Blistens with M3 springs?

[MitchFong]

I know this is not what most of you would want, but you have no idea where i live and the road conditions would make you puke. Anyways, looking for a bit stiffer ride without losing to much height. I have m3 springs currently with stock shocks and struts but i am looking to invest in some blistens and leave my m3 springs. Would the car be significantly lower or be the same height with a stiffer ride? Or would i not notice a difference and would you suggest i go with some h&r's or something instead?

Im just trying to figure out a way to improve my cars handling without losing to much more ride height. Pot holes here are like craters and the roads are just killed from salt in general.
Thanks guys, appreciate your input.
Mitch

[KenC]

Bilstein HDs would be your best be probably. They have the same stiffness as the Sports, just not as low... which would match up well with the M3 springs most likely.

[parkerbink]

I have Bilstein touring & M3 springs it is lower & stiffer than it was and the car handles very nicely.

[PeaveyBassist]

H&R OE Sports with Bilstein Sports.

Will

[MitchFong]

That looks to be about the height i would like to have my car at. Seems like the way i will be going, thanks for the input guys.

[1991 318is]

40 miles of bad road.

I have m3 springs currently with stock shocks and struts but i am looking to invest in some blistens and leave my m3 springs. Would the car be significantly lower or be the same height with a stiffer ride?
Thanks guys, appreciate your input.
Mitch

Same height with a stiffer ride. I'd go with OEM Boge with the stock springs if the roads are really that bad. For bad road you need compliance. Soft springs and shocks with maybe a beefier bar to cut down on body roll in the turns. Sports/race type shocks will "bang" on the bumps and potholes. Shocks won't change ride height.

[Digitalwave]

If anything its going to raise your ride height because stock shocks tend to sag.

I think Bilstein HDs or Sports with M3 springs would be a nice setup. A little over-dampened but it would handle good and keep you from scraping a lot.

[MitchFong]

Parkers car is sitting lower than mine is currently with stock shocks and m3 springs. Maybe ill get some stage III's aswell, but im gunna give it a shot with the m3 springs first and see how that goes. Lots of good opinions guys, thanks alot.

[Digitalwave]

Parkers car is a 325i cabrio, it'll sit a little bit lower from the added weight. Your car is a 318 right?

[1990m3]

I had bilstein sports with stock M3 springs on my M3 for about 6 months. Ride was excellent and handling was nice, of course that was compared to my stock 12 year old shocks at the time. Bilstein sports are the way to go, they don't sell Bilstein HD's for M3's, which means they are telling you to use the sports.

[MitchFong]

Parkers car is a 325i cabrio, it'll sit a little bit lower from the added weight. Your car is a 318 right?

Nope, 325. I figured mine would sit a little lower if anything. Or be about the same. THinking about getting a set of blistiens being sold on the board but they have 10k on them. Few people have been telling me thats a fair bit. Also, the fronts are for early model e30s and they said that using the spacers to fit the late model 51mm makes them a bit more sloppy? Any one have any input on this?
Thanks

[Digitalwave]

I wouldn't use 45mm struts on your car. Bilsteins are cheap anyways.

You're call will sit about the same as parkers, maybe not as low in the rear.

[Minkee]

Nope, 325. I figured mine would sit a little lower if anything. Or be about the same. THinking about getting a set of blistiens being sold on the board but they have 10k on them. Few people have been telling me thats a fair bit. Also, the fronts are for early model e30s and they said that using the spacers to fit the late model 51mm makes them a bit more sloppy? Any one have any input on this?
Thanks

I was hoping someone could give me a little clarity on this too..

Can I use normal strut size, or do I need to use the 51mm with my m3 springs? Besides just the struts, what else would I need to get them in? I've done suspension on Nissans, but everything is a little different on a bmw so I'm still learning. I drive a 318i and I don't expect a huge drop on the car, but I'm looking for a slightly improved handling for my daily driver. I shouldn't need anything but struts and the springs right guys?

[Digitalwave]

You should be fine with struts and springs unless the bushings in your suspension are shot.

Only the 1984-85 318i uses 45mm struts, everything else is 51mm.

[RBBJ325is]

My 'is' is sitting on M3 springs and Bilstien HD's. I really like the ride and the handling is great. I live in New Hampshire, and we have some roads that are pretty rough, but this set-up is no problem.