what's a decent budget e36 suspension?
Discussion
My e36 323 is in need of a new suspension. it's full of miss matched parts that are blown or worn to death. I don't want to go super crazy but I do want a decent riding and good handling car. I'm going to get some poly bushings to take out the slop in it but I really need new shocks and springs. I was tossing around the idea of coil overs but that seems excessive for me. I think just a good set of shocks and lowering springs will do me nicely. I've always had eibach and kyb in the past but never on a bmw so I don't know if there are better choices out there or if they are even good on bmw's. I looked into bilsteins and they look to be out of my budget of around £400 or 500 for shocks and springs. Any other ones I should consider?
how much of a drop should I get without running into serious alignment issues or suspension travel problems? I think 30 -40mm will be enough without going over board.
how much of a drop should I get without running into serious alignment issues or suspension travel problems? I think 30 -40mm will be enough without going over board.
Maybe some new rear trailing arm bushes, which commonly wear out. Meyle HD are cheap and have more rubber in them than the original voided bushes so should last longer.
Front wishbone bushes (at the rear of the wishbones) are another common weakness in the E36 suspension. You can get eccentric bushes to give more dynamic camber (I think??) when steering. Also the rubber-mounted outer balljoints in the front wishbones tend to get wobbly but you can get all-steel balljoints (again Meyle HD are available) or else replace the whole wishbones with E30 versions which I believe have the solid balljoints.
Eibach 'Pro kit' springs lower the car less than the 'Sportline' range, and I think are claimed to be suitable for use with the standard dampers though you'll be replacing them anyway I guess so might as well upgrade.
Front wishbone bushes (at the rear of the wishbones) are another common weakness in the E36 suspension. You can get eccentric bushes to give more dynamic camber (I think??) when steering. Also the rubber-mounted outer balljoints in the front wishbones tend to get wobbly but you can get all-steel balljoints (again Meyle HD are available) or else replace the whole wishbones with E30 versions which I believe have the solid balljoints.
Eibach 'Pro kit' springs lower the car less than the 'Sportline' range, and I think are claimed to be suitable for use with the standard dampers though you'll be replacing them anyway I guess so might as well upgrade.
I have a full set of new in box standard dampers here you can have in Milton Keynes if you want them. Pretty sure they are Sachs dampers. Might have some OEM bushes kicking around too.
Polybushing is fine but it does effect the way the car rides over bumps and can make it feel a little harsh as you move that compliance somewhere else, it's fine on a track car but on a daily it can be a little grating. Bush wise a full replacement of them all (even those that look fine) from BMW will transform the ride to being more supple and accurate, especially if you are slotting in new dampers while you are at it. As for lowering, you can but I would do the other parts first and see how you go, you can get better springs that don't drop the car more than 10mm which will help.
Or go down the coilover route but chose wisely on those and don't skimp!
Or go down the B12 route, which is generally accepted to be the best without ruining things.
Polybushing is fine but it does effect the way the car rides over bumps and can make it feel a little harsh as you move that compliance somewhere else, it's fine on a track car but on a daily it can be a little grating. Bush wise a full replacement of them all (even those that look fine) from BMW will transform the ride to being more supple and accurate, especially if you are slotting in new dampers while you are at it. As for lowering, you can but I would do the other parts first and see how you go, you can get better springs that don't drop the car more than 10mm which will help.
Or go down the coilover route but chose wisely on those and don't skimp!
Or go down the B12 route, which is generally accepted to be the best without ruining things.
The problem with the E36 now is that they are so old. Bolts snap off (the 18 mm trailing arm bracket bolts) and when you get in there, the rear floor is rotten where the arms bolt in. Standard RTA bushes are fine but must be ones with the solid outer casing, not those hateful split ones. You'll need the special tool to fit the new ones and the old ones come out by drilling the rubber until the centre falls out and cutting the rest out. I'd do this job first - if the rear floor cups are rotten then the car is basically scrap. For this reason I've stopped working on these now. The last one I did was a disaster.
