Suspension - Advice needed!!

[tarintino]

Hi all,

I have a touring e46, 325i and needless to say the steering and handling arent exactly sharp and rigid - I would like to stiffen up the suspension a bit without lowering it and I would like to be able to corner without falling out of the sunroof - help please!!

 

[ClassicB]

Common failure on the E46's are Lower control arm bushes, have them checked out

 

[tarintino]

Common failure on the E46's are Lower control arm bushes, have them checked out

Hey Prini,

I have already replaced lower control arms and bushes and everythign else is 100% there - thinking about replacing the sway bars with stiffer ones and perhaps a strut brace - what do you think?

 

[whattingh]

Get all your suspension check, front and back.

Maybe get an strut brace.

 

[sclass]

Sway bars don't fail (usually), otherwise you'd be getting clunking sounds. Swaybar links however do wear out. Maybe look into changing those first...swaybars AREN'T cheap...

When last did you change your shocks???

 

[tarintino]

Sway bars don't fail (usually), otherwise you'd be getting clunking sounds. Swaybar links however do wear out. Maybe look into changing those first...swaybars AREN'T cheap...

When last did you change your shocks???

The shocks are still original - had them tested and apparently they are fine - i called BMW on Friday and they want 570rand plus VAT for each sway bar link (they must be mixing HTH in the crack cocaine those guys are smoking) :rollsmile:

I can get performance sway bar links for $30 in the US and I will check what they price a sway bar for as well.

What does a strut brace for an e46 go for these days and where is a good place to get one in Cape Town?

 

[Twinz]

How many Ks on your e46? Shocks/springs are the things that come to mind that may need replacement....

Performance Swaybars & strutbrace will improve handling for sure :thumbs:

 

[tarintino]

How many Ks on your e46? Shocks/springs are the things that come to mind that may need replacement....

Performance Swaybars & strutbrace will improve handling for sure :thumbs:

Hey Twinz,

she is on 152K at the moment:thumbs:

 

[Legacy]

How many Ks on your e46? Shocks/springs are the things that come to mind that may need replacement....

Performance Swaybars & strutbrace will improve handling for sure :thumbs:

Hey Twinz,

she is on 152K at the moment:thumbs:

Then the shocks should be totally pap. There is no way the original shocks has lasted 152k km on our roads in SA.

 

[tarintino]

How many Ks on your e46? Shocks/springs are the things that come to mind that may need replacement....

Performance Swaybars & strutbrace will improve handling for sure :thumbs:

Hey Twinz,

she is on 152K at the moment:thumbs:

Then the shocks should be totally pap. There is no way the original shocks has lasted 152k km on our roads in SA.

thats what I thought, guess no one wants to touch the shocks as they are agents ONLY.:yuck:

 

[moranor@axis]

you got plenty choices with shocks you talking to the wrong people tell us where you based and someone should be able to tell you where to go

 

[tarintino]

you got plenty choices with shocks you talking to the wrong people tell us where you based and someone should be able to tell you where to go

I'm based in Cape Town - gone to see a few folks and they all told me agents only.

 

[moranor@axis]

they talking kak thats all there is to it... im sure someone from CPT can recommend a place for you... I would go for bilstein shocks they are very good value for money...

hell you could get a set of coil overs for the price that you would spend at the stealers

 

[tarintino]

quote='moranor' pid='274119' dateline='1323674415']
they talking kak thats all there is to it... im sure someone from CPT can recommend a place for you... I would go for bilstein shocks they are very good value for money...

hell you could get a set of coil overs for the price that you would spend at the stealers
[/quote]

Thanks Moranor,

Yeah, the last place I want to go is to the stealers:thumbdo:

Any fellow Captonians out there that can assist on where to find bilstein shocks? :thumbs: