The Best Coilovers For Your BMW M3 And M4 (F80/F82/F83)
Suspension guide
The M3 and M4 question usually comes in one of two forms: how to lower the car and sort the damping without ruining it for the road, or how to get the suspension properly set up for the circuit. Both of those questions have the same first answer, which is the bolt count.
Cameron's first observation every time someone comes in for an F80 or F82 is that every kit lists in two versions, 3-bolt and 5-bolt top mount, and ordering the wrong one is an expensive lesson. Garreth's is about the range: this generation has some of the best-supported suspension options we list, from BC Racing BR at a little over a thousand pounds to MOTON 3-way at well over six thousand.
Below is our pick at every level, cheapest first, with the price and who each one is for.
- Every BC Racing and AST Clubracing kit lists separately for 3-bolt and 5-bolt top mounts
- AST 5100 Street runs the car's original top mounts and fits all three body styles in one listing
- M4 convertible (F83) has its own BC Racing listings; it shares the AST and MOTON kits with the coupe
- No Bilstein, TEIN or Eibach coilover kits in our range for this generation
- H&R anti-roll bars are listed for the F80/F82/F83
The bolt count is the first question
Before brand, before budget: the bolt count. The F80/F82/F83 M3 and M4 use either a 3-bolt or 5-bolt strut top mount, and BC Racing and AST both list the kits separately for each. Ordering the wrong one means the top mount will not fit.
| Body style | What to check |
|---|---|
| M3 saloon (F80), 2014 to 2018 | 3-bolt or 5-bolt: check the strut top mount or send us the registration |
| M4 coupe (F82), 2014 to 2020 | 3-bolt or 5-bolt: same check as the M3 |
| M4 convertible (F83), 2015 to 2020 | Separate BC Racing listings (BCR-I-69 and BCR-I-65); shares AST and MOTON kits with the coupe |
From our listings. The bolt count is on the strut top mount, visible once a wheel is off.
Cameron’s rule is to confirm the bolt count before buying, not after. Every listing names it, and both the 3-bolt and 5-bolt options are on the same product page. If you are not sure, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will confirm it from the registration.
On coverage: BC Racing, AST and MOTON are the three coilover brands we list for the F80/F82/F83. Bilstein, TEIN and Eibach do not list coilover kits for this generation in our range. BC Racing, AST and MOTON cover every rung of the ladder between them.
The ladder at a glance
Five levels, cheapest first; no spring kit is listed for this car, so the ladder starts at the entry coilover.
| Level | Our pick | Price inc VAT | What you can adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry coilover | BC Racing BR | £1,049 | Height, 30 click damping |
| Fast road coilover | AST 5100 Street | £2,604 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| Club and trackday 1-way | AST 5100 Clubracing (5-bolt) | £3,468 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| 2-way | BC Racing ER | £1,749 | Height, rebound and compression separately |
| 3-way | BC Racing ZR | £2,159 | Height, three way adjustable |
Prices read from the site on the day this guide was built, inc VAT. The product cards below show prices before VAT, as the rest of the site does; the Inc/Exc VAT switch changes them.
1. BC Racing BR: the starting point
BR gives the M3 or M4 ride height on a threaded body and 30 clicks of damping on one dial. BC lists the F80 and F82 in 3-bolt and 5-bolt versions, and a separate kit for the M4 convertible. The dampers are rebuildable, and the same listing page takes you to RM, ER, HM or ZR later if the car develops.
Garreth’s view is that this is the kit when the car just needs to sit right and ride better, on a budget that leaves room for an alignment and a set of tyres. Cameron points out that stepping up to a 2-way or 3-way costs nothing extra later: you pick the series from the same product page.
- Price. £1,049 inc VAT, BR
- Adjustment. Height, 30 click damping
- In the box. Coilovers with springs; the top mount options are on the listing
- Buy it if. The car needs to sit lower and ride better, and the budget needs to stretch to good tyres too
2. AST 5100 Street: a better damper for the road
The 5100 Street is an inverted monotube, 44.5mm, with 12 clicks of rebound, made in the Netherlands and rebuildable. It runs the car’s original top mounts, so the bolt count question does not apply here, and one listing covers the M3 saloon, M4 coupe and M4 convertible. The Street Performance version adds camber-adjustable front top mounts for a lowered car that sees the track.
Cameron’s view is that this is the jump for an M3 or M4 that gets proper use. BC Racing BR is a good starting point; the AST is where the damper quality starts to show the difference. Garreth would send the car here whenever the brief is “road car that also does a trackday”.
- Price. £2,604 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Springs included, uses your original top mounts
- Buy it if. The car is driven properly on the road and you want the damper to show it
3. AST 5100 Clubracing or MOTON Clubracer: for regular trackdays
Both of these are one-knob coilovers with camber-adjustable front top mounts and solid rear mounts included. The AST 5100 Clubracing comes in 3-bolt and 5-bolt versions on the same rung; the MOTON Clubracer is a non-inverted monotube with 15 clicks of rebound, built in the Netherlands, with the same pillow ball top mount configuration.
Garreth’s rule: once the car goes on track regularly and you want the rear spring rate and front camber under your control, this is where to start. He would pick AST or MOTON over BC Racing ER at this stage: one good dial with proper top mounts beats two dials and no camber adjustment for a car on circuit every month.
- Price. £3,468 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Coilover rear, camber front and solid rear top mounts
- Buy it if. The car goes on track regularly and you want camber, ride height and spring rates under control
4. Two way: BC Racing ER, AST 5200 or MOTON 2-Way
Separate rebound and compression is the point at which a track car starts to get set up, rather than just lowered. BC Racing’s ER is the same listing as the BR with a second dial and external reservoirs, for well under half the money of the AST 5200. The AST 5200 and MOTON 2-Way are the European-built options: remote reservoirs, custom spring rates, and a UK rebuild centre for both.
