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Thread: E31 coil over suspension

  1. #1
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    E31-E24

    E31 coil over suspension

    Hello , im looking for coil overs for my E31 1994 840ci does anybody had this installed on this kind of cars i only see springs and air suspension thanks!

  2. #2
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    11/88 E32 750iL
    Moved to E31 sub forum
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
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    Had a 1991 BMW 850

    Coil Overs

    Quote Originally Posted by Switches View Post
    Hello , im looking for coil overs for my E31 1994 840ci does anybody had this installed on this kind of cars i only see springs and air suspension thanks!
    r

    https://geckoracingusa.com/products/...9-bmw-8-series

    No Idea on how well they work

    You cannot do coilovers in the rear. In fact you should inspect your rear shock mounts in the trunk for cracks and tears

    Other than the custom air guys almost everyone else achieves the ride height they want with springs

  4. #4
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    1999 840Ci Sport Indvidu
    Just got done installing the KW rear "coil overs" not exactly coil over damper in the traditional sense but with all the same benefits and adjustability. Very nice so far, enabled me to actually raise the ride height slightly over the old Eibach springs to better balance the front setup (Eibach over Bilstien paired with camber plates)

    Only issue I have now is one of the OEM top mounts creaks on acceleration! So trying to find an alternative. Dose anyone know if the E46 mount holes are in the same position as the E31? I found Powerflex do a poly replacement. https://www.hackengineering.co.uk/pr...36-e46-inc-m3/

    5D303BD0-B611-4C29-8DA5-578A949C5A8B.jpg

  5. #5
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    CSi#18, Tesla Model Y
    If your top mount is creaking, be sure to CLOSELY inspect the rear upper shock mounts. Not the piece on top of the shock that goes into place with the 2 bolts, but the body structure itself. Anytime the suspension is modified, and firmed up, that upper structure experiences increased stress. Cracking and breaks do happen!
    Last edited by rogbmw; 08-01-2022 at 03:17 PM.
    CSi #18 - 1994 Car & Driver Magazine featured test car
    --- Hellrot/Black-Gray (1 of 1 NA CSi color combination)
    BMWCCA E31 Chapter International Clubs Liaison
    North America Representative, 8er.or Board of Directors




  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by rogbmw View Post
    If your top mount is creaking, be sure to CLOSELY inspect the rear upper shock mounts. Not the piece on top of the shock that goes into place with the 2 bolts, but the body structure itself. Anytime the suspension is modified, and firmed up, that upper structure experiences increased stress. Cracking and breaks to happen!
    Thanks, It's definitely a rubber creak/squeak, body is solid plus I've been running Gerrys reinforcement plates for the last 9+ years. Also noticed Power flex offer the top-mounts for the Z4. Anybody with a E30/E36/E46/E85/E86 handy care to measure the distance between the two mounting bolts for us?

  7. #7
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    E31-E24
    Good info there bro thank you very much !!

  8. #8
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    Z4M Coupe 850e31 540e39
    Recently installed a Ceika kit on my car haven't driven it yet (ongoing larger project) but installing it was reasonably easy, a bit of welding needed but nothing complicated. My "sport" setup seems very stiff more like a race setup (which I don't mind), the adjustment possibility are excellent in the front and reasonable in the rear, but they have options for custom spring loads and such. Mostly bought them since they where the only supplier that actually had a set someone else had used for a e31 that I could find.

    Reinforcing the rear top mounts seems a must since mine where worn out merely by normal suspension and possibly a bit too heavy wheels of the previous owner.
    Last edited by exalted; 07-31-2022 at 08:14 AM.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by exalted View Post
    Recently installed a Ceika kit on my car haven't driven it yet (ongoing larger project) but installing it was reasonably easy, a bit of welding needed but nothing complicated. My "sport" setup seems very stiff more like a race setup (which I don't mind), the adjustment possibility are excellent in the front and reasonable in the rear, but they have options for custom spring loads and such. Mostly bought them since they where the only supplier that actually had a set someone else had used for a e31 that I could find.

    Reinforcing the rear top mounts seems a must since mine where worn out merely by normal suspension and possibly a bit too heavy wheels of the previous owner.
    I’m having trouble with my Install right now, can I pick your brain with the install process ?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Trystan850i View Post
    I’m having trouble with my Install right now, can I pick your brain with the install process ?
    Sure ask away.

  11. #11
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    '03 540iA, '91 850i
    I've just found out about CEIKA. I am curious about the welding that is needed, how the ride feels, ease or difficulty of install, etc. I'm just going for comfort ride and rubber upper mounts.

    CEIKA Custom Coilovers for BMW 8 Series E31 (89~99) - Ceika Performance (ceika-store.com)
    '91 850i 6sp CB42360
    '97 840Ci CC31263
    '00 528iA sold
    '01 740iA Msport sold
    '01 540iA sold
    '03 540iA M-sport II with e46 m3 SMG style steering wheel with working paddle shifters, Bilstein B8/Eibach sport, Hella euro spec headlights, M5 aftermarket (Umnitza) foldable mirrors (painted body color), M60 IM (custom painted body color 354), powder coated valve covers (@Finish Logic; Concord,CA), Dynavin N7, Bavsound speakers, Cerwin-Vega sub (in spare wheel hub), soundproofed doors, trunk, under rear seat, wheel wells
    '15 X5 x35d M-sport

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by 01BMWs View Post
    I've just found out about CEIKA. I am curious about the welding that is needed, how the ride feels, ease or difficulty of install, etc. I'm just going for comfort ride and rubber upper mounts.

