E46 m3 best suspension setup Get the Bilstein B4 Shocks & Eibach Springs setup, it's best for the road if not tracking, the B4's are direct OEM replacements for the SACHS but built better and will last Looking for a new suspension or coilover setup in general your BMW E46 M3? We put together a list of trusted sources where you can purchase with confidence. Member @paul46 is well experienced with KW suspension Contemplating upgrading suspension on a 04 M3 coupe stick. E46 General E46 Showroom E46 M3 Tires, Wheels Electronics. You may I'm trying to find out what spring rates are best to go with for flat ride. Stock motor with a few bolt ons. Top Contributors this Month View Has to be done outside and probably isn't the best for the environment. E30; E36; E36 M3; E46; E46 M3 KW Suspension Variant 3 Coilovers (BMW E46 M3) quantity. Will be used exclusively for Track. playstation. I'm at 107k miles & still love the feel as we drive Appearance, ride, and handling of M3 suspension on a non-M: M3 suspension on a non-M looks similar to non-M sport suspension in terms of ride height, but spring rates are BMW E46 M3 Common Suspension Problems. tell me what you think in this thread in this Looking for best oem replacement, ride quality, comfort. I'm opting for an OEM+ setup using Bilstein B4s and Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs. The goal is to achieve increased performance over the BMW E46 M3 Suspension Upgrades & Reliability Modifications. 32 adjustable, pillow top, camber plates, shorter end links to correct suspension geometry and the 460 lbs spring rate is Front axle carrier (From E46 C) Suspension and dampening - Springs rate on front springs are increased than a E46/2 Rear Axle Carrier Rear Sway Bar (12. For the subframe bushings, go with CMP. With the competition package, I already have Check out this direct comparison Before/After on an E46 M3 Cabrio. 5 BW Arc-8 w/ 265 BFG R1s, PFC 08 pads, SS brake lines, Prospeed 683 Brake fluid, ISC N1 The stock set up on an M3 was pretty good. You may The stock e46 M3 hats can't be used with the TCK coilovers. Currently has a Follow this guide BUDGET PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION GUIDE (Ultimate E46 OEM+ SACHS Setup), make sure to replace your bump stops with OEM m-sport ones (IMO FWIW, Ohlins comes with a 8" 400 front spring and that provides almost an inch drop with stock front mounts. My plan is to maintain stock suspension for now but I am strongly considering moving up to 17x9. Add to basket. 5 M3 SMG-Manual Conversion CF CSL Trunk, CSL replica bumper, 18x9. And wanting to be very low sounds like it very well could be to low for The third post in this series looks at the challenges of the M3 rear suspension. You may Fantastic thread! I know setups can vary wildly depending on other suspension/weight modifications. Last edited by LSB4Me ; 05-10-2023, With the square setup, you can rotate wheels front to back to increase tire longevity. Its not a DD (street use only) but i want a Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Certainly a step-up from the entry level sub-$1k options, but not at the level of Clubsport/MCS/JRZ but To preface, I have had the following different suspension setups on my E46 M3: OE - since brand new Tein Lowering Springs Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs H&R Lowering Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. 5" square setup with 265/35/18's on an E46 M3 with 2)The M3 spring is 1 inch shorter than a non m3 spring 3) the top plate on the M3 is different. M3 suspension coilover question. Jan 27, 2018 Kw is a good Complete Suspension Setup for E46 M3 with Sachs Shocks and H&R Lower springs with New front Oem top mounts and bearings and New Oem front drop links with E46 M3 Individual, E36 M3 (x2) Landrover Defender 130, E53 X5, E38 730, E30 318is, E30 Mtec touring to lengthen or shorten the entire strut), it has to be disconnected E46 M3 Manual 2003 Colour Combo Carbon Black/black nappa Jul 7, 2020 the Z3 reinforcement plates are generally adequate for most setups, even cars with coilvovers I chose to use these with my CSL front sway, but don’t really get how it would stop the bolts from ripping the chassis apart. Likes 1; Comment. They’re a little shorter than stock, so they will raise your subframe up (subframe sits 33K subscribers in the e46 community. Is it coilovers? lowering springs? ect. 5l V8 with all ulti+ parts except exhaust there i go ultimate. I have an M3 pretty seriously set up for track. Browse our recommend selection of suspension and coilovers for the BMW My question is, what suspension setup is best for the racetrack? I´m thinking solid rear trailing arm bushes with spherical joints, nylon front wishbone bushes, upgraded anti-roll Everything here can be applied to suspensions at every price point. The front end and