urgent! need new rear suspension. what should i get

[airjordan23]

99 m3 with 50k.
stock suspension + x brace. right rear shock is done.....just noticed how lower it is from left. what should i get and where can i find it..i tryed searching but found nothing.
eibach, blistein....?
all help appreciated.
mike

[Mantic]

Are you just looking for a shock to use with the remaining 3 stock shocks? If so you need a OEM shock.

[Bernman]

Don't try to replace the shocks on one end of the car unless you are going to stay with stock...and even then I would not recommend it.

That said, seeking opinions on aftermarket suspension on the boards is only going to get you more confused. 20 answers will get you 22 different suggestions (at least). Your best bet is to find someone in your area and go for a ride. Suspension quality is so subjective, I don't know of any way to really get what *you* want.

Good luck!
Bernman

[hal9000]

Depends on how you use the car and the quality of the roads in your area.

If it's a daily driver on fairly rough roads, ie pot holes, not totally smooth blacktop, then get Single Adjustable Koni's. If you're doing some driving events or think you'll need to change the setting then get the ones that are adjustable without having to take the rear shock off - the fronts are adjustable in the car. Cost figure about $600 in parts plus whatever your local labor rate is. Internally adjustable rears cost you $70 more each IIRC and are only available at TC Kline AFAIK. You can use the stock springs so this is probally the best bang for buck for a daily driver. It will ride like the original stock suspension, but will last much longer and adds tune-ability in the event you want to stiffen the car up for a DE.

If it's a track car or you have very good roads, then get Bilsteins. You may need to change springs. Ride's harsher. Full soft on a Bilstein's equivalent to full stiff on Koni's. Cost about $600 for shocks only, up to $250 for a set of springs. Rumor has it they're backordered about 6 months....

If it's a track car only, then look into coil overs...cost $1000+.

While you're there, you should also do the rear shock mounts. Parts should be around $100-$150 depending on whose you end up using.

[airjordan23]

well first of all the car is not a track car. 100% daily driving, once in a while ill push the car to its limits...but usually regular driving.
i really liked the stock feel when i purchased the car (20k).
stock suspenstion to me is great and comfortable. ever since the dealer replaced the shock mounts in the rear.

i dont mind getting 2 new oem rear shock mounts...and keep running them with the exhisting (50k) springs...
is that ok? any possible problems...?

i have this car for another remaining year, and then im trading it in/getting rid of it. so basicaly coil overs and all that fancy stuff is no good for me. plus money is kind of an issue..
however, i did expected problems with the stock suspension at 50k.

does it make sense to change it up and leave the front suspension stock? (again..the less i spend the better, however ride quality and comfort is very important, so if i have to i will do all four corners).

if not who make shoks for the front that are comfortable like the oem ones but are maybe better?


thanks

[John H]

what do you mean the right is lower than the left?

you are aware an M3 is about 150 lbs heavier on the right than the left (and thus the right sits about an inch lower)? this is to compensate for driver's weight.

take the shocks out and look at how the car sits. the right is noticably lower than the left.

- John

[Rahul325]

Originally posted by John H


you are aware an M3 is about 150 lbs heavier on the right than the left (and thus the right sits about an inch lower)? this is to compensate for driver's weight.



is this only for M3s or all BMWs in general ?? pretty cool idea to compensate for driver's weight :)

[hal9000]

IF you're trading her in, I'd say don't bother replacing the shocks unless they're VISIBALLY leaking. Dealerships only replace shocks when they leak - it's not going to hurt your trade in value. Also the springs are stiff enough that on a daily driver, you're really not going to push the car. Save the money for your downpayment. Also IIRC, most dealerships don't want aftermarket setups as they can't CPO the car then. If they're leaking, then put in OEM's if you're just doing the rear(s).

Now if you're keeping the car, then go Koni's if it's going to stay your DD.

As for how low the car sits on one side, yes they can be different in height...you should have no more than a 10 mm difference in height when measured from the lower middle rim flange to the top of your wheel wells. Total height should be 540mm +/- 10 mm on stock 17" rims.

[airjordan23]

im confused here.
2 days ago coming from a movie i noticed how the right rear is alot lower than the left rear.i was surprised and figured the right shock was done. i compared left to the right. as we all know...an m3 with the stock setup and with 17 inch stock wheels and tires, the rear wheel well covers a few milimeters of the top of the tires. anyway i noticed how the rear right looked really dropped and the rear left was normal.

however now i go outside and check and everything seems balanced out to me.
im trying to remember if the parking space was a maybe on a slight slope for this to happen, but to my knowledge it was flat.
how can something like this happen, because i remember the rear right being at least 1-2 inches lower, as in covering 1/2 of the top of the tire.

anyhow, when i push down onthe car/ thier is a wierd squeak (these shocks have 50k on them and obviosly arent like they were new), but it is going up and down smoothly. im kind of confused....i guess ill get it checked out...

10k miles ago the dealer told me that they were fine, but then again, like someone said they only replace them when they leak.

if i do have to change them, whats the difference or whats better for daily driving. bilstein sport shocks or koni sport shocks.


thanks.

[Bernman]

Koni is probably a better choice for daily use.