The Best Coilovers For Your BMW E36 3 Series And M3
Suspension guide
The E36 is the 3 Series most people come to us with after the E46, and the first question is always the same: which E36. For suspension they are four different cars, and the part number depends on which one you have before you get to brand or budget.
Cameron's opener is the variant. The M3 has its own AST kits and its own BC Racing listings. The Compact and Z3 each have theirs. Garreth's is what the dampers are like on a thirty-year-old car, which is usually the real reason someone is looking.
Below is every coilover and spring kit we list for it, cheapest first, with the price, what it adjusts and who it is for.
- Five brands list E36 coilovers and spring kits with us: BC Racing, AST, MOTON, Bilstein and Eibach
- The M3, Compact and Z3 each have their own part numbers
- BC Racing lists both a factory-style rear and a true coilover rear for most variants
- The standard saloon and coupe do not have a spring-only kit; the starting point is the Bilstein B12
- BC Racing takes you from an entry kit at a little over a thousand pounds to a 3-way race setup on the same listing
Which E36 you have decides the part number
Before price, before brand, the kit has to fit the car. For suspension the E36 splits four ways, and most brands treat each variant separately.
| Your E36 | What changes |
|---|---|
| M3, 1992 to 1999 | Its own BC Racing listings, AST kits and Eibach Pro-Kit springs |
| Saloon, coupe, touring and convertible, 316i to 328i | The main kits; most part numbers here |
| Compact (E36/5), 1994 to 2000 | Separate BC Racing and Bilstein listings |
| Z3 (E36/7, E36/8), 1996 to 2002 | Separate BC Racing and Eibach spring listings |
From the vehicle tables on our listings. Each listing names the exact models it covers.
Then there is the rear. Most BC Racing kits for the E36 come in two versions: a factory-style setup that keeps the rear spring separate from the damper, as BMW built it, and a true coilover rear where the spring sits on the damper. Cameron’s rule is the same as for the E46: keep the factory layout for a road car. Go true coilover when you want to change the rear spring rate or set corner weights on a track car.
One note for M3 sedan owners ordering BC Racing RM series: the listing carries a specific note about top mounts. The M3 sedan needs the non-offset top mount, selected on the listing. If you need help confirming the spec before ordering, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will check it with you.
The ladder at a glance
Six picks, cheapest first. The M3 has its own BC Racing and AST listings at the same money as the standard cars. The springs rung splits: Bilstein for the saloon and coupe, Eibach Pro-Kit springs for the M3.
| Level | Our pick | Price inc VAT | What you can adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowering springs or matched kit | Bilstein B12 Sportline (E36) | £1,044 | None, a fixed drop |
| Entry coilover | BC Racing BR (E36) | £1,049 | Height, 30 click damping |
| Fast road coilover | AST 5100 Street (E36) | £2,508 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| Club and trackday 1-way | AST 5100 Clubracing (E36) | £3,372 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| 2-way | BC Racing ER | £1,849 | 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. Bilstein B12 or Eibach Pro-Kit: lower, with no adjusting
For a standard saloon or coupe that needs to sit lower and ride better without adjusting anything, the Bilstein B12 is the answer. The Sportline pairs Bilstein’s B8 performance dampers with H&R springs in one box, lowered and firmer than factory. The Pro-Kit version pairs the same dampers with Eibach Pro-Kit springs for a slightly more comfortable tune at a similar price.
M3 owners get the same idea in a different form: Eibach lists Pro-Kit springs for both the M3 3.0 and 3.2, springs only, to go in with your existing or new dampers. Garreth’s caveat is coverage: we do not list a Bilstein kit specifically for the M3, so the spring and damper combination for M3 owners starts at the BC Racing BR.
- Price. £1,044 inc VAT
- Adjustment. None, a fixed drop
- In the box. Bilstein dampers and matched Eibach springs
- Buy it if. You want the car lower and a better ride, and do not want to adjust anything
2. BC Racing BR: the height adjustable starting point
BR is where most people land. Ride height on a threaded body, 30 clicks of damping on one knob, and a price that sits close to a spring and damper kit. BC Racing lists the E36 as separate kits for the standard car, the M3 and the Compact, and each comes with a true coilover rear as an alternative, so there are four BR options in the cards above.
Cameron notes what the listing says that most people miss: ride height that adjusts independently of spring preload, a choice of top mount configurations, and dampers that can be rebuilt. The same listing takes you to RM, ER and ZR later, so you are not locked in to BR when the car develops.