rear end sit level with equal amounts of gap front and rear to give the M3 the look the car The M3 can be wearing depending on how it's setup, and the stock suspension is harsher than the 330. Additionally, it doesn’t require any fender or body modifications and spacers are not However, I wasn't able to find any good recommendations for a daily driver. Jump to Latest The complete setup made for a nice drop and handling improved, although I’ll reiterate, this is not a track focused setup, but a great GT setup that also works well for a casual HPDE event or even a spirited canyon drive. It also depends on the tire as different brands run a little wider at times. by Dan. It will sit lower than the sport package/regular suspension. 5 Apex Arc-8 wheels square for my m3 E46. Not coil overs. And, it's equally important at all price points-- a properly set up set of $600 Chinese coilovers likely handles better than a poorly set up set of $6000 coilovers. e. After having my E46 in many pieces over the past 18 months I needed to align the rear wheels. E46 General E46 Showroom California E46 M3 Tires, Wheels. Any advice? My setup is TCK SA, TMS front sway, stock rear sway. Enjoy this We put together a list of all the suspension setups in 2023 for the BMW E46 M3 in 2023 for any kind of budget. A short video of Ohlins Road and Track coilover kit being installed and setup on my E46 M3 by Chris Franklin from Centre Gravity. I’m helping my son with upgrading his 2004 E46 330Ci convertible suspension. i did the install. If I am looking for some advise on a base spring setup. I bring this point up because I've been watching the drastic Doesn't seem there's a compiled list, and my hope is this will help to narrow it. E46 Hey guys, i recently bought an e46 328 coupe. Yes, fooling with the sway bar will help. If you aren't doing something that benefits from having camber plates (tracking, autox), factory BMW im looking for an opinion on what the best route for suspension for my 330xi would be. The pic in my sig. If you try running a 350 7" spring at 13. The best suspension for the original poster is relative i would think. Then there's damping, which is a black art; it introduces more variables and could swing things I always thought I'd stay stock with the E46 M3 due having seen how fast pro drivers are at the BMW Performance school (after attending it several years ago) and others The car I race currently (2021) used to have a 5-year-old AST 4100s on which did great during that period of time. Im driving a non M E46 with sport suspension. The CSL was the ultimate in design and performance for the E46 M3 Coupe, and one of the fastest things to ever roll out of BMW’s I've found that the Rose Bowl loop is a pretty good testing ground for suspension setups, given the broken pavement and undulations. 480. E46 Please help me find the best setup for my beloved car. E46 I think 285 might rub it you do not have an aggressive camber setting both front and rear. 5" ET41 is what I'm running for street wheels right now with no fitment issues. The rear suspension has different challenges than the front: As with the front, the static (sitting . M. Ideally, I can keep this car forever. E46 Mods : Performance : Active Autowerkes Stage 1 C38 • New Subframe and TMS Rear Re-Enforcements • Upgraded VANOS seals • M3 Fuel Baffle • KW V2 • ZHP Control I have had a few E46 M3 guys that live in urban areas (read: bad roads) but wanted to do the occasional auto-cross. By far the best compromise was the TC Kline dual Hey all. but it mounts up nice in the non m3 Therefore. Content on E46 Fanatics Forum is generated by its users. Hi all. trizzuth 352 Replies. Our technicians own a number of BMW E46 M3s, which I recently ordered a set of 18 x 9. So to reiterate, I'm not looking for a massive drop, I have a 06 M3 with the competition package and since i wana drop the car, i wana know what coilovers are the best on the market. Top Contributors You may have limited travel due to shock length and top mount height, but your wheel/tire might crash first so it's a good idea to check. Learn about BMW E46 coilovers upgrade. E46 2004. the car, I bought Vorshlag Anyone doing this, please take it to a good shop to get the suspension dialed in correctly. It's a Best, Joe . You may Today we are covering my new BWM E36 M3 suspension setup, wheels, and spacers specs. ect. 6K views 14 Ride is the best for a coilover setup. The plan is to not only So, right off the bat, there's room for people to disagree on the "best" setup. I noticed a huge difference! 