Top 5 Best BMW E90 & E92 Coilovers: The Ultimate Guide
If you are looking to get the most out of your E90 or E92, one of the best upgrades you can do is to install a set of coilovers.
In this blog post, I’m going to give you all you need to know about installing coilovers on the E90 or E92, as well as the top 5 coilovers available on the market today.
Why Would You Want to Install Coilovers in Your E90 or E92?
Installing coilovers on your E90 or E92 is going to give you the ability to do several things:
- You will be able to lower the ride height and adjust it to sit exactly how you want it
- The handling of the car is going to improve, due to the stiffer suspension, lower center of gravity, and the performance oriented tuning of the coilovers
- Depending on the coilover model, you will be able to fine tune the damper stiffness so that the ride comfort is set how you like it
Basically, your car will improve in almost every way. The only potential downside is that the ride can be a stiffer than factory, but good quality set of coilovers will be designed to give you close to, if not the same level of OEM ride comfort.
When selecting the right kit for your car, keep in mind what you intend to use the car for and whether ride comfort or performance are more important, in order to get the results you are after.
Things to Consider When Selecting Coilovers for Your BMW E90 or E92
True vs Divorced Rear
One of the biggest debate points about E90 coilovers you will find is whether to get a true-rear or divorced rear setup.
On the rear of the E90, the spring is mounted separate to the shock on the factory setup. This is known as a “Divorced Rear”.
A “True-Rear” is when the spring is part of the damper assembly and sits on a spring perch which is mounted on the shock body, like you would have on the front.
The reason why True-rear options exist is when it comes to performance, true-rear setups do offer a slight advantage, which is why you will see almost all racecars having a true-rear setup.
However, on the E90, in order to install a true-rear coilover, you need to do extensive reinforcement on the strut towers so that they can actually handle the added force of the springs. Otherwise you risk your suspension flying through the top of the tower when it inevitably breaks.
For street cars, the is not worth it, as the performance advantages are negligible unless you are chasing 1-10th of a second in lap times on a track.
So if your car is anything short of a full racecar with a cage, just go with the divorced rear and keep life simple.
M3 Vs Non M
There is a difference between M3 and Non M suspension on the E90, and the two are not interchangeable.
The M3 has wider knockles and struts, and you won’t be able to install the M3 gear into a Non M, or vice versa, without a lot of work.
Most coilover companies make kits for both M3s and Non Ms, so just make sure to select the right kit to match your car and you won’t have any issues.
Compatibility Between E90, E91, E92, E93 & AWD
There is a lot of cross-compatibility between the various E9x models, especially between the E90 and E92. Most coilover kits will fit both of these.
Some coilover kits will also fit the E93, however many have a separate model for E93 and E91s due to the weight differences which require different spring rates to be optimal.
If the coilover kit you are looking at states that it fits all models, it might be worth ordering custom spring rates if you have an E91 or E93 to better suit the weight of the car.
AWD models have a specific kit that is not interchangeable with the other models, make sure you are buying an AWD kit if your E90 is AWD.
The Best Coilovers for the BMW E90 and E92
Right, now that you know what to look for, let’s get to the list of coilovers.
KW V3 Clubsport
Available for: M3 & Non M E90/E92
Price: $3604-3914
Before for: Cars that will see regular track time but will still be used on the street.
If your E90 or E92 is going to seeing a lot of track time but you still plan to use it on the road, the KW V3 Clubsport kit is one of the best options out there.
KW is one of the most renowned suspension manufacturers in the world, producing very high quality kits that offer fantastic performance as well as excellent ride quality.
The V3 Clubsport kit is made to offer excellent performance at the track when combined with trackday tyres, having been designed for use on the Nordschleife.
This kit gives you independent rebound and compression adjustment which allows you to fine tune the damper settings in order to perfectly match your car’s setup and handling characteristics to get maximum grip and handling performance.
KW puts an incredible amount of engineering behind all of their kits, with every single kit being fine-tuned for the specific vehicle it’s made for to ensure the best performance and ride quality. They also have an in-house 7 post driving dynamics test facility which they use to develop and tune their coilovers, which is on par with what Formula 1 use to develop their suspension.
Another thing that KW coilovers are famous for is their special INOX-LINE stainless steel shock bodies, which have been salt spray tested for 220 hours. Combined with their unique composite spring perch, these coilovers will survive the harshest weather and will not corrode, and KW back that up with a lifetime warranty.
