BMW Suspension Parts for BMW E46 M3 S54 (1999-2005)

Looking for coilovers that will provide reliability on street driven vehicles but are also capable of feeding your weekend track demon's desire for performance? BC Racing's BR Series coilover kit may be just the thing for you.

BR Series coilovers are the most popular and versatile option offered by BC racing, offering features such as 30-level dampening adjustment (simultaneous compression and rebound control), linear springs where possible, and a minimum of 2 inches ride height drop. To ensure performance, comfort, and quality, all BR Series kits are Dyno tested during the design stage to determine the best valving and spring rates, then installed and tested for a minimum of 6 months. This kit features mounts and brackets that are fully compatible with all stock mounting points and components.

The upper shock/strut mounts are all constructed of 6061-T6 Aluminum for strength and weight savings. BC Racing design 1 of 3 types of upper mounts for each vehicle: Caster/Camber Plates (+/- 3* camber), Camber Plates (+/- 3* camber), and Rubber Mount Plates (NVH reduction). The included mount option for this kit is shown in the kit specs and features below.

Lower shock mounts are powder coated for corrosion protection and constructed of either 6061-T6 aluminum that has been milled from a single piece (fork or bolt eye mount) or of STKM13C steel with all brackets welded robotically.

The included springs come in one of 3 styles: linear, S-barrel, and V-barrel. Linear springs are used in most applications unless limited by the OE design that does not allow the use of linear springs. All spring options are made from SAE9254 steel and have a zinc coating applied under the powder coating for increased spring corrosion protection and long term reliability.

All shock bodies used in the BR Series coilovers use a 53mm shock body (unless noted otherwise) for added strength, performance, and increased fluid capacity. All shocks are then powder coated black chrome for clean styling and corrosion protection.

Specs and Features:

• 8k Front & 12k Rear Spring Rate
• Linear front & S-Barrel rear springs
• Valved specifically to spring style and rate
• Camber Plate Front Mounts
• Aluminum and Rubber Rear Mounts
• Black Powder Coated Components
• All OE style brackets and mounting for perfect fit
• 30 Levels of Simultaneous Compression and Rebound Dampening
• 2 inch minimum and 3+ Inches of total potential drop
• Great for Track, Street, and any other conditions

These adjustable rear links are only required when using sway bar / swaybars with a suspension with a very low ride height, where it may be necessary to adjust the length of the end links for proper sway bar clearance from the drive axles or other suspension components. These suspensions are usually found only on race cars but this may also apply to street cars with sport springs/sport coil overs that are lowered a lot. On most street cars lowered 1.5" or less, the stock links will be fine.

These end links feature a Heim joint, which allows enough lateral movement when disconnected to adjust the length of the link without removing the entire link from the car. This is particularly helpful when eliminating or adjusting preload while tuning the suspension. Similar links without this joint, can't be adjusted without totally removing the link from the car.

Built-in grease fittings allow for occasional lube, and a packet of grease is included. These links are sold as a set, and include two end links and hardware for H&R and TMS sway bars (other brands may not need the hardware). 

At their shortest setting they are 2.875" hole to hole and on their longest setting they are 3.5" hole to hole.

*Note: these links will not work with factory or non-adjustable Eibach sway bars.

Stock rubber front control arm bushings are designed to allow significant fore/aft movement of the front wheels to help absorb road impacts.  This soft flexible design maximizes daily driving comfort and helps to add the “luxury” feeling to your BMW, but it is far from ideal for the performance or racing enthusiast that is looking for optimal handling and braking performance.  Being a bonded rubber bushing that is constantly twisting and deflecting when in use, stock rubber bushings really take a beating and often fail prematurely, resulting in further degraded handling, braking shimmy or even clunking felt under your feet.

In the past, the only upgrade option to improve handling of your E46 M3 was to replace the stock rubber with poly bushings, or delrin bushings that wear prematurely and are not serviceable or rebuild-able.  While well-designed poly bushings can vastly improve handling characteristics and offer good road feel with minimal increase to NVH, they are still a compromise when it comes to ultimate handling and braking performance.

