BMW E46 Coilovers
Discussion
Hello to my E46 drivers!..
I need your advice once again!..
I am looking at coilovers for my car, however im having an issue FINDING any that will fit my car.
Forgive me if this is a really stupid question... but will coilovers that fit say an E46 330....fit mine? are all E46's the same when it comes to this, does it matter what model the coilovers are for aslong as its an E46??
Im not willing to spend anymore than £250 on some (which i get is cheap) however I would be so grateful if I could be pointed in the direction of some coilovers which are adjustable and will fit my car being: E46 318i and come with top mounts.
Please help me out guys!.. willing to buy some if anybody is selling that reads this.
Thank you in advance!
I need your advice once again!..
I am looking at coilovers for my car, however im having an issue FINDING any that will fit my car.
Forgive me if this is a really stupid question... but will coilovers that fit say an E46 330....fit mine? are all E46's the same when it comes to this, does it matter what model the coilovers are for aslong as its an E46??
Im not willing to spend anymore than £250 on some (which i get is cheap) however I would be so grateful if I could be pointed in the direction of some coilovers which are adjustable and will fit my car being: E46 318i and come with top mounts.
Please help me out guys!.. willing to buy some if anybody is selling that reads this.
Thank you in advance!

DarrenC87 said:
E-bmw said:
They need to be for your car a 330 will have different spring rates, different suspension mounts etc.
Ebay has dozens for sale.
Honestly mate... I cant find any! Ebay has dozens for sale.
any link would be greatly appreciated!.. helix402 said:
330 has the same susp mounts as a 318. Any E46 non M3 coilover kit will fit.
Mate thank you very much, I really appreciate that! 
When you type in Ebay, it does bring some up, but when you click on them (adjustable ones anyway) they say 330 etc but dont mention 318i.. so i was getting frustrated and a little confused.
Thanks for clearing that up matey

helix402 said:
330 has the same susp mounts as a 318. Any E46 non M3 coilover kit will fit.
Mate thank you very much, I really appreciate that! 
When you type in Ebay, it does bring some up, but when you click on them (adjustable ones anyway) they say 330 etc but dont mention 318i.. so i was getting frustrated and a little confused.
Thanks for clearing that up matey

I had some cheap coilovers on my 330d, for about a month........
....The ride in general wasn't too bad but the car would crash and bang over very small bumps and divets in the road like the suspension was solid, it felt like I was going to crack a wheel! Also, I could never get the back of the car to sit high enough, although this may have been because it was a touring so heavier at the back?
On a budget I'd probably go for a set of lowering springs and a new set of shocks but then obviously you wouldn't have any adjustment. That said though, I had 35 profile tyres on the front and 30 profile on the rear so higher profile tyres would have probably improved the ride I should imagine.
....The ride in general wasn't too bad but the car would crash and bang over very small bumps and divets in the road like the suspension was solid, it felt like I was going to crack a wheel! Also, I could never get the back of the car to sit high enough, although this may have been because it was a touring so heavier at the back?
On a budget I'd probably go for a set of lowering springs and a new set of shocks but then obviously you wouldn't have any adjustment. That said though, I had 35 profile tyres on the front and 30 profile on the rear so higher profile tyres would have probably improved the ride I should imagine.
Cheap coilovers will inevitably be crap and a waste of money. Go for KWs, Ohlins, Nitrons etc with sensible spring rates but these will be well over £1k. And add a proper geo.
If purely road use, something like the Bilstein B12 is very good and cheaper. Have it on my E36 and did a very tough road route this week and the car was fantastic. Much recommended.
If purely road use, something like the Bilstein B12 is very good and cheaper. Have it on my E36 and did a very tough road route this week and the car was fantastic. Much recommended.
SidewaysSi said:
Cheap coilovers will inevitably be crap and a waste of money. Go for KWs, Ohlins, Nitrons etc with sensible spring rates but these will be well over £1k. And add a proper geo.
If purely road use, something like the Bilstein B12 is very good and cheaper. Have it on my E36 and did a very tough road route this week and the car was fantastic. Much recommended.
I think he is more after the lows over driving prowess. As long as it drives straight and is reasonably safe I doubt he is fussed.If purely road use, something like the Bilstein B12 is very good and cheaper. Have it on my E36 and did a very tough road route this week and the car was fantastic. Much recommended.
E-bmw said:
The answer to your first question is in the first post.
No wrong!But yeah, back to the question of why. I've not seen after market coil-overs for less than £100 a corner worth having.
I've just replaced the springs and dampers on my 330ci with bilstien b4's and eibach springs, as a cost effect method of getting something that should be reasonable quality that should feel a bit like the oem setup. Happy enough with it, for normal road use.
Daniel
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