Suspension suggestions. e36

[.civictyper.]

My e36 is in a need of a suspension overhaul this spring and I am trying to figure out what would be a good set up.

I am currently running on 19X8 wheels all around and had to roll the rear fenders to make them fit.

I was thinking some type of coil over set up but I am worried about clearance in the rear if I drop it to much.

Any thoughts and links?

Thanks ,

here is a pic to show current ride height

[takemtochurch]

ddm coilovers. affordable and great for daily driving. ordering a set for myself in a couple weeks

[.civictyper.]

like these?

http://www.ddmtuning.com/products/DDM_Tuning_Brand_Coilover_Suspension-37-66.html

[takemtochurch]

those are the ones. especially being in calgary coilovers are a must. raise in the winter, drop in the summer

[j0nblayz]

h&r race with koni adjustables.. can't go wrong with that setup

[.civictyper.]

i wonder what the ride quality is like with the DDM's... I dont want a really harsh ride that is typical with coilovers. Let me know if you do decide to pick them up

[J@Tuner]

There are lots of options available for those vehicles. If you drive the vehicle in the winter and want some adjustability with reliability I would suggest the KW Variant 1 coilovers.

The specially designed adjustable collars on the KW series of coilovers will not seize and gunk up like other brands will in Canadian winters.

The Variant 1 is height adjustable and the Variant 2 has height and adjustable rebound to tweak the ride to your liking.

If you have any other questions feel free to let me know!

EDIT:

KW Coilover Lineup
http://www.kw-suspension.com/en/30_Products/20_KW_Coilovers/index.php

KW Salt Spray Test Results
http://www.kw-suspension.com/en/20_Technology/20_Salt_Spray_Test/index.php

[cocoabrova]

From your pic, I don't think you'll be able to go much lower in the rear, well not with running those 19's anyways. Do you have the M-Sport susp. or standard?

It really boils down to what your main goal is: to achieve the "in the weeds" look, or an actual track-like setup. If being dumped in the summer and 4x4-ish in the winter is your thing then definitely go with a coilover kit. If you want your E36 to handle like it's on rails, but not be too hard on the spine or your girl's chest, go with j0nblayz's suggestion:

Originally posted by j0nblayz
h&r race with koni adjustables.. can't go wrong with that setup
and if I might add at least the Koni Yellow adjustables:thumbsup:

[ACS-e36]

Originally posted by J@Tuner
There are lots of options available for those vehicles. If you drive the vehicle in the winter and want some adjustability with reliability I would suggest the KW Variant 1 coilovers.

The specially designed adjustable collars on the KW series of coilovers will not seize and gunk up like other brands will in Canadian winters.

The Variant 1 is height adjustable and the Variant 2 has height and adjustable rebound to tweak the ride to your liking.

If you have any other questions feel free to let me know!

EDIT:

KW Coilover Lineup
http://www.kw-suspension.com/en/30_Products/20_KW_Coilovers/index.php

KW Salt Spray Test Results
http://www.kw-suspension.com/en/20_Technology/20_Salt_Spray_Test/index.php

do you guys provide service for the KW lifetime warranty?

[J@Tuner]

Any warranty concerns with any of KW's products we can most definatly handle and help get resolved right away!

[takemtochurch]

i actually currently have h & r race and koni adjustables on my 325i lol. i love the ride but it all depends on whether or not you want to be able to adjust height. I actually feel as if its too high in the front, although its perfect in the back. the coilovers im buying are for the m3

[takemtochurch]

this is what the h&r race and yellow koni adjustables look like (+ rolled fenders)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/TakEm2Church/DSC01598.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/TakEm2Church/DSC01595.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/TakEm2Church/DSC01600.jpg

[.civictyper.]

What do you think about H&R Sport with Koni Sport Yellows and poly utrethane control arm bushings (Only warn out bushing remaining on my car)? I think I am ordering this set up today

[j0nblayz]

takemtochurch, you sure those are race? looks kinda high, looks like they are sports... i had race and mine was dumped, but i had stock shocks/struts... not sure if the koni sa for e36 has adjustable perch settings like on my e39, i was able to lower my rear end even more with the koni sa's


Originally posted by takemtochurch
this is what the h&r race and yellow koni adjustables look like (+ rolled fenders)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/TakEm2Church/DSC01598.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/TakEm2Church/DSC01595.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a195/TakEm2Church/DSC01600.jpg

[takemtochurch]

yup they were the red race springs. i had sports before so i swapped to race

[colt22]

Sheni should have a deal on FK silverline coilover

[.civictyper.]

Ya called sheni's.. pretty good deal on the FK's.

Anyone have any experience with them?

[VWEvo]

I had the fk's on my vw, I thought the ride quality was better then the h&r coilovers I had on my jetta. But that was a totally different situation all together. I wouldn't hesitate on fk coilovers

[BMDUBS]

Originally posted by .civictyper.
Ya called sheni's.. pretty good deal on the FK's.

Anyone have any experience with them?


What was the deal on them?

[.civictyper.]

fk silverline, non dampening adjustable 1600 plus install.... I think I am leaning towards the KW Variant 1 now for about the same price.

[ninefourfour]

Originally posted by .civictyper.
fk silverline, non dampening adjustable 1600 plus install.... I think I am leaning towards the KW Variant 1 now for about the same price.

That's more than I was expecting for the fk's. I would definately go with the kw's also.

