technical E46 325Ci Shock Replacement Advice

[zyd283]

Hi Guys,

I need to get the shocks replaced on my 2005 E46 325Ci.
Any recommendations on the best brand to fit as well as fitment centers in the Joburg area

Thanks.

 

[VinceM]

I went Bilstein B4 MSport

Happiness it is!

Quite pricier than the non M Sport by R2,000 but well worth it. Koni apparently is another option to look at.
Since it’s a paid up car and I was going diy to save on labour fees I didn’t even consider Gabriel and Monroe, someone commented that they are not bad.

Fitment you have lots of options
I did it myself
You can go to tyre fitment places (Tyres&More, SupaQuick, HQ etc etc)
Or use an indy , plenty options too




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[Coisman]

I have Monroe shocks on my 325i (4 door) and are very happy. Had the work done at Hi-Q here in pretoria

 

[zyd283]

I went Bilstein B4 MSport

Happiness it is!

Quite pricier than the non M Sport by R2,000 but well worth it. Koni apparently is another option to look at.
Since it’s a paid up car and I was going diy to save on labour fees I didn’t even consider Gabriel and Monroe, someone commented that they are not bad.

Fitment you have lots of options
I did it myself
You can go to tyre fitment places (Tyres&More, SupaQuick, HQ etc etc)
Or use an indy , plenty options too




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks for the reply.
How will I know which suspension the Ci came with in order to buy the correct shock?
We checked the vin number and it says it's not the sports suspension.

 

[VinceM]

Yup, VIN number check is the way to go.
Some CI’s didn’t come with sport suspension.


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[zyd283]

Yup, VIN number check is the way to go.
Some CI’s didn’t come with sport suspension.


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Shot, thanks a million

 

[Tinuva]

Yup, VIN number check is the way to go.
Some CI’s didn’t come with sport suspension.


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The 325ci usually did come with sport suspension, even when not listed on the VIN#.

Same for the 330i cars, all of them came with sport suspension as standard and not listed on the vin#.

The only difference is the rear springs and shocks. If you can take a photo of the rear springs, there should be 2 or 3 colored stripes, usually blue or green or yellow or red. Then I can tell you what you have. As for the front, they all had the same shocks and springs. Only the m-sport2 had minor differences like the front control arms.

 

[zyd283]

The 325ci usually did come with sport suspension, even when not listed on the VIN#.

Same for the 330i cars, all of them came with sport suspension as standard and not listed on the vin#.

The only difference is the rear springs and shocks. If you can take a photo of the rear springs, there should be 2 or 3 colored stripes, usually blue or green or yellow or red. Then I can tell you what you have. As for the front, they all had the same shocks and springs. Only the m-sport2 had minor differences like the front control arms.

Thanks for the info. Ill have a look at let you know.

 

[zyd283]

Thanks for the info. Ill have a look at let you

Hope the picture helps

 

[Tinuva]

Hope the picture helps

3 white stripes = sport spring as far as I can tell
3 stripes already means sport suspension but you will find that you probably have white+red stripes on the front springs which is definitely sport springs then all around.

You will want to get the sport shocks at the rear, because if you don't, the non-sport shocks are too long and when you lift the car where the wheels hang, the springs will fall out. So to prevent that annoying problem, get sport shocks.

 

[Tinuva]

just a guess, you have an automatic? I guess that because the stripes are white instead of blue or green on the rear which the manuals have.

 

[zyd283]

3 white stripes = sport spring as far as I can tell
3 stripes already means sport suspension but you will find that you probably have white+red stripes on the front springs which is definitely sport springs then all around.

You will want to get the sport shocks at the rear, because if you don't, the non-sport shocks are too long and when you lift the car where the wheels hang, the springs will fall out. So to prevent that annoying problem, get sport shocks.

Ill have a look at getting those rear shocks sorted.

Just relieved the fronts are all the same.

Thanks Bud