BMW 1 Series F20/F21.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversThe F20 and F21 combine a compact hatchback body with rear-wheel drive, or xDrive on selected models. Identify the front mounts and factory dampers first, then choose a usable height around your wheels.
Three doors or five, with RWD or xDrive
Lift the bonnet before choosing an F20 or F21 kit. The three- and five-bolt front-mount references are separate applications. A registration year or a facelift badge is useful background, but the installer still needs to identify the hardware on your car.
Keep RWD and xDrive references apart. Then establish whether the original dampers are electronically controlled. Some listed kits include warning cancellation, some need a separate unit and others exclude electronic suspension. That decision changes what the cabin controls can do.
The F20/F21 generation put a longitudinal engine and rear-wheel drive beneath a compact hatchback body. BMW’s 2012 three-door introduction added another body choice alongside the five-door. F20 identifies the five-door hatch; F21 is the three-door, with longer front doors and different rear-quarter glazing.
BMW launched the revised range in March 2015 with new exterior details and an updated engine line-up. The slimmer headlights and wider rear-light treatment help identify the facelift cars in photographs. Suspension catalogues also distinguish front-mount versions, so have the actual mount pattern checked instead of relying on appearance alone.
The M135i brought a turbocharged straight-six to the range. BMW introduced the M140i’s new six-cylinder engine in July 2016, retaining three- and five-door choices. Check the engine and build date when a suspension table groups both models under an earlier application start year.
The family also includes xDrive applications. Their separate part numbers matter when ordering dampers and springs, even if the car looks much like its rear-drive counterpart. Keep engine, drivetrain, body and original suspension equipment together throughout the selection.
For a road build, agree the wheel package and usable height first. A moderate drop can leave room for passengers, steering movement and rougher roads. Check clearance at the spring and damper as well as beneath the arch; a different offset or spacer changes more than the parked stance.
A circuit project needs a spring, damper and tyre plan that can be measured and adjusted. The catalogue includes remote-reservoir and different rear-layout options. Budget for mounting work, access, alignment and setup support before choosing the number of adjustment controls.
Model history: BMW 1 Series three-door press kit, May 2012BMW 1 Series production and revised range, March 2015BMW M140i engine change, May 2016.
Start with your 1 Series F20/F21.
Match the model year, engine and body style before comparing brands.
RWD with three-bolt front mounts
BC I-37 explicitly names the F20 RWD three-bolt application. AST and MOTON also separate three-bolt references for listed F20/F21 engines. Check the actual mount, body, build and factory damper equipment; the product shortlist still contains exact-kit restrictions.
Compare three-bolt RWD kits
RWD with five-bolt front mounts
Use the five-bolt reference when that is the hardware on the car. BC I-81 names F20 RWD; AST and MOTON have their own five-bolt F20/F21 entries. Their /5D codes describe the mount version here, not five doors. Confirm F21 coverage for the selected brand.
Compare five-bolt RWD kits
xDrive: use the AWD application
The listed Bilstein 47-264625 and Eibach -06 are xDrive references with their own engine and axle-load conditions. AST also distinguishes three- and five-bolt xDrive sets. Electronic-damper requirements differ between these products; have the exact application confirmed.
Compare xDrive references
Adaptive dampers or an altered car
Send the original damper specification and details of earlier suspension work. Include engine swaps, changed mounts, wheel dimensions, spacers and brakes. Agree what happens to electronic damping and which parts the installer must supply or reuse.
Check my 1 Series setupWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Choose the correct mount version and a height you can use every day.
Read the buying advice
BC I-37 BR-RN is the conditional road example for a listed three-bolt RWD F20. The current specification uses rubber rear mounts and does not supply a front top mount. Confirm which original parts are reused, their condition and the car’s damper equipment before ordering. Five-bolt and F21 enquiries need their own exact reference check.
- Confirm three-bolt RWD F20
- Inspect reused front mounts
- Keep wheel and travel clearance
Retain a separate rear spring while planning the rest of the setup.
Read the buying advice
AST ACT-B2101S/3D is the 5100 Street Performance example for the listed RWD three-bolt application. Its NCO rear keeps the spring and damper separate. Confirm the engine and supplied mounting parts, then agree springs, tyre choice and alignment with the installer. A five-bolt or xDrive car needs its corresponding set.