As a kit that’s going to be comfortable on the street but will give you maximum performance and adjustability on the track, the KW V3 Clubsport is one of the best choices out there.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment done by spring perch
- 16-level rebound adjustment
- 12-level low speed compression adjustment
- INOX-LINE stainless steel shock bodies
- Composite spring perches
- Aluminium unibal top mounts with camber adjustment
- Fine-tuned for each specific vehicle
- Designed for maximum performance on the track
- Lifetime warranty
- Rebuildable
You can get the KW V3 Clubsports for the best price here (select your car model on the next page):
GET E9X KW V3 CLUBSPORT HERE FOR THE BEST PRICE
Fortune Auto 500
Available for: M3 & Non M E90/E92 & AWD
Price: $1799
Before for: Street cars that will see track time and need high customizability
If the KW V3 Clubsports are out of your budget or you need a high degree of customizability for your setup, the Fortune Auto 500 series are seriously one of the best kits on the market.
Designed to be “the last coilover you’ll ever need to buy”, the Fortune Auto 500 Series are both modular and customizable in order to give you the exact setup you need.
As I mentioned, this kit is modular, which means is that it can be upgraded, either to the 510 kit spec or to 2-way dampening adjustable with external reservoirs. So if you decide you need more from your suspension, you don’t have to buy a whole new kit, you just send yours in to get the upgrade.
Another thing that makes these coilovers special is that every damper is tested on the shock dyno and matched in pairs to within a 3% tolerance. The testing is done at Fortune Auto’s facility in Virginia, where every kit is then hand assembled before being shipped out. This ensures that every single kit they make is of the highest standard.
To back that up, Fortune Auto offer a 5 year warranty, which is one of the longest in the industry and says a lot about how much they stand behind their products.
The dampers on this kit are monotube with 24 levels of rebound dampening adjustment, and use high pressure nitrogen and a high flow digressive piston which gives the driver more feel and control over the car. They also have a special “blow-off” technology to keep the ride comfortable even over rough surfaces.
The springs are made from premium chrome silicon alloy which ensures superior performance, ride quality and a long life with minimal sagging. Swift Springs are available as an optional extra if you want the absolute best.
Fortune Auto will also customize these coilovers to suit your needs including custom spring rates and valving, and they even have a super low option if you want to go really low.
These coilovers are commonly used on the track, with these kits being very popular among time attack racers.
If you are looking for a fantastic street coilover that can handle track use and will give you both ride comfort and excellent handling, these are a great choice. And compared to other high end coilovers, they aren’t even that expensive.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body for full suspension travel at all ride heights
- Lowers the car 1-3 inches, Super Low option lowers 2.5-5 inches (depending on the model)
- 24-way rebound dampening adjustment
- Monotube dampers with high pressure nitrogen and high flow digressive piston technology
- Koyo Japan radial bearings
- Aluminium T6 6061 aluminium strut mounts with camber adjustment (on applicable models)
- Swift Spring upgrade available
- Custom spring rates and valving available
- Upgradable to 2-way independently adjustable with external reservoir
- 5 year warranty
You can get the Fortune Auto 500 Series here for the best price (select your car model on the next page):
GET E9X FORTUNE AUTO 500 SERIES FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
BC Racing BR Series
Available For: M3 & Non M E90/E92 & AWD
Price: $1195
Before for: Street cars & daily drivers that will see some track time
If your E90 or E92 is primarily a street car that will see some track time and you want a high degree of customizability, but the Fortune Autos are just out of your budget, the BC Racing BR Series are an excellent choice.
The BR Series are BC Racing’s entry level kit and do a superb job of being the perfect all-rounder that can handle both comfortable daily riving and track duty, all for a super low price.
One of the reasons this kit is very popular is because of the customization options that BC Racing give customers. From custom spring rates and valving, to Swift Springs, Extreme Low, rear camber plates (on applicable models) and more, you can basically put together the perfect kit to suit your needs.
They come with monotube dampers that give you 30 levels of dampening adjustment (simultaneous compression/rebound) which allow you to really fine tune the ride and handling to suit your requirements and quickly change them if you need to (for track days, for example).
Ride height adjustment is done by the shock body rather than the spring perch, which gives you full suspension travel at all ride heights and makes for a more comfortable ride. It also means the dampers will last longer, since they won’t be constantly bottoming out when running low.
The regular kit will lower your car from 1 to 3 inches and if you opt for the Extreme Low option, it will go up to 4 inches lower than factory.
These coilovers have proven over and over again to take almost anything thrown at them, with many people using them for all kinds of things from frame scraping daily drivers to regular track use.
