How level is your rear???

[Pip1968]

Nothing homosexual here. After lots of fannying around with my car at BMW they finally replaced my rear springs which seems to have corrected the fact that one side was higher than the other (probably an inch between each side). That said there is still a small (less than the 10mm allowable by BMW) difference with the drivers side being higher. With that in mind and my OCD can I ask how everyone else's rear is. The measurement is taken from the bottom of the alloy wheel (not the tyre) to the top of the arch. Obviously it has to be measured whilst on level ground. Possibly with me sat inside the difference would be reduced. Hmmm must try that :whistle:

My car is on OEM suspension on the rear and adjustable top mounts front.

Is everyone's sitting perfectly level and equal each side????

Pip

[83SY]

If i cant write anything homosexual then im out :partyman:

[Neil M]

Top of the rim to the underside of the arch is a good indicator, but not foolproof.
The car would need to be on level ground, as you mentioned, both rear tyres would have to be the same in good order and inflated to the correct pressure in both. Then you stand a chance of having it level.
If however the measurements do not correspond then it could be indicating that the spring on the lower side is suffering fatigue and would need changing also. (always in pairs) Hope this helps :)

[Equinox]

When you have done all your measuring, measure from the floor to the jacking point on each side and see if the difference is the same as the difference to the arch, thatll mess your head up

[NZ_M3]

Every single one I've measured have had one side sit higher than the other (and I've measured quite a few cars now) .... It's normal.

I think if you chuck the car on a corner weight scale you'll see why it was done that way.

[chrisburns]

Every single one I've measured have had one side sit higher than the other (and I've measured quite a few cars now) .... It's normal.

I think if you chuck the car on a corner weight scale you'll see why it was done that way.

Agreed, not many sit perfectly level. Remember you are not sitting in it when looking are you :-D

[Pip1968]

Well that has reassured me slightly. Initially the BMW dealership claimed it was all fine even though as I said one side was about an inch higher than the other. This was to the point at which it was damned obvious just looking at the car that it was crooked. It was really only after my persistance after it had been once in that they finally changed the springs. I was going to be done with it and take it to ELMs. Their cheif technician finally came out to speak to me and said he would personally oversee it. There seemed to be some fuss about the car having aftermarket modifications ie poly bushes that meant he 'could not' sort the problem out under warranty. In the end when I told him to return them to OEM and have another look he said it was just the Turner Motorsport limiting kit and not poly bushes. He did not change them in the end but instead put in new springs and tried swapping the struts over L/R - R/L to see if this changed the game.

With new springs in pace it finished up 7mm difference between each side. Note the springs were not cracked or broken

Does anyone know if they generally sit higher on one side as opposed to the other to offset the driver weight (if this was indeed factored in).

Special thanks to the post by the colonial :whistle:.

Pip :beer:

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Don't BMW build them like it to allow for driver weight, look at it when you are sat in the car :whistle:

[adem.csl]

I was told by bmw that because they were made with left hand drive chassis that they were built half inch higher on left side to compensate for driver weight once in car.now silly they never changed the chassis setting for right hand drive that's why all e46 are same.I've got 6 in My family and all exactly same difference.

[Pip1968]

I was told by bmw that because they were made with left hand drive chassis that they were built half inch higher on left side to compensate for driver weight once in car.now silly they never changed the chassis setting for right hand drive that's why all e46 are same.I've got 6 in My family and all exactly same difference.

OCD - Please clarify Adem. Do you mean that all six e46 are 13mm higher on one side over the other. The BMW directive is apparently within 10mm of each other.

Pip :smt102:smt102:smt102

[adem.csl]

OCD - Please clarify Adem. Do you mean that all six e46 are 13mm higher on one side over the other. The BMW directive is apparently within 10mm of each other.

Pip :smt102:smt102:smt102

Ok I measures my csl.14 inch from arch to wheel centre driver side.14.5 inch passenger side.changed my springs to eibach exactly the same.measures a customers m3 same day same height.changed my springs for personal identity springs same thing.got my wife 325i exactly same.put csl springs on back same.my brother in law broke a spring I changed them pair from bmw 14 inch driver side 14.5 pass side.every bmw customer I get complains the car won't sit right so forced to put thin spring cups on pass side and thick spring cups driver side to even it up.this is not the answer but it works.

[Pip1968]

Very interesting. I am still positive that mine was over the 12.5mm you have found. I could get my hand in between the tyre and and the wheel arch on the driver's side and not at all on the passenger side. I wish had taken pictures now.

Thank you Adem. :thumbs:

Pip

[adem.csl]

these are pics of a customers 3 series taken today.hope this helps.:)7219

7220

7221

[adem.csl]

pics show a standard e46 no suspension damage if you see passenger side is 14.5 inch and drivers side 14 inches this is common on all e46.if i or anyone average sits in passenger seat it drops to 14 inch.so sitting in drivers seat lowers it to around 13.5.bmw say this is in tolerance.make up your own mind.lol:whistle:

[Pip1968]

As said the Master techician at my local dealership said the tolerance unladen was 10mm and having just measured the difference between each side my car is 590mm passenger side and 600mm on the driver side (from the bottom of the wheel rim to the bottom of the wheel arch).

Pip

[adem.csl]

soo that means your car sits really high? as the pics ive sent show it at 36mm centre wheel to arch lip.have you measured as in my pics from wheel centre cap to arch lip?sounds like you got standard m3 springs,csl springs are 10mm shorter than standard.so m3 is 30mm drop and csl is 20mm drop over standard suspension.but if one side is 59mm and other is 60mm they are clse enough to eachother no?

[Pip1968]

Sorry Adem, it should have read 60cm verses 59cm (I have corrected my post now). Remember my measurements are from the bottom of the alloy rim. I do not think they are standard M3 springs as I am sure the technician would have said bearing in mind he picked up on the non OEM bushes albeit slightly incorrectly. Plus they have now been replaced.

Anyone have the part number for M3 springs and CSL springs. I can then check the invoice.

Pip