My BMW E46 330i - advice anyone

[Mr I]

So I really like my car and over the next 12 months I'd like to get some things to improve performance, not really interested in going faster, just things that will improve handling, road holding etc. Anyone got any experience of this?

[Bouncer]

i know nothing of working/improving cars, i just like to drive. lol.

newbiechris may know.

[Bouncer]

hey you ever seen that show wheeler dealers? i love that show. ed can fix anything.

[Mr I]

fair enough not like its a car forum, I already posted on e46fanatics anyway

[ROCKETW19]

Yep chris knows BMWs but e46 fans will give you more info then you can ever ask for.

[dna9488]

So I really like my car and over the next 12 months I'd like to get some things to improve performance, not really interested in going faster, just things that will improve handling, road holding etc. Anyone got any experience of this?

Basically what Rado was saying.

Springs, coilovers, shocks, struts, front & rear sway bars, Michelin Pilot Sport tires

[NewbieChris]

Spending?

the best set up I had on an e46 was Koni coil-overs with eibach pro springs (mildly redundant), Dinan front strut brace, H&R adjustable rear swaybar, and reinforced rear subfame.

Currently it is sitting on a Dinan Stage 2 suspension ... kinda, its more sitting on jack stands than anything else.

I've also had Eibach coilovers on it, but they weren't the best.

I've never had bilstein sports on an e46, but I have had them on two other cars. They were decent and with Eibach lowering springs the car looked and road nice.

Did your car have the sport suspension initially?

[Mr I]

Wow, thanks lads, so much there and I don't understand all of it but common sense tells me round abouts what they are, I'm not interested in going any faster or stressing the engine or reducing the loggevity of the car in any way, just want stuff that will improve it without pimping it and want the things that give you the most value for money.

So front Strut braces then - I assume these strengthen the front of the car and reduce body roll, mine isn't a convertable so would this still improve it also is this the same thing as a sway bar?

Springs, is that the same as coils? and how much do springs actually get used or is it more important to get shocks/dampers, I don't want to ruin the ride, just improve cornering so don't want a rock hard ride and definately don't want to drop it (suspension) as don't want to look like a wanabe gangster


Whats a tie rod, I'd prefer if one of you explains than googling?

And whats a coilover


Is a front sway bar the same as a strut brace and where would a rear sway bar go exactly

In terms of brakes I don't want to make servicing ultra expensive so no Brembo's for me so whats the best bang for you buck?

Don't want to spend fortunes, just want to improve a little

[Villa]

If you don't want to stiffen up the ride too much and improve handling then I suggest a simple springs/shocks upgrade. I believe H&R make a spring that is stiffer but doesn't lower the car much, and Bilstein shocks compliment them well. If you want a bit more then add sway bars and new bushings all around in addition to a front strut brace. Sway bars are different from strut bars. As far as brakes, you can get cross drilled/slotted rotors and higher quality brake pads with stainless steel brake lines and it really won't break the bank.....if anything it might save you $$$ in the long run. All said and done you can upgrade to all listed above for about $1000-1200. Good luck.

[NewbieChris]

Coilovers with the struts are a waste of $$$....Get the kit; it's the same shit...The get the strut seperate....

Buying coilovers and replacing the springs can be said to be a waste of $$, but some people like things the way they like them. I'm one of them

[NewbieChris]

Wow, thanks lads, so much there and I don't understand all of it but common sense tells me round abouts what they are, I'm not interested in going any faster or stressing the engine or reducing the loggevity of the car in any way, just want stuff that will improve it without pimping it and want the things that give you the most value for money.

What year 330 is it? Did you have the sport package initially? These are factors to determine how stiff the car is currently and where you want to take it. Early e46 have a problem. With a stiff suspension and driven hard the rear subframe developes stress fractures. Torsion forces on the lower body cause them with stiff suspensions. That being said, there is really nothing you are going to do, it sound like, that will make this occur or shorten the cars life.

So front Strut braces then - I assume these strengthen the front of the car and reduce body roll, mine isn't a convertable so would this still improve it also is this the same thing as a sway bar?

No, sway bars control body roll, strut brace makes the car more rigid and creates less torsion on the body of the vehicle.

Springs, is that the same as coils? and how much do springs actually get used or is it more important to get shocks/dampers, I don't want to ruin the ride, just improve cornering so don't want a rock hard ride and definately don't want to drop it (suspension) as don't want to look like a wanabe gangster

A coil is a type of spring. It is the type of spring your car has.

Spring generally last forever. You could use your stock spring on upgraded shocks. Shocks however, need to replaced or remanufactured after time. Stock shocks should last around 80k-100k on the e46. If you just wants shocks Bilstein sports ride great on BMWs. The simplest way to explain the difference between a spring and shock, a shock controls the upward motion of the car and the spring controls the downward motion. NOW, that is not completely true, but its the easiest way for a novice to understand what those two components do in a suspension.

And whats a coilover

A coilover is a shock + spring combo.

In terms of brakes I don't want to make servicing ultra expensive so no Brembo's for me so whats the best bang for you buck?

BMW makes a stock performance break that is good. E46 330i ZHP OEM Performance cross-drilled brake rotors front and back - E46Fanatics

[ROCKETW19]

Wow, thanks lads, so much there and I don't understand all of it but common sense tells me round abouts what they are, I'm not interested in going any faster or stressing the engine or reducing the loggevity of the car in any way, just want stuff that will improve it without pimping it and want the things that give you the most value for money.

So front Strut braces then - I assume these strengthen the front of the car and reduce body roll, mine isn't a convertable so would this still improve it also is this the same thing as a sway bar?

Springs, is that the same as coils? and how much do springs actually get used or is it more important to get shocks/dampers, I don't want to ruin the ride, just improve cornering so don't want a rock hard ride and definately don't want to drop it (suspension) as don't want to look like a wanabe gangster


Whats a tie rod, I'd prefer if one of you explains than googling?

And whats a coilover


Is a front sway bar the same as a strut brace and where would a rear sway bar go exactly

In terms of brakes I don't want to make servicing ultra expensive so no Brembo's for me so whats the best bang for you buck?

Don't want to spend fortunes, just want to improve a little

From this post If I were you I would leave the car stock. Car is already nice.