E30 Zone

My 318i saloon handles like a wet sack of old sponges.

I've been browsing all of the obvious places for shocks and stuff as mine are buggered. (Drop links and bushes already on their way) but I cant decide wether to go to 51mm or not. I'm currently running 45mm struts with a 19mm roll bar. As it left the factory. Literally. Creaks like a b@stard. Most people are selling 51mm fronts. Do they just bolt straight in or do I need new top mounts and all sortsa stuff?

A little way down the line I think I'll throw a m44 turbo in it. (I still can't decide over a 6 pot or not) so would it be wise to up the struts?

What about a coil over kit? Is there any point, or are decent shocks and springs good enough alone on the back?

Also I saw a complete rear axle complete with discs and calipers on the zone from a touring (I think it's gone now) would that fit straight in and do away with my spongy drums? Or is it more complicated than that?

Cheers in advance you infinitely knowledgable people!

51mm struts are straight swap. Touring stuff is a straight swap.
Touring rear brake calipers have a slightly bigger piston bore than than those intended for a saloon, but as long as you have a matching pair, the difference is insignificant.
Forget coil overs, unless you have a LOT of money to waste.

It would probably be wise to go 51mm in the struts , especially if you are going 6 cyl, if you are going all new struts it would be a good idea to replace your upper strut mounts front and back, heavy duty ones in the rear as that is a weak spot with the std ones, cheers.

Thanks guys. Just got to bite the bullet and choose a set now. I looked at some b4's but can't find a set (yet) that come with springs too. Do you know anything about apex? The market is so saturated with crap it's hard to tell what good, what's stupidly pverpriced for no reason, and what's made in a cave by children somewhere in Eastern Asia.

I saw some B6's on ebay for about £350 the other week, front and rears

Eibach or H&R springs