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GSM Performance Customer Car Colouring Book Edition 1
The Best Coilovers For Your BMW E90/E92 3 Series And M3
Suspension guide
The E90 and E92 are two of the most common 3 Series we fit suspension to, and the range is wider than most people expect. Garreth's first question is always whether the car is an M3 and, if it is, whether it has the EDC option fitted.
Cameron's first observation is about the spring rates. BC Racing ships the standard E90/E92 on 5.5 kg/mm front and 8 rear. The M3 kit goes out on 8 front and 14 rear. Those are not the same car and they are not the same kit.
Below is what we fit at each level, cheapest first, with prices and who each one is for.
- Six brands list E90/E92 suspension with us
- BC Racing ships the M3 at 8/14 kg/mm, against 5.5/8 on the standard car
- E92 and E93 M3 from 2008 could have EDC: nearly all coilovers require the non-EDC car
- The 325xi and 328xi xDrive need a separate BC Racing kit for the AWD front end
- BC Racing ER and ZR reach two and three-way adjustment at a fraction of AST and MOTON money
Which E90 changes the kit
Before brand, before price, the part number has to match the car. The E90 platform splits three ways on our listings.
| Your car | What changes |
|---|---|
| Standard RWD (E90 saloon, E91 touring, E92 coupe, E93 convertible, 316i to 335i) | The main kit range; BC Racing ships 5.5 front and 8 rear |
| M3 (E90, E92, E93 M3) | Its own part numbers on AST, BC Racing, MOTON; BC ships 8 front and 14 rear; W/O EDC kits for EDC cars |
| xDrive (325xi, 328xi AWD) | BC Racing lists a separate kit for the AWD front end |
From the vehicle tables on our listings. Tell us the exact model and we will confirm the part number.
The EDC point is worth explaining. From 2008 the E92 and E93 M3 could be ordered with BMW’s electronic damper control. It uses the standard top mounts to run the factory dampers, and fitting an aftermarket coilover to an EDC car is not straightforward. BC Racing lists separate W/O EDC kits for those cars, and all the AST kits we carry for the M3 are for the non-EDC car. If the car has EDC, or you are not sure, send us the VIN and we will confirm what fits before ordering.
Like the E46, the E90 carries its rear spring separately from the damper as standard. Most kits keep that layout. Cameron considers it the right choice for a road car because the compliance stays in the rear. The AST Clubracing kit and BC Racing’s True Rear Coilover listings give you a coilover at all four corners when you want to change spring rates independently.
The ladder at a glance
Six levels, cheapest first. Prices are for the standard RWD cars unless the pick says M3.
| Level | Our pick | Price inc VAT | What you can adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowering springs or matched kit | Eibach Pro-Kit (E90 saloon) | £291 | None, a fixed drop |
| Entry coilover | BC Racing BR (standard E90/E92) | £1,049 | Height, 30 click damping |
| Fast road coilover | AST 5100 Street (standard E90/E92) | £2,568 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| Club and trackday 1-way | AST 5100 Clubracing (E90/E92) | £3,528 | 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. Eibach springs or Bilstein B12: lower, with no adjusting
If the car only needs to sit lower and ride better, a matched kit is the sensible starting point. The Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit puts Bilstein dampers with Eibach springs in one box for the standard E90. If your dampers are still fresh, the Eibach Pro-Kit springs on their own are the cheapest way down, and the Sportline gives a larger drop on the same idea.
Garreth’s note on coverage: Eibach lists body-specific kits, so the saloon, coupe, touring and convertible each have their own, and the M3 has its own. The Bilstein B12 covers the standard saloon. Neither fits the xDrive, which has a separate Eibach Pro-Kit for the AWD front end. If you need help confirming the right spring kit before ordering, drop us an email or click to open a chat.
- Price. £291 inc VAT
- Adjustment. None, a fixed drop
- In the box. Lowering springs, use your dampers
- Buy it if. You want the car lower and the ride sorted, and never want to touch it again
2. BC Racing BR: the height adjustable starting point
BR gives the E90 height and damping adjustment in one kit, with ride height independent of spring preload and 30 clicks of damping on one knob. The standard E90/E92 ships at 5.5 kg/mm front and 8 rear. The M3 listing is a different kit at 8 front and 14 rear. There is a separate listing for the xDrive AWD front end too.
