Suspension: A Bluebimma Diary

[Bluebimma]

So, after a few years and owning 4 318tis, I decided to go back over some photos and parts that ive had installed and give them a bit of in depth reviews for you guys to read. I decided to start in the suspension area, since a lot of our cars are either in need of replacement or just want to try something new but don’t want to buy the parts or can’t afford them just yet and want to know what’s what and how it feels in our cars. So, if you’re bored, take a quick glance through and maybe you’ll find some good information or something you’d like to debate about.

1997 318ti Active Package
Purchased July 2006
170k
1.9L M44B19, Getrag 5-speed Manual, 3.45-Open

Bought this chassis off a coworker, was my first BMW and it had already been beaten like a red-headed step child and was in need of R&R. It had the stock 318ti active package suspension that had rolled off the line in April of 1997. The front struts were pretty low on damping but felt just fine, so I left them in for the time being and worked on other parts of the car like tint, brakes, interior ICE, and making it look pretty. Once I felt “brave enough”. I decided to install a set of H&R race springs on the stock dampers. The result was a very nice, yet subtle, drop and slightly improved handling. These were the linear RED race springs that had been out at the time, not the newer progress Race line that they have on market.

Stock Ride Height
Rims – Standard active package 15x6 (or 7) with 195/60/16 Blizzaks



Drop was ~2.25”-2.5” Front, 1.5” Rear
Rims – 16x7 Mille Miglia Evo5 – 205/55/16
17x8 Mille Miglia MM-2 – 215/45/17





I thoroughly enjoyed this setup, as it looked good, handled very well compared to the 4x4 stance it had. If the dampers were new, im sure the ride would’ve been a bit better, but there was the occasional bottoming out and slop to it. The PO had installed solid centered lower control arm bushings and who knows when it was last aligned from then.

After about 6 months and ~13k miles, my M44 killed itself and I bought another m44 from the junkyard and it had bent valves, so I threw away the dream of the DASC m44 and drove out to Wisconsin and purchased an M50 for 300$ and brought it home. Prior to installation, I removed the a/c system, power steering, and a few other things from the front end, installed the M50, and gained 40lbs at the front end with the M50B25 and 6cyl radiator setup. Due to complications, I removed the radiator and went with the lightweight hit which uses the stock 4cyl radiator, water wetter, lower t-stat, and optional fan, which I haven’t used in 5 years now. After that, I picked up a set of Intrax Lowering springs from a 328is and installed them in the TI with the 6 cylinder. The car was slightly slower in a straight line but a bit more stable in the corners. After a while, the dampers started failing hardcore so they were replaced.

Active Package struts and shocks
H&R Race 318ti front springs
Intrax 328IS rear springs
17x8 Mille Miglia MM-2 – 215/45/17

Notice the bounce in the suspension as I take off and shift, definitely worn out. Don’t mind the no-start action, ran into some heavy valve cover seal/misfire issues.



In car with blown suspension. You can see that the car is bouncing between shifts and seems to pull a little in each direction because of it. Was racing a friends modded 328IS.

[Bluebimma]

[Bluebimma]

Next setup has been my favorite, by far. Granted, it doesn’t give a super low look, the geometry and feeling is spot on for the TI. I had done some sides jobs for a local guy and he provided me with a very gently used complete setup from a Mz3. Once installed, it was heaven. Bumps were gentler, speed bumps weren’t an issue, any aspect of the handling and comfort had increased 5-fold.

2001 MZ3 Front and rear SACHS dampers
MZ3 front and rear BMW springs
MZ3 offset front strut mount
MZ3 rear shock mount

[Bluebimma]

As you can see in the above pictures, it lifted the front substantially while keeping the rear lowered, near the 328IS Intrax springs. Factory spec for the MZ3 states 23.19” front and 21.14” from the center lower portion of the rim to the center upper portion of the fender opening. This is translated to the TI just as it would for the z3. In the other set of pictures, you will notice the comparison in length between the active package shocks vs. the MZ3 shocks.

