E30 Zone

Need more advice!

Have not had the 316i long. At the moment the car is standard, complete with worn out suspension and noisey top end but the wheels and bodywork are good. The plan is to eventually put more power in it (2.5, 2.7, 24valve 3.0)!

So starting with the suspension and brakes;
What are the options when replacing the control arms and bushes? Mtech etc.
I have some secondhand front suspepension legs from a 320 I think. Can I use my 316i disks with these for now (they are nearly new), just to spread the cost about a bit?

I use the car to get to work at the moment, so I just want to start uprating stuff as I replace worn out parts for now. Not take it off the road for more than a weekend.

Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

To use solid discs, you just need to make sure you use the right calipers, if the legs are fitted with vented discs, you will have to change to your calipers for the solid discs.

There are no 'm-tech' control arms/bushes, it's all the same, there are a variety of different anti roll bars which will be different sizes, rear top mounts from a E46 M3 cab can be used.

You will be better off getting 2nd hand suspension set up from a car that had M-tech suspension with the 51mm front legs, try and get the calipers too, as this will prepare you for the future conversion.

The 320i items you have, may or may not be the 51mm versions, some had them, some didn't.

Thanks for the reply.


Its a go for the 320 suspension for now! I will use my existing brakes.
I have a few more questions that I hope you can answer.

Will my front wheel bearings come off with the hub or do they stay on the stub axles? I am assuming the ones on the 320 legs are worn out.

When you say ''rear top mounts'', are they for the antiroll bar?
Which models had the Mtech suspension setup?

Thanks Again

E30 front wheel bearings are integral with the hub. To replace the front bearings you renew the whole hub.
320 saloon front legs should be the same as your 316i ones, but you will need to use the 316 springs because of the lighter 1.6 engine.Keep the 320 springs for when you put in a 6 pot.
Suspension bits you really want are from a 325 saloon or any touring.
316 and 318 touring front suspension will fit straight on complete. 325 saloon, 320 and 325 touring front suspension fits straight on with a spring change.
325 saloon rear suspension fits straight on complete, and 316, 318, 320 and 325 touring rear suspension requires a spring change.

You can buy my IS anti roll bars!

Rear top mounts referred to are the rear damper top mounts at the top of the wheel arches.
E30 ones have a relatively short life, but E46 cabriolet ones 33 52 6 754 096 are much stronger, are a direct replacement, and no more expensive at £10-47 + VAT from your dealer.

Thanks to all for the good advice.

Have to put the suspension mods on hold for the moment as the fuel tank has just sprung a leak! Arrrrse!

Will start a new thread