- Match drivetrain and front mounts
- Confirm the NCO rear set
- Agree tyres, springs and alignment
Specify useful adjustment and leave access for the reservoirs.
Read the buying advice
AST RIV-B2101S/3D is the listed 5200 two-way RWD three-bolt example. Its rear spring remains separate from the damper. Agree rates and mounting hardware for the actual car, with space for reservoirs and adjusters. The catalogue’s MOTON CO and NCO alternatives require their own mounting and installation plan.
- Agree the complete supplied set
- Plan reservoir and adjuster access
- Include measured setup support
Separate rear units, with kit-specific alternatives
On a standard BMW 1 Series F20/F21, the rear spring and shock absorber are mounted separately.
Layout only. Mounts and spring seats vary by kit.The factory-style F20/F21 rear has a spring on its own seats beside a separate damper within the independent five-link suspension. The Bilstein instructions for this family show those two units separately. A kit sold as coilovers can keep that arrangement, with rear height adjustment at the spring seat.
The listed AST and MOTON sets distinguish NCO rear arrangements from configurations with the spring around the rear damper. Confirm the actual kit and its mounting requirements with the installer. The compact views identify spring and damper positions; they do not approve converting a particular car or show measured chassis geometry.
Understand height and spring preload
Read the hardware before setting the height
Have the installer check the front-mount pattern, original dampers and rear arrangement already fitted. Bring the wheel and tyre dimensions and details of earlier work. A registration lookup cannot reveal a previous mount conversion, replacement dampers or added spacers.
Agree a usable working height and a quote covering inspection, repairs, fitting, electronics and alignment. Confirm the current supply timing before booking. Follow the exact kit instructions and arrange the installer’s settling and clearance recheck.
Wheel width, offset and tyres
Record the full wheel dimensions, tyre size and any spacers. Have inner suspension clearance and outer arch clearance checked through steering and suspension movement at the intended height. Keep brake conversions in the same inspection.
Front mounts and supporting parts
Identify three- or five-bolt mounts and inspect parts the kit reuses. Confirm top mounts, bearings, spring seats, droplinks and fasteners against the exact delivered set. A shared model heading does not establish identical hardware.
Adaptive damping and replacement controls
Establish what is fitted before removing the dampers. Eibach note176 includes PRO-TRONIC but removes electronic damping; note177 requires a separate unit. Agree warning cancellation and the loss of factory damping functions with the installer.
Rear arrangement and alignment
Separate-spring and rear-coilover configurations need different installation checks. Confirm the actual rear supports and mounting requirements, repair worn joints or bushes, then set height and measure alignment. Keep records of later adjustments.
The current 1 Series F20/F21 range.
Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.
I-37 names three-bolt F20 RWD and I-81 names five-bolt F20 RWD. Their current BR-RN options specify nominal front/rear rates of 5/8 and 6/8 kg/mm respectively, with other series available by exact reference. Confirm F21 and electronic-damper requirements separately, and agree spring rates for the actual engine and use.
View BC Racing 1 Series F20/F21 kitsBilstein
B14 47-264625 covers specific xDrive applications without electronic suspension control. For B16 Clubsport 48-256322, the manufacturer rows identify a mechanical three-bolt version through December 2014 with EDC-disconnection conditions. Have the certificate and original equipment checked; a product heading that says with EDC does not establish retained electronic damping.
View Bilstein 1 Series F20/F21 kits
AST separates RWD and xDrive, three- and five-bolt mounts, and Street, Street Performance, Clubracing, 5200 and 5300 specifications. Street and Street Performance retain separate rear units; Clubracing set descriptions name rear coilovers. Match the exact suffix and confirm the supplied mounts and rear configuration.
View AST 1 Series F20/F21 kits
Eight listed RWD references distinguish two-way and three-way damping, three- and five-bolt mounts, and NCO or CO rear arrangements. Reservoir mounting and access need planning. The supplier’s front quick-disconnect entry is an option, so confirm whether it is part of the quoted set.