They come with a 1 year warranty and are also fully rebuildable, with BC Racing selling all the individual parts to do the rebuild.
You really can’t go wrong with these coilovers. They are the perfect all-rounder for both street cars and cars that will see the track. When you take into account the customizability, the build quality, the ride comfort, handling performance and value for money, this is easily the best kit you are going to get at this price point.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment from the shock body
- Lowers ride height from 1-3inches, Extreme low option goes 2-4 inches
- 30-level adjustable dampening (compression/ rebound simultaneous)
- Monotube dampers with linear valving
- Aluminium strut mounts with camber adjustment on the front
- Rebuildable with all parts purchasable from BC Racing
- Custom spring rates and valving available
- Swift Spring upgrade available
- 1 year warranty
You can get the BC Racing BR Series for the best price here (select your model):
E90 BC RACING COILOVERS FOR THE BEST PRICE
E92 BC RACING COILOVERS FOR THE BEST PRICE
ST X
Available For: Non M3 E90/E92 & AWD
Price: $1274
Before for: Street cars that need to have a comfortable ride
If you are going to only use your E90 or E92 on the road and don’t plan on hitting the track, the ST X kit is a great option that’s going to give you a very comfortable ride and a large height adjustment range.
The ST coilovers are actually made by KW, and aside from not having the INOX-LINE stainless steel shock bodies, these are identical to the KW V1 kit. Instead, the ST X have galvanized shock bodies, which isn’t quite as corrosion resistant but allows them to be cheaper.
Designed as a street kit, they have twin-tube dampers which are designed to give you as much ride comfort as possible, while still significantly improving handing.
The ride height adjustment gives you up to 85mm of lowering. Now, keep in mind that it is done by the spring perch, which means the lower you go, the less suspension travel you will have and the less comfortable the ride will be.
However, these coilovers do still have a great reputation for ride comfort, even when running low, so it shouldn’t be a big issue.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the spring perch, up to 85mm lowering
- Twin tube dampers fine-tuned by KW
- Galvanized shock bodies for corrosion resistance
- Composite spring perch to prevent seizing
Note: These use the factory strut mounts, so be sure to order new ones if you are getting these coilovers.
You can get the ST X for the best price here:
GET E9X ST X FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Solo-Werks S1
Available For: Non M3 E90/E92
Price: $499
Before for: Street cars being built on a budget
If you are on a tight budget the Solo-Werks S1’s are the best value for money you’re going to get.
These are the cheapest coilovers on this list by far, and while they may not have many of the features that most of the other kits on this list do, they make up for it with the surprisingly good quality and ride considering the price.
It’s very hard to find a good coilover in the $500 range, but the Solo-Werks S1’s really are a decent choice. The build quality is good, the ride is comfortable for daily driving and they can handle track days (I have personally used them on the track).
What most people don’t know is that Solo-Werks was founded by ex-KW engineers, who used what they learnt to make a very high quality coilover kit for a low price.
They feature twin tube dampers which are matched with the springs and tuned for the specific application to provide a high level of ride comfort.
The shock bodies are plated in heavy gold zinc which has been salt spray tested for 500 hours, meaning they are extremely resistant to corrosion.
They also come with a 3 year warranty, which is pretty much unheard of at this price range and is more than kits twice their price come with.
For the price they are, the Solo-Werks S1’s are really hard to beat, and are a great choice if you are looking to lower your daily driver or street car on a budget.
Features include:
- Ride height lowering (by spring perch) – 1.2-2.25 inches front, 1.0-2.2 inches rear
- Twin tube dampers for a more comfortable ride, tuned specifically for each car
- Heavy gold zinc plated housings which have been salt spray tested for 500 hours and proven to withstand corrosion
- Special progressive elastomer bump stops for additional ride comfort
- Bottle of Boeshield T-9 thread lubricant
- 3 year warranty
Note: These use the factory strut mounts, so be sure to order new ones if you are getting these coilovers.
You can get the Solo-Werks S1 coilovers for the best price here:
GET E9X SOLO-WERKS S1 FOR THE BEST PRICE HERE
Conclusion
I hope that this has helped you to select the right coilover kit for your E90 or E92. If you have any questions or would like to recommend another coilover for this list, feel free to post in the comments below.
Cars owned: Mk2 Golf with 1.8T swap, BMW E28 with M30B35 swap, BMW E36 328I Mtech, BMW 750IL, Nissan 300ZX, Honda Civic EF
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