Front Shock Sizes

[Grant 4]

Hello

Does anyone here have a Japanese import facelift (1990ish) E30 320i 4 door.

Why, you ask?

I need to know the diameter of the front shocks. Apparantly E30's have two different diameters of front shocks.

Apparantly, the only way to tell is to remove one shock and measure it (which means a lot of shagging around and getting another wheel alignment etc), so am hoping that someone here, may know the answer to this or have replaced their front shocks and know which diameter ones they needed.

I just don't want to order the wrong sized ones.

Cheers

[Carl 3]

I can help you, I have a jappa 1990 facelift import, although it's a coupe, but i've replaced my stock 45mm shocks with 51mm Koni yellow adjustables (hehehe Gus)

Edited August 9, 2004 by ///Carl

[Grant 4]

I can help you, I have a jappa 1990 facelift import, although it's a couple, but i've replaced my shocks with Koni yellow adjustables (hehehe Gus)

The stock ones are sitting about in Glenn's garage, but if it helps the Koni yellows fit perfectly

Cheers Carl.

I'll PM Glenn, and ask him to measure the diameter of your old shocks.

Cheers

[Hartage 0]

Not sure if this covers all varities.

316, 318, 320 and early 323 should be fitted with 45 mm dia,

later 323, and 325 have the larger 51 mm dia.

Unless fitted with M Tech Suspension, then its likely that its the larger 51mm.

That is how i have found it. Had 6 e30s apart and found this to be the case.

[Guest Spargo]

I thought this was common knowledge?

Grant, you may aswel upgrade to 51mm units.

[Gus 5]

its more the fitment issue.....andy originally got the wrong size bilsteins and had to re order from oz

[Guest Andrew]

its more the fitment issue.....andy originally got the wrong size bilsteins and had to re order from oz

What happened with mine is.. is the ordered the 45mm ones as my car was an 84 323.. but since it had been swapped with 1987 325 bits it was actually 51mm.

[E30-323ti 66]

My '85 323 had the 51mm shocks, now on carls car, which had 45mm shocks.

[Guest Andrew]

My '85 323 had the 51mm shocks, now on carls car, which had 45mm shocks.

Mine was an 84 323i .. it appears to be rather odd ball on the shock sizes though..

[Hartage 0]

Just talked to 320ic owner, his has 51mm, So that confuses the issue again.

[MattA 162]

Mine had 51mm (320 just bigger engine) from memory I measured the outer casing not the insert so you should be able to find out what size without removing anything.

[Grant 4]

I was able to measure mine last night. I have 45mm ones (as the body is a 1990 320i one).

The suspension has been ordered, and should be arriving at where I am staying in California in about a week.

Cheers

[Carl 3]

Nicely done Grant, fingers crossed you don't get shafted.

[Grant 4]

I think that the chances of getting shafted are pretty slim, they have been excellent to deal with, and have been most helpful.

Good price too, all up under $1,000NZ for Bilstein Sports shocks, and H&R Sports Springs (with a 30mm drop). I hate crap sacked out cars, and this is a good sized drop. (as are the Jamex 40mm ones, which would have been my next choice of springs).

Cheers