OEM coil spring issue

[Nova1]

I’m just wrapping up a major service on my car that saw just about every bushing and suspension component returned to stock. I have new Sachs shocks front and rear and new BMW coil springs. The front coils that I ordered were part number 8170, 4 yellow paintings on each rise, the rear are 4 blue per rise. As far as I can tell, the installation is correct. Pads are new, top mounts new, everything. The first time I went to drop the car to settle the front end stayed way high, easily 4” of wheel well space. I thought maybe I wasn’t quick enough in installing the FCAB and perhaps the bushing was preventing the settling of the car. I removed the bushings, took care to install within 15 minutes of placement using dish soap, and voila still setting way high in the front. The rear looks great, but there’s no amount of “settling” that will have me back to Bentley quoted ride height in the front.
The sticker on the spring says 8170, but Printed on the spring is a different part number 2228221. I have to think these are the wrong springs. The 4 hashes are throwing me a curveball here too. Need the pros help.

[golgo13]

IIRC springs take some time to settle and will eventually reach their "natural" height

YMMV

[Nova1]

I don’t know man. The rear, sure. The front, I don’t see it. I should mention I have not torqued the sway bars or inner rear control arms. I also haven’t driven the car.

[NoLastName]

Have you rolled the car forwards and backwards or you just set it down onto the ramps? If you only set it on the ramps the suspension will be bound up and unable to compress. The control arms move in an arc that takes the front wheels outward from where they start in the full droop position. Try putting it on the ground and moving it so the control arms can settle.

[bmwstephen]

did you have factory springs before? how come you are not using them as reference?

[Nova1]

Have you rolled the car forwards and backwards or you just set it down onto the ramps? If you only set it on the ramps the suspension will be bound up and unable to compress. The control arms move in an arc that takes the front wheels outward from where they start in the full droop position. Try putting it on the ground and moving it so the control arms can settle.

Will do. I dropped it on ramps so I could torque down all those other components. I’ll put the exhaust on and take for a spin to to test.

- - - Updated - - -

did you have factory springs before? how come you are not using them as reference?

Negative. Gray H&R coil springs with Koni inserts. I THINK they were OE sport or something like that.

[Jim E.]

E36 M3 96-99	Coil Springs
Front Axle	Rear Axle
31 33 2 228 170 (yellow stripes)	33 53 9 069 132 (can't remember the color)
31 33 2 228 171 (red stripes)	33 53 9 069 133 (blue stripes) (likely euro only)
31 33 2 228 172 (blue stripes) (euro only)

For 96+ M3s, the springs depend on what options the car has. Unlike the 3.0 cars which only have several part numbers. US 3.0 cars have US only specific part numbers.

It appears you have the correct part number and color coding for the front. I cannot locate a part number 2 228 221 which might mean it is a manufacturer's internal number only.

What part number did you get for the rear?

[golgo13]

I don’t know man. The rear, sure. The front, I don’t see it. I should mention I have not torqued the sway bars or inner rear control arms. I also haven’t driven the car.

That does sit pretty high.... BUT the car on OEM springs always look super high to me as well so...

[bluptgm3]

I recall my OE springs having at least two (2) more coil wraps or turns. I am guessing that that is a tall very stiff spring, judging from the few number of wraps/turns/coils.

My 04/1999 M3 with Stock springs on Koni inserts is ~23 7/8” as measured per Bentley



My wife’s 1998 Sedan with H&R OE Sports on Konis ~ 21 1/2”

Both vehicles are on uneven pavement, the dimensions are average of both sides.
Sorry, the placement of the tape for photos is rushed.


With a given wire diameter and relative height - fewer coils creates a stiffer spring, lots of coils make a softer more compressible spring

[Nova1]

So I torqued up the control arms and sway bars, brought down the car and drove for about 5 minutes. I have next to no gas in the car and no muffler and I’m measuring at 25.5” in the front. I could see maybe a half inch change at full capacity but this baby is lifted on these springs. These are not the solution.

Jim I have the blue striped 9133 in the rear. Sits beautifully. Exactly what I expected.

[golgo13]

Wild.

[bluptgm3]

Weird…..I have a set of 328 Sedan springs with yellow striping on the front coils.
I was doing a ‘hat’ or upper spring perch study, as the 1995M3 ‘hat’ is expensive.



And a 1995M3 ‘hat’ kinda fits the 328 upr spring winding




As does the E30 ‘hat’

[Nova1]

So I went ahead and purchased some used 1995 M3 springs F/R. I have upper spring perches from the 1995’s that I used with my H&R springs. I’m going to give that a shot and will report back.

Sadly I sold my springs years ago so just not an option. Keep those old springs if you still have them!

[bmwstephen]

E90 aluminum perches work with 95 springs. I run them and it offers 0.40 inch drop in the front (old e30 trick)

[Nova1]

E90 aluminum perches work with 95 springs. I run them and it offers 0.40 inch drop in the front (old e30 trick)

Wow! Never knew, thanks for the tip.

[bluptgm3]

E90 aluminum perches work with 95 springs. I run them and it offers 0.40 inch drop in the front (old e30 trick)

Yes the E90 ‘hat’ fits the E30, E36, and 1995 E36M3 front OE (OE configured) springs.

E36M3 H&R OE Sport springs configured for the 1995M3 ‘hat’ per H&R - Are to be used on the 1996+M3 w/1995M3 ‘hat’. The E90 ‘hat’ fits these springs, however will likely contact the support ribs on the bottom side of the 1996+M3 Guide Support/Strut Mount. The 1995M3 Guide Supports must offer better clearance.