Cameron points out what is easy to miss in the listing: the dampers are rebuildable, the spring rates can be changed at the point of order, and the same listing takes you to ER or ZR later. Six top mount configurations are on the page, from rubber mounts for a road car to pillowball for track use.
- 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 ReadyJust inSelect 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 ReadyJust inSelect 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 car
The step up in damper quality is AST. The 5100 Street is an inverted monotube made in the Netherlands, 12 clicks of rebound, and it runs your original top mounts with a factory-style divorced rear. There is also a non-inverted variant in the listings (ACS-B1601SD) for specific fitments within the range.
For a car that is driven properly on the road, Garreth’s pick is the Street Performance (ACT-B1601SD), which adds camber-adjustable front top mounts. A lowered E90 generally wants camber sorted once the ride height is set. The M3 has its own Street and Street Performance SKUs, built to the car’s weight and spring rates, at a higher price than the standard kits.
- Price. £2,568 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
4. AST 5100 Clubracing or MOTON 1-Way Clubracer: the trackday car
For a car that does regular trackdays, both of these add a coilover rear and camber-adjustable front top mounts. The AST 5100 Clubracing runs the same 12-click damper body with solid rear top mounts and a full coilover rear. The MOTON 1-Way Clubracer is a non-inverted endurance damper with 15 clicks of rebound and no reservoir, listed for the M3 specifically.
Garreth’s pick depends on how the car is used. A standard E90 that does the odd track day stays on the AST Street Performance. One that lives at the circuit moves to this rung, where the rear spring rate is under your control.
- Price. £3,528 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 a coilover rear and the camber sorted
5. Two way: BC Racing ER, AST 5200 or MOTON 2-Way
Separate rebound and compression is where a car starts getting tuned session to session. On the E90 there are two very different ways to get there. 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 or MOTON 2-Way. The European-built alternatives come with remote reservoirs, top mounts included and custom spring rates set at the point of order, with a UK rebuild centre.
Cameron’s view is that ER is the budget way onto a two-dial setup and a good way to learn what compression adjustment does before spending more. Garreth would still spend the extra on AST or MOTON for a car that races: they build to the car, offer custom spring rates, and have a UK rebuild centre that can revalve the dampers as the setup 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
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 still comes in far below the others. The AST 5300 is the same money as the 5200 plus a fixed step, with 14 or 15 clicks of low speed compression. The MOTON 3-Way turns that around with 15 high speed and 6 low speed positions, on a damper lineage that won the ETCC in 2004.
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 E90 range, and they are the usual next step once the car is on coilovers and you want to work on the handling balance.
| Part number | Fits | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 33039-1 | E90 saloon, E91 touring, E92 coupe and E93 convertible | £583 |
Every option we list for the E90
| Range | Part number | Listed for | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-02-22 | BMW 3 Series Saloon (E90) - 1045 kg Front Axle | £291 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-01-22 | BMW 3 Series Saloon (E90) - 935 kg Front Axle | £293 |
| Eibach Sportline | E20-20-014-02-22 | BMW 3 Series Saloon (E90) - 955 kg Front Axle | £307 |
| Eibach Sportline | E20-20-014-01-22 | BMW 3 Series Saloon (E90) - 935 kg Front Axle | £307 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-13-22 | BMW 3 Series Coupe (E92) - 990 kg Front Axle | £330 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-12-22 | BMW 3 Series Coupe (E92) - 930 kg Front Axle | £330 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-15-22 | BMW 3 Series Convertible (E93) - 990 kg Front Axle | £330 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-14-22 | BMW 3 Series Convertible (E93) - 930 kg Front Axle | £330 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-17-22 | BMW M3 Saloon (E90) / BMW M3 Coupe (E92) | £448 |
| Eibach Pro-Kit | E10-20-014-18-22 | BMW M3 Convertible (E93) | £530 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-154 | BMW 3 Series (W/O EDC) Convertible RWD (08-13) [E93(M3)] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-153 | BMW 3 Series Convertible RWD (08-13) [E93(M3)] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-113 | BMW 3 Series Sedan (AWD) (06-11) [E90] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-03 | Hm) (05-11) [E90/E92] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,914, HM £2,000, ER £1,749, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-148 | BMW 3 Touring AWD (05-11) [E91] | £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-17 | BMW 3 Series Touring/Convertible (07-10) [E91/E93] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,799, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-39 | BMW 3 Series Coupe (W/O EDC, Remove Strut Bar Hm) (08-13) [E92 (M3)] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,914, HM £2,000, ER £1,749, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-13 | Hm) (06-13) [E92(M3) E93] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,914, HM £2,000, ER £1,749, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-118 | BMW 3 Sedan/Coupe (True Rear Coilover) (RWD) (05-11) [E90/E92] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,849, RM £1,399, BR £1,139 |
