Grey BMW F40 five-door hatchback with upgraded silver wheels and a modest lowered stance outside a brick building

BMW 1 Series F40.
The coilover guide.

Shop the coilovers

The F40 puts its engine across the car and drives the front wheels, with xDrive on selected models. Start with the engine, drivetrain and original dampers, then match the kit to the way you use the car.

Which 1 Series F40 do you have?8 listed kits · 3 brandsReviewed 11 November 2026

Five doors, front drive and xDrive

Identify the F40 chassis before comparing kits. Its front-drive architecture differs from the earlier F20/F21, and the later F70 has its own references. Keep the generation, engine and drivetrain together when checking a part number.

Within the F40 range, check the drivetrain and original damper equipment. The front-drive 128ti and M135i xDrive have distinct factory specifications. A broad catalogue engine table is a starting point for the exact part, not permission to ignore the car's equipment.

BMW introduced the third-generation 1 Series in 2019, with UK deliveries from late September. The F40 combined a five-door hatchback body with front-wheel-drive architecture and selected xDrive models. Its proportions and packaging differ from the earlier rear-drive hatchbacks, even though the name continued.

The new layout changes the starting point for a suspension build. On a front-drive car, the front tyres have to steer and put power down. Choose the wheel package, usable travel and supporting parts together instead of trying to reproduce an F20's stance or settings.

The 128ti arrived in November 2020. It paired front-wheel drive with a Torsen limited-slip differential and its own M Sport suspension calibration. Its red trim is an easy visual clue, but the engine, build and original equipment still matter more than a badge when ordering parts.

Alongside the front-drive cars, the F40 range includes M135i xDrive and diesel xDrive applications. Keep their engine and equipment conditions attached to the chosen reference. BC I-101 explicitly covers FWD; the AST and Eibach choices have their own application rows.

Wheel upgrades and a measured drop can suit the F40's compact shape without making every journey a clearance test. Record width, offset, tyre size and spacers before settling on height. Leave room for steering, passengers, luggage and the roads the car actually uses.

For circuit work, plan tyres, springs, alignment and adjustment access as one job. The catalogue spans separate rear spring arrangements and a Clubracing rear-coilover specification. Agree the mounting work and setup support before choosing extra damping controls.

Start with your 1 Series F40.

Match the model year, engine and body style before comparing brands.

Blue modified BMW F40 five-door with upgraded silver wheels beside a stone roadside wall

Front-wheel-drive F40

Start with the exact engine and original suspension. BC I-101 is listed for FWD F40 cars from 2019 to 2024. AST and Eibach also list specific petrol and diesel FWD rows. Confirm electronic-damper requirements and the selected kit's mounting parts before ordering.

Compare FWD kits
White modified BMW F40 128ti-style five-door with red sill accents and upgraded silver wheels

128ti: keep its own specification

The 128ti is front-wheel drive, with its own factory suspension and differential specification. The current AST and Eibach application rows name it explicitly. Confirm the build, original dampers and delivered mounting hardware before selecting the set.

Compare listed 128ti kits
Graphite modified BMW F40 five-door with bronze wheels in a quiet paddock

xDrive: check the AWD row

Use the exact M135i xDrive or 120d xDrive application where listed. The five AST sets and two Eibach references include F40 AWD engine rows, subject to their equipment conditions. Do not select BC I-101 solely because its product heading says 1 Series.

Compare xDrive references
Black modified BMW F40 five-door with upgraded silver wheels viewed from the rear quarter

Adaptive dampers or an altered car

Identify the original dampers and any earlier suspension changes. Include wheel dimensions, spacers, brake conversions and the rear arrangement already fitted. Agree any warning cancellation and the loss of factory electronic damping before choosing the reference.

Check my F40 setup

What do you want
from the car?

Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.

Selected configurationSee optionsinc. VAT · Listed FWD application, equipment check / BC I-101 BR-RA

Match the FWD application and leave the suspension room to work.