View MOTON 1 Series F20/F21 kits
Pro-Street S -01/-03 have a 920 kg front limit; -02/-04 have a 1,090 kg front limit for their listed RWD hatchback rows, with 1,230 kg rear limits. The -03/-04 notes include warning cancellation while removing electronic damping control. xDrive -06 has 1,040/1,145 kg limits and requires a separate cancellation unit when specified. Check the exact engine row and certificate.
View Eibach 1 Series F20/F21 kitsFind your 1 Series F20/F21 coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
35 listings
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
AST · RIV-B2101S/3D
AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - RIV-B2101S/3D
RWD with three-bolt front mounts
MOTON · M 505 151SD
MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - M 505 151SD
RWD with five-bolt front mounts
Eibach · PSS65-20-031-06-22
Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for BMW applications - PSS65-20-031-06-22
xDrive: use the AWD application
![BC Racing Coilovers - BMW 1 Series (3-Bolt) (RWD) (11-19) [F20]](/images/09cf8cd191b679-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-I-37
BC Racing Coilovers - BMW 1 Series (3-Bolt) (RWD) (11-19) [F20]
RWD with three-bolt front mounts
Bilstein · 47-264625
Bilstein B14 Coilover Kit - Alpina / BMW applications - 47-264625
xDrive: use the AWD application
AST · RAC-B2101S/5D
AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - RAC-B2101S/5D
RWD with five-bolt front mounts
All 1 Series F20/F21 kit links and part numbers
- BC Racing · BCR-I-37: BC Racing Coilovers - BMW 1 Series (3-Bolt) (RWD) (11-19) [F20]
- BC Racing · BCR-I-81: BC Racing Coilovers - BMW 1 Series (5-Bolt) (11-19) [F20]
- Bilstein · 47-264625: Bilstein B14 Coilover Kit - Alpina / BMW applications - 47-264625
- Bilstein · 48-256322: Bilstein B16 Clubsport Coilover Kit for BMW 1-3 Series (F20-F30) 2WD with EDC (Up to 2015)
- AST · ACC-B2105S/3D: AST 5100 Clubracing Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - ACC-B2105S/3D
- AST · ACC-B2105S/5D: AST 5100 Clubracing Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - ACC-B2105S/5D
- AST · ACC-B2302S/3D: AST 5100 Clubracing Coilovers for BMW Applications - ACC-B2302S/3D
- AST · ACC-B2302S/5D: AST 5100 Clubracing Coilovers for BMW Applications - ACC-B2302S/5D
- AST · ACT-B2101S/5D: AST 5100 Street Performance Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - ACT-B2101S/5D
- AST · ACT-B2101S/3D: AST 5100 Street Performance Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - ACT-B2101S/3D
- AST · ACT-B2301S/5D: AST 5100 Street Performance Coilovers for BMW Applications - ACT-B2301S/5D
- AST · ACT-B2301S/3D: AST 5100 Street Performance Coilovers for BMW Applications - ACT-B2301S/3D
- AST · ACU-B2101SD: AST 5100 Street Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - ACU-B2101SD
- AST · ACU-B2301SD: AST 5100 Street Coilovers for BMW Applications - ACU-B2301SD
- AST · RAC-B2101S/3D: AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - RAC-B2101S/3D
- AST · RAC-B2101S/5D: AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - RAC-B2101S/5D
- AST · RAC-B2302S/3D: AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW Applications - RAC-B2302S/3D
- AST · RAC-B2302S/5D: AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW Applications - RAC-B2302S/5D
- AST · RIV-B2101S/3D: AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - RIV-B2101S/3D
- AST · RIV-B2101S/5D: AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - RIV-B2101S/5D
- AST · RIV-B2302S/3D: AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW Applications - RIV-B2302S/3D
- AST · RIV-B2302S/5D: AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW Applications - RIV-B2302S/5D
- MOTON · M 505 146SD: MOTON 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 - M 505 146SD
- MOTON · M 505 147SD: MOTON 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - M 505 147SD
- MOTON · M 505 148SD: MOTON 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 - M 505 148SD
- MOTON · M 505 149SD: MOTON 2-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - M 505 149SD
- MOTON · M 505 150SD: MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 - M 505 150SD
- MOTON · M 505 151SD: MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - M 505 151SD
- MOTON · M 505 152SD: MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 - M 505 152SD
- MOTON · M 505 153SD: MOTON 3-Way Motorsport Coilovers for BMW F20 / F21 / F30 - M 505 153SD
- Eibach · PSS65-20-031-01-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for BMW applications - PSS65-20-031-01-22
- Eibach · PSS65-20-031-02-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for BMW applications - PSS65-20-031-02-22
- Eibach · PSS65-20-031-03-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for BMW applications - PSS65-20-031-03-22
- Eibach · PSS65-20-031-04-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for BMW applications - PSS65-20-031-04-22
- Eibach · PSS65-20-031-06-22: Eibach Pro-Street S Coilover Kit for BMW applications - PSS65-20-031-06-22
Before you order.
