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'90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:25 pm
by Racer75
Anybody know what size the front struts are on the 1990 318i are?

Don't have the car right now to measure but my friend is giving me a set of 60/40 lowering springs for nothing and I wanted to know if they fit. They were off his 325i but he says they'll fit a 318i.

Cheers

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:27 pm
by Grrrmachine
a) Unless your car is a cabriolet or touring, it will probably have 45mm struts
b) Strut size isn't everything. 6-cylinder engines are significantly heavier than 4-pots, and the springs are rated to suit. Fitting 325i springs to a 318i will not give you the lowering you expect.

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 7:05 pm
by Brianmoooore
Springs are the same fitment for both sizes of front strut, but as Grrr. says, that's only part of the story. BMW fitted different springs to cars for different territories, for cars with aircon. and without, for cars with sports suspension, for cars with trailer hitches, and for cars with auto. and manual gearboxes.

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 7:40 pm
by Racer75
Taken on board guys. Thanks

Does this mean they won't fit or maybe fit but have some issues?

Cheers

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 8:45 pm
by NoTurbo
they will fit.

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 4:08 am
by motormanmick
As all the lads said above, couldn't find m40 engine & gear box weight but would imagine it would be close to m10 & tranny, so the springs are made to carry about 100lb extra and spring weights will be different, spring weights meaning tension of springs themselves, so you could fit them but won't be too happy with them in the end, cheers.

M10 + G240 transmission = 396lbs
M20 + G260 transmission = 497lbs

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 2:20 pm
by Racer75
Cheers guys.

Thought 60mm at the front was going to be too low anyway. :D

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 2:53 pm
by NoTurbo
I had 60mm on my 320ise 4 door and a previous 318is. Looked bad ass but hated speedhumps. Also made the car quite twitchy at speed.

But it is nice if you like tail out oversteer at medium speeds.

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 3:54 pm
by pacerpete
They WILL fit and they WILL be sh1t.

Re: '90 318i Front Struts

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 4:00 pm
by Racer75
Cars not a DD, so its all cosmetic ^^