How can one tell genuine E30 M3 factory springs apart from regular E30 springs?

[Cobra Jet]

Exactly as stated in the title - How can one tell genuine E30 M3 factory springs apart from regular E30 springs (especially if buying used E30 M3 springs)? I know the E30 M3 springs are shorter, however, that's just obvious... I'm looking for other ways to confirm a set of genuine E30 M3 springs apart from the standard E30 springs, besides using spring heights...

Were there any specific color stampings on the E30 M3 springs from the factory?

Do genuine E30 M3 springs have part numbers cast/stamped on them?

How many coils are found on the front & rear set of E30 M3 springs? Are the coils thicker for an M3?


I searched on here trying to get answers for my above questions, but did not come across any thread in which someone previously asked similar questions or any that had the answers to such questions...

Just trying to find out how to tell genuine E30 M3 springs apart from standard E30 springs... any help is appreciated.

Thx!

[unijoe]

what identifying numbers are your front and rear springs?

[Liam]

That is a really good question.

My first take is probably short of measuring them and knowing the spec you can't, but I'll see what I can find.

Hopefully someone will chime in that has the answer.

[dashboardmonkey]

Stock on the left, E30 ///M3 on right.
Sorry I don't have comparison pics for the rears but it is about the same difference.

[unijoe]

Stock on the left, E30 ///M3 on right.
Sorry I don't have comparison pics for the rears but it is about the same difference.

Can you read the # that's stamped into the end of the coil?

[dashboardmonkey]

Can you read the # that's stamped into the end of the coil?

The stock ones are too dirty to check tonight, and the M3 ones are on the car.

Realoem.com says stock pn is 31331125341

m3 is 31331130043