[themadrussian]

I’m just wrapping up a major service on my car that saw just about every bushing and suspension component returned to stock. I have new Sachs shocks front and rear and new BMW coil springs. The front coils that I ordered were part number 8170, 4 yellow paintings on each rise, the rear are 4 blue per rise. As far as I can tell, the installation is correct. Pads are new, top mounts new, everything. The first time I went to drop the car to settle the front end stayed way high, easily 4” of wheel well space. I thought maybe I wasn’t quick enough in installing the FCAB and perhaps the bushing was preventing the settling of the car. I removed the bushings, took care to install within 15 minutes of placement using dish soap, and voila still setting way high in the front. The rear looks great, but there’s no amount of “settling” that will have me back to Bentley quoted ride height in the front.
The sticker on the spring says 8170, but Printed on the spring is a different part number 2228221. I have to think these are the wrong springs. The 4 hashes are throwing me a curveball here too. Need the pros help.

E36 M3 96-99	Coil Springs
Front Axle	Rear Axle
31 33 2 228 170 (yellow stripes)	33 53 9 069 132 (can't remember the color)
31 33 2 228 171 (red stripes)	33 53 9 069 133 (blue stripes) (likely euro only)
31 33 2 228 172 (blue stripes) (euro only)

For 96+ M3s, the springs depend on what options the car has. Unlike the 3.0 cars which only have several part numbers. US 3.0 cars have US only specific part numbers.

It appears you have the correct part number and color coding for the front. I cannot locate a part number 2 228 221 which might mean it is a manufacturer's internal number only.

What part number did you get for the rear?

I had what I think may be the same issue when I replaced my OE springs/struts with a new set back in 2018. I ordered the 31 33 2 228 170 springs and the front sat WAY too high. I unfortunately don't have any photos, but it was comically high, like I could stick my entire fist in between the arch and the tire without any issue. Those springs were also marked 2 228 221 on the springs themselves, and had the yellow stripes, but the BMW part sticker wrapped around the spring was indeed 31 33 2 228 170. I wouldn't be surprised if we had the same issue. I never got to the bottom of it, because I ended up going to a coilover suspension, but there is just no way that this is the right part. Shrug.

[Nova1]

I had what I think may be the same issue when I replaced my OE springs/struts with a new set back in 2018. I ordered the 31 33 2 228 170 springs and the front sat WAY too high. I unfortunately don't have any photos, but it was comically high, like I could stick my entire first in between the arch and the tire without any issue. Those springs were also marked 2 228 221 on the springs themselves, and had the yellow stripes, but the BMW part sticker wrapped around the spring was indeed 31 33 2 228 170. I wouldn't be surprised if we had the same issue. I never got to the bottom of it, because I ended up going to a coilover suspension, but there is just no way that this is the right part. Shrug.

Thanks for contributing. I'm going to bring some more details to the forum here as I have them but yes, it sounds like we've experienced the same issue. I don't know where I can go with it, ECS has been responsive to the problem but who knows how well they can get through to BMW.
I've purchased some used 1995 M3 springs which I'm currently installing. I have both 95 and 96+ spring hats so I was basically looking for the freshest looking used springs regardless of year. The difference in overall spring length is easily noticed on the fronts. I will provide pictures for the forum this weekend.

[Nova1]

1995 vs new. Clear discrepancy in length. May have been the case that spring length decreased for 96 model year, I’m unsure. Certainly worth noting though.

[bluptgm3]

I am a little confused. Are the mounted springs in both images of OE springs from E36M3s as delivered from the factory?

Where does the Eibach spring come into play?

The 1996+M3 has a spring with a tighter upper winding and requires a small OD Upper Spring Perch or ‘hat’. This design change creates a slightly more stiff spring, everything else being the same - wire diameter, number of coils, and total length.
A spring of the same length with fewer coils will be more stiff than a spring of the same length with more coils.

[Nova1]

One mounted spring is a1995 factory spring. The other is a brand new OEM spring from BMW 8170 stamped by Eibach. I was surprised to see Eibach is manufacturing the factory springs now. I didn’t show it in earlier pictures as it wasn’t visible when mounted to the shock.

[Nova1]

Just an update. After installing the springs off the 1995, all else being equal, I’m down almost 2” front right and left. Left side 24 1/8, right side 23 7/8”. Again this is with an empty tank and no muffler and no weight in the car.

[Nova1]

Final update. ECS Tuning accepted the return of the newly purchased OEM front and rear springs as well as the front coil spring hats. I received quality customer service from ECS. I know they don’t have the best reputation on here but they’ve treated me well over the past few years so I stick with them.

I will be maintaining the used 1995 M3 front and rear springs as a long term option. right and left sides are just under 23 7/8” in the front with a full tank of gas, stock muffler and driver. This is on 18” wheels, which I think look totally fine on stock suspension.

I would advise those who remove their stock suspension to at least keep their springs should they elect to sell the car or plan to revert back to stock at some point.

[E36 Em Tree]

So the 96+ springs are different and you received those? I need the sparknote version haha.

I've always kept my stock suspension (or any part that still has life in it) just in case something brakes or if someone buys the car. And I guess if the purchased item doesnt fit.

[bluptgm3]

I will be maintaining the used 1995 M3 front and rear springs as a long term option. right and left sides are just under 23 7/8” in the front with a full tank of gas, stock muffler and driver. This is on 18” wheels, which I think look totally fine on stock suspension.

Ah, so this measurement will be different than that shown in the Bentley manual due to wheel diameter differences/non-factory wheels.







…. Though I am sure no one runs 15” or 16” diameter wheels on the rear of their M3