E36 evo Saloon suspension upgrade options

[desmos]

I've recently bought a 97 evo saloon with 114k.
To be frank the suspension is well overdue a refresh.
I'm planning poly bushes and coilovers problem is which ones?
I've been looking at these:
http://www.bc-racing.co.uk/vehicle-check.asp?manID...
Any one used them?
Car is a daily with the odd track day so looking for a firm planted B road blaster. (not to firm as need to please the wife and baby!)
Budget wise no more than £750
Cheers in advance.

[dan101smith]

They're ok.

Or, you could buy my Intrax RS coilovers for £400

[cableguy]

In the same position with my 96 Evo Saloon, only 78k miles but think it would do well from a refresh.

Xmas may bring some good deals on Bilstein PSS9's or KW II or III's...

C.

[baz1985]

KW Variant 3 + H&R Anti-Roll Bars.

[cableguy]

Had Bilstein PSS9's and Eibach ARB's on a previous e39 M5 and the car was so much sharper on turn in and much more planted. just hope I can improve the e36 as much.

C.

[desmos]

Thanks guys.
I've also seen the K sport kit, but have never heard of them.
Tempted to run with the b-c seeing as its so adjustable, should be able to find a happy medium.
Next question is rubber.
The Kumho's on it are ok in the dry but useless in wet.
I was offered some Avon ZZ..somethings just worried about the sidewall strengths.
Who's on what?

[dan101smith]

Kumho Ecsta V70a for me, in 225/45/17 flavour.

[iguana]

I run the BC inverted jobbies, I spent a while setting 'em up, working from stttings by 'el suspenion supremo pooky, tho cant quite get the rear as low as he advised with the bcs, so I then corner weighted, to get a good full fuel/low fuel driver solo/with a pas compramise & achieved it.

For a pretty budget set up & atrimmed heavy car I think its really ace, run near 3 deg neg on the fronts the tyre wear is pretty darn good considering the lard on an m3, rear wear all down to right foot action tho

Buy & fit a bmw x brace too.

If you are buying

http://www.h-dev.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=78_1...

are good on price & can fit & corner weight too.

More e36 suspension banter threads below-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... M3 EVO suspension ??

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... M3 EVO Trackday Suspension&mid=18247

Edited by iguana on Sunday 15th November 23:18

[desmos]

Thanks all!
Really helpful any one tried Toyo's?

[_Neal_]

I'm on Falken FK-452s, and I think they're excellent. Used because I really liked them on my Cerbera 4.5 too.

Have used Proxes T1-R on other cars and really rated them - mixed reviews from some on the M3 though, if I recall correctly.

I know I may get flamed for this, but I'd polybush, but replace dampers with standard, if it's a daily driver with the occasional trackday. You could afford to do a trackday or two, and perhaps get some driver training, for the £200-300 difference in cost. As an aside, do you need to run spacers with the BC coilovers?

I did a full day in mine (using it as an "emergency" track car as the car I'd intended to use broke down the night before) on standard dampers (but poly-bushed and aligned) and it was excellent, balanced and fun.

[trackm3]

I have been selling a fair few sets of BC Racing coilovers to different makes and everyone has been happy with the product, build quailty, performance and price is superb.

[iguana]

_Neal_ said:

As an aside, do you need to run spacers with the BC coilovers?

Depends on what wheels you run & the offset, in general all coilovers need min 10mm spacers on the standard motorsport wheels, I've somehow collected 5 dif types of wheel for my m3! 2 types need spacers- Motorsports & Alpinas but 3 others don't.

PlEASE ONLY USE PROPER HUBCENTRIC SPACERS THO!!

Well unless wheels falling off is yr idea of fun!

Only faling with the Bcs so far is the mount for the ARB droplinks on front is not great or v substancial & wears then & the drop links rattle, so either need to fab something up quickly, or revert to non M type that connect to wishbone & remove the aux air pump to fit the arb.

[dan101smith]

[quote=iguana]

PLEASE ONLY USE PROPER HUBCENTRIC SPACERS THO!!
[/quote

^^^

This, and also make sure they're not old with a fatigued spigot ring.

Because when this happens, at 100mph, you WILL st yourself:

[desmos]

Yikes, thats a moment thats going to stay with you for some time!
It's currently on the original (contour?) alloys although I have some 19" Schnitzer splits which Im in two minds about (they weigh a tonne and a bit too pimpy for the sleeper look)
Mind you if someone wants to make an offer!!

[cableguy]

Dan, you receive my e-mail?

C.

[CarbonM5]

Id go with the stock set up,coilovers are a waste of time and high maintanence.

Get the OE Bilsteins/Boge from ECP and some new springs,new bushes, KDS,job done.

[dan101smith]

CarbonM5 said:

Id go with the stock set up,coilovers are a waste of time and high maintanence.

[Lost_BMW]

I was really pleased with the single adjustable AST dampers and springs (+polybushes and Eibach arbs) fitted to my long lost(!) E36, and the triple adjustables on a previous E36 track car.

Both sets were fitted and set up by Curtis at Powerstation in Tweksbury and transformed the cars. I used both on the road and the single adjustables with softer springs were fine + it made a fantastic wet-day track car.

My E46 should be back with it's Nitrons next week so I'll report back on that. They and teh sinlge adjustable ASTs aren't too far from your stated budget and do seem to be very well made.

[desmos]

Decisions decisions. Going to get a price for O.E dampers.
I think its the conditions of the springs that will be the decider. I like the idea of keeping an already good design standard.
But even the Motorsport division have costs to factor.

[iguana]

desmos said:

Decisions decisions. Going to get a price for O.E dampers.
I think its the conditions of the springs that will be the decider. I like the idea of keeping an already good design standard.
But even the Motorsport division have costs to factor.

But its not a good design, its too soft & fuzzy, the guy that signed off the e36 suspension for an M3 should be shot, fine if it was badged 330i & thus for manily boredom commuter runs but not M3.


Cracking cars e36 Ms, but the standard suspension set up is one of the main spoilers on what is such a great package struggling to get out.