I installed the abovecaptioned suspension package on my 2001 E46 325i in 2002 at Auto Bavaria ("AB") in Glenmarie. It comprises of uprated springs, shocks, front and rear antiroll bars and rubber bushes for the antiroll bars. I noticed that it rides harder/bumpier than the Malaysian-spec E46 325i SMG and E46 325i Sport Edition which purportedly come with sport suspension too.Why is this so? Could it be that the package sold by AB is incomplete?
E46 M-Technik Sport Suspension Package sold by AB
- Thread starter wglee
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By the way, my car is running on 225/50ZR16 Conti CSC tyres and inflation pressures are 2.4 and 2.8 front and rear respectively.
I suspect the installation by AB is not quite complete. I happened to see a CBU E46 330Ci up a ramp in a workshop and noticed that the front lower control arms had a label stating something to the effect that that they are specifically for M-Technik Sport Suspension only. My car's lower control arms are still stock standard and were never part of the M-Technik Sport Suspension sold by AB!
Could it be that front lower control arms with the said label have more pliant bushes?
I suspect the installation by AB is not quite complete. I happened to see a CBU E46 330Ci up a ramp in a workshop and noticed that the front lower control arms had a label stating something to the effect that that they are specifically for M-Technik Sport Suspension only. My car's lower control arms are still stock standard and were never part of the M-Technik Sport Suspension sold by AB!
Could it be that front lower control arms with the said label have more pliant bushes?
E46Fanatic
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Bro, your rear tyre pressures are way high whcih should explain the bumpy ride. Should follow the specs printed on the side of the door panel. Also the ride suffers quite badly when your tyres are almost worn out.
I recall AB's invoice/documentation stating that the sport suspension kit fitted to my car is from M-Technik. AB's service manager also confirmed so.
My tyre pressures are very much within BMW's recommendation. The tyre pressure sticker in my car stipulates 2.2 (front) and 2.6 (rear) up to a max of 4 passengers and 2.6 (front) and 3.1 (rear) with 5 passengers and luggage. (All figures are in bar)
My tyre pressures are very much within BMW's recommendation. The tyre pressure sticker in my car stipulates 2.2 (front) and 2.6 (rear) up to a max of 4 passengers and 2.6 (front) and 3.1 (rear) with 5 passengers and luggage. (All figures are in bar)
E46Fanatic
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Yea the M Tech sports susp package only comes with springs, anti roll bar and shocks. Which is correct and what you got from AB.
As for tyre pressures, I take the Max 4 persons setting whichi s considered normal use. Its significantly lower pressures than 5 persons + luggage setup.
For your case, its 2.2 bar front and 2.6 bar rear. Try it, unless you drive with 5 grown up german sized folks and a full trunk of luggage in your car all the time
Thanks for your reply, E46Fanatic. From my experience, the ride quality does not differ significantly when I pump my car's tyres at 2.2 (front) and 2.6 (rear).
Since the sport suspension package I bought is not missing in any item, I guess I'll just have to live with the ride firmness.
Since the sport suspension package I bought is not missing in any item, I guess I'll just have to live with the ride firmness.
E46Fanatic
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I paid Rm4.8k+ incl installation at AB in 2001. I heard it has gone up to 5+k already. For me the ride is very good even with 18" rims setup. Then again maybe my butt is not as sensitive compared to wglee's :lol:
E46Fanatic
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DIfferent strokes for different folks maar. The Eibach prokit is lower than the M tech setup. M technik lowers to 25mm front and 15 mm rear only. Very practical lowering, and looks quite classy IMHO.
bmchai
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Mtech absorber quoted by AB = Sachs, right??
the springs i dunno what actual brand. (but eibach drop is nice..)
dunno if adding the front/rear antiroll necessary or not tho? for track??
anyways, like what you said, depends on individual taste lo....
the springs i dunno what actual brand. (but eibach drop is nice..)
dunno if adding the front/rear antiroll necessary or not tho? for track??
anyways, like what you said, depends on individual taste lo....
E46Fanatic
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Yea I was considering the Eibach Prokit before I went for M Technik. It comes with springs, shocks and antiroll bar as well at that time was ~Rm3.5k only. The drop was ~ 30mm all round.
I tend to buy and keep a car for about 5-6 years at any one time and so I went for the M-Technik package and not other brands as I wanted the assurance of easy parts availability from AB after a few years down the road (AB told me getting replacement M-Technik shocks on short notice even for the older E36 is not a problem). I don't want to end up hunting high and low for a particular aftermarket shock absorber with a particular serial number years down the road.
Also, I heard aftermarket kits may place undue stress on the car structure such as the shock towers.
I was also told that the M-Technik set-up is more comfortable than aftermarket brands. As I already think that the M-Technik set-up is hard, I probably would not be too happy in the long term if I had aftermarket suspension fitted!
Also, I heard aftermarket kits may place undue stress on the car structure such as the shock towers.