Introducing the new Turner Front Control Arm Spherical Bearings!  The Turner engineering team set out to design a no-compromise solution that requires no modification and offers instantaneous cornering and braking response.  Our control arm bearings utilize a unique grease-able spherical bearing that is both serviceable and replaceable, with integrated dust seals to help keep dirt and moisture out.  This bearing offers considerable improvement in both precision and durability compared to other unsealed poly and delrin bushing inserts previously available, which can wear prematurely due to contamination.  The bearing assembly utilizes the highest quality materials, precision machining quality, and components to ensure a perfect fit and longest lasting component life possible.

The result is the ultimate in terms of low friction, no binding, and no unwanted deflection, as well as exceptional steering precision, turn-in response, and direct braking feedback with minimal increase in NVH.  These spherical bearings are a must have for any track car, but are also completely street-able and are a great upgrade for any enthusiast that enjoys spirited driving.

Features:

Bearing

• Extremely robust, greaseable, double lip sealed spherical bearing (Rated for 20,000lbf Dynamic, 90,000lbf Static). 

Housing

• 6061-T6, anodized housing with needle grease zerk for easy maintenance. 
• In house designed knurled OD to provide the perfect fit for the wide range of housing diameters among brands. 

Bearing Insert Arm adapter

• Precision CNC machined Delrin, providing a tight fit between the bearing and the control arm. 

Performance

• Instant, crisp steering and braking response.
• Easy to maintain, long lasting performance. 
• Improved road feel without undesirable NVH.

Grease before installation and with each oil service with high quality Moly grease for maximum service life.  Need a Grease tool?

Click here for installation instructions.

These camber plates are perfect for the enthusiast owner who wants a high quality design with a motorsports background. Knowing a full race kit on the street is not often the best option, we took the best features from the Race Camber Plates and incorporated them into a fresh Street design -

• preserves the correct E46 M3 geometry
• separate sliding camber and caster adjustments
• maximum shock travel
• light weight
• durable materials
• large surface area
• ease of use

The Turner E46 M3 Street Camber Plates are the most advanced design on the market. These are designed specifically for the E46 M3 - no shortcuts or cookie-cutter components. We started with a fresh design to make these very user friendly and easy to install and set up. The E46 M3 front suspension has unique geometry and the strut is mounted at an angle that can put significant side loading on the strut shaft if it's not located properly. The location and angles for the main bearing were carefully engineered to allow the proper motion ratio and strut angles during adjustment. This greatly reduces bending forces on the strut itself which improves performance and longevity. By designing for one chassis we're able to focus on what works best in that application - proper fitment and operation without unnecessary adapters, easy-to-use camber and caster adjustments, and an intelligent modular design.

For street use we added a pliable urethane bushing to absorb vibration and a special base design that works with the factory radial bearing and spring perch. The radial bearing allows the spring to rotate instead of twisting and binding. By re-using the factory radial bearing we can keep the assembled stack height lower for maximized shock travel. It's also a commonly-available item that you can get from any BMW dealer at a low price. All of the things that make it work well in the factory application carry over to our design. You can use our camber plates with a stock sized spring, 60mm, or 2.5" springs. Use your stock spring perch/bearing with stock-sized springs. The 60mm and 2.5" upper spring perches are sold separately. The beauty of our design is that you can use the factory radial bearing with any of these springs.

Another important feature of the Turner Camber Plates is the size of the upper plate. Our plates have a very large surface area to better spread strut forces through the strut tower. A smaller upper plate, like those found on competitor's kits, will localize strut forces and contribute to strut tower deformation ('strut tower mushrooming'). This is a very important feature especially as these cars get older and spend more time on the track. Deformed strut towers are a serious performance and safety concern and our camber plates are properly designed to handle the loads. The factory strut reinforcement plates are not required with our camber plates (but you can use them if you want to).

Since this design is specific to the E46 M3, we can build it with the bare minimum of adapters and extra hardware. This not only cuts down on confusion but makes it easier to assemble and operate. We use the correct-sized bearing for the 16mm strut shaft; no sleeves or bearing adapters required. The original tapered lower mount support and a small stainless steel spacer from our kit are all that's required to install. We have used our camber plates with most of the major strut manufacturers on the market - stock Sachs/Boge, Bilstein, Koni, H&R, ST, and KW. Our camber plates work with any strut that is designed to accept the factory strut mount.

Click here for installation instructions.

