Tried the research, Help me please

[new2bmw]

I have an 84 318i that i put bilstein sports and H&R springs on. They have less then 1000km on them. Just bought 91 318i and want to see if i can use the springs and shocks from the 84 on the 91, if anybody can clear this up please let me know, and if no, why.

[iamsam]

tried research? this seems like info that is very easily found. In fact, right on realoem.

The early strut tubes in the 318i were smaller diameter than later, so the front strut inserts won't work, everything else will.

[E30Gus]

Be easy on him...he Canadian :p

[new2bmw]

forgot realoem

i totally forgot that site, musta had beer and bacon grease in my eye. so basically i would need to sell all my springs and shocks as it would not work just putting the billys on the rear and stock up front. I am guessing springs are springs, no probs there.

[new2bmw]

what would happen if i swapped the entireassembly from the 84 318i to the 91 318i? anything major? Just dont want to lose the springs and struts way too expensive and cant afford to buy again.

[jlevie]

I don't know about Canadian models, but I suspect that the 84 doesn't have ABS and that the 91 does. That would preclude a swap of the 84 strut assemblies to to 91 car in my opinion. The springs and rear shocks would swap over, but you front strut inserts for the 91 car.

[new2bmw]

so rear shocks and springs are interchangeable. and you dont think i can put the entire assembly from the 84 onto the 91right? i need this to work as there is no point in doing the rear if the front is staying stock because they wont fit.

[Northern]

the 84 should have non-vented disc brakes up front and drums in the back, along with no abs. Its suspension could be swapped on to the 91 if you delete abs and convert the brake system to function properly without it.

The right thing to do is just buy two new front shocks in the proper size for the 91. It will probably cost less in the long run too.

With the proper shocks and gland nuts (which should come with the shocks), everything else will fit.

[new2bmw]

i looked up the h&r springs and it looks like the ones for the 84 are different then the ones for a 91. looks like i will need to sell my shocks and springs, this sucks but you are right, i can half ass it or do it right. What do you think i can get for a used set of springs and shocks? i might as well sell all four of each so they are all they same age. Like i mentioned though, these have been used for less then 1 summer

[new2bmw]

what the f#$@

wow, have a 51mm on one side and a 46 on the other, how the hell did that shop get my shocks and springs to fit???????????????????????????????