[ajrettke]

So my vehicle has 80k miles so it's getting time to replace the suspension. I've been looking at the different coil overs but everyone I've seen always says it lowers the car atleast half an inch or more. Does anyone know of any good replacement coilovers that won't lower the stock RWD car?

[cfm56d7b]

KW Street Comfort coilovers can be set at near OEM height.

Ohlins R&T coilovers can be also set at near OEM height. If Ohlins are within your budget, it's difficult to select a better coilover product.

Incidentally, does your car have M Adaptive suspension?

[ajrettke]

No I don't have the M adaptive. The reason I want to avoid any lowering is right now it's the perfect height to fit over most parking cub lips (not the sidewalk, but those little trapezoid ones in parking lots). Even 10mm of lowering will start to destroy the front lip. My wife drives more car often as well....which is why I'm concerned and can't just be like, oh just be careful!

I appreciate the suggestion, cfm...I was leaning toward street comforts as well..if I do have to lower it.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by ajrettke

No I don't have the M adaptive. The reason I want to avoid any lowering is right now it's the perfect height to fit over most parking cub lips (not the sidewalk, but those little trapezoid ones in parking lots). Even 10mm of lowering will start to destroy the front lip. My wife drives more car often as well....which is why I'm concerned and can't just be like, oh just be careful!

I appreciate the suggestion, cfm...I was leaning toward street comforts as well..if I do have to lower it.

KW Street Comfort coilovers installed in my previous vehicle - 2013 BMW 335i xDrive sedan - performed exceptionally well. I had the same requirement: maintain OEM height as much as possible.

[cfm56d7b]

Speaking of coilovers vs replacement struts: are you considering coilovers only or considering struts such as Bilstein B8?

[ajrettke]

cfm, I'll claim ignorance...I don't truly know what I need. I'm just not sure how long I can expect springs to last. I figured with any mechanical part it's good for so many loading/unloading cycles.

Also, you had an xdrive so you had a little more height to begin with, if it was pretty close, especially if you didn't try to drop it, it might work out good. I'm really just looking to keep this thing going another 5 years without dropping thousands into it!

[cfm56d7b]

If the goal is to restore and slightly improve suspension behavior without significant investment, Bilstein B8 shocks with new OEM springs might be an option.

[WDE82]

Originally Posted by ajrettke

So my vehicle has 80k miles so it's getting time to replace the suspension. I've been looking at the different coil overs but everyone I've seen always says it lowers the car atleast half an inch or more. Does anyone know of any good replacement coilovers that won't lower the stock RWD car?

This is a pretty silly ask.

Just buy OEM shocks and struts and keep the stock springs. Problem solved. And realistically, unless the car is bouncing around, the shocks and struts are probably fine.

Originally Posted by ajrettke

cfm, I'll claim ignorance...I don't truly know what I need. I'm just not sure how long I can expect springs to last. I figured with any mechanical part it's good for so many loading/unloading cycles.

Also, you had an xdrive so you had a little more height to begin with, if it was pretty close, especially if you didn't try to drop it, it might work out good. I'm really just looking to keep this thing going another 5 years without dropping thousands into it!

The springs will out last the rest of the car. When have you ever heard of replacing springs as a regular maintenance item?

[casualDIYer]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

If the goal is to restore and slightly improve suspension behavior without significant investment, Bilstein B8 shocks with new OEM springs might be an option.

Wait, my turn for ignorance here. Isn't the BMW OE Bilstein replacement the B4? The sport shock is the B6 without lowering springs (where lowering springs is defined as anything lower than BMW's springs, which come in multiple models, some lower than others) and the B8 is for lowering springs (which seemed to be defined as any spring not BMW).

[casualDIYer]

Originally Posted by WDE82

This is a pretty silly ask.
The springs will out last the rest of the car. When have you ever heard of replacing springs as a regular maintenance item?

I agree. It's not that it never happens but a broken spring on sedans or coupes seems rare. If you had an SUV/truck, my impression is broken springs are not uncommon.

For the OP, the issue you might want to consider is the cost of labour for a suspension swap, whether it be to OE or after market. Call a BMW dealer and call an indie shop that does BMW and ask about suspension swap options. For many, the OE suspension feel is fine for their needs but I find BMW prices are not competitive with the after market. I've read about and talked to people who get a large bill at the dealer for swapping out struts which I'd define as basic tier suspension. It uses uses older tech, is a jack of all trades model but master of none. For the same amount of money, or even less in some cases, you can get suspension put on the car the corresponds to the next tier up. Non-EDC, no rebound/compression adjustment, but more robust construction, and newer tech.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by casualDIYer

Wait, my turn for ignorance here. Isn't the BMW OE Bilstein replacement the B4? The sport shock is the B6 without lowering springs (where lowering springs is defined as anything lower than BMW's springs, which come in multiple models, some lower than others) and the B8 is for lowering springs (which seemed to be defined as any spring not BMW).

The perils of multitasking ...

The original message should have been worded as B6 shocks with OEM springs.

[alohasurftoad]

retain stock springs and replace original dampers with Koni SA(aka Red). they're not cheap, but will provide much improved ride and handling over OEM dampers.

12-18 3 Series (F30) (F31) 328i, 335i, 335d sedan and touring with OE M-Technik sport susp. excl. Xdrive AWD & EDC - Special Active (Red)

(Front) 8745 1356 $234.36 Each

(Rear) 8245 1357 $194.00 $120.28 Each

[ajrettke]

Thanks all for the input, I went with the Bilstein B8 performance plus shocks+struts...able to get all 4 for $720.

I'll post an update once I get them installed (I'll do it myself, seems pretty simple).

v/r
Aaron