US vs Euro E36 M3 suspension difference

[Green95M3]

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I haven't pressed out the old upper ball joints yet, but the new Lemforder 33326775551 ball joints are the same width (within .2 mm) as the installed joints. Given that most people doing this upgrade are using Lemforder joints, I'm probably good to go.

Of course, I'll find out for sure when everything is reassembled.

[blckstrm]

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I haven't pressed out the old upper ball joints yet, but the new Lemforder 33326775551 ball joints are the same width (within .2 mm) as the installed joints. Given that most people doing this upgrade are using Lemforder joints, I'm probably good to go.

Of course, I'll find out for sure when everything is reassembled.

I don't remember which part number I used when I did this last year (and sorry - to lazy to look it up), but all 4 were the same.

[bluptgm3]

The euro cars ALWAYS have slightly stiffer suspension, pick any Euro BMW, it has nothing to do with weight it has to do with the speed they run on the autobahn.... If it was JUST a weight issue the rear springs would be the same and they are not they are also stiffer and slightly lower since they do not have the same bumper height laws as we do. The LTW used the euro springs and luckily it raised the nose of the car just enough to meet US bumper height laws... They put thicker spring pads in the rear of the LTW to get the rear to US height WHICH is why you can buy a 20mm OEM BMW rear spring pad...

Found these for stock E36 M3 springs related to rate markings on springs and which chassis configuration got what.

Red - soft
Green - medium
Blue - hard
Pink - hardest

BMW E36 M3 Coupes and Sedans with a Manual transmission - 96-99 only
Front:
31 33 2 228 170 (yellow)
31 33 2 228 171 (red) (with headlight cleaning and electric seats etc..)
31 33 2 228 172 (blue) (Euro or LTW)
Rear:
33 53 9 069 132 (green)
33 53 9 069 133 (blue)

BMW E36 M3 Coupes and Sedans with an Automatic transmission - 96-99 only
Front:
31 33 2 228 172 (blue) (Euro or LTW)
Rear:
33 53 9 069 132 (green)
33 53 9 069 133 (blue)

BMW E36 M3 Convertibles with a Manual transmission
Front:
31 33 2 228 176
31 33 2 228 177 (pink) (with headlight cleaning and electric seats etc..)
Rear:
33 53 9 069 756
33 53 9 069 757 (pink) (with headlight cleaning and electric seats etc..)

BMW E36 M3 Convertibles with an Automatic transmission
Front:
31 33 2 228 177 (pink)
Rear:
33 53 9 069 757 (pink)

Can anyone confirm/add to this list?
[i]edit[/]
BMW E36 M3 - 1995
5-speed, manual seats, sunroof
Front:
31 33 2 228 177 (pink)
Rear:
33 53 9 069 757 (pink)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[daytonabitch]

My 95 M3 coupe has pink springs

[bluptgm3]

My 95 M3 coupe has pink springs

Auto or manual transmission?
Power or manual seats? Sunroof?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[daytonabitch]

manual tranny, manual 51-way seats, has sunroof.

[LuvMy328is]

Posted to wrong thread, sorry.

[daytonabitch]

In case anyone out there his still paying attention ...
I'm replacing the upper outer control-arm ball-joints on my 1995 M3 and I have the BavAuto press-tool set, but I find that I can't get the new b-j fully centred in the RTA lug because the cup at the receiving end slightly overlaps the hole in the lug, and stops the b-j from coming any further once the edge of the b-j outer race is flush with the face of the lug. Any thoughts? And does it matter? The difference is only about 0.5 mm and the pressed-tin clevis on the control arm seems able to accommodate the slight offset.

[bluptgm3]

Whoever looked all those part numbers up must be pretty bored... ALL that information is on here somewhere and has been for literally YEARS...

The only change in the rear arms was the inclusion of the lower ball joint not rubber. They changed the assembly part number because of that not because they changed the arm. I have had both arms side by side they are literally identical.

I do this stuff for a living and have been playing with the E36 since it was new....

It appears that the RTAs changed part number to support a change in track or width of the rear suspension. Actual geometric changes to the RTAs, to support the change to 8 1/2” wide wheels and 245/40 tires from 7 1/2” wheels with 235/40 tires.