BMW suspension help

[cmartin]

Sorry for the BMW talk, admin delete if I'm out of line.

I need an alignment on the e36 and thought it might be a good time to install new struts. I was thinking Bilstein HD's, anyone have a recommendation? Also, should I install the strut mounts as well? They arent cheap, but I dont want to go back and change them in 6 months either.

Thanks in advance, this crowd is more my speed compared to bimmerforums

Chris

[Rick Lee]

I didn't DIY the new struts in my E30, but IIRC, I don't think the job required a new alignment. YMMV.

[John Clay]

I paid Dan Martin (www.danmartinsautoservice.com) to do my suspension work right after I got the bmw.

I used Bilstein HD's and I'm pretty sure I got new strut mounts. I did not get an allignment.

I've got Bilstein HD's on the 944 as well, so I don't have anything to compare them against to make recommendations.

[}{arlequin]

jase favors koni sports and i'd tend to go w/ those too. you can always crank them down.... as for the strut mounts, i'd change them. depending on how the po drove it, they might look ok but be pretty much blown anyway. if they aren't then possibly the new shocks might help them get that way sooner... wouldn't feel like doing the same job twice.

[Rick V]

Ah A subject I know about!
I would forget the HD's if you plan on doing any kind of DE/autox stuff. I ran those for about 6 months in my E36 and promptly replaced them with the sports. You should replace the rears as well if you have the factory Boges back there.
As for the mounts I strongly recomend changing them WYIT. Replace the rears as well and don'y ust the crappy factory-too-much-rubber-thingies. I realy like the ground control all. mounts. They are almost solid but have enough rubber to do the daily thing.
Check your outer ball joints WYIT and when you find they are shot, use the Mahlie solids they last forever. The front control arm bushings will now be totaly usless so the porwerflex delrin/poly bushing/bearings are the trick. At this piont the sway bars are now completly ineffective, I am running the racing dynamics 24nn front and the 22 rear bars, I love them.
If that doesn't fill your need for a daily driver/de/autox setup let me know I have some more recomendations. Like M3 upper strut bearings this will add some serious caster( I am running 10deg. (stock on my car is 1.5)
If you are simply replacing the struts you won't need an alignment, except for maintance

[cmartin]

Great info, thanks. I already replaced the control arms (solid ball joints) and control arm bushings. The old ball joint were scary bad, really unsafe at speed. I'm looking for comfy on this car, it's only a 318is. For once I'll error on the side of comfy, if I want fast I'll dry the 911. :) If an alignment isnt required I might wait, I just dont want to do the same thing twice.

Thanks again for the advice

[Jase007]

Chris:

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I second Rick's rec's with some exceptions ...

I have had on my E30 in this order of progression over the last 15 years:

1. Boge Turbo Gas & OEM springs - same as OEM - too soft overall
2. Bilstein HDs - overdampened the stock springs - didn't like ride - blew one out
3. Boge Turbo Gas & H&R Sport springs - not enough dampening for springs
4. Koni Yellow SA sports & H&R springs - perfect match and adjustable rebound only to suit your style... [shock piston rod travel recaptured and matched to drop]

The only Konis offered for my E30 were the yellow sports. Again, shorter piston rod to accomodate 1.3" - 2.0" typical upgraded spring drop. FWIW, none of the spring Mfg.s will release their data so you have to go on "About 15% stiffer than stock ..." really fuching accurate there H&R / Koni / Bilstein :twisted:

I have replaced the upper strut mounts 2X in the 220,xxx miles on my car. I think they last about 100K miles each until you start adding stiffer shocks, springs, control arm bushings, etc... Definitely do it WYIT.

Not sure about the E36 world but ... per Bilstein ... [for the E30 world] the HD and the Sports are valved the same but just a shortened rod to accomodate the drop of the sport spring upgrades [be it TEIN, SACHs, Eibach, H&R, Bavauto, etc...].

IF you plan on adding lowering springs, BMW offers an offset upper strut mount that can either add or subtract 30' / 0.5 degree of camber. I am thinking of installing b/c the drop on my car [although minor] has me running -1.6-1.7 degrees in front on street tires. There are no camber plates for my car.

I have the ground control rear shock mounts. Can be flipped for different durometer of the bushing. Highly recommended. Stock, and even the suggested upgrade to M3 or Cabrio mounts don't compare.

With your car ... I'd spend some serious $$$ and time on Ground-control's (http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/category.php/CA=4) website. That and check out Turner motorsport, Bavarian Autosport, BMP Design

Good luck and make sure your check out this site (http://www.downingatlanta.com/da_superchargers_new.htm) for your 1.8L 4 banger ...

Jase