bumper and maybe the lip gets torn off and does underbody damage. Ugh, I hate being someone who is always thinking worst case scenario..

Man you guys are making me scared to take the car out of the garage! Haha … it will be fine. Throw in a cheap lip. Just drive safely. 🤞🏽

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by eggwoll

Which lip are you running? I’m lowered 20mm up front and have my eyes on the M performance lip but have hesitation on pulling the trigger for the exact same reason as above. My car is a daily and I’m loving the driveability in its current state (drop with no lip) as I haven’t scraped the front end so far in the two weeks it’s been lowered *knocks on wood*
I3 years ago I used to daily a slammed IS350 with crazy offset wheels + full kit which would scrape, rub and bottom out on anything and everything. I had to plan my route to avoid certain roads/parking lots or even street park if necessary. I cringe when I think of those days.

I ordered my m performance lip from Dongasi and it doesn't add to the drop much at all. Here are my measurements. I'm about 27 inches measured from floor and it looks about 5 1/2 from floor for lip. 2 fingers....🤣

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by Psychos1s

As others have said, after past experiences with lowering I am choosing to keep the stock height this time around. I have pretty much zero anxiety driving around and don't need to plan my trip ahead of time based on store entrances or spying Google Map street view to see if I can even enter a parking lot or how big the speedbumps are. I had all of that with my F80 on KW HAS.

I have the OEM CF front lip and at the stock height have 6.25" of clearance. You can definitely get a front lip and still be safe.

#stockheightFTW

This is mine lowered on MSS about 20mm.

[fanofbmwe46]

Originally Posted by JDUNITNOW

This is mine lowered on MSS about 20mm.

Thanks! How long have you been lowered? Any strut issues? Are you able to navigate speed bumps, driveways, angled streets and transitions all perfectly fine without scratching?

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

Thanks! How long have you been lowered? Any strut issues? Are you able to navigate speed bumps, driveways, angled streets and transitions all perfectly fine without scratching?

No issues with struts...I navigate perfectly and knock on wood, no scrapes. I've encountered only a few scrapes with the rubber air deflector on really large speed bumps but it barely scrapes and nothing that concerns me. I was initially on version 2 springs and with one finger gap and rear I could barely fit my finger. After a couple of months, I adjusted the rear to almost oem height and am happy with ride height. I think the car rides better and handles better.

[RDG80M3X]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

Yea it’s a dilemma lol. Are you on eibach? How many miles on them.. any strut issues?

I thought about Eibach front springs but wanted a more complete setup so I ended up going with M-performance HAS. 20mm drop up front and 10mm in the rear. It’s been about two weeks and 400 miles, no issues so far and hopefully if any come up they will be covered by warranty lol.

[RDG80M3X]

Originally Posted by cubanbimmer3

I’m in the same boat. There’s an Amazon version of the M Perf lip… considering trying that, since it won’t hurt as much if it does get ruined.

Got a link? Might be worth it depending on price and fitment. If you pull the trigger on it let me know how it goes

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by eggwoll

I thought about Eibach front springs but wanted a more complete setup so I ended up going with M-performance HAS. 20mm drop up front and 10mm in the rear. It’s been about two weeks and 400 miles, no issues so far and hopefully if any come up they will be covered by warranty lol.

I wish I was patient and waited for these to come out. When I was considering lowering my car, there was no eta on them. Car looks great with them and the m performance lip won't have any issues with avoiding obstacles.