[ausgeflippt951]

Took the BMW in for a state inspection and was failed because...wait for it...Anisa broke the left-rear coil. Must have been at the DE last weekend because I know for a fact that it was intact at the tech session.

Must have been from all that grip her 7 y/o all-season tires and stock suspension were giving her.


WTF? Does BMW make their springs out of toffee or something?


I have no time to do this myself but some cursory interwebz research makes me think it's ludicrously easy to do. Apparently don't even need a spring compressor.

Considering that the shops I called wanted between $400-$700 in just labor, I'm thinking I'll just do it myself.


As far as I can tell:
1) remove wheel
2) remove lower shock bolt
3) have friend push down on hub
4) remove spring.

[John Clay]

Step 1, stiffer springs all around.

[jbailey930]

Rears are very easy. Wheels off. Lift axle with another jack. Remove broken spring.

Fronts will require removing strut and a spring compressor.

[cmartin]

x2 quite common on bwm's unfortunately.

[HoodPin]

You go, Anisa!

I don't have personal knowledge about BMW suspensions, but the suggestion to upgrade all 4 corners makes sense. Perhaps source a kit with better performance springs, shocks, and sway bars. Install the rear springs (sounds ezypeazy) to pass inspection, and then the rest of the kit at your leisure. Anisa can help, too.

[Trak Ratt]

Also agree on upgrading (just a little). IIRC the car has north of 100K so exactly how long do you expect the oem parts last? Given that the car has seen lots of winters and the springs are exposed to it all. Seriously if the car is a keeper then renewing and upgrading bushes, shocks, springs, sways and ??? makes sense. Bet there are plenty of M parts that have been upgraded available for little $$$.

Bet Crazy Ray’s in Baltimore has plenty of replacements for very little $$$

[smdubovsky]

E36 rear is easy. Just like you said. You may have to have someone stand on the hub to get enough droop to get a new stock coil in. Aftermarket/stiffer ones are shorter and just drop in.

The stock fronts are under very little preload. Not that I would recommend such a crazy unsafe thing on the interwebz but on more than one occasion we've just put a towel around the top of the strut and impacted the nut off. IIRC only about an inch of preload on E30 & E36 so no drama. But again, I wouldn't recommend those sort of things on the internet

If enjoy really driving the car, good time to go to aftermarket springs. Can prob find a used set for cheap.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by smdubovsky

...
If enjoy really driving the car, good time to go to aftermarket springs. Can prob find a used set for cheap.

Was hoping you’d chime in w/the link or summary of your own cheap BMW track build.

[cmartin]

Or, OE type springs are dirt cheap. ~$100 per axle or less.

[smdubovsky]

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

Was hoping you’d chime in w/the link or summary of your own cheap BMW track build.

Trade secret boy-o

We have Koni(TCK) DA's that were revalved by bimmerworld to handle stiffer springs. Think we're running 850F/1100R now. Camber plates in front. Remainder is 100% stock in the front other than that (sways, FCA, lolipop bushings, brakes, etc.) We have a full monoball rear but still stock sways & brakes. Add a big rear wing, front splitter, hoosiers and huge cojones and you can be setting track records (Full disclaimer: Im not the one setting the records. Thats Wong/Dayton/etc.)

The springs/shocks/struts could be for sale. We've been discussing going to MCSs...