Interesting info on Boge OEM struts..

[scottrt]

I bought a 1996 318ti w/M-Technic from its original owner recently. It had 111,xxx loving miles on it. The ride was still very nice, but I figured the struts HAD to be beyond tired, so I bought new OEM Sachs/Boge struts from Bimmerzone for $112 apiece.

I was surprised to find the old struts (they WERE the originals from 1996) still had about 50% of their damping action left. THis was at roon temperature, and maybe if a guy drove the car for 30 minutes to heat the fluid they would have little or no damping action left. Oh..and they did make a groaning noise when just coming to a stop as the front end of the car would raise back up. That was annoying.

Still, you cant bash the quality when they still had ALL of the gas charge and even some of the damping left after 9 years and 111k miles. The replacements fit like a glove of course, didnt alter the ride height or pre-load on the springs, and now the car feels like new...an absolute delight. This is my sons car. I drive a E46M3 now, but my sons 318Ti makes me wish I had never traded my E36 M3. I dont like to keep a car beyond its warranty, but I would have kept it for my son if insurance in Clalifornia for a 16 year old in an M# was even conceivable!! ITs not.

I think the E36 chassisis the best combo of ride/handling/brake and steering feel/and overall balance BMW has put out in the last 25 years.

My point in posting this is to re-assure anybody thinking of replacing their struts that does not want a change in ride firmness that the OEM struts are a quality piece, and a great bargain too.

I also owned an M roadster with stage 3 Dinan supension upgrade, and it was tons of fun, and I loved the Koni's.....but for the older enthusiast or those that have to drive on rough-roads and dont track their cars.....OEM seems to offer the best ride.

[96cali]

Great info- you're right in that everyone overlooks/discounts the original handling package. I have never heard anyone on this board tout it much less in reference to e46 M3's and M roadsters. I'd be curious to compare actual skid pad numbers for various spring/strut combos or even just hear others opinions.

[aceyx]

Body roll is a great indicator of the lateral acceleration limits on a car. If you take that indicator out (as on the E46 M3), when the rear end breaks traction, it's sudden and rather frightening.

I've thought about upgrades (I run the Bilstein Touring shocks now) but I really don't feel that I'd use the extra performance since most of my errors come from driving style, not technical or mechanical limits.

Plus I like my teeth in my head.