Questions finalizing suspension refresh

[bmwfnatic]

I agree with the first part, but not the second. I think the ride quality is perfectly comfortable, and the limitations of the kit are only noticeable over significant bumps.

Coming from my completely stock e36, for comparison, I do not find the 46 to be harsh...until you run out of travel. It rides great under normal circumstances.

Although, I do have 17 inch rims. I could see it being a different story on stock 19s.

My experience with them was on 18s.

I don't think we are in disagreement, I just didn't word it very clearly.
Under normal circumstances they are fine comfort wise.

Speed bumps are kinda insane in my country, both in size and frequency.
So the uncomfortable part I was referring to was limited to my experience with speed bumps, not the ride all together.

[01SG]

Got you, I back your assessment then.

[maw1124]

One question I have here, as I’m in more or less the same position as OP and considering B6 for the front, is do I really need camber plates? I’m looking for a bit more stiffness up front with stock ride height.

I have Koni adjustable Yellows up front on another car and like them, but have been told (like here) that Konis are now trash and B6 are better. But the camber plate suggestion is throwing me.

Rears have already been replaced with stock, to great effect. Car is on stock 19s, moving to 235/265 at the same time, with a Hotchkis front bar. Car is in the south with smooth roads, good weather, but hasn’t always been. Previous owner was in MD, PA. Coming up on 90k miles.

Thanks Fellas,

maw

[FBloggs]

The Bilstein B8s have a shorter housing so they're designed for lowering springs. I would go with those. And also do solid rear subframe bushings.

Bilstein don't market the B8 for the E46M3.

Having said that, I recently got fed up with faffing about with the Koni rears, unable to find the sweet spot.
So I bought a pair of E36 M3/E46 vanilla Bilstein B8 and am testing them over the winter.
The bumpstop/supplemental dampers are supplied with the B8.
Best of all the bumpstops are 1/4" shorter than the factory E46 M3 bump stops.
I really like the damping...just as good as the Koni at 1 3/4 turns to stiff, but more supple on gradual compressions and responsive on sharp ones.
one can discern that extra suspension travel.
No loss in agility as opposed to the rear konis on softer settings.
My application is street only.
There is a little more transmission of NVH through the RE monoball RSM s, but bilstein are coarser than Koni in my experience.
They don't seem to be affected by added cargo in the trunk.
I retained and like the koni at the front axle.

[01SG]

There is nothing wrong with Koni, except those horrible compress to adjust mechanisms on the cheap shocks.

The Bilstein ought to be okay at stock height, although they already have less travel than the other options. There is also the unresolved debate about whether they raise the car and will leave an unacceptable wheel gap.

I liked them with stock springs, but I did not keep it that way long enough to really make a solid conclusion. Had to lower the car after subframe reinforcement raised the rear end.

I will also make an addendum to my previous position. With an inch of lowering, they ride nice in most situations. But this is highly relative. Around town, with the smoothly paved roads, it is delightful. However, after a hard drive through the less maintained back roads, I found the car bouncy and difficult. So, I am going to see if the restored travel from camber plates will resolve that.

[K-Dawg]

One question I have here, as I’m in more or less the same position as OP and considering B6 for the front, is do I really need camber plates? I’m looking for a bit more stiffness up front with stock ride height.

I have Koni adjustable Yellows up front on another car and like them, but have been told (like here) that Konis are now trash and B6 are better. But the camber plate suggestion is throwing me.

Rears have already been replaced with stock, to great effect. Car is on stock 19s, moving to 235/265 at the same time, with a Hotchkis front bar. Car is in the south with smooth roads, good weather, but hasn’t always been. Previous owner was in MD, PA. Coming up on 90k miles.

Thanks Fellas,

maw

Either Koni or Bilstein B6 would be fine with stock springs and stock strut mounts, as that is what they are designed for.

If you curently have original 90k mile struts on the front, and have already replaced the rear shocks with new OEM, you would probably be good with OEM Sachs (or Bilstein B4) on the front.

[01SG]

Here's an update for anyone interested. Finally got around to installing GC street plates on my car with B6/Vogtland springs. What a difference. I know plates are supposed to add NVH, but they make the lowered B6 a hundred percent smoother in all situations.

After ten hours on the highway across several states and plenty of backroad time, I have not had it bottom out once. There was a particular bridge expansion joint I used to have to slow down to 20 mph for. Now it soaks it up at 40 no problem-just like my fully stock e36 m3. The e46 rides about as well as the e36 now. That is also due to my 17in rims, but it is still a remarkable transformation. The car was good on smooth roads before. It is unflappable in every circumstance now.

I can recommend the GC street plates so far. They make no noises at all. I was a bit worried seeing all the old e9x horror stories, but the installation was trouble free. They are also very easy to adjust.

[Tbonem3]

I wouldn't expect the rubber bushes GC street plate to add NVH. People are probably referring to a hybrid plate or race plate.

Nice to hear your experience. Both of my Ms (e46/e90) with bilstein (b6/b8) and lowering springs ride great, once I reduced the mount thickness/raise the mounting point/travel.

[fattycharged]

Here's an update for anyone interested. Finally got around to installing GC street plates on my car with B6/Vogtland springs. What a difference. I know plates are supposed to add NVH, but they make the lowered B6 a hundred percent smoother in all situations.

After ten hours on the highway across several states and plenty of backroad time, I have not had it bottom out once. There was a particular bridge expansion joint I used to have to slow down to 20 mph for. Now it soaks it up at 40 no problem-just like my fully stock e36 m3. The e46 rides about as well as the e36 now. That is also due to my 17in rims, but it is still a remarkable transformation. The car was good on smooth roads before. It is unflappable in every circumstance now.

I can recommend the GC street plates so far. They make no noises at all. I was a bit worried seeing all the old e9x horror stories, but the installation was trouble free. They are also very easy to adjust.

If you didn't already…grab a set of the BMW reinforcement plates and installed them between GC plates and the tower


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[oceansize]

If you didn't already…grab a set of the BMW reinforcement plates and installed them between GC plates and the tower


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Yep. I did this but be aware you won’t have many threads to screw on the lock nut but doesn’t seem to be an issue.

[Phoenix///M3]

Timely bump on this post as I drove the M3 for the first time in a while this week and commented to myself how great it rides and handles in all situations especially on the bumby, winding, back country road to my home. It soaks up the bumps but is always tight and ready to carve a corner with good feel.

I'm on Koni Yellows, Eibachs and GC street plates. Never heard a peep from the latter.


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[01SG]

I have always had the reinforcement plates. There was no problem with having enough threads. Looks like there is still enough for a strut brace too.

[Obioban]

I wouldn't run the bilsteins if lowering the car at all. The bump travel regaining is necessary to have them function properly at stock ride height. Not really anything to be done to get them to function properly lowered.

At stock ride height, the Konis are better than stock and easier than bilsteins. If you do the bump correction, the bilsteins are better than the Konis.

With any drop, I'd only consider the Konis.

[01SG]

I'm lowered by 3/4 of an inch and the car rides and handles similarly to my stock e36.

If they are not bottoming out, what else is problematic about them?

[Obioban]

I'm lowered by 3/4 of an inch and the car rides and handles similarly to my stock e36.

If they are not bottoming out, what else is problematic about them?

They’re in the bump stops when parked, or the bump stops are trimmed down enough to not really be effective.