Best bang for the buck. Struts and Shocks?
 

I'm not necessarily looking to lower the car. Slightly stiff than stock is ok but budget is important. Going on a 96 with sport suspension.

Found this and seem like a good deal but not sure what how "front strut inserts" work.
https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-31...cks/ES2841093/

Going back and forth on spending ~$500 on upgraded struts and shocks or ~$300 on OEM replacement level.

Any current sales online somewhere I should be aware of before making a purchase.

What do you all with much more experience with this think.

Thanks!

Disclaimer: I've been assembling and selling suspensions for the Z3, 318ti, E36 and E46 for several years. My kits come totally pre-assembled with all new hardware, mounts, spring pads, bump stops and boots ready to be mounted to the car without the need for a spring compressor.

Doing shocks and struts alone on a 20 year old car is not something I suggest. The other wear items in the suspension should be addressed at the same time. IMO, this is a case of do it once, do it right.

Installing strut inserts is a bit tedious and labor intensive if you want a professional looking end result. There are full strut assemblies available so I would not consider inserts for the front.

If you're on an extreme budget I would go with OEM replacement struts and shocks a minimum of new mounts, bump stops and dust boots front and rear. Hope that helps.

Yes, other wear items will be addressed.

Budget is a bit of a concern but so is results.

I did bilstein HD on my last TI. They were good but didn't blow me away. It was on stock springs.

Thank you for the input on the strut inserts. I think I will skip those.

What would you put on a car most likely will drive for 6-8 months and then sell on?

I would stick with my initial suggestion of OEM replacement struts and shocks a minimum of new mounts, bump stops and dust boots front and rear.

I'm curious - a few years back, I replaced my factory struts with Bilstein Touring struts. The ride height in the front increased by one to two inches. Is that caused by placement of the strut perch on the new strut?

All I run is Bilstein HD struts and switch between H&R race springs for the summer and stock springs for the winter. Keep an eye out for used on the forums, can get some still good struts for really cheap

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I have been reading the Internets for hours. Suspension threads are almost as tiring as oil threads.

I am thinking Koni STR.T is going to be the best bet. Can find them for ~$320 for the set.

Although going super cheap $250 gets me Monroe's from the parts store up the street.