It isn’t easy to diagnose suspension problems with the BMW 3 Series E90 and E92. Even though it might have symptoms present when driving, the issue is often mistaken for something else.
The problems can develop so slowly that you get used to the changes without thinking about what happens.
When your BMW needs a suspension update, it’ll communicate that to you by offering one or more of the following common signs.
- The vehicle starts pulling or drifting to one side whenever you go around curves or corners.
- One side of the E90 or E92 sits lower than the other while parked.
- You have trouble steering or tracking in a straight line.
- Your car keeps bouncing after dipping for a brake or hitting a bump.
- The ride feels bumpier than you remember.
If you find yourself in this situation, it is time to think about an upgrade to one of the best coilovers for the BMW 3 Series E90/E92.
Best Coilovers for the BMW 3 Series E90/E92
A coilover suspension, or a screw suspension, allows for individual adjustments of ground clearance. The name comes from the term “coil over spring.” This design allows the setup to absorb bumps and control how the vehicle’s body rolls instead of relying on the shocks for this purpose.
When you drive a BMW 3 Series, the coilover design gives you excellent control and handling for a variety of road conditions. You’ll notice the handling is significantly better over previous designs you may have driven.
It’s a bit stiffer of a ride with coilovers, allowing the car to lower without scraping the asphalt or pavement while traveling.
The coil surrounds the strut, sitting on an adjustable perch, allowing you to control the height of your BMW.
The best coilovers for the BMW 3 Series E90/E92 replace all the suspension components with this upgrade. That causes them to be called a “full body coilover” in some circles.
How Do Coilovers Work?
The coilover design allows it to work like a shock absorber and a coil spring simultaneously. It combines the best features of both technologies to offer more control while staying comfortable behind the wheel.
Shock absorbers deliver a smooth driving experience by compressing when traveling across different road conditions. When the street levels out, they automatically expand to provide consistency.
A coil spring works on the same principle, but it doesn’t compress as easily as a shock absorber. You lose some of the riding comforts in that scenario while gaining the benefit of not bottoming out while driving.
The coilover design uses the spring (coil), wrapped around the shock absorber, to deliver its benefits.
When you hit rough patches in the road, it compresses to keep things smooth and level. Once those issues are gone, the shock absorber does its job.
Coilovers for BMWs are typically adjustable. If you go lower, the ride tends to get stiffer for the E90 and E92.
List of the Best Coilovers for the BMW 3 Series E90/E92
When you’re ready to upgrade your suspension, the following options provide a proven result that improves your ride.
1- Godspeed MSS0152-A Coilovers
This coilovers kid is compatible with the BMW 3 Series RWD vehicles from 2006-2013, but it excludes the M3.
It uses 52 mm mono-tube stainless steel shocks with 16 dampening adjustments to ensure you receive a smooth ride each time.
The lightweight aluminum mount is sturdy, and composed of forged T7075. You’ll need to use race-quality shock oil with a high viscosity index to ensure the results are what you expect.
The independent spring preload and ride height adjustments give you that extra touch of customization that some E90s and E92s need. You’ll receive excellent damper protection and performance at all temperatures.
2- Rev9 Hyper-Street II Coilovers
These coilovers are a great choice when your goal is to lower your E90 or E92. It will not adjust to the factory ride height, so you’ll need to think about your setup to maximize the consistency of your ride.
The design uses an independent spring tension and ride height to create settings that let you adjust the stiffness of your new setup. It delivers 32 damping levels to tweak your rebound force adjustment quickly and easily.
You’ll find a full steel alloy construction with aluminum hardware with this setup. It fits only RWD BMW 3-Series models, excluding the M3.
Once they’re on, you’ll notice a significant improvement in the vehicle’s overall handling.
3- Solo-Werks Coilover System
The high tensile chrome silicon wire springs are what stand out with these coilovers. You’ll feel the difference right away after installing these on your E90 and E92.
Although the plated housings look like they’re gold, the manufacturer uses zinc to provide a hardened surface.
Elastomer bump stops combine with the fixed dampening and independent valves in the design to create a smooth drive.
The design uses a gas-charged approach with app-specific tuning to customize the results you receive.
4- MMX2200 MAXX Coilovers
With 40 dampening settings, these coilovers for the BMW 3 Series are some of the best you can buy today.
You can choose from a rear independent design or true coilovers, depending on what your setup requires.
You can lower your vehicle up to 60 mm with this product installed. It’s not the super-low type, nor does it match the factory ride.