| BC Racing | BCR-I-117 | BMW 3 Sedan/Coupe M3 (True Rear Coilover) (RWD) (06-13) [E90/E92] | ZX £1,964, ER £1,849, RM £1,399, BR £1,139 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-180599 | BMW 3 Series Touring (E91) | £1,182 |
| Bilstein B12 Pro-Kit | 46-180612 | BMW 3 Series (E90) | £1,220 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B1601SD | BMW Applications | £2,568 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACS-B1601SD | BMW Applications | £2,568 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-B1603SD | BMW Applications | £3,000 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B1603SD | BMW Applications | £3,072 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-B1601SD | BMW Applications | £3,072 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B1605SD | BMW Applications | £3,528 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-B1604SD | BMW Applications | £3,528 |
| MOTON 1-Way Clubracer | M 505 168SD | BMW Applications | £3,804 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B1603SD | BMW Applications | £5,112 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-B1601SD | BMW Applications | £5,112 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 124SD | BMW Applications | £5,220 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 115SD | BMW Applications | £5,220 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 107SD | BMW Applications | £5,220 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B1603SD | BMW Applications | £5,424 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-B1601SD | BMW Applications | £5,424 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 505 113SD | BMW Applications | £5,952 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 143SD | BMW Applications | £6,000 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 121SD | BMW Applications | £6,000 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 192SD | BMW Applications | £6,744 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 505 140SD | BMW Applications | £6,744 |
Every coilover and spring listing that names the E90 today. BC Racing prices are per series.
Before you order
- Which car. M3, standard or xDrive: the part number differs on almost everything
- EDC. E92 and E93 M3 from 2008 onwards could have electronic damper control. Send us the VIN if you are not sure
- Rear layout. Most kits run the factory-style divorced rear; AST Clubracing and BC Racing's True Rear Coilover listings give a coilover rear
- Alignment. Lowering changes camber and toe. Book the alignment as part of the job
Common questions
What are the best coilovers for an E90 on a budget?
BC Racing BR, which gives height and damping adjustment for a little over a thousand pounds, and the same listing takes you to a 2-way or 3-way later without changing the kit.
Are E92 M3 coilovers different from the standard 330i ones?
Yes, significantly. The M3 kit ships at 8 kg/mm front and 14 rear on BC Racing, against 5.5 front and 8 rear on the standard car. AST and MOTON also list separate M3 kits.
Will coilovers fit my E92 M3 with EDC?
Most listings are for non-EDC cars. BC Racing lists specific W/O EDC versions for the E92 and E93 M3. If you are not sure whether the car has EDC, send us the VIN and we will confirm before you order.
Does the E90 have a coilover rear?
Not on most kits. The rear spring sits separately from the damper as standard, and most coilovers keep that layout. AST Clubracing and BC Racing’s True Rear Coilover listings give you a coilover at all four corners if you want to change rear spring rates.
What about the 325xi and 328xi xDrive?
BC Racing lists a separate kit for the AWD front end. For AST, MOTON and Eibach fitments on the xDrive, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will confirm what we list.
What we would fit
For a road E90, Cameron would fit BC Racing BR and spend what is left on the alignment and a set of tyres. The spring rates suit the car and the damping knob sorts the ride.
Garreth’s pick for an M3 that gets used is the AST 5100 Street Performance: the better damper, camber at the front, built to the M3’s weight and spring rates, with a UK rebuild centre behind it. For a car that races, it is AST or MOTON at the 2-way level and up. They disagree on the ER. Cameron thinks it is the best value on the page for a budget track car. Garreth thinks a car that races is worth dampers built and valved for it, with the rebuild centre in the UK.
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, whether it has EDC, and what the car is for. We will confirm the part number and spring rates before you order.
Tell us the model, whether it is an M3, and whether the car has EDC. We will find the right part number at the level that suits it and go through the listing notes before anything is ordered. Call 0115 989 3488 or drop us an email.
