Is it time to replace your race suit? Let’s get you track-ready. 
Fitting BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series gives you adjustable ride height and adjustable damping on the factory mounting points. Chassis code E46. Fits 98-06 cars. Default spring rates are front 6 kg/mm / rear 8 kg/mm.
Ride height is set on the lower bracket rather than by compressing the spring. That keeps spring preload and ride height as two separate adjustments, which is the main practical reason people move off budget coilovers.
BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series specification
| Vehicle | BMW 3 Series Sedan/Coupe (98-06) |
|---|---|
| Chassis code | E46 |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Brand | BC Racing |
| Default spring rates | Front: 6 kg/mm / Rear: 8 kg/mm |
| SKU | BCR-I-02 |
Available kit configurations
Each configuration is the same damper and spring package with a different top mount arrangement. The kit code is the BC Racing part number for that build.
| Configuration | Kit code | Top mount |
|---|---|---|
| BR Series – RA: Pillowball front / rubber rear | I-02-BR-RA | a pillowball top mount at the front and rubber at the rear |
| RM Series – MA: Inverted front / rubber rear | I-02-RM-MA | as listed |
| ER Series – 2-way adjustable, external reservoir | I-02-ER | as listed |
| HM Series | I-02-HM | as listed |
| ZX Series | I-02-ZX | as listed |
| ZR Series – 3-way adjustable, external reservoir | I-02-ZR | as listed |
Which series for the BMW 3 Series Sedan/Coupe?
- BR Series gives you 30-way rebound adjustment and full height adjustment independent of spring preload.
- RM Series gives you a race-oriented build with inverted damper bodies.
- ER Series gives you external reservoirs for more consistent damping under sustained load.
- HM Series gives you a higher-travel damper aimed at rougher surfaces.
- ZX Series gives you raised ride height for soft-road and overland use.
- ZR Series gives you three-way adjustment splitting low speed compression, high speed compression and rebound.
Spring rates and what is in the box
This kit ships at 6 kg/mm front and 8 kg/mm rear. The stiffer rear is normal on this layout and helps the car rotate on turn-in instead of pushing wide. Rates are chosen by BC Racing per application, so they suit a fast road and occasional track car as supplied. If the car is built for something more specific, a track weapon or a car carrying a lot of aero, the rates can be changed without replacing the dampers.
The kit covers all four corners and includes the dampers, springs, lower brackets, locking collars and the adjuster spanners. Top mounts depend on the configuration you pick from the table above. Anything that is worn on the car already, drop links, bushes, top mount bearings, is worth checking while the suspension is apart.
Fitting and setting up BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series
Set the height first, settle the suspension by rolling the car, measure, then adjust. Only book the alignment once the ride height is final, because camber and toe both move as the car comes down.
Set the adjusters mid-range to begin with. Adjust in small steps and change only the front or only the rear at a time, otherwise you cannot tell which change did what.
The kit is rebuildable and the springs are a standard ID, so a rate change later is a spring swap rather than a new set of coilovers.
Worth reading if you are new to this: how a coilover works and why height and preload are separate adjustments.
BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series questions
Will BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series fit without modification?
The kit is cut to the BMW 3 Series Sedan/Coupe damper and strut dimensions and uses the standard mounting points on the E46 chassis. No cutting or welding is needed for a standard car.
How low will the BMW 3 Series Sedan/Coupe go on these?
Height is adjustable across the full range of the lower bracket. How low you can usefully run depends on your wheel and tyre size and how the car is used, so set it to suit how the car is actually used.
What spring rates do BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series come with?
Front: 6 kg/mm / Rear: 8 kg/mm as standard. The springs are a standard ID, so rates can be changed later without replacing the dampers.
Do I need an alignment afterwards?
Yes. Camber and toe both move as the car comes down, so book the alignment once the ride height is set and the suspension has settled.
Are these road legal?
Adjustable suspension is legal for road use in the UK. Keep the ride height sensible, make sure nothing fouls at full lock or full compression, and tell your insurer the car has been modified.
Not sure which top mount option you need? Send us the reg and how the car gets used and we will confirm the BC Racing Coilovers BMW 3 Series spec.
More from this range: BC Racing coilovers. Other BMW kits: BMW X3 AWD, BMW M2 Competition (Rear Integrated) RWD, BMW M5 RWD.