E46 M3 Newbee - Dont recall them being a stiff ride?

[mpwr321bhp]

Hi All,

after far too many E36's ive finally bought my first E46 M3.

Didnt remember the first one I test drove being so stiff.

Its got 19 inch alloys, and has recently had new rear springs, Ive checked tyre preasures, put 2.3 bar in front and 2.5 in rears, that seems to have made soem inprovments, but its as still as an old evo6 I had for a month?

Just wondered wht other drivers thought.

Running conty sports, 225x40x19 front and 225x35x19 rears

cheers

[dan101smith]

Is it on OEM suspension?

[mpwr321bhp]

supposed to be, had oem rear springs, and rear shocks look original, not looked at front yet.

[outnumbered]

E46 is definitely a lot stiffer than the E36, and 19s also give a bit less comfort than 18s.

If you have 19s, the stock tyres sizes (255/35 and 225/40) are more comfy than the CSL 265/30 and 235/35 sizes that some people fit.

[mpwr321bhp]

cheers. no ive done the tyre presures it seems better, theres some wicked potholes on my work run (

[Vixpy1]

Yes, hard ride with the 19's is normal.

[mpwr321bhp]

After getting the car on the ramps I noticed that the front springs have Eibach on them !!! and they are lowered, so its a little close to the bump stops. Going to look at getting it put back standard at some point.

Thanks for info

John

Edited by mpwr343bhp on Saturday 27th September 22:26

[mpwr321bhp]

Standard springs going back in er this week, so will keep forum posted, if any one cars ;0)

[spen-123]

19" ARE A LOT MORE HARSH RIDE THAN 18" AS I HAVE RUN BOTH BUT 19" LOOK SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER

[ih8thisname]

mpwr321bhp said:

Standard springs going back in er this week, so will keep forum posted, if any one cars ;0)

Please do, I'm an M3 newbee too and have just noticed mines is sitting on Eibach springs all round.

I'm quite enjoying them for now but I'll most probably be looking for some softer ones in the near future!

[mpwr343bhp]

Second hand standard front springs installed, it has lifted the up about 30mm, and the ride is so much better, it smooths out bumps, its still firm but doenst bottom out anymore as it was doing on the eibach springs.

Before

After


The car had its rear eibach springs removed at the last service because they were cracked, so it was sitting on standard rear springs when I bought it, so putting the car back to standard springs on the front has leveled the car up overall. The gaps around the front wheel is now more uniform too.

Edited by mpwr343bhp on Saturday 27th September 22:25

Edited by mpwr343bhp on Saturday 27th September 22:26