Suspension & Brakes E46M platform.

[JeremyJames]

I know that both of these topics have been beat into the forums, and to be honest, all of the information out there is almost overwhelming because there is so much. Everyone has a different goal with their car, a different budget, or a different overall intention.

I personally believe the E46M3 handles great out of the box. When it comes to doing a refresh on the cars suspension, for whatever reason you reach a decision of, since I’m spending the money, do I upgrade or stay stock? For me, my intentions are to upgrade the handling without sacrificing what she already does pretty good stock. Ultimately, I wouldn’t mind losing some of that wheel gap, but will I sacrifice the ride or the handling in doing so? I do not have the ability to go out and test drive a bunch of M3s with different suspension set up. So with all of that being said, does it sound like I want to upgrade my springs or do I need to reach out into the coil over world? I am down to spend a couple grand if it’s mind blowingly phenomenal handling as an upgrade. Other than that, I’m really just looking for the “best bang for the buck”. My M is my chosen daily driver - I do not necessarily need a full on track set up, however I would like to have a set up that is good on the streets and capable of good handling on the track too. I have a lot of knowledge in other areas of the car but when it comes to suspension, man I don’t know shit. I am looking for some guidance among my M3 brothers, and I appreciate your input more than you know!

Additionally, I park my M3 in the garage at work everyday next to a Audi R8 and a 996 Turbo. The brakes and caliper set up on the R8 is absolutely sexy. I’d certainly love to have a BBK on the M3 similar, however I know the brake bias wouldn’t even make since on the M3 too much weight to sling around for it to make sense. I understand the 996 brakes are an easy upgrade and conversion for our cars, but does it make the most since from a performance perspective? I run the style 67 rims, and to be honest I absolutely love these rims on the E46M3 with no plans of changing my wheel set up. My intentions are to run the best rated performance brakes that can fit inside of the 67s but still making since for our platform. I’m okay with spacers if needed but am I accurate to say that the 996 set up is in fact the best brake upgrade for our cars, or is it even too much? I am also looking for guidance here as well.

Thank you M3 brothers and sisters!

[JeremyJames]

It may be important to mention that as far as performance mods, karbonius CSL box with snorkel, catless headers and a tune is all she wrote. I really don’t think I have plans on doing anymore power mods in the future.

[Tbonem3]

Either spend $1k on bilstein b6s & dinan/eibachs or spend $3k+ on MCS/ohlins/FCM.

Best brakes for this car are stock.

[ridebikes]

I agree, if you're not tracking, stock brakes are best. The idea that M3s have subpar factory brakes is kind of an urban legend I'd say...they just aren't necessarily up to repeated track abuse the way other peer cars might be (mostly 911s). Just refreshing everything will make your brakes feel awesome.

As for suspension, Bilstein + Eibach is perfect - your ride may get a bit firmer, but the finer control you'll feel through the chassis is well worth it. I personally don't think street cars ever really need coilovers unless you're trying to fit big wheels or something.

You mentioned bang for the buck - you should consider 200 treadwear tires first above all if you haven't done that yet. Tires will do (way) more to change how your car drives than struts & springs. I personally like Hankook RS4s and Michelon PS4s

Edit: Going to a square Style 67 is a nice, "cheap" upgrade too. I did this and it was a worthwhile mod.

[usdmej]

You mentioned bang for the buck - you should consider 200 treadwear tires first above all if you haven't done that yet. Tires will do (way) more to change how your car drives than struts & springs.

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if OP is worried about ride quality and NVH definitely do not switch to a racy tire, there's a huge hit n ride quality and tread noise once you cross the max performance summer tire category

[ridebikes]

if OP is worried about ride quality and NVH definitely do not switch to a racy tire, there's a huge hit n ride quality and tread noise once you cross the max performance summer tire category

I was mostly cueing off his desire to have a "set up that is good on the streets and capable of good handling on the track too"

NVH is subjective, I personally don't find the car to be particularly more unpleasant when running a sticky tire 🤷

[Estoril]

Leave it stock. Pretty much most of what you wrote says you want things for their appearance - not that you are addressing any shortcoming. If you want bling calipers - then buy bling calipers for the bling.

If some day you go to the track - then wait until your hardware begins to limit you before changing anything.

[jet_dogg]

Sounds like OP isn't sure what he wants so best to stay stock if he doesn't feel like going through information rich threads.

[usdmej]

I was mostly cueing off his desire to have a "set up that is good on the streets and capable of good handling on the track too"

NVH is subjective, I personally don't find the car to be particularly more unpleasant when running a sticky tire 🤷

NVH is most definitely objective! i felt and heard so much more of the road switching from PSS to RE71Rs


OP should do a auto-x or track day bone stock, get a feel for the car, and reassess how they want to mod the car and whether or not it's all worth it

[usdmej]

If you want bling calipers - then buy bling calipers for the bling.

bbk with street pads is definitely an upgrade with no drawbacks except for the price.

you get the dopamine rush of a bling purchase, lose some unsprung weight, and no discernible loss of ride quality or day to day driveability

[cobra]

What about the PSS10? Kind of middle cost wise and is a good shock design.

[Tbonem3]

PSS10s are great, but with drawbacks. I'd do it if you get linear springs (60mm) and thinner mounts (plates like vorshlag, gc, tms). But then you're at Ohlins pricing so....

[K-Dawg]

What about the PSS10? Kind of middle cost wise and is a good shock design.

They're not flat ride and they have adjustments that most people are more likely to get wrong than right.

[JeremyJames]

I agree, if you're not tracking, stock brakes are best. The idea that M3s have subpar factory brakes is kind of an urban legend I'd say...they just aren't necessarily up to repeated track abuse the way other peer cars might be (mostly 911s). Just refreshing everything will make your brakes feel awesome.

As for suspension, Bilstein + Eibach is perfect - your ride may get a bit firmer, but the finer control you'll feel through the chassis is well worth it. I personally don't think street cars ever really need coilovers unless you're trying to fit big wheels or something.

You mentioned bang for the buck - you should consider 200 treadwear tires first above all if you haven't done that yet. Tires will do (way) more to change how your car drives than struts & springs. I personally like Hankook RS4s and Michelon PS4s

Edit: Going to a square Style 67 is a nice, "cheap" upgrade too. I did this and it was a worthwhile mod.

Great advice all around. Thank you. I currently run Michelin Pilot Super Sports, I absolutely love these tires. Do the PS4s offer something over the PSS?

Can you just slap rear 67s up front and call it a day? No other mods are needed to support the square set up properly?

[cobra]

They're not flat ride and they have adjustments that most people are more likely to get wrong than right.

Spring preload and a single adjuster? Seems pretty hard to mess up.