E36 M3 Evo coilovers

[andygtt]

I really need to replace the suspension on my tired old M3.... I have the Koni kit all round and it still feels like a boat and i really hate it... way to wollowy etc.
Looking back on old threads it seems doing this and the brakes will be the best upgrades i can do to transform the car.

It will be a road car but I much prefer firmer ride and control.... I dont have loads of cash but i dont want to spend money and regret splashing a touch more for exactly what i want.

So can i have opinions and experiences on each of the coil over options along with were you guys recomend getting them... Im looking for how stiff they are in comparison to others, pros and cons of them etc.

cheers

[dan101smith]

Easy one this.

Go for the Intrax kit.

You can get the RSA (entry level) or 1K2 (street or race spec) - I don't think you'll need more than the RSA for road use.

It's debatable whether you need to strengthen the rear turrets at all to run coilovers at the rear - some people think you need a cage, so a brace, but again for road use all of that is overkill.

So, what is your intended use?

[scz4]

dan101smith said:

Easy one this.

Go for the Intrax kit.

You can get the RSA (entry level) or 1K2 (street or race spec) - I don't think you'll need more than the RSA for road use.

It's debatable whether you need to strengthen the rear turrets at all to run coilovers at the rear - some people think you need a cage, so a brace, but again for road use all of that is overkill.

So, what is your intended use?

Is Intrax not a tad optimistic when when "I dont have loads of cash".

I personally will be looking for a kit come Jan\Feb, budget of between £1000-£1200. I am thinking of Bilstein PSS9's or Gaz Coilovers. Will need to do more research though.

G

[dan101smith]

scz4 said:

Is Intrax not a tad optimistic when when "I dont have loads of cash".

The RSA kit isn't a million pounds and is definitely worth it IMO.

[drjhill]

I got KW variant 2 for my non Evo for about a grand (plus a few bob for sundries). Not quite as easily adjustable as I was lead to believe. Variant 3 is more easily adjustable and so might be worth paying a little extra. Definitely better than tired aold setup but not done back to back

PSS9 a bit more dosh, about £1400 iirc. "they" say much to soft for serious racing, but that's not where I'm at (or you by the sound of it)

HTH

[andye30m3]

I picked up a second hand set of h&r coilovers, only done a few thousand miles for £450. Looked like new.

Been really pleased with them over standard, only down side is that you can't adjust how stiff they are only the ride height but still transform the car towards what it should have been from factory

Now just need to sort the brakes out

[andygtt]

what about the Eibach pro street S kits on ebay for £750? are these fairly firm and worth the cash? are they significantly better than the std or koni kits?

the cars only worth about £2.5k so dont want to spend too much on the old girl, its only a hack for when i have the kids and maybe a few track days etc as i have a noble for everyday use.

[M7RT V]

I fitted Eibach ARBs, Powerflex bushes all round and Eibach Pro Street S coilovers to my old Evo and it still handled like a boat, but I guess everything handles like a boat after having an Elise on R888s

Edited by M7RT V on Wednesday 12th November 18:14

[andygtt]

M7RT V said:

I fitted Eibach ARBs, Powerflex bushes all round and Eibach Pro Street S coilovers to my old Evo and it still handled like a boat, but I guess everything handles like a boat after having an Elise on R888s

Edited by M7RT V on Wednesday 12th November 18:14

sounds like its a lost cause then

[taffyracer]

Intrax are superb, far better than anythging esle for the money, superb product, never had anything but amazing feedback from any of the kits i've sold

[wmg100]

andygtt said:

M7RT V said:

I fitted Eibach ARBs, Powerflex bushes all round and Eibach Pro Street S coilovers to my old Evo and it still handled like a boat, but I guess everything handles like a boat after having an Elise on R888s

Edited by M7RT V on Wednesday 12th November 18:14

sounds like its a lost cause then

I'd say not. I've made a similar transition, from a VX220 to an M3 Evo with coilovers, strut brace, ARBs etc and its handling is far from boatlike. Turn in is a little dulled in comparison, but there's really not a lot of roll for the size of the car.

