[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by Vidgamer

But you can't just swap in lowering springs (without rubbing or other interference) right? Also, I would assume that the shocks are different, in order to operate at the different height.

No, you can certainly add lowering springs to the stock struts/shocks or coilovers without any rubbing or interference. Many people run H&R springs on stock dampers. The wheel wells in these cars are huge.

Why would you think adding a set of springs would cause rubbing or some type of interference? They're only dropping the car a couple inches. There's still TONS of room to lower it more if you wanted.

The front knuckle of the X1 has a hair larger opening than the E90. So there are X1 specific front struts. The rears are all interchangeable.

Just to give you some idea of how little difference there is. Coilovers for the X1 are the same coilovers for an E90 xdrive, albeit with sleeves fitted over the front struts to increase their diameter where they enter the knuckle. The car is literally all E90 xdrive underneath. It's the 335 wagon/hatch we never got.

Along the same lines, you could add longer springs to an E90, and wind up with a similar ride height to the X1. There's enough shock length to accommodate some lifting, even stock.