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The Best Coilovers For Your BMW E30 3 Series And M3
Suspension guide
An E30 comes to us from two directions: the person who has owned one for a decade and wants the suspension sorted properly, and the person who just bought one and is starting the job list. Either way, Cameron's first question is which E30, because the part number depends on it before you get to brand or budget.
Garreth's first point is the age. A forty-year-old car with its original dampers is almost certainly running worn shocks whatever the ride feels like, and sorting the suspension properly is one of the better things you can spend money on.
Below is every coilover and spring kit we list for the E30, cheapest first, with the price, what it adjusts and who it is for.
- Four brands list E30 suspension with us: Bilstein, BC Racing, AST and MOTON
- Bilstein and BC Racing list 45mm and 51mm front strut variants separately
- The M3 (S14, 1985-1992) has separate part numbers on every brand
- The AST 5100 Street keeps the factory divorced rear; MOTON kits are full coilover all round
- No TEIN for the E30, checked by chassis code and model name
Which E30 you have decides the part number
Before brand, before budget, the kit has to match the car. The E30 splits three ways on our listings, and each one changes the part number.
| Your E30 | What changes |
|---|---|
| 316i, 318i, 318is (45mm front strut) | Separate Bilstein B12 and BC Racing listings for the 45mm housing |
| 320i, 325e, 325i, 325is (51mm front strut) | The main Bilstein and BC listings; strut bore is stamped on the housing |
| M3 (1985-1992) | Separate part numbers on Bilstein, BC Racing, AST and MOTON; the S14 strut is 51.1mm |
| Touring | Separate BC Racing listings for the estate body |
From the vehicle tables on our listings. The strut bore is stamped on the strut body; send us the registration if you are not sure.
The second thing to know is the rear. The E30 uses a semi-trailing arm rear where the spring sits apart from the damper, as the factory fitted them. The Bilstein B12 and the AST 5100 Street both keep that layout. BC Racing offers a True Rear Coilover version as a separate listing, which puts the spring on the damper. MOTON’s kits are full coilover at all four corners.
Cameron’s rule is straightforward: keep the factory divorced rear for a road car. Go true coilover at the rear when you want to change the rear spring rate or set corner weights on a track car.
The ladder at a glance
Six levels, cheapest first. Prices are for the standard rear drive cars unless the pick says M3; the M3 version is usually the same money. H&R anti-roll bars for the M3 are in the extras section below the ladder.
| Level | Our pick | Price inc VAT | What you can adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowering springs or matched kit | Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | £986 | None, a fixed drop |
| Entry coilover | BC Racing BR (45mm) | £1,049 | Height, 30 click damping |
| Fast road coilover | AST 5100 Street (E30) | £3,216 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| Club and trackday 1-way | AST 5100 Clubracing (E30) | £4,116 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| 2-way | AST 5200 (E30) | £5,700 | Height, rebound, compression on a remote reservoir |
| 3-way | AST 5300 (E30) | £6,012 | Height, rebound, low and high speed compression |
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. Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit: lower the car with no adjusting
The Bilstein B12 puts Bilstein dampers with Eibach springs in one box. Fixed lowering of 30 to 40mm at the front and 30mm at the rear, no height adjuster, no damping knob. There are separate listings for 45mm and 51mm front struts, and a separate listing for the convertible. Check your strut bore before ordering, because getting it wrong means the wrong kit.
Garreth’s view: this is the honest option for a road E30 that needs to sit lower and the original dampers need replacing in the same job. If the car is only ever going to be a road car, it is probably enough.
- Price. £986 inc VAT
- Adjustment. None, a fixed drop
- In the box. Bilstein dampers and matched Eibach springs
- Buy it if. The car only needs to sit lower and the original dampers need replacing anyway
2. BC Racing BR: height adjustable, on a sensible budget
BC Racing lists the E30 with four different products: 45mm strut, 51mm strut, M3 and touring. BR gives 30 clicks of rebound on one knob and ride height adjusted at the lower bracket without touching spring preload. Default spring rates are 5.5 kg/mm front and 8 rear on the standard cars, 6 and 8 on the M3. The standard listing uses the factory divorced rear. The True Rear Coilover version is a separate listing at a little over a hundred pounds more.
