Spark plug socket for 318IS & suspension question.

[tomstickland]

Do I need some fancy long and skinny spark plug wrench for the 318IS?

Also I've got new lower arms and top mounts here. I had a quick look at the suspension tonight and it looks simple enough to swap these parts over. Are they any points I should beware of? I've done a fair amount of suspension work before so I'm not too scared by it.

[Jhonno]

lower arms will be fun to get off..

[tim_s]

tool for spark plugs should be in the bm toolkit in the boot. normal (small) spark plug wrench and extension will do it. bolt for inner ball joint is a bit of a pig to get to, but other than that everything else should be plain sailing suspension/arm wise. some e30 control arm bushes would be good to do while down there, you'll prolly wanna do them later anyway and at least this way you dont have to get it aligned twice!

[tomstickland]

I'm not very familiar with the suspension yet, so I'll start by replacing all the bits I've got and then do the others some other time.
Since I'm going to have to compress the springs so I can do the top mounts then I might as well fit new dampers? What do you reckon to the Ԛ£52 Boge jobbies from GSF?

[tim_s]

dunno about the boge dampers really. mine had some boge ones on the rear when i bought it, think they were quite new, after a yr or so because it felt a bit wobbly at the rear and looked to be sagging i changed the rear top mounts for e46 m3 ones only to find the shocks were shot. both shocks were stuffed. have koni adjustables now
haven't heard any other bad reports though really. do you not think its likely you'll want better later though? make sure they're designed for the iS too, they're probably different to the 6 pots cos of the lighter engine (although 6 pot shocks will fit) yet have a larger diameter than the other 4 pot ones.
i think if i was you i'd do the control arms, top mounts and get e30 m3 control arm bushes (stiffer and offset to improve turn-in). then all the bushes are done ready for changing the suspension at a later date.

[Jhonno]

i think BMW are quite reasonable for proper Bilstein M-tech shocks..