Read the buying advice

BC I-101 BR-RA is the conditional road example for a listed FWD F40. The current option specifies a pillowball front mount and rubber rear mounts. Confirm the exact engine, factory damper equipment and supplied parts, then agree a working height around the wheel package. This is not an xDrive recommendation.

  • Confirm FWD and exact engine
  • Agree the mount and electronics plan
  • Keep steering and travel clearance
View current configurations
Selected configurationSee optionsinc. VAT · Exact F40 engine and equipment check / AST 5100 ACT-B1406S

Retain the separate rear spring and plan tyres, springs and alignment together.

Read the buying advice

AST ACT-B1406S is the listed 5100 Street Performance example. It retains a separate rear spring and specifies front top mounts. Confirm the actual F40 engine and supplied mounting parts, then agree spring rates, tyres and alignment with the installer.

  • Match the engine and drivetrain
  • Confirm the NCO rear and mounts
  • Include tyres and measured alignment
View current configurations
Selected configurationSee optionsinc. VAT · Exact F40 build and hardware check / AST 5200 RIV-B1407S

Choose useful adjustment and make space for setup and servicing.

Read the buying advice

AST RIV-B1407S is the listed 5200 two-way example, with separate rebound and compression adjustment. Agree the F40-specific rear arrangement, mounts and reservoir access before ordering. Have the installer confirm any bodywork changes from the exact fitting instructions, and include measured setup support in the project.

  • Agree the complete supplied set
  • Confirm rear mounts and adjustment access
  • Budget for measured setup support
View current configurations

Separate rear units, or a kit-specific conversion

Separate rear spring and damperA spring between its own upper and lower seats sits beside a separate shock absorber.SpringDamper

On a standard BMW 1 Series F40, the rear spring and shock absorber are mounted separately.

Layout only. Mounts and spring seats vary by kit.

The F40's factory-style independent rear suspension uses a spring on its own seats beside a separate damper. A replacement coilover kit can retain that layout, with rear height adjustment at the spring seat. Confirm which arrangement the selected kit supplies before planning the fitting.

AST Street and Street Performance NCO sets retain separate rear units; the listed Clubracing TCO set has a rear coilover. Confirm its mounting requirements with the installer. The compact drawings identify spring and damper positions and do not approve a conversion for a particular car.

Understand height and spring preload
Technician holding an ordinary inspection torch beside a grey modified BMW F40 on a normal workshop floor

Check the mounts and original dampers

Bring the engine and drivetrain details, original damper specification and a record of earlier work. Have the installer inspect the mounts and rear arrangement already fitted. A registration lookup cannot reveal a replacement damper, changed mount or spacer.

Agree a quote covering inspection, supporting repairs, fitting, electronics and alignment. Confirm current supply timing before booking. Follow the instructions for the exact kit and arrange the installer's settling and clearance recheck.

Wheel width, offset and brakes

Record the full wheel and tyre sizes, offset and any spacers. Have the installer check clearance at the front strut, brakes and arch throughout steering and suspension movement. A photographed stance cannot establish clearance for your wheel package.

Original mounts and worn parts

Inspect the mounts, bearings, bushes, spring seats and droplinks the chosen kit reuses. Compare the delivered contents with the exact application. Front mounts included on one AST set are not proof that every range supplies the same parts.

Electronic damping and warning cancellation

Eibach -01 excludes electronic suspension. The -02 reference includes PRO-TRONIC for its specified electronic-damper application, but electronic damping control no longer functions. Agree the replacement controls and warning-management plan before removing the original dampers.

Rear layout and setup access

The factory-style rear spring has its own seats beside the damper. Some listed kits retain that arrangement; Clubracing specifies a different rear-coilover package. Confirm the mounting requirements and access to adjusters, then set height and have the alignment measured.

The current 1 Series F40 range.

Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.

BC Racing

I-101 is the manufacturer-listed FWD F40 application for 2019 to 2024. Current BR-RA and RM-MA options have different series specifications; agree the actual supplied hardware and original damper requirements. The broad 1 Series heading does not extend it to xDrive or the later F70.

