what shocks

[Spoiler]

My daily driver E46 318i touring has 190k km and the shocks are barely doing what they are supposed to. Ive personally done about 105k km of them.

I am looking for suggestions on what to replace them with. Apart from doing the basic damping, I'd like the car to be a bit firmer.

As far as I am concerned, the E46 without sports suspension is a dog of handler, squishy and not the same by a far stratch as an E36 - even a bone stock one - which had superb sports saloon handling. What I wil say in the E46 is a beaut on bumpy roads especially dirt, so its not all bad, but the on road driving pleasure took a serious retrgrade step with this chassis IMO.

I do not really want to replace springs or lower the car but am open to suggestions on a handling improvements that go beyond shocks. I have replaced my previous 2 3 series models shocks with Gas Ryders before and found them adequate but not as good as OEM.

Any suggestions guys?

 

[moranor@axis]

good shocks go a long way on the e46 the rear makes the most difference... what dont you like about the e46 when compared to the e36? there are lots of things you can do, but unless you isolate a little more you going to spend lots before you get what you want out of the car...

 

[Spoiler]

Okay here goes - my e36 was far stiffer without sports suspension. Cornering was brilliant and you could always feel exactly where and what the front wheels were doing and all this on 60 profile tyres.

The E46 is vague in comparison, has a dead spot around centre (very irritating on the freeway) and lacks steering precision (or so it seems). It is also very softly sprung - a bonus on dirt - so I dont want it too firm as I do drive on dirt roads a few times a year. I think much of my current disatisfaction is the old shocks, but even with new ones I think I'll be longing for some better handling.

I do also own a lowered koni sport equipped 02 MX5 which is a handling god compared to the e46... Not looking for that, just a bit more resistance from the suspension and perhaps less body roll on entering a corner.

Thanks for the help!

 

[moranor@axis]

i would get the shocks 1st seeing as you are sure you dont want to lower it...

as for the dead steering if you have a 2001 model you most lightly have the Luk LF30 power steering pump changing to the Luk LF20 pump will give you more feel...

other than that the only other thing you can do for more feel at the front is get some camber plates and increase caster a bit or fit polly lower control arm bushes(the bushes will affect the ride quality)

i would not get stiffer sway bars without stiffer springs 1st so i dont think thats an option for you...