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e36build

Coilovers for BMW E36

Riippa

• 2 min read
Coilovers for BMW E36

Been trying to decide between airbags and coilovers for the NA E36 coupe. Have been leaning towards coils mainly just for price reasons as air system that can be registered in Finland costs quite much.

So we are going to do coilovers on the E36! Been looking for few different brands, and most likely will go for BC Racing ones for the daily.

This is one option for me.

Pros:

  • Direct fit
  • Easy registeration with any vehicle
  • Quite a lot of adjustment
  • Affordable
  • Comes with everything you need (including top hats and sway bar end links)

Another option would be the same coilover but as "true coilover" variant.

BC Racing BR-type true coilover

This would be the most likely candinate for my E36 as it will allow me to run fully adjustable control arms.

Pros:

  • Mainly same as the normal BR-type
  • Removes spring from the upper control arm, thus allows to use tubular upper control arms.
  • Easy to get spare parts and different rate springs.

Cons:

  • Bit more pricier than normal BR-type.
  • Can stress upper and lower shock mounts a bit more.
  • More difficult to change spring rates (track cars)

Last option that has just seemed as between step on this would be Raceland coilovers.

Raceland E36 coilovers

These would be middle stepping stone especially if I would be looking to go for Öhlins or Nitro´s for this car.

Pros:

  • Seems to be well made
  • Life time warranty
  • Cheap but not as cheap as for example JOM.
  • Provides good adjustment

Cons:

  • Damper adjustments
  • Difficulty to get spares or other spring rates as it´s not sold in Finland
  • Doesn´t allow "true" coilover, for tubular upper control arms.

All in all, will most likely go for the BC Racing BR-type "true" coilovers. As they have been well tested and fit well. Can be tracked also, and collect some other rate springs for it to test them out. One selling point for me was also the possibility to buy neoprene jackets for the coilovers as with street car in Finland they will get salt and grime thrown at them a lot.

Will do a article when they arrive, how it is to install them to E36. So subcribe if you are interested on more BMW content!

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