View BC Racing 1 Series F40 kits

AST

Five listed sets cover exact F40 engine rows. ACU-B1406S and ACT-B1406S retain separate rear springs; ACT also specifies front top mounts. ACC-B1407S supplies a rear-coilover arrangement with front and rear mounts. RIV and RAC add damping controls, but their exact rear hardware needs confirmation from the F40 fitting specification.

View AST 1 Series F40 kits

Eibach

Both listed Pro-Street S references have F40 rows with 1,150 kg front and 1,290 kg rear axle limits. The catalogue ranges are 35 to 55 mm front and 30 to 50 mm rear, subject to the exact engine, original height and certificate. -01 excludes electronic suspension; -02 includes PRO-TRONIC while removing electronic damping function. Confirm additional OE parts where specified.

View Eibach 1 Series F40 kits

Find your 1 Series F40 coilovers.

Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.

8 listings

Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.

6 of 8 shown
All 1 Series F40 kit links and part numbers

Before you order.

  1. Identify your car

    Identify the F40 chassis, engine, build date and FWD or xDrive specification. Record original damper equipment and earlier suspension work.

  2. Match the kit

    Match the exact engine row, part number and axle-load limits. Check whether the kit excludes electronic damping or supplies warning cancellation.

  3. Check what’s included

    Confirm included and reused mounts, rear spring arrangement and any optional fittings. Agree the F40-specific installation and adjustment access.

  4. Check your modifications

    Record wheel width, offset, tyre size, spacers and brake changes. Check inner suspension and outer arch clearance through steering and movement.

  5. Plan fitting

    Allow for supporting repairs, fitting, electronics work and alignment. 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 F40 coilovers.

Check the details before choosing your kit.

Is the F40 the same suspension application as an F20?

No. F40 identifies the later five-door generation introduced in 2019, using front-wheel-drive architecture with xDrive on selected models. The earlier F20/F21 and later F70 have their own references. Match the chassis and exact kit rather than ordering from the 1 Series name.

Does BC I-101 cover an M135i xDrive?

The reviewed BC application table specifies FWD F40 cars for I-101. Do not use its broad 1 Series product heading as AWD approval. Use a reference that explicitly covers your xDrive engine and equipment, then have the exact application confirmed.

Why does a 128ti application row begin in 2019?

Some suspension tables use a broad F40 family date range. BMW introduced the 128ti for launch in November 2020. Match the actual model, build and equipment; a family start date is not the car's launch date or an exact fitment approval.

Will PRO-TRONIC keep the adaptive damper modes?

The listed Eibach -02 note says the unit suppresses the error after replacement and that electronic damper control no longer functions. The -01 reference excludes electronic suspension. Confirm the original equipment and exact replacement plan before ordering.

Are the F40 rear spring and damper separate?

The factory-style F40 rear has a spring on its own seats beside a separate damper. AST's NCO Street and Street Performance set descriptions retain that type of arrangement; the listed Clubracing TCO package is different. Confirm the actual kit and mounting requirements rather than assuming every coilover kit has the same rear layout.

Will a circuit kit require drilling or different rear mounts?

Have the installer confirm the F40-specific fitting instructions and complete supplied set before planning any bodywork changes. A rear-coilover conversion needs its own mounting checks. Remote-reservoir kits also need a secure installation and access to their adjusters.

How low can I go with wider wheels?

Usable height depends on wheel width, offset, tyre dimensions, spacers and the suspension parts. Check clearance on both sides of the wheel throughout steering and suspension movement. An engine-specific lowering range cannot establish clearance for a modified wheel package.

Is the most expensive kit the best choice for a road F40?

Start with the correct application, usable movement and the controls you will use. Sound supporting parts, tyre clearance and alignment matter on a road car. Additional damping circuits and reservoirs also need installation and setup support, so choose them for a clear reason.

Let’s talk suspension.

Find your F40 and add the engine, build date and FWD or xDrive specification. Tell us about adaptive dampers, changed wheels and earlier suspension work so the exact reference can be checked.

Call Coilovers Direct0115 647 9207
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