E46 330Ci Shock Absorbers

[Argybargy]

Hi - my 2003 330 Ci is due some new shock absorbers (still on originals). Can anyone advise on suitable replacements? I’m not looking for anything fancy (just OEM spec). I have been advised that Sachs and Monroe suffer from quality issues so I am looking at quality alternatives.

Grateful for any advice.

[danb79]

Argybargy said:

Hi - my 2003 330 Ci is due some new shock absorbers (still on originals). Can anyone advise on suitable replacements? I’m not looking for anything fancy (just OEM spec). I have been advised that Sachs and Monroe suffer from quality issues so I am looking at quality alternatives.

Grateful for any advice.

Zero issues with Sachs; ran them on all my E39s with no problems whatsoever, the last 2 Jap import E39s I had them paired with Eibach pro kit springs, they were spot on

Other than those I'd highly recommend the Bilstein B4S shocks for the M Sport BMWs

You'll be able to source them on Autodoc; but you could try POTN also:

https://www.bilsteinsuspensionstore.co.uk/?gad_sou...

[Argybargy]

Hi

Thanks very much for the advice. Mine is an SE - I will check with the supplier if the Bilsteins are compatible.

[danb79]

Argybargy said:

Hi

Thanks very much for the advice. Mine is an SE - I will check with the supplier if the Bilsteins are compatible.

They will be; you just need the B4 shocks and not the B4S (for M Sport)

I'd still recommend Sachs too

[I-am-the-reverend]

Boge / Sachs (same thing) are the best choice. Original equipment, part of the ZF group.

Bilstein B4's are okay, Monroe not bad.

KYB are dubious. I'm not a fan. TRW is ste.Too many pissing oil out after a year and rusty as an old horsehoe. I've used ECP and GSF budget dampers and they've been fine. But, they won't last 20 years or 100k like the originals.

[Argybargy]

Thankyou all for your advice - much appreciated.

[twokcc]

Used this foe Sachs replacement on my E91.
https://autopartstechnik.co.uk/
Cheapest prices I could find excellent service and really know stuff. Many ads on Ebay were for wrong Sachs replacements

[Maxus]

Many years ago I had the shocks replaced on my E46 convertible at a very reputable specialist. He used Boge. They drove nicely and didn't fail over the c10 years I had them for.

Make sure the right ones are used - there are variations between standard and sport applications although they probably all physically "fit"

[Vizsla]

Thanks all for the useful info, my 2001 E46 330Ci is now at 150K, still on originals, I'm getting the feeling that replacement may be just round the corner!

[rottenegg]

Always had good results with the Bilstein B4 as an OEM alternative and they are cheap as chips. Genuine shocks aren't cheap and generally only last until 70K miles. Not necessarily pissing fluid out but all the gas escapes and they feel floaty and tired.

I think AutoDoc have a UK warehouse now because the last 3 deliveries I've had from them this year arrived 2-3 days after placing the order, vs 1-2 weeks previously.

[Argybargy]

Vizsla said:

Thanks all for the useful info, my 2001 E46 330Ci is now at 150K, still on originals, I'm getting the feeling that replacement may be just round the corner!

Mine is on the originals and it has done over 200K miles. There’s some slight misting hence the search for replacements. Shows how good the originals were!

[I-am-the-reverend]

Argybargy said:

Mine is on the originals and it has done over 200K miles. There’s some slight misting hence the search for replacements. Shows how good the originals were!

Boge Sachs are still the best dampers money can buy. A few years back I fitted new fronts to a 130,000 mile Saab 9-5 for a customer. The slightly crusty originals came off, some new KYB's went on as part of a 'refresh' *.
The old Sachs were still as strong as a horse. And, a month later, they went back on. The KYB's were too stiff.

• fixing something that isn't broken.

[danb79]

I-am-the-reverend said:

Argybargy said:

Mine is on the originals and it has done over 200K miles. There’s some slight misting hence the search for replacements. Shows how good the originals were!

Boge Sachs are still the best dampers money can buy. A few years back I fitted new fronts to a 130,000 mile Saab 9-5 for a customer. The slightly crusty originals came off, some new KYB's went on as part of a 'refresh' *.
The old Sachs were still as strong as a horse. And, a month later, they went back on. The KYB's were too stiff.

• fixing something that isn't broken.

