Which cars do the Coilovers for E46 BMW M3 fit?

Öhlins lists kit BMS MI30S1 for the E46 M3 and the E46 3 Series. Öhlins notes it fits coupes, and convertibles need a small change to the rear upper mounts.

Does the M3 need anything extra?

Yes. The Öhlins mounting instructions call for M3-specific front top mount parts, bought separately, and a pin removed from the original M3 top mounts.

What damping setting should I use?

Öhlins suggests 10 to 20 clicks for street driving, 5 to 10 for winding roads and 0 to 7 for track use. Each click changes compression and rebound together through the DFV valve.

How low does the car sit on the Öhlins kit?

On the Öhlins recommended settings the car sits about 30 mm lower than stock at both ends. Öhlins gives a lowering range of roughly 15 to 35 mm at the front and 5 to 35 mm at the rear.

How is the rear damping adjusted?

The rear adjuster is on a control wire, and the Öhlins mounting instructions route its knob through a 10 mm hole in the side panel, so the rear can be set without reaching under the car.

Description

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Description

Öhlins DFV Road & Track Coilovers for E46 BMW M3 and 3 Series

Öhlins’ DFV Road & Track Coilovers for E46 BMW M3 and 3 Series coupes replace all four dampers and springs with Öhlins kit BMS MI30S1, which Öhlins lists for the E46 M3 and the E46 3 Series. A gold knob on each damper switches between street and track settings in seconds, and on Öhlins’ recommended setup the car sits about 30 mm lower than stock. It suits the owner who drives to the circuit and home again; a car trailered to every event wants a dedicated track damper.

Design and Performance

The Dual Flow Valve lets one adjuster shift low and high speed compression and rebound together, so road and track settings are a knob turn apart rather than a session of separate changes. The front uses upside-down monotube McPherson struts with spring preload adjusters, and the rear uses aluminum monotube shock absorbers with a spring preload adjuster and a separate damper length adjuster. The rear damping adjuster sits on a control wire with its knob routed into the side panel. Both ends keep the original BMW top mounts.

Features

DFV (Dual Flow Valve) damping technology
Single 25-click knob adjusts compression and rebound together
Upside-down monotube McPherson struts up front
Aluminum monotube rear shock absorbers
Separate damper length adjuster at the rear
Remote rear adjustment knob on a control wire
Uses the original top mounts front and rear
Rebuildable dampers for service and custom valving
Salt spray corrosion tested to ISO 9227
TÜV approved
2-year Öhlins warranty

Specifications

Ride height at recommended setup: approximately 30 mm below stock, front and rear
Front lowering range: approximately 15-35 mm
Rear lowering range: approximately 5-35 mm
Front spring rate: 400 lb/in (70 N/mm)
Rear spring rate: 628 lb/in (110 N/mm)
Damping adjustment: 25 clicks, compression and rebound combined

What’s Included

Front struts, left and right (x2)
Front springs (x2)
Rear shock absorbers (x2)
Rear springs (x2)
Rear adjusters, control wires and adjustment knobs (x2)
Spring seats, spacers, dust boots, lock nuts and mounting hardware
C-spanners (x2), Allen key and Öhlins sticker kit
Owner’s manual

Applications

BMW M3 coupe: E46 | 2000-2006
BMW 3 Series coupe: E46 | 1998-2005

Notes

Öhlins notes that this kit fits coupes; convertibles need a small change to the rear upper mounts
On the E46 M3, the Öhlins mounting instructions call for M3-specific front top mount parts, sourced separately, and a pin removed from the original top mounts
The Öhlins mounting instructions call for drilling a 10 mm hole in the rear side panel for the adjuster control wire
The later 3 Series uses the Öhlins kit for the E9X 3 Series and the later M3 uses the Öhlins kit for the E9X M3
Professional installation and a four-wheel alignment are recommended when fitting the Coilovers for E46 BMW M3 and 3 Series coupes

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cars do the Coilovers for E46 BMW M3 fit? Öhlins lists kit BMS MI30S1 for the E46 M3 and the E46 3 Series. Öhlins notes it fits coupes, and convertibles need a small change to the rear upper mounts.
Does the M3 need anything extra? Yes. The Öhlins mounting instructions call for M3-specific front top mount parts, bought separately, and a pin removed from the original M3 top mounts.
What damping setting should I use? Öhlins suggests 10 to 20 clicks for street driving, 5 to 10 for winding roads and 0 to 7 for track use. Each click changes compression and rebound together through the DFV valve.
How low does the car sit on the Öhlins kit? On the Öhlins recommended settings the car sits about 30 mm lower than stock at both ends. Öhlins gives a lowering range of roughly 15 to 35 mm at the front and 5 to 35 mm at the rear.
How is the rear damping adjusted? The rear adjuster is on a control wire, and the Öhlins mounting instructions route its knob through a 10 mm hole in the side panel, so the rear can be set without reaching under the car.

About Öhlins

Öhlins was founded in 1976 by former motocross racer Kenth Öhlin and is based in Upplands Väsby, Sweden, where it develops dampers for motorcycles, cars and motorsport. Its suspension has won more than 300 world championship titles across motorcycle and car racing, its CES electronic damping went into series production on the Volvo S60R in 2003, and the company has been part of the Brembo group since 2025.

Additional Information

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BP Pricing Difference

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Öhlins DFV Road & Track Coilovers for E46 BMW M3 and 3 Series [BMS MI30S1]

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