E46 Compact handling
Discussion
Hi,
I have recently got a 320td E46 compact SE, its done 50K. I am very pleased with the car, it suits me well at the moment and it feels nice and balanced most of the time.
However it can occasionally feel a touch bouncy and have a bit of roll when pushing on. So I am thinking about upgrading the suspension a little. I don't want it to be rock hard just feel that bit tighter.
The options I have considered so are,
- Replace the key bushes with poly bushes.
- Fit eibach springs with the poly bushes but leave the standard dampers.
- Go the whole hog and do dampers as well. Would rather not do this as costs would mount up!
Does fitting poly bushes on there own improve handling?
Do eibach springs actually make the car feel a bit stiffer even if you are using standard dampers, or would it just lower the car for cosmetic purposes?
Thanks for reading.
I have recently got a 320td E46 compact SE, its done 50K. I am very pleased with the car, it suits me well at the moment and it feels nice and balanced most of the time.
However it can occasionally feel a touch bouncy and have a bit of roll when pushing on. So I am thinking about upgrading the suspension a little. I don't want it to be rock hard just feel that bit tighter.
The options I have considered so are,
- Replace the key bushes with poly bushes.
- Fit eibach springs with the poly bushes but leave the standard dampers.
- Go the whole hog and do dampers as well. Would rather not do this as costs would mount up!
Does fitting poly bushes on there own improve handling?
Do eibach springs actually make the car feel a bit stiffer even if you are using standard dampers, or would it just lower the car for cosmetic purposes?
Thanks for reading.
I would install a set of Eibach anti roll bars and fit M3 rear trailing arm bushings with limiters in the rear. Also upgrade the front control arm bushes with Meyle HD or poly bushings.
This should make a nice difference, not cost the earth and will make a good base for further upgrades (Coilovers etc).
This should make a nice difference, not cost the earth and will make a good base for further upgrades (Coilovers etc).
Changing the rear springs is easy, no sweat!
The fronts....well, easy ish, the only tricky bit is getting that strut assy appart!
The original SE springs are relatively long and so really do need binding up with a spring compressor.
The cheaper spring compressors will do the job but do be careful! Mine slipped, I was lucky, it only hurt!
Once this is done putting the Eibach's on is easy as they are shorter!
I changed the shocks at the same time, didn't want to take the strut apart again!
If you go for the pro kit springs they certainly will not be to harsh!
To some degree this depends on your wheel size / tyre profile though!
I have a 325ti with pro kit and Bilstein B8's which were supposed to be very hard... but I have 16'' wheels on (I like 'em!)
The whole package rides much better / more comfortably than my 330d M sport.
Beware of using the Koni FSDs. They will result in a bigger front end drop. Fine if you want it!
A guess a new set of Sachs OEMs would help, they are not too £££. Mine were in a poor state when I took them off at 80k.
Anyway, hope this helps, I signed up to answer (first post) 'cos it is all fresh in my mind.
BR
The fronts....well, easy ish, the only tricky bit is getting that strut assy appart!
The original SE springs are relatively long and so really do need binding up with a spring compressor.
The cheaper spring compressors will do the job but do be careful! Mine slipped, I was lucky, it only hurt!
Once this is done putting the Eibach's on is easy as they are shorter!
I changed the shocks at the same time, didn't want to take the strut apart again!
If you go for the pro kit springs they certainly will not be to harsh!
To some degree this depends on your wheel size / tyre profile though!
I have a 325ti with pro kit and Bilstein B8's which were supposed to be very hard... but I have 16'' wheels on (I like 'em!)
The whole package rides much better / more comfortably than my 330d M sport.
Beware of using the Koni FSDs. They will result in a bigger front end drop. Fine if you want it!
A guess a new set of Sachs OEMs would help, they are not too £££. Mine were in a poor state when I took them off at 80k.
Anyway, hope this helps, I signed up to answer (first post) 'cos it is all fresh in my mind.
BR
Cheers for the advice!
I have now got my car booked in at a local indy specialist to fit the new springs, bilstien sports dampers and polybushes on the wishbones. Thought about it for a while and decided if I was going to try and improve the handiling I might as well try to do it properly. It will hopefully be a good improvement over the standard SE spec suspension.
I am on also on 16" wheels, I have no plans to change them but I will see how it goes. My next plan is to hopefully replace the standard seats with some sports items.
Anyway cheers again for the reply and nice to hear from a fellow compact driver.
I have now got my car booked in at a local indy specialist to fit the new springs, bilstien sports dampers and polybushes on the wishbones. Thought about it for a while and decided if I was going to try and improve the handiling I might as well try to do it properly. It will hopefully be a good improvement over the standard SE spec suspension.
I am on also on 16" wheels, I have no plans to change them but I will see how it goes. My next plan is to hopefully replace the standard seats with some sports items.
Anyway cheers again for the reply and nice to hear from a fellow compact driver.
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