Eibach are a bit hit and miss and you'll often find the fronts are just too low and on the bump stops. I'd leave the standard springs in with new dampers. The ECP budget ones (Anschler) are surprisingly good. Cheap coilovers can often ride quite well.
Eibach are a bit hit and miss and you'll often find the fronts are just too low and on the bump stops. I'd leave the standard springs in with new dampers. The ECP budget ones (Anschler) are surprisingly good. Cheap coilovers can often ride quite well.
geeks said:
I have a full set of new in box standard dampers here you can have in Milton Keynes if you want them. Pretty sure they are Sachs dampers. Might have some OEM bushes kicking around too.
Polybushing is fine but it does effect the way the car rides over bumps and can make it feel a little harsh as you move that compliance somewhere else, it's fine on a track car but on a daily it can be a little grating. Bush wise a full replacement of them all (even those that look fine) from BMW will transform the ride to being more supple and accurate, especially if you are slotting in new dampers while you are at it. As for lowering, you can but I would do the other parts first and see how you go, you can get better springs that don't drop the car more than 10mm which will help.
Or go down the coilover route but chose wisely on those and don't skimp!
Or go down the B12 route, which is generally accepted to be the best without ruining things.
if your serious about letting those dampers go then I will certainly take them. I can use the money saved else where.Polybushing is fine but it does effect the way the car rides over bumps and can make it feel a little harsh as you move that compliance somewhere else, it's fine on a track car but on a daily it can be a little grating. Bush wise a full replacement of them all (even those that look fine) from BMW will transform the ride to being more supple and accurate, especially if you are slotting in new dampers while you are at it. As for lowering, you can but I would do the other parts first and see how you go, you can get better springs that don't drop the car more than 10mm which will help.
Or go down the coilover route but chose wisely on those and don't skimp!
Or go down the B12 route, which is generally accepted to be the best without ruining things.
I think replacing my springs is a must. while the car seems to sit ok I do have massive body roll, particularly up front. I haven't check all 4 springs but I know at least 2 are different colours and I suspect I have a 3rd on yet another colour. so much like my shocks I think it's just a bunch of mis matched stuff. maybe a set different from eibach would be better for me.
I know we all have different experiences & likes, but I 100% disagree about poly bushes, they make the car drive SOO much better IMHO, but if you are going to fit them get a FULL set & do them all together over a weekend or something.
Also NEVER had an issue with bolts shearing/rounding under an e36.
I made 2 into track day cars a '92 325 & '98 328 & was always pleased with how everything came apart & went back together.
Also NEVER had an issue with bolts shearing/rounding under an e36.
I made 2 into track day cars a '92 325 & '98 328 & was always pleased with how everything came apart & went back together.
Kit352 said:
what is everyone's reasoning for not doing all the poly bushings? is it a cost thing or is it not worth it? I thought replacing all oem bushings was a must but I may have been mistaken. some of mine still look fine so if i can skip on replacing them then that's fine.
Most poly bushes are just designed to fit a hole and then everything second. That is why. Some manufacturers are worse than others.if I were going to go with a polybush I'd look to SuperPro/Flex. They're not cheap but they are designed and tested more rigorously than the rest.
At that level the stock M3 bushes don't seem like a bad trade off all of a sudden.
iSore said:
Too many aren't a tight enough fit in the trailing arm and 'walk' sideways out if the arm and then knock against the body.
It’s been a while since I worked on an E36, another reason to go for the gen BMW M3 bush or the type you suggest. Edited by helix402 on Wednesday 13th June 19:56
So with significant cut to my budget due to needing to replace the rear brakes can i get away with some cheap ebay coilovers for a while. I'm seeing some in the £200 range that include top mounts as well so it would be a complete drop in affair. I am still going to add the z3 reinforcing plates since they are cheap insurance.
te though so be careful Kit352 said:
Now, you see, I struggle with a listing like that when I see it for a few reasons.The pics show full coilovers & as most of us know e36s can't have full coilovers, just adjustable spring mounts on the rear & coilover fronts.
So it is clearly a generic pic rather than a pic of the set for the car.
The listing says they are UK based but the address is in China!
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