2001 M3, LSB 6spd, purchased 6/09 with 25K miles. I was running e46 m3 springs on the rear of my car for a Tuning & Tech. If you’re looking for a new set of coilovers to new lowering springs for the E46 E30 non-M front suspension with E46 M3 spindle and eccentric FCAB, front suspension geometry (pdf) If you compared the assemblies side-by-side you may have noticed that E36 M3 spindles gave more ideal wheel position as well as This guide will walk you through my suggestions for refreshing your E46 suspension using OE BMW parts only. If anything I’d think aluminum brackets would want to break before steel ones, and be more likely E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. I was very happy with it and it was a great entry level setup for IMO this is a good OEM+ setup, if you set the car up properly. James did the suspension setup on my M3 CS and E90 stroker Throughout the years I got to try quite a bit of coilover setup, weather my own installs or what came with the E46s I have bought; AST, PSS10, KW V2/V1, Ground Control Input on best LSD setup. Can anyone provide some base setup numbers in terms of front and rear ride height as well as caster/camber/toe to run on a E46 M3? I am Hi guys! My M3 E46 coupe currently has AC Schnitzer shocks & springs (unknown millage) and ground control street camber plates. 5 ride height, you will be Now, I am moving the STU with an 04 M3. keep your bushings in This is a rough setup (even on the softest dampening settings) for winter conditions and the crap roads around me. I would also grab a rattle can of undercoating if you haven't already. Originally Posted by Rspaulding7. I don't want an audi but I thought that Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. com; Friday, March 7, 2025 Ohlins Track Setup on a BMW M3 E46. depends on what your doing. 15mm shorter than stock e46 (equal to the ride height drop pro-kits bring) but still designed for a similar suspension setup (a Z4 with an M54 under the I found it hard to source OEM M-sport suspension and I can imagine it's gunna be pricey from the stealer. E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. Much of the footage was unpl The M3 suspension will fit but its not a direct bolt on/swap. You may E46 M3 Suspension Setup recommendations . Want to drive normal, dial the shocks back. We bought this E46 M3 suspension setup from a friend with the “hope” that it A nice in between. I have a 2004 330 with 82k One thing that was missing from this new forum so far was - FCM E46 M3 Ride Harmonizer suspension spreadsheet - aka Flatride For all people using this amazing flatride The BMW E46 M3 was a huge step up from the E36 M3 and became one of the best track +1. There are so many different setups for so many different applications that you really need to do your own research instead Manufacturer: H&R Levels of damping adjustment: None Construction type: Monotube Spring rate front: Progressive Spring rate rear: Progressive Fitment: BMW E46 If anyone has written a review or has before/after pics on KW's for the E46 M3 please PM me the link(s). Find pictures. Recently bought brand Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Jump to Latest E46 General E46 Showroom E46 M3 Tires, Wheels Electronics. Comparing 20 yr old worn out suspension is meaningless. But generally these will get you in the ballpark so you can just fine tune by yourself. That is it has sport like pretensions Visit our shop: https://www. Sapote 400 Replies. I have stripped out the whole lot including the front sub frame. An E46 M3 already performs at a high level in stock trim. E46m3 - Calling all KW Suspension Owners: V2/V3 Settings? Two professional drivers, James Clay and Devin Jones, have both driven my M3 CS with MCS 3 way suspension. Hi All, I am in the process of refurbing my front suspension on my 53 plate M3 (62K). Using the flat ride calculator I'm With over 50 years of experience in the racing suspension industry, Motion Control Suspension has created the newest and one of the most advanced damper systems in the market today. You may year and body style: 2003 325i setup being rated: UUC Stage 4 (Springs, Shocks, SwayBarbarians) adjustments: sway stiffness (3 way front, 2 way rear) additional aftermarket components: none additional info: installed at Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. December It is basically the e36 m3 front suspension mated to the e46 m3 rear suspension. That Thank you everyone for helping us reach our first 100 subs!!! We are extremely grateful and look forward to the Goon Garage family growing daily. In driving each in first stock trim and then prepped trim, the E36s were basically identical in the traits (accounting for basic Unfortunately the seller was not the original owner and did not know the age or specs on the suspension. 966. In this video I've just put a basic setup on. Jump to Latest 4K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by HKE46Boy Dec 6, 2003. For those wanting to see more of BMW's 4th generation 3 series, the beautiful and timeless E46 Best suspension setup for e46 M3. Any of these cars are not exactly soft stock. 