- 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. You want to set the height yourself and have a damping knob, on a sensible budget
-
BC Racing, BR Series Coilovers, ER Series Coilovers, HM Series Coilovers, RM Series Coilovers, Suspension, ZR Series Coilovers, ZX Series Coilovers
From £1,049.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadyNew for 2026Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
BC Racing, BR Series Coilovers, ER Series Coilovers, HM Series Coilovers, RM Series Coilovers, Suspension, ZR Series Coilovers, ZX Series Coilovers
From £1,049.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadyNew for 2026Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
BC Racing, BR Series Coilovers, ER Series Coilovers, HM Series Coilovers, RM Series Coilovers, Suspension, ZR Series Coilovers, ZX Series Coilovers
From £1,139.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadyNew for 2026Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
3. AST 5100 Street: a better damper for a road E36
The step up in damper quality is AST. The 5100 Street runs with your original top mounts, 12 clicks of rebound and springs included. AST lists it for both standard E36 applications and separately for the M3, and two variants appear in the cards above: the ACS and ACU builds, priced close to each other. Both are made in the Netherlands and rebuildable.
The Street Performance version (ACT-B1002S for standard E36, ACT-B1005S for the M3) adds camber-adjustable front top mounts, which a lowered E36 generally wants. Garreth’s view is that if you are lowering the car past 20mm, the Street Performance is worth the step because you will be sorting the alignment anyway.
- Price. £2,508 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Springs included, uses your original top mounts
- Buy it if. The car is driven on the road and you want the damper quality to show
4. AST 5100 Clubracing or MOTON 1-Way: the trackday E36
For a car that does regular trackdays, both AST and MOTON have one-knob kits that include a true coilover rear and camber plates at the front. The AST 5100 Clubracing uses the same 12-click damper as the Street but with solid rear top mounts added and the spring rate changeable. The MOTON 1-Way Clubracer is the non-inverted endurance design with 15 clicks of rebound, also made in the Netherlands, at a step up in price.
Garreth would pick AST if the car splits time between road and track; MOTON if it is more track than road and the extra spend on the damper is justified. Cameron’s note: either one gives you a true coilover rear and changeable spring rates, which neither the Street nor the BR does. If you need help deciding, drop us an email or click to open a chat.
- Price. £3,372 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Coilover rear, camber front and solid rear top mounts
- Buy it if. You go on track often and want the rear spring rate and camber plates under your control
5. Two way: BC Racing ER, AST 5200 or MOTON 2-Way
Separate rebound and compression is where a track E36 starts to get tuned. BC Racing’s ER adds a second dial and external reservoirs to the same listing as the BR, for well under half the AST and MOTON money. The AST 5200 and MOTON 2-Way are the European-built alternatives: remote reservoirs, custom spring rates, and a UK rebuild centre. AST lists the 5200 separately for the M3 and for standard E36 applications.
Cameron’s view is that ER is the budget way to learn what a second dial does. Garreth would spend the extra on AST or MOTON for a car that races: they build to the car, offer custom spring rates, and have a rebuild centre in the UK that can revalve them as the setup develops.
- Price. £1,849 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
6. 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 its competition kit and comes in well below AST and MOTON. The AST 5300 adds 14 or 15 clicks of low speed compression to the 5200, in separate versions for the M3 and the standard E36. MOTON’s 3-Way turns the arrangement around: 6 low speed and 15 high speed positions, with a lineage in touring car racing.
Buy one when somebody is going to write the settings down.
- 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 trackday car with somebody setting it up properly
Anti-roll bars to go with them
Coilovers change how the car sits and how the body moves over bumps. Anti-roll bars change the balance in corners. H&R list uprated bars for the E36, in separate kits for the saloon, coupe, convertible and touring; the M3; and the Compact. They are the usual next step once the car is on coilovers and the ride height is set.
