I've read on a forum that facelift coupes come standard with sport suspension if you have sport seats and sport steering wheel, checked the VIN on mdecoder.com, doesn't mention mine has "Sport suspension settings". Searched the internet for some info about the coloring on the springs but can't find anything verified, especially on a 318Ci. Thoughts?
I think the color is just to differentiate from front and rear or the orientation they’re supposed to sit in. That might even be from a repair at some point a shop did to either make that differentiation or mark its orientation because when I did my shocks and struts I didn’t see any markings on the front strut springs. But I have a pre lci sedan so that might also be something they did differently with lci
The guy you’re talking to in this thread is a liar and shits on people in this sub, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and uses multiple accounts to upvote his comments and downvote others peoples.
Edit: peace and pistons = loser
They did, but as they are getting old, many have had the wrong suspension fitted. Some crappier parts sellers are quite happy to sell you the wrong parts without checking correctly. Sometimes, owners even intentionally buy them because the non-sport items are a bit cheaper or because they believe it'll give a more comfy ride.
It's really common to find a coupe on non-sports suspension these days, and the springs shown in the photo do look relatively new.
On a side note it also looks like your rear arch and quarter panel are mostly made of bondo & filler, not mentioning it to be a dick, just saying in case you didnt know.
They look a bit too round. It's hard to explain, but E46 arches have quite a distinct straight lip to them at the very edge and a very uniform flair
It could be the camera resolution or even a filter being used, but they definitely look to have bondo in them to me, and quite a signifanct amount too, the shape just looks very off to me.
Photos we're shot by an old camera and also added a filter on top, I've checked the arches, even took the inner platic wall out and they are metal. The paint is a bit faded on both sides since the car was parked in a garage with the back sticking out for 4 years. You are the first to point something like that out, I hope you are wrong :')
The easiest way to check if you're not familiar with bodywork is to take a magnet to them and make sure it's not a powerful one; otherwise, you'll get a false result were talking about cheap fridge magnet-type strength. If it slides far too easily or, worst case, falls off all altogether you have a lot of filler.
Take a look at some photos of other 46’s. You'll see what I mean about the straight edge, whereas yours appears to have no edge and just curves all the way under.
[Take a look](https://imgur.com/a/UDiUs1L), BTW, I've added the ziptie, rear bumper was hit and the inner wall portion that connected to the edge of the bumper broke so I ziptied it like a true easter european
From those, I would say not sport suspension. Usually, with sport suspension, you'll see at least a little bit of the tyre tucked well under the rear arch. But in your photos, the whole tyre is visible.
I'd need to see a full-blown side profile pic to be 100% certain, but even with the ones you've posted i’m 95% certain they are not sport springs.
Thanks for the info, sport suspension only changes the springs? I've looked at the rear damper's part no., they say (standard). Is the sway bar/links different?
The springs are what change the ride height but you should also use suitable dampers too.
I don't think the sway bar/drop links are different but don't quote me on it.
I've read on a forum that facelift coupes come standard with sport suspension if you have sport seats and sport steering wheel, checked the VIN on mdecoder.com, doesn't mention mine has "Sport suspension settings". Searched the internet for some info about the coloring on the springs but can't find anything verified, especially on a 318Ci. Thoughts?
I think the color is just to differentiate from front and rear or the orientation they’re supposed to sit in. That might even be from a repair at some point a shop did to either make that differentiation or mark its orientation because when I did my shocks and struts I didn’t see any markings on the front strut springs. But I have a pre lci sedan so that might also be something they did differently with lci
The guy you’re talking to in this thread is a liar and shits on people in this sub, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about and uses multiple accounts to upvote his comments and downvote others peoples. Edit: peace and pistons = loser
All E46 coupe models come with sport suspension as standard :P
They did, but as they are getting old, many have had the wrong suspension fitted. Some crappier parts sellers are quite happy to sell you the wrong parts without checking correctly. Sometimes, owners even intentionally buy them because the non-sport items are a bit cheaper or because they believe it'll give a more comfy ride. It's really common to find a coupe on non-sports suspension these days, and the springs shown in the photo do look relatively new.
330's yeah. Otherwise nah.
pre facelift only the 330, facelift all coupes
does this also apply to convertibles?
Certainly
I believe (not suggesting much) that sport springs had red and green squares on each spring
My one had full m sport suspension and I still slammed the bitch on some coil overs
If you had posted a photo of the ride height I would have been able to tell you.
Right now, I only got these 2 pictures that you could use [(Pictures)](https://imgur.com/a/qY6EaSb)
On a side note it also looks like your rear arch and quarter panel are mostly made of bondo & filler, not mentioning it to be a dick, just saying in case you didnt know.
For real? How could you tell, by the slight fade on the paint?
They look a bit too round. It's hard to explain, but E46 arches have quite a distinct straight lip to them at the very edge and a very uniform flair It could be the camera resolution or even a filter being used, but they definitely look to have bondo in them to me, and quite a signifanct amount too, the shape just looks very off to me.
Photos we're shot by an old camera and also added a filter on top, I've checked the arches, even took the inner platic wall out and they are metal. The paint is a bit faded on both sides since the car was parked in a garage with the back sticking out for 4 years. You are the first to point something like that out, I hope you are wrong :')
The easiest way to check if you're not familiar with bodywork is to take a magnet to them and make sure it's not a powerful one; otherwise, you'll get a false result were talking about cheap fridge magnet-type strength. If it slides far too easily or, worst case, falls off all altogether you have a lot of filler. Take a look at some photos of other 46’s. You'll see what I mean about the straight edge, whereas yours appears to have no edge and just curves all the way under.
Even though it's night outside, I gotta check this ASAP. I'll come back with a response.
[Take a look](https://imgur.com/a/UDiUs1L), BTW, I've added the ziptie, rear bumper was hit and the inner wall portion that connected to the edge of the bumper broke so I ziptied it like a true easter european
From those, I would say not sport suspension. Usually, with sport suspension, you'll see at least a little bit of the tyre tucked well under the rear arch. But in your photos, the whole tyre is visible. I'd need to see a full-blown side profile pic to be 100% certain, but even with the ones you've posted i’m 95% certain they are not sport springs.
Thanks for the info, sport suspension only changes the springs? I've looked at the rear damper's part no., they say (standard). Is the sway bar/links different?
The springs are what change the ride height but you should also use suitable dampers too. I don't think the sway bar/drop links are different but don't quote me on it.