^^^ This

The 2 Japanese import E39 530i Sport touring and 540i Sport saloon cars I had were both on all original Sachs shocks when I got them (530i in 2019 and 540i in 2022); replaced them with Sachs sport spec shocks and Eibach pro kit springs. They suit the car well and that's why I'd always recommend them

[Vizsla]

Argybargy said:

Vizsla said:

Thanks all for the useful info, my 2001 E46 330Ci is now at 150K, still on originals, I'm getting the feeling that replacement may be just round the corner!

Mine is on the originals and it has done over 200K miles. There’s some slight misting hence the search for replacements. Shows how good the originals were!

Yes, I honestly believe that the E46, 330i era was 'peak BMW'. Had my car from new and very few problems other than the usual cooling bits and bobs around 100K and a refurbed ABS unit at 140K. Timing chain, clutch, exhaust, ignition coils, injectors, shocks, most sensors etc still originals.

My 2012 E91 4-pot touring on the other hand ............... no problems at all up to 70K and then ..............new timing chain at 70K ('they last for the lifetime of the engine, sir'), new NOX sensor (£££'s), camshaft sensors (both, one twice), all 4 ignition coil packs, both drive shafts and associated ABS sensors, refurbed ABS unit. Hmmmm.

[Argybargy]

Vizsla said:

Argybargy said:

Vizsla said:

Thanks all for the useful info, my 2001 E46 330Ci is now at 150K, still on originals, I'm getting the feeling that replacement may be just round the corner!

Mine is on the originals and it has done over 200K miles. There’s some slight misting hence the search for replacements. Shows how good the originals were!

Yes, I honestly believe that the E46, 330i era was 'peak BMW'. Had my car from new and very few problems other than the usual cooling bits and bobs around 100K and a refurbed ABS unit at 140K. Timing chain, clutch, exhaust, ignition coils, injectors, shocks, most sensors etc still originals.

My 2012 E91 4-pot touring on the other hand ............... no problems at all up to 70K and then ..............new timing chain at 70K ('they last for the lifetime of the engine, sir'), new NOX sensor (£££'s), camshaft sensors (both, one twice), all 4 ignition coil packs, both drive shafts and associated ABS sensors, refurbed ABS unit. Hmmmm.

Totally agree that the E46 330i era was ‘peak BMW’. Mine has covered 200K miles without requiring serious mechanical attention. The interior is still fresh and free of rattles. The doors have a certain heft and quality feel to them. By comparison my F20 1 series feels a bit cheap and flimsy in parts. You can see and feel where the accountants stuck their noses in and dialled back the quality. This stuff doesn’t matter so much when a car is three years old but 10+ years down the line it does.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Hi. Off topic but asking as you guys seem knowledgeable. I’ve just picked up a 2006 330i cab in Spain. Loads of miles but great nick.
Only niggle I have is that the steering is quite heavy. Works fine and quite precise but more work than most. Is this just the way they are? Were some made without PAS. Thanks.

[The Conflated Outlier]

It might be the power steering pump but if it's failed then the steering will be incredibly heavy as in almost undrivable. The pump that fails is the LF20 which has a rounded almost domed rear casing. The LF30 has a flat rear casing and they never fail. In typical BMW fashion, the LF20 was the later 'improved' version.

They started fitting the LF20 around 2002 iirc. The pump shaft snaps internally.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Thanks for that. Definitely not undriveable. Just heavier than I’m used to. Maybe that’s the way things were 18 years ago??

[Argybargy]

As a footnote I ended up buying the Bilstein B4s. I struggled to find a supplier who had a full set of Sachs or Boge dampers.

Found a good supplier on Ebay for the Bilsteins at a very fair price.

I didn’t think the car used to feel tired or saggy on the original dampers but with the Bilsteins fitted the car feels transformed!

Very pleased. Thanks for all the advice.

[rottenegg]

Argybargy said:

As a footnote I ended up buying the Bilstein B4s. I struggled to find a supplier who had a full set of Sachs or Boge dampers.

Found a good supplier on Ebay for the Bilsteins at a very fair price.

I didn’t think the car used to feel tired or saggy on the original dampers but with the Bilsteins fitted the car feels transformed!

Very pleased. Thanks for all the advice.

A good result there. Can't go wrong with Bilstein really.

Likewise, my 2016 F30 drove OK, or so I thought because the original dampers were absolutely shot at 70K miles, more so the rear ones. And weirdly the driver's side rear being the worst as all the bumps are usually on the nearside.