Every option we list for the E36
| Range | Part number | Listed for | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E2060-140 | BMW Z3 Four-Cylinder Roadster (E36) - 755 kg Front Axle | £365 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E2062-140 | BMW Z3 Six-Cylinder Roadster (E36) - 830 kg Front Axle | £377 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E2068-140 | BMW Z3 Coupe (E36) - 830 kg Front Axle | £383 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E2059-140 | BMW M3 3.2 (E36) - 920 kg Front Axle | £448 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E2041-140 | BMW M3 3.0 (E36) - 910 kg Front Axle | £448 |
| Bilstein B12 Sportline | 46-000750 | BMW 3 Series (E36) / BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) – From June 1992 | £1,044 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-26 | BMW 3 Series Sedan (Rm Not Offcentre Tm) (92-99) [E36 (M3)] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,964, HM £2,059, ER £1,849, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-25 | BMW 3 Series Compact (94-00) [E36/5] | ZX £1,914, ER £1,799, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-10 | BMW Z3 (96-02) [E36/7, E36/8] | RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-01 | BMW 3 Series Sedan/Coupe (92-98) [E36] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,964, HM £2,059, ER £1,849, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-180988 | BMW 3 Series Compact (E36) – 830 kg Front Axle Limit | £1,057 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-000736 | BMW 3 Series (E36) / BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) – From June 1992 | £1,082 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-120 | BMW 3 Series (True Rear Coilover) (RWD) (92-99) [E36 (M3)] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,849, RM £1,399, BR £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-79 | BMW 3 Series Compact (True Rear Coilovers) (94-00) [E36/5] | RM £1,289, BR £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-30 | BMW 3 Series (True Rear Coilover) (92-98) [E36] | ZR £2,369, ZX £1,964, HM £2,159, ER £1,849, RM £1,289, BR £1,139 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACS-B1005S | BMW M3 E36 | £2,460 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACS-B1002S | BMW E36 Applications | £2,460 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B1005S | BMW M3 E36 | £2,508 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B1002S | BMW E36 Applications | £2,508 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B1005S | BMW M3 E36 | £3,072 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B1002S | BMW E36 Applications | £3,072 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B1105S | BMW E36 Applications | £3,372 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 505 172S | BMW E36 Applications | £3,804 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B1005S | BMW M3 E36 | £4,968 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B1002S | BMW E36 Applications | £4,968 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 061S | BMW E36 Applications | £5,220 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 060S | BMW E36 Applications | £5,220 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B1005S | BMW M3 E36 | £5,268 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B1002S | BMW E36 Applications | £5,268 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 013S | BMW E36 Applications | £6,000 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 011S | BMW E36 Applications | £6,000 |
Every coilover and spring listing that names the E36 today. BC Racing prices are per series.
Before you order
- Which E36. M3, standard rear drive, Compact or Z3: the part number differs
- Rear layout. Factory-style separate spring, or true coilover rear on kits that offer it
- BC Racing RM for M3 sedan. Select the non-offset top mount on that listing; it is noted in the product name
- Alignment. Lowering changes camber and toe. Book the alignment as part of the job
Common questions
What are the best coilovers for an E36 on a budget?
BC Racing BR, at a little over a thousand pounds for most E36 variants, with height adjustment and 30-click damping on one knob. The same listing takes you to a 2-way or 3-way later.
Does the M3 need its own coilovers?
Yes. The M3 has its own BC Racing and AST listings. Eibach Pro-Kit springs are listed specifically for the M3 3.0 and 3.2. The standard E36 kits do not carry the M3 part numbers.
Do I need a true coilover rear?
Not for the road. BC Racing offers it as an alternative on most variants, and it matters when you want to change the rear spring rate or set corner weights on a track car.
Can I fit just lowering springs to my E36?
On the M3, yes: Eibach Pro-Kit springs for the 3.0 and 3.2. We do not list a spring-only kit for the standard saloon or coupe, so the starting point there is the Bilstein B12 (springs and dampers together) or a height-adjustable coilover.
What about the Compact or Z3?
Both have their own BC Racing listings. The Compact also has its own Bilstein B12 and H&R bars. The Z3 has Eibach Pro-Kit springs in four-cylinder, six-cylinder and coupe versions. Drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will confirm the right kit.
What we would fit
For a road E36, Cameron fits BC Racing BR and spends what is left on an alignment. It sets the car right, the damping knob sorts the ride, and the same listing takes you higher when you want it.
Garreth’s pick for an M3 that gets used on the road is the AST 5100 Street Performance: the better damper, camber correction at the front, and a kit made in the Netherlands that can be rebuilt in the UK. For a car that races, it is AST or MOTON at the 2-way level and up. The disagreement on the ER is the same one they have on the E46. Cameron thinks it is the best value on the page; Garreth thinks a racing E36 is worth dampers built and valved for it, with a UK rebuild centre.
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 us the registration and whether the car is M3, standard rear drive or Compact. We will confirm the part number and the rear layout before you order.
Tell us the model, whether it is M3, standard rear drive or Compact, and what the car is for. We will find the right part number at the level that suits it and check the listing notes with you before anything is ordered.
