Blown swapped M3 struts. Front replacement advice

[buzzboy]

My e36/5 has the mixed setup of Koni Yellows with eibach springs on the rear and unknown Bilsteins with unknown springs on the front. It sits a smidge lower than I'd like and the springs are a tad softer than I'd like but that's not why I'm here today.

My struts are blown. I'm trying to figure out what the best choice is here. I've thought about Sachs stock replacements, but I know some stock struts don't like lowering springs. I've thought about new Billsteins but most of them I find come with springs and I don't want to gamble on ride height. There are cheap Coilovers(Maxpeed etc), where a set of four is less than the cost of new Bilsteins, but none seem to say they are M3 compatible and all mention huge drops. Koni inserts look nice, but I'm not sure they would work with aftermarket struts.

I'm looking for a decent street setup that won't completely break the bank. Higher end front only? Roll the dice on Sachs with lowering springs? Burn the car to the ground and start over? Weld em up solid and rattle my teeth out?

WWBFCD?

[bluptgm3]

I’m running E36M3 Koni Single Adj. on H&R OE Sports and another on E36M3 Bilstein Sports on Dinan, one on E36M3 Koni Single Adj. on OE springs.

While I really am comfortable with the OE “roll”, I really like the ride quality and the modest drop of the other two set-ups also.

Can’t get quality something for nothing.


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[buzzboy]

The Koni's look nice but I can't find them as struts, only as inserts.

[scooper]

Koni makes strt which are non adjustable and also inserts. You can find some stock struts and mod them to accept the inserts. Pair with Eibach springs or HR OE, Dinan, or even stock M3 springs. Nice compact you have there!

[buzzboy]

I'm about to put the car away for winter and I'm hoping to get this done before then. Finding stock M3 struts then modding them would be fine, but I'm not sure I have the time.

The STR.T struts don't appear to come in an M3 variety.

Thanks! I need a new photo for the sig though as she's changed, if only a little

[XnWarden]

Bf.c user 6 66 sells m3 strut housings. Check thru the suspension classifieds for his post

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[66 6]

Thanks Warden,

I do have a set of blown housing left. And as funny as it sounds I just pulled the trigger on a pair of Koni inserts yesterday for my daily.

[Eric93se]

You want the sport version were the piston is shorter.

[Eric93se]

Give these a try, sell your old springs for $50 to recoup a bit. Auction ends soon:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-E36...t/153209608514

[M3AN]

...I've thought about new Billsteins but most of them I find come with springs and I don't want to gamble on ride height...

Billies are available without springs:

Bilstein B6 (for standard springs)
Bilstein B8 (for lowering springs)