[ASBO]

wmg100 said:

andygtt said:

M7RT V said:

I fitted Eibach ARBs, Powerflex bushes all round and Eibach Pro Street S coilovers to my old Evo and it still handled like a boat, but I guess everything handles like a boat after having an Elise on R888s

Edited by M7RT V on Wednesday 12th November 18:14

sounds like its a lost cause then

I'd say not. I've made a similar transition, from a VX220 to an M3 Evo with coilovers, strut brace, ARBs etc and its handling is far from boatlike. Turn in is a little dulled in comparison, but there's really not a lot of roll for the size of the car.

Plus, yours had the benefit of being properly set-up by guys who used to race caterhams and who subsequently wanted it to handle like one.

Any car can be made to handle well. It's all down to budget and more importantly, knowledge base.

[dan101smith]

Body roll and grip are fairly easy to sort out, what's apparently not is getting the steering right.

As soon as I can find one I'm going to fit a Z3 rack (quicker lock-to-lock) and see what kind of improvement that makes - to me that's where the handling on mine is weak.

[andygtt]

wmg100 said:

andygtt said:

M7RT V said:

I fitted Eibach ARBs, Powerflex bushes all round and Eibach Pro Street S coilovers to my old Evo and it still handled like a boat, but I guess everything handles like a boat after having an Elise on R888s

Edited by M7RT V on Wednesday 12th November 18:14

sounds like its a lost cause then

I'd say not. I've made a similar transition, from a VX220 to an M3 Evo with coilovers, strut brace, ARBs etc and its handling is far from boatlike. Turn in is a little dulled in comparison, but there's really not a lot of roll for the size of the car.

I sold my VX220 and bought the evo as well but that was nearly 4 years ago.... I know Im used to the Noble as I do more miles in that, but there is no doubt my M3 handles like a boat... but my old cossie would have run rings round the M3 and that only had cheap avo coilovers (and was 2wd as well).
The steering isnt horific although it is a little wooly... what coilovers do you have on yours?

[wmg100]

andygtt said:

wmg100 said:

andygtt said:

M7RT V said:

I fitted Eibach ARBs, Powerflex bushes all round and Eibach Pro Street S coilovers to my old Evo and it still handled like a boat, but I guess everything handles like a boat after having an Elise on R888s

Edited by M7RT V on Wednesday 12th November 18:14

sounds like its a lost cause then

I'd say not. I've made a similar transition, from a VX220 to an M3 Evo with coilovers, strut brace, ARBs etc and its handling is far from boatlike. Turn in is a little dulled in comparison, but there's really not a lot of roll for the size of the car.

I sold my VX220 and bought the evo as well but that was nearly 4 years ago.... I know Im used to the Noble as I do more miles in that, but there is no doubt my M3 handles like a boat... but my old cossie would have run rings round the M3 and that only had cheap avo coilovers (and was 2wd as well).
The steering isnt horific although it is a little wooly... what coilovers do you have on yours?

They're made by Bilstein but branded as AC Schnitzer. As ASBO has said, mine has been properly set up and it shows when you drive it. I suppose as they are all at least 10 years old now there may be a marked difference in how two different examples drive.

[cheekeebuga]

Hi there mate,

I may have a solution for you.

I am a part time distributor of coilovers for BMW's and mercedes.

as you may or may not know to get coilovers front and rear for the M3 evo is a very expensive job that requires reinforcement of the rear mounts to enable this to happen. What i have done with my evo is have the GAZ Gold kit ont he fronts and rears but have the rear as a non coilover set (fully adjustable still) with custon made droplinks (shortened and rewelded)

I worked with Gaz over a period of 6 months developing the best set up i have seet for the e36 m3. I am now selling the full coilovers (fronts) and custom rear adjustable dampner, height and camber set up for £850 all in.

I have had bilstein and eibachs on previous m3's and been able to throw this m3 in to corners i wouldnt have dreamt of with the previous 2.

I can also get bilsteins and eibach's to let you know im not bias but the gaz's are amazing.

Let me know if you want to know any more info or want some - 2-3 week delivery time (would also need an oem set of droplinks to custom shorten and weld)

cheers

Ryan