E46 Suspension

[Bimmerteck]

A big difference is the quality control from the factory, I've had racelands I had to mill, redrill and heat/bend locator tabs to get them installed, to the point I refuse to fool with them unless the owner pays for an extra 2 hours labor up front. The FK are generally OK but occasionally need a little fiddling to get fitted. (perhaps grinding a single messy weld clean or such) My experience with Bilstein is that they bolt on as if BMW themselves had built them and wanted them to go there.

As for the low. . . we took off bilsteins b/c they didn't go very low

[LuckyBoyOne3]

When I purchased my E46 42k miles ago I put springs on stock struts I noticed one of the struts was leaking, I didn't have $1500 laying around to put into some nice coils and I didnt want to drive around on a blown strut, a quick search to ebay provided no help in the way of cheap used, but wait... whats this... RaceLand Coils for under $400! Perfect, bought them, installed them with not a single issue, figured out what sway bar end links to use, BAM! Now, usually you get what you pay for, but when I had an issue with what turned out to just be a cartridge nut come loose, they overnighted me a new strut... FOR FREE. Now, I wasn't looking for track performance or 32 ways to adjust the suspension, I was looking for lower then springs and a stock ride quality, and thats exactly what I got. Eventually when I bagged the car, the Universal Air bags went right onto the Racelands... So thats my experience with them, alot of people knock them because they are retarded cheap, but at the time they fit my budget and needs and they havent let me down since, and they have been on for 40k of the 42k miles I've had the car for.

[shogunner]

When I purchased my E46 42k miles ago I put springs on stock struts I noticed one of the struts was leaking, I didn't have $1500 laying around to put into some nice coils and I didnt want to drive around on a blown strut, a quick search to ebay provided no help in the way of cheap used, but wait... whats this... RaceLand Coils for under $400! Perfect, bought them, installed them with not a single issue, figured out what sway bar end links to use, BAM! Now, usually you get what you pay for, but when I had an issue with what turned out to just be a cartridge nut come loose, they overnighted me a new strut... FOR FREE. Now, I wasn't looking for track performance or 32 ways to adjust the suspension, I was looking for lower then springs and a stock ride quality, and thats exactly what I got. Eventually when I bagged the car, the Universal Air bags went right onto the Racelands... So thats my experience with them, alot of people knock them because they are retarded cheap, but at the time they fit my budget and needs and they havent let me down since, and they have been on for 40k of the 42k miles I've had the car for.

nice.

[Bimmerteck]

When I purchased my E46 42k miles ago I put springs on stock struts I noticed one of the struts was leaking, I didn't have $1500 laying around to put into some nice coils and I didnt want to drive around on a blown strut, a quick search to ebay provided no help in the way of cheap used, but wait... whats this... RaceLand Coils for under $400! Perfect, bought them, installed them with not a single issue, figured out what sway bar end links to use, BAM! Now, usually you get what you pay for, but when I had an issue with what turned out to just be a cartridge nut come loose, they overnighted me a new strut... FOR FREE. Now, I wasn't looking for track performance or 32 ways to adjust the suspension, I was looking for lower then springs and a stock ride quality, and thats exactly what I got. Eventually when I bagged the car, the Universal Air bags went right onto the Racelands... So thats my experience with them, alot of people knock them because they are retarded cheap, but at the time they fit my budget and needs and they havent let me down since, and they have been on for 40k of the 42k miles I've had the car for.

That's exactly the problem one set will be fine and dandy and have no issues. The next set you go to install has 2 left front strut assemblies, sure they're fast about shipping out the correct replacement parts when you call and complain, but I prefer to get the correct parts the first time the car is in the air. Had one customer run up $600 in labor replacing leaking raceland struts, sure they shipped them to him free but most shops aren't into charity work. They are a great option if your on a tight budget and have the tools and time to replace them yourself, but if you have issues they can quickly get drastically more expensive in some situations.

[shogunner]

That's exactly the problem one set will be fine and dandy and have no issues. The next set you go to install has 2 left front strut assemblies, sure they're fast about shipping out the correct replacement parts when you call and complain, but I prefer to get the correct parts the first time the car is in the air. Had one customer run up $600 in labor replacing leaking raceland struts, sure they shipped them to him free but most shops aren't into charity work. They are a great option if your on a tight budget and have the tools and time to replace them yourself, but if you have issues they can quickly get drastically more expensive in some situations.

ahh also true.

[LuckyBoyOne3]

I'm not here to argue, just provide my experience with them, I have talked to at least a dozen people on them and the only complaint I have heard is some people don't like the low spring rates.

[Bimmerteck]

I'm not here to argue, just provide my experience with them, I have talked to at least a dozen people on them and the only complaint I have heard is some people don't like the low spring rates.

No argument, Most people are very happy with them i'd say out of 10 or so sets I've installed, 2 had problems one of which was eventually fixed, and one where the customer didn't have the patience and they were returned and replaced with a different brand the next week at 3x the expense. When most people get them on and adjusted they are generally happy, and certainly worth what they cost.

[shogunner]

who needs money anywheys