M3 Springs with Bilstein Sports??

[FrustratedMunky]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a mild drop for daily driving on the 318IS. I picked up a set of M3 springs a while ago and haven't installed them yet. I'm probably going to be expecting about a 1" drop in the front and same in the rear, but I'll be running them without spring pads in the front but leaving them in in the rear (Do you guys think this is a good idea?). I read some past threads and they were recommending Bilstein HD's to go with the M3 springs.

Is it possible to run Bilstein Sports instead of the HD's with the M3 springs? What would the difference be in ride comfort and stiffness? What would you recommend? The reason why I want to get Sports instead of HD's is because it's much easier to find Sports than HD's so I could get them for cheaper (used).

Thanks in advance.

[KenC]

You're only going to get about a 1/2" drop with the 318 on the M3 springs. The sports are MUCH stiffer than the HDs, especially the front struts.

[Bill 84 318i]

You're only going to get about a 1/2" drop with the 318 on the M3 springs. The sports are MUCH stiffer than the HDs, especially the front struts.

HD's and Sports have the same valving.

[KenC]

You're only going to get about a 1/2" drop with the 318 on the M3 springs. The sports are MUCH stiffer than the HDs, especially the front struts.

HD's and Sports have the same valving.

So the sports are just taller? I guess Ive been misinformed...

[Bill 84 318i]

You're only going to get about a 1/2" drop with the 318 on the M3 springs. The sports are MUCH stiffer than the HDs, especially the front struts.

HD's and Sports have the same valving.

So the sports are just taller? I guess Ive been misinformed...

The Sports are allegedly shorter, but I don't know what that means. I'd want to see HD's and Sports both compressed all the way - I can't imagine the bumpstop on HD's is much longer than the bumpstop on the Sports.

[nando]

the sports are shorter, that's the only difference. they might have the same travel, but the body of the sport is shorter at least. if they weren't shorter then everyone with a 325ix and lowering springs would be using HDs instead of konis (as there is no ix sport for the front). but they generally don't since they usually end up blowing them out.

[Jared K]

Wow, there is potentially a lot of misinformation in this thread.

Let me tell you what I heard...I have not set the shocks next to each other to compare.
Sports and HD have the exact same valving (same stiffness).
Sports have a 1" shortened shaft, but the same length body.
Therefore, the sports are shorter when extended, but both shocks are the same length when compressed.

The reason the Sports are shortened is so that your lowering springs won't fall out of the perches when you perform a Dukes of Hazzard style jump.

If you use sports with your OE springs, you could lift a wheel during hard cornering when the shock reaches it's 1" shorter extended length.

Finally, the 318is is already lowered compared to a regular 318. Now, you will lower it a little more with the M3 springs. Your total lowering vs a 318 is probably less than 1". So I would guess that either shock will work perfectly well.

Regarding the spring pads, their purpose is to protect the spring & seats from paint damage and the resulting corrosion and to prevent noise. People claim to have removed the pads without problems. However, I would suggest you leave them in. They are so thin I can't imagine a noticeable difference in ride height.

Jared K

[318driver]

I would get the sports if i were you. you never know, one day you might want to go lower and change springs. you dont want to be stuck with the HDs if that happens.

[FrustratedMunky]

I would get the sports if i were you. you never know, one day you might want to go lower and change springs. you dont want to be stuck with the HDs if that happens.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.
If I can't find a cheap set of H&R's or Eibach's, I'll just install Bilstein Sports with the M3 springs that I have now for a temporary solution, or try my best to sell them off somewhere to add to my suspension bank :D But we'll see how that goes. I was looking at previous threads and there was this white 318IS without springpads all around and it say very nicely in my opinion (especially for just M3 springs) so I decided to maybe try and do what he did and not put spring pads in the front (my rear is low enough because of car audio).
I guess it depends on how much everything is in the end, maybe I can get the girlfriend or parents to get me some of these parts for Christmas (Oh how I love Christmas)