I was also told that the M-Technik set-up is more comfortable than aftermarket brands. As I already think that the M-Technik set-up is hard, I probably would not be too happy in the long term if I had aftermarket suspension fitted!
The Necessary
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Wait a minute... you're on 16" rims and yet you're complaining that the ride is stiff?! Hmmm... bring the car round to your mechanics, jack it up and have a good look at all your suspension parts! God knows, maybe they stuck the wrong springs on your car, maybe they in put the 4 cylinder setup instead? Is that possible? I don't know! But best to check it out!
Ummm... as for aftermarket suspension putting more "stress" on your chassis... well, what do you think the lowered and stiffened M-technik setup is doing to your chassis right now? If something goes "pop", and you're out of warranty, you're gonna have to rely on goodwill (if you want to get a free repair), regardless if you're on M-techniks, Bilsteins, Eibachs, whatever...
5k for springs + shocks + anti roll bars is really rather steep... I can speak from personal experience, a 2k Eibach/Bilstein setup is more comfortable, better damped and more in control of your cars' mass than the M-technik... that was on my 330 which came, from the factory, with M-techniks.
Sorry.
But there is a solution: bitch and moan.
For 5k, you DESERVE to get something that makes you happy, that you want. Bitch and moan until you get it. Do not take "no" for an answer. You'll be suprised what you can get away with the service advisors/ technicians... after all its not their company not their bottom line at stake. I've got a friend who managed to bitch and moan his way to free; suspension bushes/mounts (front), engine cam cover, radiator fan, full auto transmission, i think even the exhaust tips, for not being shiny enough. Now, don't go quoting me, but just to let you know that it can be done.
Good luck.
Ummm... as for aftermarket suspension putting more "stress" on your chassis... well, what do you think the lowered and stiffened M-technik setup is doing to your chassis right now? If something goes "pop", and you're out of warranty, you're gonna have to rely on goodwill (if you want to get a free repair), regardless if you're on M-techniks, Bilsteins, Eibachs, whatever...
5k for springs + shocks + anti roll bars is really rather steep... I can speak from personal experience, a 2k Eibach/Bilstein setup is more comfortable, better damped and more in control of your cars' mass than the M-technik... that was on my 330 which came, from the factory, with M-techniks.
Sorry.
But there is a solution: bitch and moan.
For 5k, you DESERVE to get something that makes you happy, that you want. Bitch and moan until you get it. Do not take "no" for an answer. You'll be suprised what you can get away with the service advisors/ technicians... after all its not their company not their bottom line at stake. I've got a friend who managed to bitch and moan his way to free; suspension bushes/mounts (front), engine cam cover, radiator fan, full auto transmission, i think even the exhaust tips, for not being shiny enough. Now, don't go quoting me, but just to let you know that it can be done.
Good luck.
Hmm, what you said about the wrong springs being fitted is quite worrying... But then, wouldn't the 4 cylinder models' springs be softer than the heavier 6 cylinder models?
Anyway, I'll probably give the bitch and moan approach a shot.
By the way, the AB boys told me the M-Technic springs would not cause any stress to the chassis compared to aftermarket stuff. They told me one customer had a Bilstein kit fitted and it damaged the shock/strut towers.
Anyway, I'll probably give the bitch and moan approach a shot.
By the way, the AB boys told me the M-Technic springs would not cause any stress to the chassis compared to aftermarket stuff. They told me one customer had a Bilstein kit fitted and it damaged the shock/strut towers.
walrus_lord
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My car rides comfortably even on m-tech sports suspension, eibach prokit springs and 18" rims....
The Necessary
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Lee, you and I probably know more about BMWs than the whole staff of AB combined... Seriously, they don't know crap.
For example, that case that you mentioned, Bilsteins damaging the shock/strut towers, coincidentally, I know the owner of the car, and you know what really caused the failure (cracks radiating from the screw holes of the shock mount)? Over torquing of the screws of an AC Schitnzer strut brace. That's the reason, and not the aftermarket Bilstein PSS9s. But of course, AB will use that reason cos they cannot be bothered to find another one, to investigate the true reason. Helps scare up some potential business too.
Honestly, I don't know the details of the M-tech suspension kit, but what I do know is that for 5k and riding on 16" rims, you should be getting what you paid for, you know.
For example, that case that you mentioned, Bilsteins damaging the shock/strut towers, coincidentally, I know the owner of the car, and you know what really caused the failure (cracks radiating from the screw holes of the shock mount)? Over torquing of the screws of an AC Schitnzer strut brace. That's the reason, and not the aftermarket Bilstein PSS9s. But of course, AB will use that reason cos they cannot be bothered to find another one, to investigate the true reason. Helps scare up some potential business too.
Honestly, I don't know the details of the M-tech suspension kit, but what I do know is that for 5k and riding on 16" rims, you should be getting what you paid for, you know.
