E46 Rear Coil Springs

[Rsdop]

A few months ago I purchased some nearly new Bilstein B8s and Apex 35mm lowering springs to replace the tired feeling stuff on my 330ci. Eventually made a start today with the rears. Dampers no problem, they were the original BMW dated 02 so definitely long overdue a change. However after removing the spring and comparing it to the new ones, the old one is a good bit shorter than the new 35mm lowering spring!

I'm assuming someone has previously fitted lowering springs but it's the difference in length that's confused me. Does anyone recognise the black spring or have any explanations? Was quite happy with the ride height before and the black springs look in ok condition so I've left them on for now and just changed the shocks.

[helix402]

Standard BMW springs have that sort of stripe on. How do you find the B8s? I have them on my 330d. I love the fronts but sold the rears as I found them too hard.

[Rsdop]

helix402 said:

Standard BMW springs have that sort of stripe on. How do you find the B8s? I have them on my 330d. I love the fronts but sold the rears as I found them too hard.

Not had a chance to test them yet, I've been told they are very firm but got to be better than 14 year/155K mile old standard gear! Will report back when I've done a few miles with them. So if the black springs are BMW, any ideas why the new lowered springs are considerably longer? They came of a 330 cabriolet which I believe are slightly stiffer but should be the same length.

[helix402]

Afraid I can't help on why the Apex springs are longer than the old ones on your car. The B8s on the front actually give better ride quality than old standard dampers.

[E30M3SE]

Might be longer off the car but once on the car and compressed you'll find that a couple of the coils will 'bind' and the car will run lower, probably more like 20-25mm as you're car being a Ci will have OE sport springs.

[VerySideways]

As Helix said, the black ones with the stripes look like OE BMW ones to me.
Longer before compression doesn't mean anything - put them on the car and see how you get on.

[Rsdop]

Thanks for the advice, will try fitting them and see how it sits. I did wonder if they would compress more and sit ok on the car but the difference in height was that large assumed they must be wrong somehow.

[corozin]

There are two kinds of springs for the 330ci depending on whether the car has M-Sport suspension. Looks like your cars' old springs were not. I suspect you will need the longer springs unless you fancy adding shorter dampers to the cost as well, not to mention having to swap the fronts too (so it doesn't look silly)

[Rsdop]

corozin said:

There are two kinds of springs for the 330ci depending on whether the car has M-Sport suspension. Looks like your cars' old springs were not. I suspect you will need the longer springs unless you fancy adding shorter dampers to the cost as well, not to mention having to swap the fronts too (so it doesn't look silly)

Correct, my car is non M-Sport and the Bilsteins were removed from an M-Sport. I did research if they would fit and was assured they would. I would have thought the M-Sport would have the shorter springs though hence why the difference in height confused me! Will try fitting them as advised and hope it sits ok. I have the B8s and springs for the front too so no worries with it looking silly

[corozin]

Good luck 😊

[8Tech]

The coil spring on the left also appears to be broken on the bottom coil so that will make it shorter too. Make sure you recover the broken end from the lower arm if it has not already fallen out.

The yellow spring has more coils which will make it softer anyway, especially as the coils look to be a smaller diameter. This will allow it to compress more with the mass of the car, thereby lowering it.