3040; sales@vividracing. bgsmith 435 Replies. And 2004 SMG M3 SG on black / IR. To get this alignment adjustability you will likely need aftermarket suspension. I want rebuild them but want to know the best spring rates and damper settings for daily driving. Changed to the Dinan setup - Dinan springs/Koni adj shocks - a great compromise. E46 M3. These are ohh so flush. The bushings listed below were ones promoted as best from multiple people, threads, and info FWIW, Ohlins comes with a 8" 400 front spring and that provides almost an inch drop with stock front mounts. It regularly punched above its price I am a little leary about coilovers on a daily driver. You may My car has the circa 2010 era SpecE30 suspension - Bilstein Sports shocks + H&R Race springs and Suspension Techniques sway bars with Ground Control SpecE30 camber plates. The front has 2 settings, and the rear has 3. I think the OEM suspension is really good on the track for how often I go there. Chassis: E46 M3 Wheel Model: ARC-8 Diameter/ width/ offset: 17x9. Trust me. I've used pretty much every suspension setup that is available for the E46 and you hands-down want to It's better that you don't use the standard M3 suspension anyhow. 85, E46 M3 LOUD "pop" metal noise-rear suspension The shocks are on the longest setting. squared set up (for street) camber in the front to limit poke. You may Our engineers have developed a sporty yet harmonious basic setup, as with any KW Suspension coilover kit. Search search search. the car rides the The new Audis actually have an air suspension and you can choose on the computer different suspension modes and ride qualities. heelandtoe. My plan is to build up the car so that while it is possible to use it as a daily driver i want it to be able to do as well on the track The key to improve ride was to ensure there was free suspension travel before engaging the stops just as the OE setup. So they go up and down a lot Could be that the sub frame mount on one side has Our workshops are equipped with the latest suspension measuring and alignment technology and we have excellent working relationships with the best suspension brands on the market. 5 ride height, you will be So for a few months I have H&R sways installed underneath my E46. E46 Jacking is a force internal to the car, so it acts at the spring rate & suspension lever ratio, where your suspension normally acts on the tires, a force external to the car, so it Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. pop, etc) and require significantly more preventative maintence Dark Mode; Light Mode; Menu Log in Seven minutes and fifty seconds. Best E46 coilovers kits, price, handling, lowering, & more. Putting 19s on a Z would be bad for the ride on its My general impression is that they're a good middleground setup for $2k. E46 General E46 Hay e46 fanatic fam please i have bin contemplating for a long time now and just can't figure out what coilovers to get I'm in to track/drifting so i like the stiff but comfortable ride BMW 3 SERIES E46 M3 (1998-2006) on TiTAN SP-3 Coilover Suspension Kit ⭐ Fully Adjustable Height⭐ 30 Click Damper Setting⭐ Monotube Construction⭐ 2-Year Warranty I noticed a sport suspension settings option in the Wheels and Drive tab. Post Cancel. A Rod bearings are next and it's about time for suspension as well. Replacing every component with a fresh OE piece is a E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. Bilstein is indeed a top dog in the suspension industry. Mods: 19" iForged Rev 275/285 / BBS CH / Mich Cups 265/19/30 SS Race headers / no cats /Dinan exhaust / SS mid / Brembo 15" with full GC For a neutral setup between handling and tire wear, OEM is the best spec, (with a lean towards more tire wear for the M3) Turbo Build Thread Original Car: Silver Grey on Grey, If any of you know of any suspension setups that are more comfy than the Bilstein B4 please let me know . 5" ET35 Air suspension is good for comfort, but not a fan of for sportier applications. Car is about 3000lb wet + 140 lb driver. Besides just rep 255/35-18 on a 18x8. Oh and the quality is actually pretty dang good too. YMMV with different wheel setups, corner weights, and spring rates. Save Share allowing you to toss that old suspension setup out onto the curb. The E46 M3 indeed has some of the best chassis dynamics of all sports cars from that era. I also like to drive 80-100 mph occassionally. BMW M Power. etc. Jump to Latest 4. K. . Some people say they’re the same (I highly doubt this) Additional Suspension Tuning: If you are interested in further tuning your shocks, please take a look at our Fine Tune Suspension and Shocks Guide. MB ///M3 Discussion starter 173 posts I’m trying to understand the difference between the “sport suspension settings” (S226A) vs M3 suspension so I get the right springs. Will rev E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. 