Cameron’s take is that ER is the cheapest way onto a two-dial setup on an M3 or M4, and a good way to find out what compression adjustment does before spending serious money. Garreth would spend the extra on AST or MOTON for a car that races: they build the spring rates to the car, and the UK rebuild centre can revalve them as the car develops.
- Price. £1,749 inc VAT, ER
- Adjustment. Height, rebound and compression separately
- In the box. Coilovers with external reservoirs and springs
- Buy it if. You set the car up session to session and want compression as well as rebound
5. Three way: BC Racing ZR, AST 5300 or MOTON 3-Way
The top rung splits compression into slow and fast movements. BC Racing’s ZR is the competition kit and still comes in well below AST and MOTON. The AST 5300 adds 14 or 15 clicks of low speed compression on top of the 5200. The MOTON 3-Way runs 15 high speed and 6 low speed compression positions, plus 15 of rebound: the car it was designed for does long stints at speed, with somebody writing down what changed.
Garreth’s view: buy one when there is somebody to record the settings after every session and use them.
- Price. £2,159 inc VAT, ZR
- Adjustment. Height, three way adjustable
- In the box. Coilovers with external reservoirs and springs
- Buy it if. It is a race car, or a serious trackday car with a real setup routine
Anti-roll bars to go with them
Coilovers change the ride height and control the body over bumps. Anti-roll bars change the cornering balance. H&R list uprated bars for the F80/F82/F83, and they are the usual next step once the car is on coilovers and you want to tune front-to-rear balance on track.
Every option we list for the M3/M4
| Range | Part number | Listed for | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Racing | BCR-I-68 | BMW M3/M4 (5-Bolt) (RWD) (14-20) [F80/F82] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,914, HM £2,059, ER £1,749, RM £1,289, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-49 | BMW M3/M4 (3-Bolt, Exc Cabrio) (14-20) [F80/F82] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,914, HM £2,059, ER £1,749, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-133 | BMW M3/M4 (5-Bolt) (Rear Integrated) (RWD) (14-20) [F80/F82] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,849, BR £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-132 | BMW M3/M4 (3-Bolt) (Rear Integrated) (RWD) (14-20) [F80/F82] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,849, BR £1,139 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B2102SD | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £2,604 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B2102S/5D | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £3,216 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B2102S/3D | BMW F80 / F82 | £3,216 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B2103S/5D | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £3,468 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B2103S/3D | BMW F80 / F82 | £3,468 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 505 177SD | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £3,984 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 505 176SD | BMW F80 / F82 | £3,984 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B2106SD | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £5,052 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B2102SD | BMW F80 / F82 | £5,052 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B2106SD | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £5,364 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B2102SD | BMW F80 / F82 | £5,364 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 164SD | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £5,400 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 127SD | BMW F80 / F82 | £5,400 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 165SD | BMW F80 / F82 / F83 | £6,180 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 136SD | BMW F80 / F82 | £6,180 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 128SD | BMW F80 / F82 | £6,396 |
Every coilover and spring listing that names the M3/M4 today. BC Racing prices are per series.
Before you order
- Bolt count first. 3-bolt or 5-bolt top mount: check the listing, check the car, or send us the registration
- M4 convertible. The F83 has its own BC Racing listings; it uses the "F80/F82/F83" AST and MOTON kits
- Top mounts. The AST 5100 Street uses the car's original mounts; Street Performance and Clubracing include camber plates at the front
- Alignment. Any ride height change alters camber and toe. Book the alignment as part of the job
Common questions
What are the best coilovers for a BMW M3 F80 on a budget?
BC Racing BR, at a little over a thousand pounds, gives height adjustment and 30 clicks of rebound, and the same listing page takes you to a 2-way or 3-way later without changing the product.
Is the 3-bolt or 5-bolt version right for my M3 or M4?
Both fit the F80/F82 generation, but the bolt count has to match the top mount on your car. Check the listing, or send us the registration and we will confirm it before you order.
Do the same coilovers fit the M4 convertible?
For AST and MOTON, yes: the listings labelled “F80/F82/F83” cover the convertible alongside the saloon and coupe. BC Racing lists the M4 convertible separately under BCR-I-69 (5-bolt) and BCR-I-65 (3-bolt).
Do you stock Bilstein or Eibach coilovers for the F80/F82/F83?
No, BC Racing, AST and MOTON are the three coilover brands we list for this generation.
Is MOTON worth the money over AST on an M3?
For a road car or light trackday use, AST covers everything the car needs. MOTON starts to earn its money on a car that is properly set up between sessions, with somebody keeping a note of what changed.
What we would fit
For a road M3 or M4, Cameron fits BC Racing BR and puts what is left towards an alignment and a good set of tyres. The damping knob sorts the road manners and the ride height puts the car where it should be.
Garreth’s pick for a car that sees proper track use is the AST 5100 Street Performance: better damper, camber at the front, rebuildable, and a kit the car will not outgrow on a trackday. For a car that races, it is AST or MOTON at the 2-way level and up. Where they disagree is the ER. Cameron thinks it is the best value on this page for a two-dial setup. Garreth would still spend the extra on AST or MOTON for a car that is properly in use on circuit.
Our AST guide and MOTON guide go deeper on those two ranges, and the BC Racing BMW guide covers every BC fitment for the brand.
Send the registration and whether the car is standard or Competition specification. We will find the right part number and confirm the top mount bolt count before anything is ordered.
Tell us the model, the year, and whether the car is standard or Competition specification. We will confirm the top mount bolt count and the right kit for it before anything is ordered.
