I recently bought a 318is and i have noticed the suspension is becoming more and more wooley. This could be due to age but me getting my little mits on it and ragging the nuts out of it is probably more likely an explanation!
The little 4 pot doesn't have much go, I'd like to compensate in the handling department, especially since i plan to fit a more powerful engine of some sort when funds allow.
Since there is already a car in the range that has amazing handling, i'd like to emulate it. The E30 M3 was developed as a race car so the suspension geometry and rates are more likely to suit me. I dont mind a firm ride quality as long as it is right for the road and not just the 'track' (or asda carparks to use the chav term).
Can anyone give me the exact suspension specifications and measurements for the E30 M3 and the E30 318is? I have some understanding of suspensions and handling from Uni and am very interested.
Before I start buying parts I would like to know the differences between the M3 setup and the standard E30. Can anyone tell me the parts that are common to both, and which parts are unique to the M3?
From what I can gather:
The M3 is 5 stud. Front hubs from an E28 5 series will fit any strut for the M3 or 318is. They give the same geometry and brakes but have different ABS rings ( I dont have ABS anyway so that wouldn't be a problem).
The M3 has same diameter ARB's but pick up on struts.. Would I just need to fit the M3 droplinks or the whole ARB's.. Has anyone done this? How much/how easy to find are they?
The M3 Has wider track...This is due to the hubs front and rear right?
From what I can gather I can buy dampers and springs that are intended for M3's as they will fit straight onto my car, before or after I go to M3 hubs and rear wishbones..Is this correct?
I plan to fit poly bushes with offset controll arm bushes at the front. Apart from this, did the M3 have any other offset/different bushes? The topmounts for example.. Are they increase Camber/Castor on the M3? I did plan to fit E46 M3 cabrio rear topmounts and Z3 plates. Would it be a good idea to fit any adjustable bushes to the rear to adjust camber/toe on the rear for a drop of 25 - 30 mm max?
Is the rear subframe on the M3 the same as the normal E30? I understand the Gruppe A cars had the option of 2, one with 15 degrees of rear sweep (same as all other e30's) or one with 12 degrees (to give better dynamic camber and toe changes throughout the suspension travel). Is the M3 normally 15 or 12 degrees of semi trailing arm sweep?
Can I fit Z3 or E36 compact rear wishbones? IE are they the same dimensions as the M3 ones and are the brakes as big? They are easyer to get hold of after all.
Are there any nice 15" or 16" wheels from any model that will fit the 5 stud and are light and cheap? Are standard E36 etc wheels the correct offset for E30 M3's?
And finally, which dampers and springs to go for..
Eibach springs seem very good.. What about Apex? A friend has put them on his M3.
Which dampers? Was thinking Bilstien Sprint dampers as a friend can get them cheap and they seem very robust (the shaft for the damper is massive). Friends have Koni adjustable's and rave about them. Gaz shocks are new and seem to be good. I have no experience of them but they are adjustable, zinc coated and cheap.
Many thanks for reading this and for any help...
Jai Stanley
)