bmwe21.net forums

Hi very new to e21 ownership and looking some advice.My car is a 1983 316 and was hoping to lower it.The car is only for street use and won't be tracked.I see that e30 after market suspension is more readily available and was wondering if I could use a kit for one of those on my car.Thanks for any advice.

No you can't

Would the 45mm inserts on an e30 not fit my struts?What is the difference in them?

The length; e30 ones are shorter. There are people who machined some kind of spacer to make it work though.
The rear ones are completely different. e21 uses the mcPherson system, e30 uses a system where the coils and the shockabsorbers are independent.

What's your budget? And what kind of suspension are you looking for? comfortable? sport? coilovers?
There are a couple of aftermarket suspension kits available, Bilstein and Koni for instance.

Thanks for the reply.
I would ideally like coilovers,really so I could go low,but are really out of my budget at minute(I buy car,wife and kids want holiday)so would like to go low on a budget.Have seen so many different kits and springs that I really want someone who knows to tell me this is the best way to go.Cheers for any help

For rear coilovers, I've seen people using Volkwagen Golf ones, these are dirt cheap. They fit quite well.
For the front ones there are cheap threades sleeves available wich you have to weld on the struts. Try the search function, a couple of peaple have done it.

Edit: viewtopic.php?f=53&t=20549&p=229883&hil ... ed#p229883 this for instance.

Cheers will check that out.I take it is rear mk1 golf they use?

105e wrote:Cheers will check that out.I take it is rear mk1 golf they use?

Yes or Mk2