    CEIKA Custom Coilovers for BMW 8 Series E31 (89~99) - Ceika Performance (ceika-store.com)
    I've only ridden it around the yard, the project isn't done yet so can't say anything about the road. But my impression is that their sport with camber plates is a very stiff suspension, more of a race suspension.

    Except for the welding its basically plug and play, but my car came with a bilstein suspension so it might differ from BMW original but I don't think so from experience with other BMW's of the same vintage.

    For the welding we cut the original front struts so that the new + old piece (bottom piece of the old strut) was roughly the same total length as the old strut. Then welded the new struts (it inserts fine to the old part so easy to do) to the old part. It was maybe a half hour job.
    Last edited by exalted; 06-13-2024 at 05:37 AM.

  13. #13
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    850Ci, M5, Model-S P85D
    I always wonder from a vehicle suspension dynamics perspective, what is anticipated from a "Coilover" installation.
    The front suspension is already coilover.
    The rear suspension has the shocks as far-out on the suspension arm as reasonable, however, at the wheel carrier would place the bottom shock mount another 2" out, but at the disadvantage if increasing the shock angle.
    Where the rear spring is located is of little consequence, as the sprung weight and wheel rate are not affected. Hence, no performance advantage.

    Building a track car and allow spring rate stager?
    The E31 is an complex/expensive chassis for the track and spring stagger (wedge) is for oval track only.

    Adjustable ride height?
    IMHO, once the dynamics of the suspension geometry are calculated the last thing you want is to adjust and/or reduce the already limited suspension travel for a lower ride height
    The suspension geometry, spring rate and travel will dictate and define the lowest allowable stationary vehicle ride height.

    The E31, M8 Prototype had a rear coilover setup but that doesn't help anyone that owns an E31.
    Just wondering...
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by m6bigdog; 06-16-2024 at 10:42 AM.

    BMWCCA E31 Chapter:
    https://bmwccae31.com/


    850/M73 Sport Drive (1st Gear) 5-Speed Control Module:
    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...DONE-Wonderful

  14. #14
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    Z4M Coupe 850e31 540e39
    The BMW suspension for the 850 was very clearly made for comfort on long drives at high speed, a different setup can be better for other purposes.

    Personally it is a combination of cost a new CSI/M-spec setup is absurdly expensive, being able to adjust preferably stiffness and height, and ability to spec what kind of suspension you want from springs, to camberplates etc. Basically its making a car more of a sport-race car...anything else is probably better of with the regular setup.

    Also most "coilover" including the Ceika ones for the E31 and similiar cars actually aren't real coil overs in the rear keeping the spring in position but adding height adjustments.

    My experience from "coilover" like installation on a number of different BMWs is that they usually get a lot better on a track or curvy road at speed, with possible costs of being way too stiff for bumpy roads and sometimes eating tires way too quickly.

    Personally I do more curvy roads at slightly too high speed than autoban and have the intention to do trackdays and possibly autocrosses with my car.
    Last edited by exalted; 06-16-2024 at 12:07 PM.

  15. #15
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    850Ci, Excursion
    Doing autox or track days in this big 2 ton+ barge sounds awful. To each their own I guess...

  16. #16
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    Z4M Coupe 850e31 540e39
    Not all E31 remains at 2 tons nor at original hp. It will be fun.

  17. #17
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    1991 E31 2002 Toyota Seq
    Quote Originally Posted by Xpressions View Post
    Just got done installing the KW rear "coil overs" not exactly coil over damper in the traditional sense but with all the same benefits and adjustability. Very nice so far, enabled me to actually raise the ride height slightly over the old Eibach springs to better balance the front setup (Eibach over Bilstien paired with camber plates)

    Only issue I have now is one of the OEM top mounts creaks on acceleration! So trying to find an alternative. Dose anyone know if the E46 mount holes are in the same position as the E31? I found Powerflex do a poly replacement. https://www.hackengineering.co.uk/pr...36-e46-inc-m3/

    5D303BD0-B611-4C29-8DA5-578A949C5A8B.jpg
    CEIKA has awesome coilovers for e31. My fronts adjust both height quality.and spring rate. The rears are shorter spring and a healthy gas charged shock.
    They don't sell complete front coilovers for e31. You must cut down strut tube and weld on new coilover to the cut tube. Besides that they are good

  18. #18
    Join Date
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    1991 E31 2002 Toyota Seq
    Myself with my last e31, one of my rear shocks ble we out meaning it lost it's resistance and the car handled like crap! Dangerous even.
    I looked around but couldn't find any replacement rear shocks except some mfgr. Telling me they only make a batch of so many each year because there's really no market for them besides people like us.
    I'm currentl installing my Ceika rear springs and adjustable shocks. There's this weird aluminum looking cap that looks like a hat with threads on the bottom just like the regular adjustable strut but I just can't seem to figure where the hell it goes being that the strut is complete from the mount on the top on in the trunk to the bolt going through the rear suspension.t I'm lost.

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