Hi...I just picked up a set of used E30 M3 Springs for $50. The guy also threw in a pair of front used shocks that came off the E30 M3 when he put his new shocks in. His E30 M3 had only 87,000 miles on it and he was upgrading to a KONI suspension system (springs + shocks).
I have researched a lot of this but have some questions:
1. What manufacturer madethe OEM shocks for the 88 E30 M3? He thought he was giving me Bilsteins but I looked at them carefully and they are Boge 0201-32-381A it is also stamped BMW 2-225-397123 made in Germany. I know that Boge makes the OEM springs for the regular E30, but did the E30 M3 also come with Boge's? If so, are they a special sport spring, and/or would they be any good after 87,000 miles? I tested both for retraction and they retract slowly...not sure if slow is good or not.
When I had originally thought that they were going to be Bilsteins, and I remembered that Bilstein had a lifetime warranty, I thought great I'll use those the "bonus" shocks with the E30 M3 springs that I bought from him. (Right now I have Monroe's from Sears in the front which have got to go-my rears are already upgraded to Bilstein Sport bought new from BavAuto).
I do have what I think is a better alternative - my parts car has 1-year old Bilstein HD's and I am now leaning toward using those with the M3 springs - I know they are not Bilstein sports but I read on the forums that the M3 springs can be used with Bilstein HD's since the M3 springs don't drop too much compared to genuine lowering springs...am I right?
It's going to be a pain to have to go in and get them out of my parts car (it is something I still might fix up to sell) -- but...when I am in there and have removed those HD Bilsteins...would it be better to put the old Boge's
or old Monroe's back in there (the Monroe's are 5 years old)
The story on the monroe's is...At the time I had just paid like $3,000 for AC and my BMW mechanic told me to put in Bilsteins and I thought he was trying to rip me off and I couldn't afford it - henceI went to sears - in the end I had to buy new strut inserts for like $300 for the pair from my BMW mechanic and then drive them over to sears to have the sears
guy finish the job....shouldve just gone with my mechanic in the first place...
2. Is there any way to verify that these springs came from an M3....maybe I can get someone on the forum to bring over their stock springs from an E30 and look at them next to my new used M3 springs...
I can't see any markings on them and they are not a special color such as red green or purple...but I think that is normal...
3. The guy was telling me that for his Koni install he had to pour oil into the strut inserts to bathe the shock in a light coat of oil - is that true for my front springs on my eta ... do I need to be doing that..
Sorry for the naive questions but while i have now mastered DIY rear shocks it is time to delve into fronts..any tips for removal and installation appreciated......
I have researched a lot of this but have some questions:
1. What manufacturer madethe OEM shocks for the 88 E30 M3? He thought he was giving me Bilsteins but I looked at them carefully and they are Boge 0201-32-381A it is also stamped BMW 2-225-397123 made in Germany. I know that Boge makes the OEM springs for the regular E30, but did the E30 M3 also come with Boge's? If so, are they a special sport spring, and/or would they be any good after 87,000 miles? I tested both for retraction and they retract slowly...not sure if slow is good or not.
When I had originally thought that they were going to be Bilsteins, and I remembered that Bilstein had a lifetime warranty, I thought great I'll use those the "bonus" shocks with the E30 M3 springs that I bought from him. (Right now I have Monroe's from Sears in the front which have got to go-my rears are already upgraded to Bilstein Sport bought new from BavAuto).
I do have what I think is a better alternative - my parts car has 1-year old Bilstein HD's and I am now leaning toward using those with the M3 springs - I know they are not Bilstein sports but I read on the forums that the M3 springs can be used with Bilstein HD's since the M3 springs don't drop too much compared to genuine lowering springs...am I right?
It's going to be a pain to have to go in and get them out of my parts car (it is something I still might fix up to sell) -- but...when I am in there and have removed those HD Bilsteins...would it be better to put the old Boge's
or old Monroe's back in there (the Monroe's are 5 years old)
The story on the monroe's is...At the time I had just paid like $3,000 for AC and my BMW mechanic told me to put in Bilsteins and I thought he was trying to rip me off and I couldn't afford it - henceI went to sears - in the end I had to buy new strut inserts for like $300 for the pair from my BMW mechanic and then drive them over to sears to have the sears
guy finish the job....shouldve just gone with my mechanic in the first place...
2. Is there any way to verify that these springs came from an M3....maybe I can get someone on the forum to bring over their stock springs from an E30 and look at them next to my new used M3 springs...
I can't see any markings on them and they are not a special color such as red green or purple...but I think that is normal...
3. The guy was telling me that for his Koni install he had to pour oil into the strut inserts to bathe the shock in a light coat of oil - is that true for my front springs on my eta ... do I need to be doing that..
Sorry for the naive questions but while i have now mastered DIY rear shocks it is time to delve into fronts..any tips for removal and installation appreciated......
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