E46 M3 Springs - putting back to standard?

[Mr Gearchange]

Chaps,
I've just purchased my first M3 - a lovely 75K mile SMG Coupe with which I am very pleased.
The car is riding on Tein S-tech springs and is on 19" CSL reps and have to say that it looks absolutely fantastic.

However - this is my daily driver and will get used a lot. I also have some fantastic B-roads around me where i will be enjoying the car.

The problem is that the car is just far too low and too stiff to be properly enjoyed - the wheels rub in the arches on compression and there is no compliance to the ride - as a result on a nice twisty B-road I am quicker point to point in my air suspended Audi A8. I'm also rubbing the front splitter on the floor over some of the more lumpy road surfaces.

I'm happy to trade the asthetics to be able to properly enjoy the car - what would be my best option in terms of chaning the springs back towards standard?

[IIIRestorerIII]

OEM rear springs snap a lot. If you use the dealer at least you get a 2 year warranty.

[Mr Gearchange]

It looks like main stealers might be the only option - everything else seems to be lowering kits.

[daz05]

I would consider new dampers too, from what I've read the E46 dampers don't seem to last higher mileage. Could you mate the springs with some better shocks instead?

[Panthro]

New springs, new dampers, rear top mounts, spring pads and whilst you're at it the rear trailing arm bushes. I've just done mine (had Tein springs on too) and it feels amazing. The difference is night and day.

FYI - the reason the rear springs snap (and not just OEM but Eibach, Apex, H&R etc) is because stones and grit get lodged in the spring pad chipping the paint off and starting corrosion, which in turn snaps the rears. Aftermarket springs last longer because OEM springs are a thinner gauge. Just change your spring pads and clean them out every so often and you'll be fine. I've owned 2 E46 M3's and only had springs crack once, after this I kept pads free of gravel and have never had a problem since.

If you have the original front springs just put them back on. Springs don't really degrade and they are set to the weight of the car (hence the colour coding).