Can I throw another idea out there. Why not sell you 19's, go into 18", then you can lower the car properly. The best part of the e36 is the nice tuckage in the rear when the car is lowered.

Just a thought!!!

[stefan15]

If you want to save some money (if $1600 was indeed just parts), I've heard the Bilstein kits are very good...

http://parts.autopartsonlinecanada.com/parts/apocanada/quote.jsp?year=1997&product=L6000-124414&application=000552263&part=Suspension%20Kit&category=L

[.civictyper.]

I really like my 19's.. And believe me they will be tucking when I'm done with the suspension.. That h&r kit is pretty decent, but I think I want to get coilovers so I can adjust the look to my liking

[colt22]

Originally posted by takemtochurch
ddm coilovers. affordable and great for daily driving. ordering a set for myself in a couple weeks

The price is insane for these they included RSM's (awesome) and camber plates.

The reviews are really good from everyone that has installed them. 40 way adjustability on dampening, and beefy metal mounts. Zero body roll.

theres a bunch of reviews but here is one:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1106373

Looks like Im going to get myself a set as soon as possible. 800 bucks is unreal.

[.civictyper.]

800 X 1.3 = 1040 + shipping ($100 ish I would expect) = 1040 + (brokerage approx 100) = 1140 .... I have heard mixed reviews on the DDM`s, not going to put that on my car

[colt22]

I cant find any many negative reviews of the new DDM coilover package,
also it is 649 through their wholesale pricing club. 1000 after all is said and done.

Anyone know what it costs to set these up at a shop. Sheni did my FK's and i think it was 400 and the time. What did you guys pay?

[colt22]

update: so after some time of digging through google results there have been some reviews of the poor quality in the DDM suspension. Apparently they dont hold up well in the long run (well-at least for these cases 3 months of driving)



My new strategy agrees with the aforementioned H&R race/ Koni setup. Just worried it will drop my car to low in the winter..

Here is my setup after currency and shipping I think it should be around 1200 when it arrives.
OH BTW, are Rouge engineering RSM's universal for all brands of shocks?

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/colt20/Picture1.png

[j0nblayz]

rsm's should be universal as long as you get the right one for you vehicle. Good choice on the koni sa's and hr races... you wont regret. I drove in the deepest snow with my old e46 with the hr races, it was pretty low but i managed. However i did end up loosing some panels under the car which i replaced..

[.civictyper.]

I would probably not go with the urethane RTAB's.. they will be a bit harsh for daily driving and can be prone to squeak. Do some searching on bimmer forums about them.

[.civictyper.]

Hey colt 22... your setup adds to 1322.88 plus currency difference lets say 27% so 1322.88 x 1.27 = 1680 ish plus shipping... Install will be about 4 hours for the struts/shocks/springs , 1.5 hours for control arm bushings, 2.5 for Rtab so labor equals 8 hours x 100 = 800 .. if you do it all at once you should get a deal on the labor.

Grand total 1680+800 = $2480 :nut:

[.civictyper.]

Suspension finished yesterday.. Found out my struts had lifetime warranty so i ended up getting them replaced for free with the oem stuff.. Not what I wanted but a very cost effective solution. Replaced the control arm bushings and rear shock mounts and it rides amazing again.. Although i might have to do something about the wheel gap in the front, I am glad I did not lower it because the back is already tucking close to the rim.

Props to Sheni for hooking me up

[.civictyper.]

Thanks to Jay as well from Tunerworks for helping me out.. Answered all my questions with a quick response.

Go to Tunerworks if you want KW's... best price I could find in town.

[e36bmw///]

nm

[.civictyper.]

**The rears were under warranty as I replaced them a while back, the fronts I had to purchase but now have the warranty. I bought the car from vegas a few years back, so no, I did not buy it new.

[colt22]

Originally posted by .civictyper.
Hey colt 22... your setup adds to 1322.88 plus currency difference lets say 27% so 1322.88 x 1.27 = 1680 ish plus shipping... Install will be about 4 hours for the struts/shocks/springs , 1.5 hours for control arm bushings, 2.5 for Rtab so labor equals 8 hours x 100 = 800 .. if you do it all at once you should get a deal on the labor.

Grand total 1680+800 = $2480 :nut:

I figured it'd come up to someting along those lines in the end, However Ill be doing this set up regardless, but Ill probably stick with my stock struts (my car has m-sport.. I am assuming this doesn just change the steering wheel an shift knob but struts too?)
That would take 900 off for the KONI's (ill do em when my shocks go to the shitter). Also, if you buy UUC's urethane bushings from their official site you get 50% of the 2nd set of bushing bought so they can be some more savings found there
after estimated shipping and currency and 4hrs install I came up with 1,400. Pretty good.


civic typer, can you link me to the reviews of the urethane RTAB's?

I'll let you guys know when the net costs are after everything is ordered.

[colt22]

For future reference I ended up going with the following set-up

H&R Sport Springs
UUC Urethane RTABs
UUC FCABs
Meyle HD RSM

I opted out of getting the koni's for now.
Please correct me if Im wrong but I figure since I have the m-sport suspension the shocks SHOULD be able to keep up with the springs for a while, right? Regardless I will soon be getting the Koni Yellows, just gotta clear up some cash

[j0nblayz]

yeah on my old e36 i ran m3 struts and shocks with h&r springs, struts/shocks were from a 99 e36 m3, to this day the struts and shocks are still good from what i heard from my friend who bought my car. However he just got into a huge accident last thursday on macleod and glenmore, he got T boned and wrote off my old e36.