This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3

Rear Axle Carrier Panel (RACP) failure is a well-documented issue that plagues all BMW E46 models. Due to thin sheet metal mounting, the forces applied during cornering, acceleration, and braking create stress fractures in the carrier panel, resulting in large cracks or breaks that risk the structural integrity of your chassis. To fix this issue, many enthusiasts opt to install weld-in reinforcement plates on the underside of the RACP. While this remedies the formation of additional stress cracks and adds rigidity to failure-prone areas, it does not prevent the entire carrier panel from flexing during high-performance driving.

Our all-new Rear Subframe Reinforcement Brace is engineered to add structure to the E46's rear chassis under high-stress conditions, eliminating the common weak points in the RACP while providing the confidence you need for performance driving. Don't let chassis flex limit your car’s potential—upgrade your E46 with the Turner Motorsport Rear Subframe Reinforcement Brace today!

How It Works:

During performance driving, the Rear Axle Carrier Panel (RACP) must react the forces of longitudinal and lateral accelerations. During forward acceleration, the differential transmits torque through the subframe to the RACP, forcing the rearmost subframe mounting points downward. This downward movement flexes the carrier panel, reducing its ability to handle torque efficiently. By linking the rearmost subframe mounting points to the rear shock towers, downward flex is restricted, resulting in improved torque transfer and stability. Alternatively, high-grip cornering generates lateral acceleration (side-to-side) forces across the RACP. Similar to how a rear strut brace functions, connecting the rear shock towers helps to counteract these forces. Adding the subframe to this connection further reduces lateral loads, eliminating side-to-side flex and enhancing overall stability.

Features & Design:

Four-Point Triangulated Structure: Links the rearmost subframe mounting locations to both rear strut towers for superior load distribution. Enhanced Stability: Reduces lateral and longitudinal RACP flex during acceleration, braking, and cornering. Improved Torque Transfer: Minimizes downward flex of the RACP, ensuring efficient power delivery for enhanced driveability. High-Performance Durability: Heavy-duty steel tube construction ensures lasting support during spirited driving, track use, and for vehicles with increased power output. Blue Powdercoat Finish: Offers fantastic corrosion resistance, protection from scuffs and scratches, and a stylish appearance that is sure to complement your performance-centric E46. Underside Reinforcement Compatibility: Designed to work seamlessly alongside our underside RACP reinforcement plates (TDR4675412, T#91). Kit Includes:

Rear Subframe Brace Sedan Subframe Brace Spacers Extended-Length Drill Bit (1/4", 12" Overall Length) High-Speed Drill Bit (12.5mm, 152mm Overall Length) Drill Bit Guide Extended Subframe Bolts Zinc-Plated Steel Hex Nut (2) Installation & Support:

Need installation tips? Our team has assembled a guided start-to-finish installation tutorial, including detailed instructions on drilling and cutting your trunk floor panel for perfect fitment. Click HERE for Installation Instructions

Building on years of building some of the most used (and talked about!) Street and Race camber plates for the E46 M3 has brought us to the next iteration of this key suspension component. Introducing the Turner Motorsport Hybrid Street/Track Caster/Camber Plate designed exclusively for the E46 M3. 

Front caster/camber plates play a key role in suspension configuration - providing a point to adjust alignment in the front of the vehicle. Without camber plates, it is not possible to dial in proper street and track alignment specifications to maximize handling and tire wear. A properly configured alignment is frequently the difference between a good car and a great car, trailing the pack and pace-setting lap times, frustrating tire wear and long tire life, or exhilarating handling and a car that fights through the turns. 

Understanding the needs of a track enthusiast, our Race camber plates allow for zero deflection and are ideal for a dedicated track vehicle. For a dedicated street vehicle, our Street camber plates are another tried-and-true option that are comfortable and perform very well. Hearing the call from customers that don't fall cleanly into one of these groups, we've designed the best of both worlds - a rebuildable polyurethane-isolated spherical bearing, or as we call it, a "hybrid" design. These camber plates deliver exceptional lifespan, high performance, with excellent road manners. 

