Lowering suspension on an e36 328i

[IvanBvB]

I'm new here buds and need advice on how to lower my cars suspension. Do I need a set, and where to buy it? Thanks upfront

[Pelican Parts]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I'm attaching a link to our site's catalog for your 96' E36. The least expensive way to lower your car would be to get some lowering springs. Companies like Eibach, Vogtland, and H&R are all reputable brands. Take a look at the link below and please let us know if you have any questions. You can also give us a call at 888-280-7799 and one of our BMW part specialists will be happy to help you out!

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...n-Steering.htm

[bluptgm3]

Runs the gambit, what are you hoping to achieve?
Popular choices for springs have been mention above. I'll add that H&R has OE Sport, Sport, and Race springs for you car. All three lower the car, depending on what you are after. Race will be the lowest and most harsh, with Sport between, Race and OE Sport in lowering and ride comfort.

Bilstein offer HD (OE replacement) and Sport (for use with lowering springs) shocks and struts.
Koni has offerings as well.
On the low end Gabriel, Monroe, and KYB offer OE replacement.

On the high end Ground Control, TC Kline offer Koni based coil over systems that can replicate near OE ride comfort or Race performance.


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[Bill837]

Yeah, so you will need to sort out what you want from the lowering, your expectations and where you are willing to give up one thing to gain somewhere else. Your usage will drive that somewhat also, or should. After a lot of thought on this myself, I finally settled that I'm going to go with about a little more than an inch in the rear and a little less up front, in the area of 3/4 inch. Coil overs allow a larger drop and adjustability with potentially some loss in comfort. Some don't care about that, but seeing as my wife will be with me a lot in the car, I do. I don't need to take corners at 9/10ths, 6 or 7 10ths will be just fine I'll be going with a spring and strut combo to keep some of the everyday comfort. Were they not all almost 20 years old, I think an M3 takeoff would suit me fine, but they are so I'll be trying to duplicate that drop pretty close. I like this look right here.......

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showpo...57&postcount=2

[bluptgm3]

Typically the drop in front is greater than the rear drop. An E36 "likes" ~3/4 inch of rake front to rear. I believe most front running spring sets play in this zone.

Use E46 M3/M3 Convertible Rear Shock Mounts. Get the Z3 Rear Shock Tower Reinforcement Plates and the 1996+ E36M3 front Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates.
New paper body gaskets front and rear.
Use the last seven digits of your VIN in www.realoem.com to look up part numbers for your specific car. Use it without your VIN to lookup the Z3 and E46 M3 part numbers.

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[IvanBvB]

Thanks to you all. One more question for my 328i , what is the difference between OE sport springs and just sport springs? And one more question, do I only need springs to lower the ride or also something else?

[Pelican Parts]

OE stands for Original Equipment, meaning "stock" or what came with the car. Springs are all you'll need to lower your car.

Thanks to you all. One more question for my 328i , what is the difference between OE sport springs and just sport springs? And one more question, do I only need springs to lower the ride or also something else?

[bluptgm3]

OE stands for Original Equipment, meaning "stock" or what came with the car. Springs are all you'll need to lower your car.

I highly recommend that you get shocks/struts (with shortened shafts) matched to shorter lowering springs.

Your rear shock towers are at risk of failure using full length shocks
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[IvanBvB]

Thanks bud, do you know where I can buy them which site would you recommend and brands?

[MIKYZZ4]

Since stock doesn't seem to interest you, and you want to go lower,
This is a good combo, at a good price:https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...6&autoModClar=

[bluptgm3]

ECSTuning, FCP European


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[IvanBvB]

Thanks, which items will I be shopping for? Just springs or?

[bluptgm3]

With lowering springs your rear shock towers are at risk of failure using full length shocks, these and your struts should be replaced with 'Sport' shock/strut.

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[IvanBvB]

Please check this out on eBay and tell me what you think, search RSK street adjustable coilover kit BMW e36

[MIKYZZ4]

You can't have one without the other, that is why they're often referred to, as spring/shock combos.
This is why I posted the link to TireRack,for Eibach/Koni-spring/shock combo.
Or if you prefer, a Eibach/Bilstein-spring/shock combo at FCPEuro:https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-kit-46-180957
which offers free shipping & lifetime warranty.

[MIKYZZ4]

Please check this out on eBay and tell me what you think, search RSK street adjustable coilover kit BMW e36

You get what you pay for, so with that bottom of the barrel pricing,
What do you honestly think you are going to receive?
If you're searching for a guinea pig to try out some junk, try elsewhere, we attempt to only recommend quality on this forum.

[IvanBvB]

Thank you I appreciate your feedback. One more question please, what are some brands you prefer? Thanks again

[MIKYZZ4]

Lowering springs:
(Eibach and H&R)
Sport shock/struts:
Koni and Bilstein
These are the recommended spring and strut combos to keep some of the everyday comfort, with a sporty lowered look & performance.

Coilover are recommended for extreme lowering along with track&auto-cross use.
The choices there vary according to budget.

[IvanBvB]

Thank you for your help

[bluptgm3]

Coilover are recommended for extreme lowering along with track&auto-cross use.
The choices there vary according to budget.

Bilstein PSS9
KW (several offerings)
Ground Control (offers a wide range of spring rates with their Koni based products)
TC Kline (same deal)

The down side of "coil over kits" is that generally they all offer significant lowering and there can be clearance issues of front tire/wheel to Strut that requires the use of spacers.


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[MIKYZZ4]

Thank you for your help

Anytime, and welcome to the forum, and the chance to experience ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’!
Try to keep the addiction under control,LOL.

[IvanBvB]

So I called this dude at an reputable BMW auto workshop and asked for a quote for installing springs, shocks, and struts.
we had a conversation and suggested to add all this maintenance work, like a list of things and said $900 bucks?Deal or no, just go with the springs shocks and struts?

[bluptgm3]

What is you "laundry list"? Probably a bunch of bushings? Some are most likely due.
All of this work is easy DIY.


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[IvanBvB]

�� LoL

[chris335i]

We recommend that you look for fully-assembled, 100% complete suspension kits that replace not only your shocks and springs, but every other wear and tear part so that you "do it once, do it right". On install, you will find that your strut mounts, spring pads, bumpstops, etc are all rusted/rotted/worn out. Plus, when its assembled, you do not need to bother with spring compressors and special tools. Here is an e36 kit for example:

E36 B4.jpg

Best regrds, Chris
www.strutmonkey.com