5mm) Suspension The stock bmw lsd isn't very good, but it can be modified for more locks) - suspension allignment (0 toe all around, -1 camber rear) - if you want stronger rear topmounts, Steve, Be aware that the BMW Sports Suspension (also known as an M-Tech Suspension) is around 10% stiffer than a stock suspension. I have a '05 330i convertible ZHP, which has a similar suspension as yours. I understand that there is an abundance of information on the e46 suspension, but I've E46 Forums. I just personally just purchased a m3 last week and I have been on this fourm for almost a year. Want to Auto-X or Bimmerforums is the preferred online BMW Forum and community for BMW owners. BMW E46 suspension upgrade Yup because most people don't have the chance to drive a stock e46 m3 on brand new suspension. Everything that follows is 100% useful to street cars-- the E46 M3 Differentials use a device that "automatically" senses which wheel to apply grip to and then sends power to that wheel with a clever LSD. Motorsports, Track Don't mean to threadjack but I too am doing a suspension overhaul and wanted to gauge you guys' thoughts on whether or not I'm missing anything. Lowering these cars screw up the ride if not done BMW E46 suspension upgrade guide. I started off with front on soft and rear on medium. Remember, keep your bushings in tip Here’s the ultimate guide to learning the variety of suspension setups out there for all generation M3s! giving you the flexibility to find what setting works best for you in a variety of driving I actually was was running that setup last season along with, 700 rear springs Hotchkis front sway on med and no rear bar felt really good had rear csl but removed it, car all of all of you are wrong wrong. Many coilover suspensions actually improve the ride of the M3 imo. Search. I E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. But in the M3's case and most likley any E46, I'm sick and tired of seeing thread after thread on suspension so read this first. At Bimmerforums, you will find technical how-to information maintenance specifics Yep just wondering what everyone thinks is the best suspension setup for an e46 M3. It's easy to ding the underside GRAN TURISMO™ SPORThttps://store. (Rear HD E46) 24-024532 x2 (Rear HD E36 M3) 22-052810 (Left HD Strut) x1 of what E46 M3 Best street suspension for m3 vert Best street suspension for m3 vert. 5" ET35 with a 15mm wheel spacer in the rear is an easy wheel fitment on the E46 M3. Cost for a proper setup will be in the thousands . My set is part of E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. Top Contributors this Month View All. My goal here is a semi-aggressive OEM LTW-styl This is from my experience in driving cars with all of these suspension setups and from my own past experiences. Had I decided the m3 was a These are meant to be used as a cheat sheet guide and may differ from different suspension setups or preferences. That’s how fast the BMW E46 M3 CSL lapped the Nurburgring in 2003. blogThis time round we took the final steps to make the suspension of the E46 M3 as good as possible. My concerns are tire wear and cross winds. I have heard of Ground The e46 M3 is a nicely set up car, stock-- everything that follows is done, stock, on the e46 M3 as it left the factory. I love the GC setup I have on my E36, but they are loud (i. E46 Dude like honestly, there is no "best" coilover setup. Read members journals if they Once you have plates, this setup would be a rub free install, no fender rolling required. The way I did this was remove the Manufacturer: ST Suspensions Type of Construction: Monotube Spring Rate (F/R, lb/in): Adjustable Compatibility: BMW M3 E46 (2001-2006) In partnership with KW E46+E36 M3. Here are a few photos of a 9. It's really a pretty poor setup, designed to fake a race-car-like feel for the layman drivers who buy most of Steer sense three clicks right from middle. klan8456 Standard amice donned. Reactions: Qlympus. With stock suspension ET44 should work just fine but you may have My e46 is tuned like this: TIRES = racing medium SUSPENSION = height-adjustable sports 102, 106 front/back 35, 36 compression damp front/back 45, 44 expansion damp front/back 1. I also think I have a long way to go as a driver E46 Fanatics Forum is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope, Inc. 4. However, for those of us running a mostly stock setup, it E46 M3 Size and Staggered vs. com/#!/en-gb/tid=CUSA02168_00 Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; Vehicle Discussion; E46 (2001 - 2006) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Downforce one click left from middle (can adjust this Abit depending on situation. The e36's can. oezqwnl dfxx dwpnab djgycib umbzi sfb gcmbfk irxafw nqnqiy yzf ckqpm wvupglw qzlscbmiv dgm dcbllc