Home
BMW
3 Series E90 to E93

BMW 3 Series E90, E91, E92 and E93 Coilovers

The E90, E91, E92 and E93 are four body codes for one generation, and xDrive and the M3 add more choices. That makes it easy to pick the wrong kit. Below, our BMW 3 Series coilovers for this generation are grouped by the body code on your car, with BC Racing first in each section.

Have your body style, drive and model ready. Call 1-800-460-9106 and we will match the kit.

Grey BMW 335i E92 coupe lowered on coilovers on a quiet city street on a cold, clear winter morning

Animated illustration. It shows where coilovers sit on a car, not your exact kit. Depending on the car and the kit, coilovers can lean forward or back or stand straight up, and some cars use a separate spring and shock in the rear. Your ride height depends on the kit and how it is set up.

Three questions before you order

Answer these in order. Each one cuts down the number of kits that fit.

1. Which body?

E90 is the sedan, E91 the wagon, E92 the coupe, E93 the convertible. Several brands make separate wagon and convertible kits.

2. Rear drive or xDrive?

Kit names call the all-wheel drive cars xi or xDrive, and each kit fits one drive or the other.

3. M3, and does it have EDC?

The M3 has its own kits. If yours came with EDC electronic dampers, pick a kit listed for that.

There are two smaller checks too. Bilstein lists some kits by engine, such as 328i or 335i, and for cars without self-leveling suspension. Fortune Auto names its kits "Separate Style Rear." That means the rear spring and shock are mounted apart.

BC Racing coilovers for the E90 to E93

BC Racing kits for each body code

BC Racing coilovers for the E90, E91, E92 and E93 come in seven series: BR, DS, ER, RM, HM, ZR and ZX. All seven are sold for the rear-drive E90 sedan, the E92 coupe and the E90 and E92 M3. The rear-drive wagon and convertible, and the E93 M3, come in BR, DS, ER, RM and ZX. On xDrive cars, BC sells BR and DS, plus RM for the AWD wagon. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US.

See all BC Racing coilovers Jump to the M3

Seven BC series across the E9X family

Each card says where BC sells that series on this generation.

BR and DS, every body

Both have one 30-click knob that sets compression and rebound together. DS adds a digressive piston for firmer control. BC sells them for every E9X body, xDrive included.

RM, all but the xDrive sedan and coupe

RM is an upside-down (inverted) monotube with one 30-click knob for compression and rebound together, made for MacPherson strut cars. BC lists it for every E9X except the xDrive sedan and coupe.

ER and ZX, rear drive and M3

ER is an upright damper with a separate oil reservoir, and compression and rebound each have their own 30-click knob. BC calls ZX its "most track-tested" series.

HM and ZR, E90, E92 and their M3

HM combines RM and ER, with separate compression and rebound knobs. ZR has three knobs: 30 clicks for rebound, 15 clicks for low-speed compression and 12 clicks for high-speed compression.

Extreme Low

BC makes Extreme Low kits for the non-M E90 and E92 and for AWD E90, E91 and E92 cars. If you are not sure, start with a standard-height kit.

Swift Springs

HM and ZR come with Swift Springs for most cars. For other series, use the Custom Build for BC Coilovers page.

Eight more brands for the E9X

Here is what each brand covers on this generation. Not sure which kit is yours? Call 1-800-460-9106.

KW has rear-drive kits that each cover two bodies, separate xDrive kits, and six M3 kits based on body and EDC.

Öhlins

Öhlins makes a Road & Track kit for the rear-drive E9X, a Spec E9X kit, and three M3 kits: Road & Track, TTX Pro and DFV Dedicated. Öhlins also sells an M3 EDC cancellation kit.

Bilstein

Bilstein lists its kits by engine and body: B12 Pro-Kits for the 328i, 335i and M3, and B14 PSS kits for xDrive cars and the E93.

Fortune Auto

Fortune Auto hand-assembles its kits in Powhatan, Virginia. It makes a rear-drive kit, an AWD kit and an M3 kit, all with the rear spring and shock mounted apart.

Feal

Feal lists rear-drive and AWD kits for the E90 and E92, plus an M3 kit.

Ksport

Ksport makes separate kits for the sedan, the coupe and the M3. The sedan and coupe kit names list the engines.

Solo-Werks

Solo-Werks makes a kit for the 2006 to 2011 rear-drive sedan and coupe, listed for all engines.

