E36 coils after a 5lug swap. WTF???

[SL a.m.>IN]

Alright, im in a huge dilemma. Im planning on doing the 5 lug swap with the 318ti trailing arms. Heres me question/problem, and yes i have searched but cannot get a definite answer.

Will e36 coils fit my e30 in the back? I know the front is no problem but do you have to rig the back for them to fit or whats the deal? I really dont want to mix and match suspensions because most companies don't even sell by pairs. In specific im trying to put DDM Coilovers on. Someone enlighten me and please tell me its possible! and if there is someway to do it, what is it?

Thanks

[Aptyp]

yes

[SL a.m.>IN]

Yes they will fit? Or yes there is a way to do it?

[daniel]

i dont think e36 rear coilovers fit.

you can get a suspension made for the 318ti or z3 or m coupe/roadster, though, and it will fit the front and the rear.

[daniel]

by the way, do you enjoy typing your user name when you log-in to things?

[SL a.m.>IN]

by the way, do you enjoy typing your user name when you log-in to things?

haha yes when i go on another computer that my usernames not saved on it does get pretty annoying.

So 318ti coils it is, thanks daniel

[daniel]

So 318ti coils it is, thanks daniel

the cars i mentioned share the same rear suspension setup as the e30 in terms of shocks and springs, so you don't have to get 318ti stuff.

for example, i am running H&R coilovers for an M coupe on my car.

[SL a.m.>IN]

the cars i mentioned share the same rear suspension setup as the e30 in terms of shocks and springs, so you don't have to get 318ti stuff.

for example, i am running H&R coilovers for an M coupe on my car.

That would mean that if i buy KW or DDM coils for an e36 318ti, or Z3 it would fit perfecly in both the front and back? I just mentioned the 318ti ones because it makes more sense to me since i already have the trailing arms from a 318.
Would it matter if i had 325 or 328 hubs for the front? Or do those have to be from a 318 too?
Thanks

[Jonsku]

Yes they do fit but spring and shock absorber rates might be very different than in E30 coilovers..

[daniel]

coilover kits for the trailing arm cars aren't "true" coilovers in the rear.

as jonsku said, the spring rates are going to be optimized for the cars the suspension is designed for. with that said, i have M coupe coilovers on my car, and i would guess that the F/R weight distribution, especially with the S52 motor, is about the same for both cars (close enough).

[Mossman]

DDM rear shocks don't fit! I thought they would and traded for a used set, rear shock bodies are really chunky and rub on axle boot. Also even with rear adjusters cranked all the way down it's still not very low. The rear adjusters do fit fine but don't bolt in like on e36's. Front's worked fine.

Also spring rate comment may be true but since DDM coilovers aren't optimized for e36 it's not really fair to say, they coulda got lucky and built perfect e30 coils just as likely as perfect e36 ones :)

I don't know about other rear suspension setups, but I ran e36 rear konis for a while and they were fine, but I wasn't exactly dumped, just running e30 m3 springs, might have bottomed out on a bigger drop not sure.

[daniel]

I don't know about other rear suspension setups, but I ran e36 rear konis for a while and they were fine, but I wasn't exactly dumped, just running e30 m3 springs, might have bottomed out on a bigger drop not sure.

as far as i know, you can run the shocks and the springs, but not in a true coilover setup without some modifications.

[Mossman]

well that's okay cuz e36's don't use true coilovers for the same reason, rear shock mount metal can barely handle shock duty forget about the full weight of the car.

Anyways, the general issue with e36 aftermarket rear springs is that they leave an e30 at about stock height. And the issue with e36 rear shocks is why buy them when e30 ones are plentiful and we know they'll have enough travel without bottoming out. My e36 koni experiment went well but i only did it cuz I got a full set of beat looking used konis front and rear for a song and needed the fronts. like I mentioned the rears never gave me trouble though, I just want some top adjust rears and a trade deal came along so I got rid of the e36 konis I had.