1995 318ti Clubsport
Purchased April of 2009

Drove out to New Hampshire to pick this one up with 200k on it. Everything was completely stock, except for the radio, which didn’t even work, go figure. The suspension, though blown, still had enough damping properties for the long haul back to Ohio, which was a good 1,000 mile trip due to the road trip we had been taking.

Clubsport 318ti
M42B18 with 5speed Getrag
3.45 – Limited slip
Standard Clubsport Package
Sport struts and shocks
Sport Springs
Sport Sway bars

Rims - Standard sport 16x7” 5 spoke 205/55/16

Active 318ti
MZ3 suspension
Rims – 17x8.5” BBS RZ412 205/40-215/45 Staggered

[Bluebimma]

[Bluebimma]

MG]

[Bluebimma]

Once home, I swapped in the MZ3 suspension in place of the Clubsport blown components. Ill tell you now, with the m42, power steering, thicker sway, and xbrace, this car was a blast for the week I had it with the m42 still installed. I’ve never had a chance to drive a brand new 318ti or one with brand new suspension, but it was heaven. It was very nimble, light, precise, yet, there was no increase in ride height in the front due to being a 4cyl equipped car. When lying next to each other there are no differences in length whatsoever, thus, no increase in ride height in the front. As for the rear, it would lower, but I chose to leave the standard Clubsport springs in, to keep with an even ride height and test out its performance, being level front and rear.

A couple days, I did the same conversion to it as I did the active package, then a week later, a kid t-boned me off a side street locally.






The following two videos, you’ll notice the ride height of the Clubsport, stationary, and then an in-car view, from the Clubsport, as well as the active/MZ3 going down a mountain at about 70mph.

[Bluebimma]

[Bluebimma]

1996 318Ti
Sport package
M44B19 with Gm 4speed automatic
4.44 Open

Picked this one up in Kentucky and it was, by far, in the worst shape than the others. Bent strut, broken rear springs, bent tie rods, bent control arms, exhaust and window fell off during test drive, hard shifting auto, stickers everywhere, and alignment done to bent suspension. There was a lot more there, but I won’t be getting into that in this thread.

First thing I did when I got home; I purchased the front alignment kit from EBAY for ~180. The kit included:

Inner tie rods
Outer tie rods
Solid centered lower control arm bushing
New control arms
Front sway bar endlinks

I also purchased a set of rear Monroe 318ti Sport shocks and mated it with the remaining pieces from my MZ3 setup that had been damaged in the Clubsport death. Put it on the alignment rack and found that the caster was the only dimension that was out of spec. I set the alignment for a 2001 MZ3 and not the 318ti. It had been the best feeling so far.

Installed:
MZ3 front and rear springs
MZ3 front struts
318ti Sport Monroe shocks
Sport sway bars
Inner tie rods
Outer tie rods
Solid centered lower control arm bushing
New control arms
Front sway bar endlinks
Xbrace
ACS front strut brace
M50B25
Getrag 5spd
4.10 Limited slip 188mm
AKG Polyurethane differential bushing
18x8 Mille Miglia MM-2 225/40
16x7” Sport 5spoke 205/55 Arctic claw winter tires

A couple side by sides. MZ3 vs. Sport TI.






Side profile after suspension swap over.

[Bluebimma]

Some rear and glamour shots

[Bluebimma]

Here are some videos of how the car reacts to standard m44/auto and m50/5spd.

[Bluebimma]

Rokkor review tomorrow.

[dave45056]

Blue, this is an awesome write up... Can't wait to see the Rokkor info!

[Bluebimma]

Guess heres a small update...

1996 318ti
2900lbs
5.7L V8 Ls1
T56 6 speed transmission
4.10 limited slip
18x9 all around 245/285 tires
Mroadster front dampers with race springs
2004 Mustang Cobra shocks
Mroadster springs rear

Handles very well. Soft enough for street, somewhat too lax for racing but stiff VERY competant to keep up with the competition.

[Bluebimma]