Swift Springs

Swift makes Sport Spec-R springs for the 2007 to 2013 335i and the 2008 to 2013 M3.

Commuter, club track day or M3

Daily 328i or 335i

A mild drop with the damping set close to soft keeps the car settled on the commute.

Kits to look at: BC Racing BR or DS, Bilstein B12, Ksport, Solo-Werks

Club track day

On a rear-drive coupe or sedan, a kit you can tune gives you room to set the car up for the track. BC's ER, HM, ZR and ZX adjust compression and rebound separately.

Kits to look at: BC Racing ER, HM, ZR or ZX, KW, Öhlins, Fortune Auto, Feal

The M3

For E92 M3 coilovers, check for EDC first. Then choose by how much adjustment you want.

Kits to look at: BC Racing (up to all seven series), KW, Öhlins, Fortune Auto, Bilstein B12, Feal, Ksport

Every E9X coilover kit, by body and drive

Some kits appear under more than one body because their names cover both. Open a card to see the price and what it fits.

E90 sedan coilovers, rear-wheel drive

Codes: E90

BC Racing coilover kit for the 2006 to 2011 BMW 3 Series Sedan — **BC Racing kit**The BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2006 to 2011 BMW 3 Series Sedan. Photo: BC Racing.

Check before you order: Bilstein lists the 328i and 335i separately, for cars without self-leveling suspension. Öhlins names its kits E9X RWD, one of them for the Spec E9X race class, so call us to confirm your body. Swift lists its springs for the 335i.

E92 coupe coilovers, rear-wheel drive, non-M

Codes: E92

BC Racing coilover kit for the 2006 to 2013 BMW 3 Series Coupe — **BC Racing kit**The BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2006 to 2013 BMW 3 Series Coupe. Photo: BC Racing.

Check before you order: If you are shopping for E92 coilovers, note that BC Racing makes two coupe kits. One is named "Excludes M3" and comes in five series; the other has no such note and comes in all seven. Call us and we will match the right one to your car.

E91 wagon and E93 convertible coilovers, rear-wheel drive

Codes: E91, E93

Check before you order: BC Racing and KW each make one kit that fits both the wagon and convertible. Bilstein has a convertible-only kit. Fortune Auto names the E91 but not the E93, and Ksport names its kit "Sedan (E90/E91)," so call us first.

xDrive coilovers, all-wheel drive sedan, coupe and wagon

Codes: E90, E91, E92, E93 xDrive

BC Racing coilover kit for the 2006 to 2011 BMW 3 Series E90, E91 and E92 — **BC Racing kit**The BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2006 to 2011 BMW 3 Series E90, E91 and E92. Photo: BC Racing.

Check before you order: BC Racing has one kit for the AWD wagon and another for the AWD sedan and coupe. Its sedan and coupe kit is named "Swift Rear Only," so ask us what that means for springs. KW names one AWD kit "E93 Wagon," so call us to confirm.

M3 coilovers, E90 sedan, E92 coupe and E93 convertible

Codes: E90, E92, E93 M3

BC Racing coilover kit for the 2007 to 2013 BMW 3 Series M3 — **BC Racing kit**The BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2007 to 2013 BMW 3 Series M3. Photo: BC Racing.

Check before you order: First find out if your car has EDC, the electronic dampers. BC makes M3 kits for cars with and without EDC. Its E93 kits run to 2015 and come in five series. KW sells kits for cars without EDC, and EDC kits with or without the cancellation unit. Öhlins sells an EDC cancellation kit.

The E9X family at a glance

Body or model	Years	What decides the kit	BC Racing series
E90 sedan	2006 to 2011	Engine, for Bilstein	BR, DS, ER, RM, HM, ZR, ZX
E92 coupe	2006 to 2013	Which of the two BC coupe kits, and engine for Bilstein	BR, DS, ER, RM, HM, ZR, ZX
E91 and E93	2006 to 2013	Wagon or convertible, for Bilstein	BR, DS, ER, RM, ZX
xDrive	2006 to 2013	Wagon or sedan and coupe for BC. RM is for the wagon only.	BR, DS, RM
M3	2007 to 2013	EDC, and the E93 convertible gets five BC series	BR, DS, ER, RM, HM, ZR, ZX

Before you buy: what E90 owners run into

What E90 owners report most often, from owner forums, recalls and service bulletins, and what each point means for your coilovers.