Identify your car
Identify F20 five-door or F21 three-door, engine, build date and RWD or xDrive. Record the suspension equipment and earlier changes.
Match the kit
Check the three- or five-bolt front mounts, exact reference, axle limits and engine row. Agree how factory electronic damping will be handled.
Check what’s included
Confirm supplied and reused mounts, rear spring arrangement, seats and droplinks. Ask which optional fittings and cancellation parts are included.
Check your modifications
Record wheel width, offset, tyre size, spacers and brake changes. Check inner suspension and outer arch clearance through steering and movement.
Plan fitting
Allow for supporting repairs, fitting, alignment and electronics work. Confirm current timing and agree a settling and clearance recheck.
See what the adjustments do.
Choosing coilovers for road and track
Compare the kit against your roads, tyres and setup plans before counting adjusters.
Ride height and spring preload
Understand the two adjustments before choosing a lowering range.
What spring rate tells you
Compare force and movement, read the units and choose a spring with the damper in mind.
Spring rates and top mounts
Read the front/rear figures and check which mounts come with your kit.
Questions about BMW 1 Series F20/F21 coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
What is the difference between F20 and F21?
F20 is the five-door 1 Series hatchback and F21 is the three-door version of this generation. The catalogue groups some applications, but engine, drivetrain, build, front mounts and factory dampers still need checking. A shared family page does not approve every kit for both bodies.
Do AST /3D and /5D mean three and five doors?
In the listed F20/F21 AST references, the supplier table associates those suffixes with three- and five-bolt front mounts. Both body styles appear in the application rows. Check the actual mount pattern and exact part number instead of choosing the suffix from the number of doors.
Can I use an RWD kit on an xDrive car?
Use a reference that explicitly covers the xDrive application. The listed Bilstein, AST and Eibach AWD sets have their own engine, mount, load or equipment conditions. Similar bodywork and a shared F20/F21 heading are insufficient to select the RWD reference.
Does PRO-TRONIC keep the adaptive damper modes?
The listed Eibach note176 says it suppresses the error after the replacement kit is installed and that electronic damper control no longer functions. It includes the unit on -03/-04. The xDrive -06 note177 calls for a separate unit when required. Confirm the exact kit and replacement plan.
Are the original rear springs separate from the dampers?
Yes. This family uses a separate rear spring and damper with independent five-link suspension. A replacement coilover kit can retain that layout. Some AST and MOTON configurations instead specify a rear coilover, so check the delivered arrangement and mounting requirements.
Does the listed Bilstein B16 Clubsport retain electronic damping?
Do not assume it does. The manufacturer rows for 48-256322 identify a mechanical B16 Clubsport reference with three-bolt and build restrictions and EDC-disconnection notes. Have the exact certificate and original equipment checked; a with EDC heading alone is insufficient.
How low can I go with wider wheels?
The usable height depends on wheel width, offset, tyre dimensions, spacers and suspension parts. Check clearance on both sides of the wheel through steering and suspension movement. Engine-specific catalogue lowering ranges cannot establish clearance for a modified wheel package.
Is a more expensive kit always the better road choice?
Choose a kit with the right application, mounting hardware and controls for the car’s use. A road build needs usable movement, clearance, sound supporting parts and alignment. Extra damping circuits and reservoirs add fitting and setup work, so include that support in the plan.
Let’s talk suspension.
Find your 1 Series and add its engine, body, build date and drivetrain. Include the front-mount pattern, adaptive damping and any wheel or suspension changes so the exact reference can be checked.