Drop hat? Looking for an extra .25” drop in front

[Mackshackm3]

I know (now) , coilovers are the way to go, but I already bought and installed new shocks so here I am.

04 e46 m3 coupe


So I just installed blistein shocks and eibach springs. Not 100% sold on the look , would love an extra .50” in front and maybe .25” on rear.

- h&r sports are a good option for front (.3” lower than eibach ) but they’re actually 0.1” higher in the rear than eibach (what are your thoughts on running h&r fronts and just leaving the eibachs in the back)

-any other spring options between h&r and tein s (tein s will me too much of a drop for me)

-I’m running oem pads and perches, is there anything thinner than oem ? Remove them?

- are there any other model/year front mounts I could run that would lower car? How about drop hats? Not sure where to get them , no luck finding e46 m3 drop hats ( in all fairness I just learned about these….didnt know they were a thing and actually made them)

[fattycharged]

TMS plates may be a bit shorter than stock


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[jayjaya29]

https://groundcontrolstore.com/collections/e46-m3-camber-plates/products/e46-m3-lowering-camber-plate-street-pair

[PetrolM3]

https://groundcontrolstore.com/colle...te-street-pair

These will clunk so badly that you'll regret your decision if you get them. If your car is OEM in terms of NVH, I'd stay away from these. I'd also avoid 'removing' any components if NVH is a concern. Nobody likes to drive a car that clunks non-stop. Makes it sounds like it's ready for a junk yard.

If you got the B6 struts and new Eibach springs, they will settle over a few months, probably about 1/2" or so.

If you're still bothered by the front being slightly higher (which is factory configuration BTW and meant to be that way), you can always pull the pin on your OEM strut mounts and move them all the way in (towards the engine) for a bit more negative camber. That will make it 'look' lower in the front and might be perfect for what you're looking to achieve. If you do this, make sure to get an alignment as your toe settings will also change and will cause improper tire wear.

I had this exact set-up (B6 struts, Eibach springs, OE strut mounts) and with the camber mod mentioned above, the wheel gap was perfect IMO.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/188896-individual-petrol-blue-ecru-amateur-photoshoot

[01SG]

These will clunk so badly that you'll regret your decision if you get them. If your car is OEM in terms of NVH, I'd stay away from these. I'd also avoid 'removing' any components if NVH is a concern. Nobody likes to drive a car that clunks non-stop. Makes it sounds like it's ready for a junk yard.

I've got GC street plates and they still don't clunk after about two years. Not sure how different the sport plates will be. NVH is fine, possibly a little worse than stock, only time the car isn't comfortable is sharp low speed bumps, which is like the stock car anyway. My CDs skip the same amount.

Lowering springs are bad for ride and handling. Apparently Bilstein's especially don't work with any lowering. I have them on stock springs with the GC plates and enjoy it. It looks stock, which I personally prefer over the stance look.

[PetrolM3]

I've got GC street plates and they still don't clunk after about two years. Not sure how different the sport plates will be. NVH is fine, possibly a little worse than stock, only time the car isn't comfortable is sharp low speed bumps, which is like the stock car anyway. My CDs skip the same amount.

Lowering springs are bad for ride and handling. Apparently Bilstein's especially don't work with any lowering. I have them on stock springs with the GC plates and enjoy it. It looks stock, which I personally prefer over the stance look.

You're one of the rare members who hasn't experienced the clunking. Here's a recent thread on this - see posts #35 and 63.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/184872-strut-mount-and-camber-plate-comparison

[01SG]

You're one of the rare members who hasn't experienced the clunking. Here's a recent thread on this - see posts #35 and 63.

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...ate-comparison

I wonder if it's the lowering and/or different springs that cause it. Most probably aren't using them on stock springs like myself.

[Tbonem3]

Assemblies like front plates make noise because they're not installed correctly and/or not torqued correctly at the end. These lowering or street plates don't use a spherical bearing, so noise should not be a normal issue, but an issue of improper install as I said.

[PetrolM3]

Assemblies like front plates make noise because they're not installed correctly and/or not torqued correctly at the end. These lowering or street plates don't use a spherical bearing, so noise should not be a normal issue, but an issue of improper install as I said.

I strongly disagree. I've replaced suspension on an E46 several times including two different sets of brand new GC street plates. Both clunked. I'm just an amateur tho so here's a quote from an avid mechanic and shop owner, George Hill from the thread I linked earlier:

"I've installed GCs on a few cars and not everyone makes noise, but of all the cars I've installed camber plates onto its the GC ones that make noise... and primarily its popping with low speed turns. We generally don't install GCs anymore.

Right now we put:
-Vorshlag on track focused cars.
-TMS on street cars that need more camber OR planning for the future/don't want to buy stock when you can buy these at a similar price.
-Stock on "OE" cars."

Are you stating that he and I both installed each set wrong?

[PetrolM3]

I wonder if it's the lowering and/or different springs that cause it. Most probably aren't using them on stock springs like myself.

Could be. Either way, where there's smoke - there's fire. Hence most of those who had the clunking including myself no longer use them.

[oceansize]

I strongly disagree. I've replaced suspension on an E46 several times including two different sets of brand new GC street plates. Both clunked. I'm just an amateur tho so here's a quote from an avid mechanic and shop owner, George Hill from the thread I linked earlier:

"I've installed GCs on a few cars and not everyone makes noise, but of all the cars I've installed camber plates onto its the GC ones that make noise... and primarily its popping with low speed turns. We generally don't install GCs anymore.

Right now we put:
-Vorshlag on track focused cars.
-TMS on street cars that need more camber OR planning for the future/don't want to buy stock when you can buy these at a similar price.
-Stock on "OE" cars."

Are you stating that he and I both installed each set wrong?

I'm one who doesn't have an issue with my GC streets (with GC coilovers), but I completely trust George. Something did occur to me, I have strut tower reinforcement plates, do you?

[PetrolM3]

I'm one who doesn't have an issue with my GC streets (with GC coilovers), but I completely trust George. Something did occur to me, I have strut tower reinforcement plates, do you?

I also had the reinforcement plates but my set-up was with B6/Eibach combo. Everything else was stock and checked about 10 times for proper installation, etc. Second set of brand new GC street plates, B6 struts and Eibach springs (all new parts) resulted in same low-speed clunking. Installed OEM strut mounts - clunking gone instantly.