Cameron points out that the dampers are rebuildable, which matters on a car this age. Garreth’s view is that this is the right answer for a road E30 on a budget: it sits the car properly, the damping is adjustable, and there is nothing wasted in the spend.
- Price. £1,049 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 30 click damping
- In the box. Coilovers with springs; the top mount options are on the listing
- Buy it if. You want to set the height yourself and have a damping knob, on a sensible budget
3. AST 5100 Street or Street Performance: a proper damper for the road
The 5100 Street is an inverted monotube made in the Netherlands, with 12 clicks of rebound. It keeps your original top mounts and the factory divorced rear layout: coilover at the front, separate spring at the back. The Street Performance version (ACT prefix) adds camber-adjustable front top mounts, which a lowered E30 generally wants for an alignment that actually works.
AST builds these to your car’s original hubs, so the M3 has its own part number. Garreth’s pick for a hard road car is the Street Performance: the camber adjustment earns its money at the first alignment.
There is a step of around £2,000 between the BC Racing BR and this rung. If you are not sure whether the car warrants it, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will talk through the use case.
- Price. £3,216 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Springs included, uses your original top mounts
- Buy it if. The car does proper road miles and you want the damper quality to reflect that
4. AST 5100 Clubracing or MOTON 1-Way: for the trackday car
Both of these step the rear up to a full coilover at all four corners. The AST 5100 Clubracing uses the same 12-click inverted monotube with camber front mounts and solid rear mounts, and it is the better value. The MOTON 1-Way is non-inverted, 15 clicks of rebound, camber front tops included, and costs about £250 more.
Garreth’s call depends on use. A car that does four or five trackdays a year and comes back to the road fits the AST Clubracing. One that lives at circuits fits the MOTON. Both have separate M3 part numbers.
- Price. £4,116 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 coilover all round with rear spring rate control
5. Two way: AST 5200 or MOTON 2-Way
Separate rebound and compression is where a track car starts to get tuned properly. On the E30 there is no budget two-way option in our listings; this rung is AST and MOTON. Both are made in the Netherlands, with remote reservoirs, springs chosen for the car, and Racesport in Brackley as the UK rebuild centre. The MOTON adds its blow-off valve in the reservoir for kerbs and rough surfaces at a circuit.
Cameron’s rule for this rung: buy it when somebody is going to change the settings between sessions and keep a note of what happened. Both have M3 part numbers.
- Price. £5,700 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, rebound, compression on a remote reservoir
- In the box. Springs, reservoirs, top mounts where applicable
- Buy it if. You set the car up at the circuit and want compression as well as rebound
6. Three way: AST 5300 or MOTON 3-Way
The top rung splits compression into low and high speed positions. The AST 5300 gives 14 or 15 clicks of low speed compression on top of the 5200 setup. The MOTON 3-Way runs 15 clicks of high speed and 6 of low, the layout MOTON used to win the FIA European Touring Car Championship in 2004. The MOTON costs a little over £500 more at this level.
Garreth’s view: on an E30 this is a race car part. If that is what the car is, it is the one to have. Both have M3 part numbers.
- Price. £6,012 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, rebound, low and high speed compression
- In the box. Springs, reservoirs, top mounts where applicable
- Buy it if. It is a race car, or a trackday car with somebody setting it up properly
H&R anti-roll bars for the M3
H&R list uprated anti-roll bars for the E30 M3. We do not list a kit for the standard rear drive cars. Anti-roll bars change the corner balance without altering ride height, and they are the usual next step once a track-prepared M3 is on coilovers.
