To answer some of the questions:
The K-Mac camber plates were $314.95 for the pair.
They are fully adjustable for camber and caster. Out of the box, they support camber changes more toward the positive (camber goes a little negative when lowering), and caster changes in either direction. I rotated the plates to support adding negative camber. After lowering, camber (without adjustment at the plates) went to -0.7 for both sides, which is close to the -1 degree spec for a CSL (the CS spec is 0 degrees). I do track days, so being able to go even more negative on those days is a good thing.
Another consideration is caster. When lowering the front more than the rear, the struts tilt forward, which reduces caster. This makes adjustable camber/caster plates even more important to bring things back into spec. It isn't something the fixed plates address.
The ride is certainly firmer, which can probably be attributed to both the springs and the polyurethane in the K-Mac plates. The poly probably also makes it a bit harsher over bumps. I think it is a good compromise for a sportier feel.
The wheels are BMW type 61. They were offered on E38 7-series cars. They have the same number of spokes as the coveted Alpinas, and have similar overall dimensions. The 16" Alpinas are 16x7 in front and 16x8 in back. These are 16x7.5 all around. I use the same tire setup that is recommended for the Alpinas. 205-55/16 in the front and 225-50/16 in the rear. The front fenders are rolled. Fortunately, a lot of 7-series owners like to go bigger than 16", so these wheels are common and inexpensive. I got my set on Ebay for $350 shipped in brand new condition. Sure, they aren't the Alpinas, but for so little money, I think they look just fine, and the exposed lugs are nice.
Previously, I had also switched to Addco swaybars (25mm front, 22mm rear).
Before the changes, I had a very loose ball joint on the center link, and one that was starting to get loose on the passenger side lower control arm. As a result, the steering wheel would shimmy a bit at speed. The car feels more planted now, and is a real joy in long, sweeping high-speed turns. I'm sure that can be attributed to the replaced ball-joints, the firmer suspension, and the lower center of gravity. I'm looking forward to the next track day to get an idea of things. I'm thinking a bit less swaybar in the rear might help with grip.
-S