The components are made with CNC machined aluminum and carbon steel to deliver a rock-solid performance.
It uses an anti-corrosion coating to deliver long-term results while coming with an Italian shock oil to withstand track usage or long days on the highway.
If the shock damper wears out, it can be replaced or rebuilt. That helps drivers extend the life of their new coilovers even more.
How to Install Coilovers on a BMW 3 Series
When you want to replace or upgrade your current setup, a few tips are necessary to follow to ensure the work is done safely. You’ll need some tools available to work on your BMW if you plan to install the new coilovers yourself.
Here is a list of the tools and components you’ll need to safely work on your E90 or E92 when upgrading your coilovers.
- Metric or Standard Socket Set (3/8 and 1/2 Required)
- Coil Spring Compressor
- Floor Jack
- Jack Stands
- Silver Marker to Mark the Camber Adjustment Bolts
- Hammer
After you have these items ready, you can get started with the coilover installation work. Although the exact steps are a little variable with each vehicle, here is what you’ll want to do.
Steps to Follow When Installing New Coilovers
- Raise the BMW. You’ll need to remove the wheels to gain access to the suspension components. After lifting it with a hydraulic floor jack, place sturdy jack stands at the points indicated by the E90 or E92 owner’s manual.
- The old struts and coil springs must be removed. There’s a lot of pressure and torque involved in these components. The springs can send bolts through an arm, so make sure you have a coil spring compressor available. Some people recommend ratchet straps, but that’s not a safe option.
- After the old struts and springs are gone, you’re ready to install the new coilovers. Some parts might require assembly, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this project step. Although designs are similar, there are individual design elements to consider.
- Adjust the new coilover to its desired height. You’ll accomplish that feat by adjusting the collars.
- Each coilover on the same axle should be at the same height. You can verify this step by seeing that the same number of threads are exposed.
- Once you have the coilovers installed, you can return the wheels to their position. Lower the vehicle and tighten things as you need.
- Adjust the height. It might take a little time for the E90 and E92 to settle into the new suspension setup with the coilovers.
- After you’re satisfied with the setup, you’ll need to review your camber settings to ensure they’re correct.
How to Adjust Your New Coilovers
Coilovers are a popular choice for BMW 3 Series vehicles because they’re easy to adjust. You can raise or lower them without taking up too much time out of your day.
How you approach the adjustment depends on whether you’ve selected a fully or a partially threaded design. Here’s a closer look at the necessary steps.
How to Adjust a Fully Threaded Coilover
When coilovers are fully threaded, they have three adjustment collars that dictate the suspension’s height. You’ll start with the lowest one, loosening it enough to create movement. After that, you must loosen the middle and top collars.
After you have these three collars loose, you can raise or lower the coilover to your preferred height.
Once you get it to your preferred setting, tighten the middle collar against the top before addressing the lower one.
You’ll notice two specific advantages with this setup. By adjusting the coilover, you won’t be changing the dampening effects for your vehicle. The design also prevents you from lowering the E90 or E92 too far.
The spring never becomes loose, ensuring that you are in a safe position when making these adjustments.
How to Adjust a Partially Threaded Coilover
When you install a partially threaded coilover on your BMW, there are two different collars to adjust that manage your height. You’d start with the lower one, then loosen the upper.
Once the vehicle is at your preferred height, hold the top collar tight while tightening the lower one against it.
As you’re doing this work, it’s crucial that you don’t lower the coilover past its lowest preset point. If that happens, you risk loosening the spring and losing the dampening you want for the E90 or E92.
Should I Get Coilovers for My BMW 3 Series E90/E92?
Coilovers are an excellent option for the BMW 3 Series with the product’s capability of raising or lowering the vehicle. This configuration ensures that the vehicle’s performance benefits are available to drivers while creating a smoother ride and more consistency.
I’d let my car sit in the driveway for about a year. The dealership gave me a ridiculous quote for putting on coilovers, and my local shop wasn’t much better. I figured that I could do the work myself, by the parts, and call it a day.
Except it took me a long time to give myself the day I needed to put in the work on the vehicle. Once I finally got it into my garage, I started wondering why I’d procrastinated on the project for so long.
After lifting the vehicle, it was super simple to remove the tires and replace everything. I was done in a couple of hours.
The improvement was immediate. I could handle corners better, have control over the acceleration curve, and be confident with each turn of the wheel.
If your coilovers and wheels both need attention, do the suspension modification first. You’ll have a better adjustment range to consider while ensuring the updated wheels fit correctly.