| Part number | Fits | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 33577-1 | M3 (1985-1992) | £539 |
Every option we list for the E30
| Range | Part number | Listed for | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-180803 | BMW 3 Series (E30) – 45 mm Struts | £986 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-180797 | BMW 3 Series (E30) – 45 mm Struts | £986 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-000118 | Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit – BMW E30 3 Series – 51 mm Struts | £986 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-000101 | Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit – BMW E30 3 Series – 51 mm Struts | £986 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-162 | BMW 3 Series Touring (51mm, Weld) (82-91) [E30] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-24 | BMW 3 Series (Strut 51.1mm, Weld) (85-92) [E30(M3)] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-07 | BMW 3 Series Sedan (51mm, Weld) (82-91) [E30] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-04 | BMW 3 Series Sedan (45mm, Weld) (82-91) [E30] | £1,049 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-180834 | BMW 3 Series (E30) – 45 mm Struts | £1,082 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-000163 | Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit – BMW E30 3 Series – 51 mm Struts | £1,082 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-000132 | Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit – BMW E30 Convertible – 51 mm Struts | £1,082 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-163 | BMW 3 Series Touring (51mm, Weld, True Rear Coilover) (82-91) [E30] | £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-87 | BMW 3 Series M3 (Strut 51mm) (True Rear Coilover) (85-92) [E30] | £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-33 | BMW 3 Series (45mm, Weld, True Rear Coilover) (82-91) [E30] | £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-32 | BMW 3 Series (51mm, Weld, True Rear Coilover) (82-91) [E30] | £1,139 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B1502S | BMW M3 E30 | £3,216 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B1501S | BMW E30 Applications | £3,216 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B1501S | BMW E30 Applications | £3,708 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B1502S | BMW M3 E30 | £3,708 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B1503S | BMW E30 Applications | £4,116 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B1502S | BMW M3 E30 | £4,116 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 505 170S | BMW E30 Applications | £4,368 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 505 169S | BMW M3 E30 | £4,368 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B1502S | BMW M3 E30 | £5,700 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B1501S | BMW E30 Applications | £5,700 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 120S | BMW M3 E30 | £5,784 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 104S | BMW E30 Applications | £5,784 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B1502S | BMW M3 E30 | £6,012 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B1501S | BMW E30 Applications | £6,012 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 052S | BMW M3 E30 | £6,564 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 051S | BMW E30 Applications | £6,564 |
Every coilover and spring listing that names the E30 today. BC Racing prices are per series.
Before you order
- M3 or standard. The M3 has its own part numbers on every brand
- Strut bore. 45mm or 51mm front housing: check before ordering Bilstein or BC Racing; it is stamped on the strut body
- Rear layout. Factory divorced rear, or true coilover rear on BC and MOTON kits
- Alignment. Lowering changes camber and toe on the E30. Book the alignment as part of the job
Common questions
What are the best coilovers for an E30 on a budget?
BC Racing BR: height and 30-click damping adjustment for a little over a thousand pounds, with the option to upgrade series later from the same listing.
Do I need to know my E30 strut bore before ordering?
Yes, for Bilstein and BC Racing. The bore is stamped on the strut body. Send us the registration if you are not sure and we will confirm it.
Are E30 M3 coilovers different from the standard car?
Yes. The M3 has separate part numbers on Bilstein, BC Racing, AST and MOTON, because the S14-engined car uses a different strut diameter.
Does the E30 need a true coilover rear?
Not for the road. The factory divorced rear layout is fine for road use. The true rear coilover option matters when you want to change the rear spring rate or set corner weights on a track car.
Do you list TEIN or Eibach for the E30?
No. We checked by chassis code (E30) and model name. The brands we list for the E30 are Bilstein, BC Racing, AST and MOTON.
What we would fit
For a road E30, Cameron fits BC Racing BR and books an alignment. It sets the height, the damping is adjustable, and the dampers are rebuildable on a car where the originals are almost certainly worn out.
Garreth’s pick for a road car that gets driven hard is the AST 5100 Street Performance: the inverted monotube, the camber adjustment, and a kit that can be rebuilt properly. For a car that goes racing the choice starts at AST or MOTON two-way. The gap they do not agree on is the £2,000 between BC Racing BR and AST 5100 Street on a road car. Garreth thinks the damper quality shows on a car that gets driven. Cameron thinks the BC Racing is good enough for most people on most roads.
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.
Tell us the model, strut bore if you know it, and what the car is for. We will confirm the part number and the rear layout before you order.
Tell us the model, whether it is M3 or standard rear drive, and what the car is for. We will confirm the strut bore, find the right part number at the level that suits it, and check the listing notes with you before anything is ordered.