Worn front tension strut hydro bushings

E90, E91, E92 and E93 (non-M), 2006 to 2013

Owners report the car pulling and the wheels moving under braking when the front thrust arm bushings crack and get loose. xDrive owners on Bimmerpost say the hydro bushings leak and wear out, and a BMW specialist says the leaking fluid leads to clunks and vibration. It is easy to blame new coilovers for this when the bushing is the real cause.

Before you install: Check the front tension strut bushings for cracks and play with the front end apart, and replace them before the alignment if worn.

Rear camber after a drop, and seized eccentrics

E90 to E93 including xDrive, 2006 to 2013

Lowered E9X owners on Bimmerpost report extra negative rear camber on coilovers. One owner with about a 1.25 inch drop got close to spec with the factory eccentrics. Another was told a shop may give up on rusted eccentric bolts. Stock parts often work if the eccentrics turn, and toe matters as much as camber.

Before you install: Soak and free the rear eccentric bolts during the install, and use a shop that works on lowered cars. Add adjustable arms only for big drops.

The fifth-generation 3 Series

From the 325i to the M3

BMW brought the fifth-generation 3 Series to North America at the 2005 New York auto show. The first two models were the 325i and the 330i.

2005

The 2006 sedanIt was due in showrooms from May 2005, with a double-pivot strut front and a new five-link rear.
Four bodies

Sedan, wagon, coupe, convertibleEach body has its own code, and kit names follow those codes.
2008 to 2013

The M3Kits for the E90, E92 and E93 M3 start at 2007 or 2008, depending on the brand.

This generation has a lot of kits. Find the body code on your car, and the lists above narrow to a handful.

E90 and E92 coilover questions

How do I tell an E90 from an E92?

E90 is the sedan, E91 the wagon, E92 the coupe and E93 the convertible. The kit sections on this page follow those codes, so start with yours.

Does an xDrive car need a different kit?

Yes. BC Racing, KW, Fortune Auto, Feal and Bilstein sell xDrive kits separate from their rear-drive kits. BC Racing also has separate kits for the AWD wagon and the AWD sedan and coupe.

Which BC Racing series can I get for an E92 M3?

You can get all seven: BR, DS, ER, RM, HM, ZR and ZX. BC makes them for cars that came with EDC and for cars that did not.

My M3 has EDC. What are my options?

BC makes a kit for M3s that came with EDC. KW sells EDC kits with the disable unit included or without the cancellation kit, and Öhlins sells an EDC cancellation kit. Bilstein lists a B12 Pro-Kit for M3s with electronic suspension.

Which BC series fit an xDrive car?

BC sells BR and DS for the xDrive sedan, coupe and wagon, and RM for the AWD wagon. It also makes an AWD Extreme Low kit in BR.

Why are there two BC kits for the E92 coupe?

BC makes one named "Excludes M3" and one with no such note. Call us with your model and we will match the right kit.

What warranty comes with a BC Racing kit on a 3 Series?

BC Racing North America currently lists a two-year limited warranty on full kit orders, subject to its warranty terms. Each of the other brands sets its own warranty terms.

More for your BMW

Coilover Kits by CarEvery car we have a page for. Reading BMW Coilover Listings: Chassis Codes for the 3 Series and 5 SeriesSetup and ownership tips for the 3 Series E90. Does Your Car Have Adaptive Dampers? Keep Them, Cancel Them or Replace ThemKeep, cancel or replace the electronic dampers on your 3 Series E90. AWD, RWD or FWD: Why Drivetrain Changes the Coilover Kit You OrderWhy the drivetrain changes which kit fits your 3 Series E90. How to Set Ride Height on CoiloversMeasure and set the drop on your 3 Series E90. After You Lower It: Alignment Timing, Driver-Assist Calibration and Headlight AimAlignment, driver-assist and headlight checks once the 3 Series E90 is lower. Adjustable or not?How much adjustment a daily 3 Series needs. BC Racing for BMWBC kits for every BMW we list. BMW coiloversAll BMW fitments, all brands. BMW E46 coiloversThe generation before, M3 included. BMW E36 coiloversTwo generations back. BC Racing series explainedAll seven series side by side. How to install coiloversWhat the job involves.

Not sure of your body code?

Call us Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern.

Call 1-800-460-9106