How to order right shocks for a 318i?

[The München Monster]

Hey guys, wanting to order a full set of Bilstein sport shocks as I'm doing an M30 swap soon. What's this i hear about 318i shocks being a different length than other e30 shocks? You guys have to school me, I don't know much about them. How can I be assured the expensive shocks I'll be buying from the us or germany will fit my 86 318i coupe? Also any advice on shocks or suspension for an M30 swap? Thanks!

[Swanny]

Strut housings are smaller. Do yourself a favor and grab the I suspension. Don't the early 318s only have drums in the rear? A proper I swap will net you larger strut housings and disk brakes all the way around.

[jeffnhiscars]

North American m10 cars have 45mm front strut housings although if you are getting Bilstein sports they are valved the same as the 51mm struts. The only difference up front besides the diameter is that the larger housings came with vented front rotors. If that matters, you may be able to just do a caliper and rotor swap and keep the smaller housings, but I'm not 100% sure on this point. If you get the smaller strut insert then swap in the larger housings later you can get an adaptor gland nut for the cartridges and still use them.

As for the rears, the drum>disc swap requires changing the TAs and brake cables etc but either way the rear shocks are the same.

[The München Monster]

What if I have a German M10 car? Still 45 mm? So if I order off of say pelican parts or Amazon and it says it will match my car I should trust that?

[MR 325]

I wouldn't trust either of those. I'd go check what you have.

[lukeADE335i]

Run a set of verniers over the outside of the strut housing. We have old cars, there's no way to know exactly what's there. I've had various e30s & all of them had the 51mm housings, even cars that 'should' have had the 45mm ones.


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[jeffnhiscars]

Actually the 45mm housing have the gland nut threads on the outside whereas the 51's are threaded on the inside so you can tell just by looking