We paid extra attention to the bearing we selected, knowing we needed a bearing that would not only be quiet, but reliable. Tens of thousands of street and track miles on a variety of applications yielded zero failures of the high quality PTFE-lined, maintenance-free stainless steel monoball spherical FK bearing. One of our secrets in enabling this high-performance bearing to function to its full potential is the 80a polyurethane isolation bushing. We identified just the right material density to allow for absorption of road noise while allowing dampers to articulate precisely and predictably. This tiny bit of cushion takes the brunt of potholes and rough roads, protecting the bearing from wear which may otherwise lead to premature failure. Equally critical to maximizing bearing life is the addition of dust seals to prevent moisture and dirt contamination.  To top it all off, the entire assembly is rebuildable in the event that, over the years, a component does wear out. 

By re-using the OEM spring perch and radial bearing, we've avoided supporting the weight of the vehicle on the strut shaft monoball - further extending the life of the bearing and mimicking a well-designed factory element. Spring perches for 60mm or 2.5" springs are also available; use of factory-style springs requires no additional perch. Inspect the shocks you plan on using these with, measuring the shock diameter (16mm or 14mm) and inspecting the seat (square or tapered) to ensure you select the correct kit for your application. Not sure which you need? Give us a call, we're happy to help. 

• Adjustable camber (3+ degrees of adjustment) and caster (2.5+ degrees of adjustment) without removing strut from the vehicle
• Wide plate assembly offers excellent load distribution to address concerns with strut tower deformation
• Compatible with factory-style springs, or with the addition of available 60mm or 2.5" perches, race-style springs as well
• Maintenance free, PTFE lined, stainless steel monoball spherical bearing for full shaft articulation
• 80A polyurethane isolation bushings for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) control
• Rebuildable bushing/bearing assembly with individually replaceable components

Turner Motorsport Hybrid Street/Track Camber Plates: content on the street, ready to rip on the track.

Click here for installation instructions.

This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3

Our experience with spherical front control arm ball joints go back to those we designed and used in our IMSA E90 328i and E92 M3 racecars (GS class Champions in 2011).  We wanted to offer e30, e36, and e46 owners similar levels of handling precision and control for the track and street, but weren’t satisfied with the other options out there.  Instead of a Delrin bushing or unsealed spherical bearing alone, we selected an oversized sealed greaseable spherical monoball to offer unparalleled durability and precision, but designed a Delrin adapter sleeve to help isolate the added noise, vibration, and harshness that a full solid monoball bearing will have. While race-ready, our hybrid Delrin/monoball control arm bearings are more at home on the street than other kits that are advertised as “race-only” bearings. We did extensive street, autocross, and track testing to ensure the spherical bearing used in this bushing design excelled in each setting.

The stock rubber bushings, even those found in the M3, allow significant fore/aft movement of the front wheels to help absorb road impacts, especially when being pushed hard.  This soft flexible design maximizes daily driving comfort, but also allows considerable alignment change.  This unwanted deflection stands between you and a crisp, confidence-inspiring driving experience.  The advantage of a monoball bearing is that it will not deflect under load, eliminating all unwanted deflection while still allowing complete freedom of movement in the desired angles. What you get is superior steering precision with better handling from more consistent alignment and direct braking feedback, with exceptional service life.  Thanks to the Delrin insert and double lip seals, there's none of the extra noise or reduced service life often found on other spherical bearings.

In short, if you're seeking front control arm bushings that offer precise, predictable handling, crisper braking feel, with a long service life free from noise - look no further. We have you covered.

Watch to learn more about Turner Monoball Bushings

Features:

Bearing housing

• Precision CNC machined from 6061-T6 blue anodized aluminum with a pre-installed grease fitting and grease distribution channels making this a serviceable design
• Knurled for smooth press fit in a wide variance in “lollipop” dimensions

Bearing

• A high quality greaseable double lip sealed bearing with Delrin® inserts. Delrin® was chosen for its durability under pressure, while still soft enough to create a perfect play-free fitment on the control arm.
• Replaceable for infinite service life - no need to replace the entire mount in the event a bearing happens to fail.

Includes new hardware. Grease before installation and with each oil service with high quality Moly grease for maximum service life. Need a grease fitting tool?

Installation is relatively easy - see our instructions here. 

This item fits the following BMWs: 
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3 

You get the best of both worlds with this pair of Turner Motorsport adjustable sway bar links. We searched far and wide to find the hidden gem of swaybar links. You get the same quiet operation and long life as the stock links plus the strength and adjustability of rod-end style sway bar links.

