Suspension upgrade for a clubsport

[rphilip]

My 95 clubsport is in need of some shock/springs upgrade. I was wondering if anyone could suggest anything. I dont really want to lower the car but i want it to ride like a dream. I am willing to sacrifice a little to let it be a little stiff/stiffer but I'm just looking for any suggestions.

[1996 328ti]

How about H&R Sport Springs. Haven't used them but that might do the trick if you don't want to lower it much.

[96cali]

I think Koni Yellow adjustables will help with stiffness/handling but won't affect the ride height. Make sure wherever you order from that you get the kind for the M-tech suspension.

[Storminmike]

I think Koni Yellow adjustables will help with stiffness/handling but won't affect the ride height. Make sure wherever you order from that you get the kind for the M-tech suspension.


Is there a Physical difference in the Mtec suspension beyond the fact that it's sports stiffness?

I 'll tell you why. I fitted some Eibach springs (made for the compact I hasten to add) on my SPORT shocks and I swear it made it worse, so much so that I put the Mtecs back on.

It lowered the car more, which in itself was lower than standard being a sport. This set me thinking if the stock v sport drop was achieved in a way other than springs alone (shorter struts?).

I ended up with severe neg camber at the back and a tad too low. The front looked nice though.

What made me take them off? Well it was great on our fast roads that gently undulate and that was it. Drop over the other side a short span speed bump and it would nod into the ground like a MOSHER/nodding dog. It's as if there was no resistance at all from the shocks or the springs were to soft

Back to the Mtec and all is well again...explain that?

By the way I sold them to a non-mtec compact owner and he's well happy

[Storminmike]

bump...an answer to the above would be great.

[96cali]

bump...an answer to the above would be great.

Don't know if this is directed at me but, sorry, when it gets to the specifics of spring rates, rebound, etc I'm at a loss.

The short answer (I THINK) is no, the sport suspension differs in springs, dampeners (shocks) and sway bars. Wheels are 16" not 15". Sway bars get a mm or two bigger front and rear.

From what I know the general concensus is that Koni + HR sports offer a more livable feel than Eibach+Bilstein. The Koni yellows offer adjustability (compression only I think, not rebound) and start in stiffness where the OEM sport shocks end, according to Koni techs. In fact the Koni techs in Kentucky were very helpful over the phone and could give you the correct model # to replace yours with. How many miles are on your current shocks? I've been told the stock shocks go about 60K before waining. Springs do not really wear out under normal usage (and they control the ride height). So your question is really down to shocks.

Hope someone with specifics can chime in here...

[John W]

I'm wondering the same thing. Besides the dampening and spring rates, what, if any, are the physical differences between the Club Sport package and the other ti suspension packages?

Currently I have an Active package with Bilstein Sports and H&R springs. Can I simply put Club Sport springs in place of the H&Rs or do I need to use Club Sport specific struts and shocks as well?

[96cali]

The differences are:
1. spring rates/lengths (sports sit .5 - .75" lower)
2. dampeners
3. Sway bars (2mm thicker up front, 1mm thicker in back)

[Storminmike]

I agree that the ride height on the sport is lower though quite how this is achieved I dont know. The only thing I did report was that there was an apparent incompatibilty between OE SPORT shocks and aftermarket Eibach Dampers. Although the ones I had were listed as for the 316/318ti Compact the Eibach guy said "not sport though" . Couldn't say why apart from what msut have been a rate mismatch, either that or it was down to the progressiveness of the springs.

I was really miffed as the lad with the NORMAL ti said they were fine. Many people over here rave about Eibach but I guess most fit them to saloons and coupes with NORMAL Shocks. With limited Compact let alone SPORT ownership over here I get little practical help.

The moral here, get a matched pair of spring and shocks

[John W]

That is what I'm wondering about too — the physical compatibility of ti suspension pieces. It seems that the base, active, regular sport pieces can be interchanged without any issues, but I've heard conflicting reports as to the compatibility between these ti's pieces and those from the Club Sport/M-tec cars.

I know, for example, that E36 M3 springs will not fit on to E36 325is struts because they are physically different (I believe the M3 strut perch and spring are wider). With the M-tec package on the 318ti, did BMW do the same sort of thing? If not, what are the differences between the regular sport and the Club Sport/M-tec?