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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NY-Upstate
Posts: 207
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Suspension Parts Really Needed?
i'm about to put Bilstein Heavy duty shock/struts in my 98 328is, decided with the winters we have here i'd only be plowing another inch of snow if i lowered it... over the year i've had the car i've read quite a few articles about how the e36 is "weak" in the body compared to the e46 and even more so the e30. BMW has OEM parts like the Z3 reinforcment plates for the front and the rear shock tower reinforcement plates for the rear. Then upgrading the rear shock mounts to the e46 style which i've heard are much better w/o the harshness of some after-market high performace ones. Then M3 guide bearings at the top of the struts to induce ~3 degrees more positive castor for better handeling with larger tires (going to 17"s). HAS ANYONE GONE THRU THIS? EXSPECIALLY THE REINFORCMENT PLATES? ANY DOWN SIDES? AREAS OF CONCERN? ARE THESE SIMPLE BOLT ON PARTS?
THANKS FOR ANY EXPERIENCE! KUTCH |
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06-25-2003, 10:21 AM
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In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
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Ok I'd need to know what type of driving you plan to do as well as what kind of springs you plan on running.
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06-25-2003, 10:22 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NY-Upstate
Posts: 207
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MOSTLY 60 MILES/DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. 1/2 HIGHWAY, 1/4 COUNTRY ROADS, 1/4 CITY.
THEN "MAYBE"/"MAYBE" A TRACK DAY ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR... |
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06-25-2003, 10:24 AM
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Registered
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I have the same question on the rear shocks. I am planning on replacing on my '95 325i (e36) and was told that e46 mounts will fit.
Anyone know if Boge shocks are any good, and what is the improvement of the e46 mounts, just stronger or does the ride change? |
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06-25-2003, 10:36 AM
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In the shop at Pelican
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 10,459
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The E46 mounts will fit, andf I highly reccomend you use them in lieu of the original ones. I kept having problems with the stock ones breaking on my 325is, and using the E46 mounts solved the problem. Tye are just a stronger mount than the old ones and can put up with the added stress of the Bilsteins. I dont really think you need to go to the re-inforcment kit if you just run the E46 mounts. I think that the re-inforcement kits are really only for serious suspension setups where you are out on the track, etc..
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06-25-2003, 11:27 AM
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