With the wide range of suspensions and sway bars available today adjustable sway bar links can help you with many problems. Along with the ability to remove preload you can change the length to maximize sway bar geometry. Example: if the sway bar hoop comes too close to the steering rack, oil cooler, or under tray in its suspension travel you can adjust it by simply lengthening or shorting the adjustment rod. In some cases you may need a longer or shorter adjustment rod to achieve optimal geometry. We also offer these same links in other custom lengths (click here) that may not be specific to BMW chassis.

Features:

• Adjustable to neutralize preload on sway bar (balanced handling)
• The ability to set sway bar geometry and clearance
• Low friction ball joints
• High articulation
• Direct replacement for OEM sway bar links
• Watertight boot seal
• Ball joint is made by a world leader in ball joint technology, THK. THK's OEM Customers: BMW, Porsche, Ford, GM, Nissan, Honda, and Toyota

Turner Swaybar Link Specs:
TSU9912AF1: 220.00mm - 235.00mm / 8.66" - 9.25"
TSU4612AF3: 250.00mm - 265.00mm / 9.84" - 10.43"
TSU5012AF8: 280.00mm - 295.00mm / 11.02" - 11.61"
TSU9912A95: 290.00mm - 305.00mm / 11.42" - 12.00"

These adjustable sway bar end links can be used on a variety of BMWs. Please select your car below. Please note these end links do not fit non-M E36, except 325i/is produced before 6/1992.

3 way adjustable 30mm front sway bar / swaybar for E46 M3. Includes bushings.

• Reduces body roll
• Improves steering turn-in and handling

Sway bars are typically sold as a front and rear set to balance the handling. But a front sway bar only can also have excellent benefits, especially on a street car. Going with a larger front bar will improve steering and handling even at low-moderate speeds. Steering turn-in is faster and gives the car a more direct and responsive feel. Cars with staggered wheel fitments (a narrower front wheel compared to the rear) will especially benefit from this and help the front tire 'bite' into the road.

We use an adjustable 30mm sway bar that has been fine-tuned for use on the E46 M3. Urethane bushings with a reinforced inner core that requires no lubrication are included. These bars are crafted from a special spring steel that is both stronger and more resilient than competitive sway bars. They have been shot peened and heat treated, and feature precision forged ends.

This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3

Here at Turner we understand the importance of an upgrade that will get the results you need on the track and still be tolerable on the drive around town. When it comes to control arms on the track, making them as stiff as you can (usually using solid mounts) is the best way to increase your driving precision by eliminating the deflection of rubber. The next best thing to create a balance would be to stiffen up the control arm with polyurethane, giving you the option of a more stock like feel with 80a or closer to the solid feel with 95a durometers. These poly bushings will give your control arms a direct connection between your suspension and the body of the car eliminating the slop felt under take-off and braking so you feel more in control of your vehicle.

*Featuring a delrin sleeve to eliminate heat deformation and premature failure.

This item fits the following BMWs that use a centered-style bushing: 

2001-2006 E46 BMW M3 

• GERMAN-MADE
• DIRECT REPLACEMENT
• LIFETIME WARRANTY!
• BUY A PAIR FOR THE PRICE OF FACTORY SINGLE!

The rear springs on the 2001-2006 E46 M3 models have a chronic broken spring problem. If it hasn't happened to you yet it will. Springs are nothing more than exposed steel and they rust easily. After a while a section of the spring actually breaks off.

A broken spring is very dangerous - the spring is no longer mounted correctly in the suspension and it cannot support the weight of the car, especially when cornering. The ride also suffers as the suspension is no longer able to absorb the bumps and impacts from the road. Aside from a visual inspection of the spring itself you might notice a clunking sound or banging noise coming from the front or rear. An inspection of the noise should also include other related items in the suspension: bushings, ball joints, links, mounts, etc. We also recommend replacing the rubber spring pads on the top and bottom of the spring because they lose their shape over time.

The factory BMW springs sell for $140+ each. We sold and replaced enough while working in New England that we were able to get a strong grasp of the issue and come up with our own springs that are an improvement over the factory springs in every way. These springs are made in Germany using high grade spring steel that is then shot-peened for longer life and powder-coated for protection. These are the same height as the stock replacement BMW springs which makes them a direct replacement.

Replaces Coupe models only.

This item fits the following BMWs:
2001-2006 E46 BMW M3 Coupe