Difference between M3 and 318 suspension?

[Adnan]

Ok, the shocks on my current 318ic are dead. I have the lowering Bavarian Auto springs installed. I was leaning toward purchasing the the Bilstein Touring shocks. My question is: since I might be doing an M3 engine swap in the near future, will the Bilstein touring shock for 318 be able to handle the m3 engine weight. In simple terms would I need to redo the suspension once M3 swap is done?

Thanks in advance for all the info and help,

Adnan

[White36]

bilstein shocks are supposed to last the life of the car.

[Adnan]

so your saying the Bilstein shocks for 318 would be able to handle the m3 engine swap? with no side effects?

[Arman]

With any lowering springs your shocks WILL wear out much faster and you will have to buy new shocks. Stocks will usually last you about a year or so though with aftermarket springs.

As far as doing the Swap, you don't have to get the shocks because of the weight, thats not whats going to wear out your shocks.


If you're gonna spend the money to do a M3 swap, you may as well save your money for a M3. If you do a swap, your breaks won't be able to handle the power, so you will have to do swap your breaks also.

Even if you do breaks, you're still not getting the M3 handling, M3s handling is what makes a M3 a ///M3

I say save your money and look into buying a 95 M3 or something in that rang, you're gonna spend more money converting your car into a M3 and still won't be a M3.

Trust me, I've been there done that.

Just my .02

[White36]

Originally posted by Arman
With any lowering springs your shocks WILL wear out much faster and you will have to buy new shocks. Stocks will usually last you about a year or so though with aftermarket springs.

As far as doing the Swap, you don't have to get the shocks because of the weight, thats not whats going to wear out your shocks.


If you're gonna spend the money to do a M3 swap, you may as well save your money for a M3. If you do a swap, your breaks won't be able to handle the power, so you will have to do swap your breaks also.

Even if you do breaks, you're still not getting the M3 handling, M3s handling is what makes a M3 a ///M3

I say save your money and look into buying a 95 M3 or something in that rang, you're gonna spend more money converting your car into a M3 and still won't be a M3.

Trust me, I've been there done that.

Just my .02

just sell your 318 rather than selling it. If you want an m3, buy one. A 318 is not built for the performance of an m3 engine. Not just suspension and brakes, the body isn't as reinforced, the tranny isn't built to handle the power as well as the clutch rear end, everything. Its one thing to put an m3 engine in a 328 or 325, its another to put it in a 318.

[Adnan]

White36 and Armen,
Thanks for the comments. Ya I guess your both right. That only problem is that I'm in love with the Cabrio and getting M3 cabrio means that I have to get the OBD2 which costs some serious money. Anyhow, I'll start saving up for the real M3 in the mean while i'll just replace the damn shocks and enjoy the 4 banger

thanks guys,

Adnan

[Arman]

Cabrio == If you wanna just pimp and cruise around

///M3 non-conv == If you wanna really wanna drive

[White36]

Originally posted by Arman
Cabrio == If you wanna just pimp and cruise around

///M3 non-conv == If you wanna really wanna drive

96 and later, the 3.2 liter.