Most comfortable street ONLY suspension setup?

[SQ13]

My PSS10s were amazing with the included springs. Paired them with Turner street camber plates and RE rubber RSMs

[Cubieman]

It's unfortunate that the TCK's won't work with Turner plates, but the Vorshlags aren't uncomfortable to me.

I wish I would have sprung for the DA's, but so far like the SA's for my street driven car.

I just wonder if you got different spring for your current Ohlins if that might not get you where you want to be?

[LSB4Me]

It's unfortunate that the TCK's won't work with Turner plates, but the Vorshlags aren't uncomfortable to me.

I wish I would have sprung for the DA's, but so far like the SA's for my street driven car.

I just wonder if you got different spring for your current Ohlins if that might not get you where you want to be?

This is a very good suggestion. I’m running the e9x Ohlins spring up from which is 343lb (instead of the standard e46 400lb). That made for an improvement, but it’s just not acceptable for me. What was supposed to be my “go anywhere, do anything” car is now the one I avoid. My R33 GTR has found itself doing that duty.

Note: As it was described by Ohlins themselves, the gas pressure in the shocks adds a not insignificant amount of spring rate.

I have taken to adjusting the dampers each time I drive the car and simply haven’t been able to find a happy place on, admittedly, very challenging roads, so I’m throwing in the towel.

[x Spades x]

Brand new stock suspension with rubber bushings is better than everything you've listed. The proper step up from fresh stock would be Ohlin R&T... above those are MCS, JRZ, etc

[digger]

If you don't want stock wallowing behavior but good comfort then a very mild proportional spring rate increase, standard "sport" shocks E.g. Koni and standards bushes, joints, etc

It does depend on the type of roads you encounter, the ride height you want etc some things people are recommending here might work if the roads are like a billiard table.......

[enjoy_m3]

Mcs with softer spring rates feel good on my wagon but im still dialing it in. For out of the box setup, I also tried sachs performance coilovers and they rode pretty well. Your tire setup also contributes to compliance.

[Dave092]

Ive been incredibly impressed with the Bilstein PSS10's I recently installed. Much softer/more compliant than I initially anticipated. Perfect for my 99% street driven car.

[Obioban]

Lots of bad advice in this thread. I would suggest:

e46 330ci stock springs with Koni FSDs.

18" wheels (or 17s, if you can stomach it, for extra tire cushion).

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4's in stock 18" sizes (wide tires ride worse).

Stock bushings and mounts everywhere.

Will ride amazingly and be dynamically great up to ~7.5 tenths.

Koni FSDs truly ride amazingly, but you do need to get some non M stock e46 springs to run them.

[02_lsb]

Honestly, that’s probably better advice ^. Cheaper too. I can still post height numbers.

Heights are ground-to-fender arch:
F: 26”
R: 26.75”

[maw1124]

Um stock

If stock isn't comfortable and compliant, either (1) it needs to be refreshed, or (2) your roads don't permit an E46M. And I'm not being a smart ass here. I recall my rear struts were gone when I bought the car (5y 60k) but they showed no signs, sans a vague floatiness I found unacceptable -- no leaks, no creaks, no rattles, bangs or pops, nothing. New was night and day different.

Not every perished part on these cars scream for attention. Some just soldier on without notice and ruin the experience. I'd go with a stock refresh first. If that doesn't work you'll recoup it upon sale.

maw

[LSB4Me]

Lots of bad advice in this thread. I would suggest:

e46 330ci stock springs with Koni FSDs.

18" wheels (or 17s, if you can stomach it, for extra tire cushion).

Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4's in stock 18" sizes (wide tires ride worse).

Stock bushings and mounts everywhere.

Will ride amazingly and be dynamically great up to ~7.5 tenths.

Koni FSDs truly ride amazingly, but you do need to get some non M stock e46 springs to run them.

Thanks, O. I will look into this.

FWIW, already running 18s on MP4S with appreciable sidewall. I didn’t want this problem and certainly not at my own hands (by choosing thin tires).

[LSB4Me]

If stock isn't comfortable and compliant, either (1) it needs to be refreshed, or (2) your roads don't permit an E46M. And I'm not being a smart ass here. I recall my rear struts were gone when I bought the car (5y 60k) but they showed no signs, sans a vague floatiness I found unacceptable -- no leaks, no creaks, no rattles, bangs or pops, nothing. New was night and day different.

Not every perished part on these cars scream for attention. Some just soldier on without notice and ruin the experience. I'd go with a stock refresh first. If that doesn't work you'll recoup it upon sale.

maw

Appreciate this suggestion and agree with the sentiment, but every bushing on my car has already been replaced with OE rubber. From the dealer’s parts department.

I take things as wholesale projects. When I installed the Ohlins, I was doing “suspension,” so every suspension bit got changed. Didn’t inspect them; just replaced them. I move that way to ensure (hopefully) that I never have to backtrack with any car.

That said, stock springs and struts are boring. Not interested in owning a car that can’t perform properly. All my others are fine. The e46 is the bad apple.

[bigjae46]

TC Klines DAs and use the FCM suspension calculator to achieve flat ride. My track car rode excellent on the street.

[Hammerfang]

Interested in a setup like this as well, likely won’t do much tracking and my M3 is just a weekend toy so it doesn’t need to ride like a pillow, but would like to get as good or better stock ride comfortable and sharper handling.

suggestions?

[dreamdrivedrift]

i know you are looking for suggestions but -
what exactly is it about the ohlins ride you are looking to improve?
head toss on low frequency large undulations? At low speed? At highway speed? Pitching sensation?
high frequency stuttering and bad pavement surface making its way into the cabin?
too much body movement on yumps?
road transitions e.g. expansion joints causing a harsh snap into the chassis?
large bumps causing suspension to bottom out?

Ohlins typically is regarding as a pretty good ride so to improve from there I think you'd have to categorize exactly what's wrong with the ride. Perhaps you need a change in bump stops, a change in ride height or suspension setup (was your droop travel accurately set? Bump stops in place? There are many ways to F up your setup on install), or a total change in setup?
Do you need a better seat???

E46s are not typically known to ride poorly. I think of mine as a cruiser. I can tell you mine rode significantly better after I raised the front about 3/4". Bay Area roads are surprisingly horrendous and mine does well on a 400/650 MCS 1WNR setup without bumpstops. It's better in compliance than my 991 GT3 which is typically regarded as very tolerable + well riding. But it doesn't hold a candle in comfort to my air suspension Macan GTS. That thing is way more comfortable yet retains surprising body control. That is just a fact of having more travel, air suspension, and overall just being better suited for s*** roads.

Something seems off. This should be your DGAF - go on a 3 hour highway drive in comfort then hit the mountains car and it should be achievable. Perhaps driving another well-sorted members car in LA might help you figure out if it's an expectation gap or truly a setup issue with your car. I hope you're able to find that happy medium.