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318is 
Newbie
Joined: 29-January-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 7
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 Topic: 318is coil springs
Posted: 29-January-2005 at 15:58 |
I recently went to have my E36 318is MOT'd, the car failed the test because one of the rear coil springs was broken.
I need my car to get to work and back and my MOT was due to expire, I had great difficulty getting the correct spring for my car, I decided to quickly ordered replacement parts from ECR (Euro Car Parts) change over the springs (both) to get the MOT certificate.
I have been driving the car my car for over two weeks (spring have had time to bed-in) now and ive noticed that there rear of the car feels a little unstable when cornering, sits a little higher and body rolls seems more prominent.
What I think I have done is replacement my M-Tec springs with standard E36 springs, or is thins something that would happen fitting new springs, im yet to find anyone who can verify;
- If the E36 318is is manufactured with M-Tec springs?
- What (if any) are the differences between the M-Tec and standard service parts in terms of spring rate, height etc?
- The original springs removed from my car had a white dot, im told is used to identify the spring rate, if this correct and what does the white dot signify?
Can someone please help I need to understand if this is just something in my head or my rear spring need to be replaced with the correct level parts. If my spring do need replacing, does anyone know where I can get the correct level parts other than the BMW dealer?
Any feedback will be appreciated?
Many thanks
H
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andystone
Senior Member I
yeovil - pit of the world!
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 137
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Posted: 30-January-2005 at 10:47 |
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as far as i'm aware the 318is was m-tec setup, sorry i cant help with the other questions.
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vrrroom vrrroommmm! chug chug vrrroom vrrroommm!
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?
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Hammer1
Groupie
Joined: 11-August-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 97
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Posted: 30-January-2005 at 11:45 |
If you had a m-tec setup originally? ecp doesnt do m-tec rear springs (not listed on their site),so i would guess that you've got standard rears on and thats why it feels different.
I do know oem m-tec springs are lower and uprated and they are designed to work will oem m-tec dampers.
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e36 318ti sport
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318is
Newbie
Joined: 29-January-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 7
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Posted: 31-January-2005 at 13:20 |
Over the weekend I gave the BMW dealer a bell, they’ve checked the VIN number against the vehicle build info and confirmed that the car was built with M-Tec suspension.
The spring rates are now not matched up to the damping rate, the rear of the car being under-damped and sitting 15mm higher is not a good thing.
I guess my next question is where can I get M-Tec springs from? Any idea’s anyone? i have already tried GSF.
The BMW dealer has quoted £150 + vat, but i rather invest is a decent set of aftermarket springs and dampers, any ideas?
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks
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Ciaran
Groupie
Joined: 12-January-2005
Location: Belfast
Status: Offline
Points: 97
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Posted: 01-February-2005 at 04:36 |
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You could always try a BMW scrap dealer like these people: - www.fabdirect.com
I recently had the same problem but managed to get a set off another forum member who had changed his suspension setup
Edited by Ciaran
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Peter Fenwick
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484
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Posted: 01-February-2005 at 05:52 |
You could always go for a full set of springs and dampers. Bilstien and eibach amongst others both do good stuff. It will work out a lot more expensive than £150 though.
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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318is
Newbie
Joined: 29-January-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 7
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Posted: 01-February-2005 at 16:16 |
Guys
Take a look at these, complete set of 'Bilsten Suspension'... it is the the entry level kit but will it do the job - what do you think?
Im only looking to match the ride hight of the M-Tec suspension, tighten up the handling but not compromise on the ride quaility.
Cheers
H
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/category_res ults.mhtml?category=suspk&car=bmw3e36&manufacturer=b ilst&sub_category=1
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Ciaran
Groupie
Joined: 12-January-2005
Location: Belfast
Status: Offline
Points: 97
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Posted: 02-February-2005 at 04:23 |
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There is a guy on e36coupe.co.uk selling a set of H&R springs for good money.
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318is
Newbie
Joined: 29-January-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 7
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Posted: 02-February-2005 at 15:23 |
im very interested a getting a all round fresh set of Bilstien / Eibach springs and dampers to improve the handling... however im not that interested in lowering the car...
How would the a Bilstien/Eibach setup compare against that of the standard and MTec in terms of ride height?, do Bilstein Eibach have a range of spring that match the ride height of a M-Tec setup?
Any advice?
Thanks H
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318is
Newbie
Joined: 29-January-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 7
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Posted: 02-February-2005 at 16:14 |
How about sticking with the curent level M-Tec dampers and getting a set Eibach springs? Would this type of setup work?
Manufacturer : Eibach
Category : Eibach Spring Kits
Sub-category : Eibach Springs - BMW
Application : E 36 Coupé 316i, 318is ; 12.90 - 04.99
Details : Lowering front/rear = 30 mm/30 mm
Price: £136.43 inc VAT
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Peter Fenwick
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484
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Posted: 03-February-2005 at 04:21 |
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It might do, TBH unless you know the exact size and spring rate of both the Eibach and standard M-tech springs it's difficult to say. You could try contacting Eibach.
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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b318isp
Moderator Group
Joined: 10-October-2002
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 2057
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Posted: 03-February-2005 at 08:12 |
 318is wrote:
The spring rates are now not matched up to the damping rate, the rear of the car being under-damped and sitting 15mm higher is not a good thing |
You mean overdamped. This is not necessarily a bad thing, its preferential to underdamping. The ride height may cause the car to be a shade more oversteery, but not a serious concern.
I'd suggest watching eBay, breakers, etc., for a 2nd hand set of original M-Techs springs.
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gremlin
Newbie
Joined: 02-February-2005
Location: Birmingham
Status: Offline
Points: 2
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Posted: 04-February-2005 at 19:53 |
Hello out there, this is my first post so be gentle with me, I have replaced the rear shock absorbers and road springs on my 1996 318i touring today and all the replacement items were procured from GSF. Result- Magic!!! the ride is back to original, there is no longer any nervous feeling at high speed and the corner weighting feels positive again. One of the car's recent problems was a rapid front to rear oscillation over the smallest of bumps, now all gone, for the princely sum of £143.35 including V.a.t. Not bad by todays standards I thought!
Parts used -Sachs170-776 shock absorbers Gsf # B55038 33.52.1.092.489
Lesjofors rear road springs GSF# B45424 33.53.9.065.365
Don't be taken for a ride do some in depth research of the 2nd tier after market providers.
Ttfn Gremlin
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318is coil springs