Lowered green BMW E87 five-door hatchback on graphite wheels beside a dry-stone wall in the hills

BMW E8x.
The coilover guide.

Shop the coilovers

Keep the compact, rear-drive character of your 1 Series. Match the body and engine first, with separate choices for the 1M and for a car built around track use.

Which E8x do you have?26 listed kits · 5 brandsReviewed 4 November 2026

A small BMW with the driven wheels at the back.

The original 1 Series gives you several quite different starting points. An E87 hatchback can carry the weekday miles, while an E82 coupe can be built around weekends at a circuit. A suspension choice should account for the car you have and the roads it still needs to cover.

Start with the body code, engine and build date. Keep the 1 Series M Coupe separate from an M Sport-trimmed car. We can then check the exact part number, mounts and wheel clearance before you choose the amount of adjustment.

BMW launched the 1 Series in 2004. The five-door E87 put a front engine and rear-wheel drive into a compact hatchback, giving owners a shorter alternative to the 3 Series. The revised five-door reached the UK in March 2007, followed by the three-door E81 that May.

The E82 coupe joined the range in 2007 with a fixed roof and separate boot. The E88 convertible followed in 2008. Their engine lists and axle-load limits need checking separately, and the open-top car has its own Eibach and BC applications. Discuss its normal passengers and luggage when setting the height.

The 1 Series M Coupe arrived in 2011. BMW used M3-derived chassis components adapted for the smaller car, including a double-joint front axle and five-link rear axle. Its wider body and specific suspension explain why a kit listed for a 135i is not automatically a 1M kit.

For a car now used on the road, the useful modifications start with its condition and tyres. Choose wheels and ride height together, inspect worn bushes and mounts, then decide whether you will use adjustable damping. A track project adds its own questions about spring specification, mounting and the weight left in the car.

Model history: BMW Group historyBMW UK2007 hatchback press kitBMW original coupe press kitBMW UK original 1M press kitBMW M1 Series M Coupe history.

Start with your E8x.

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

Lowered silver BMW E81 three-door hatchback on graphite wheels in a stone-built village

E81 three-door hatchback

The long front doors and short hatchback tail identify the three-door. Match its engine and build date to the kit row. BC I-11 is a hatchback option for the listed 120i/130i applications; other engines need their own part check.

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Lowered green BMW E87 five-door hatchback outside a brick workshop

E87 five-door hatchback

Choose by the five-door body, engine and axle ratings. Bilstein and Eibach list several engines, while the AST/MOTON application rows distinguish their own specifications. For a 130i, confirm the build date and supplied or reused mounts as well.

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Modified blue BMW E82 non-M coupe on silver wheels beside an upland road

E82 coupe

Use the non-M coupe application for a 120i, 125i, 135i or listed diesel. The Eibach PSS65-20-013-01-22 row and Bilstein 47-269064 row contain their own engine lists. BC I-11 is kept to the hatchback coverage in its current manufacturer table.

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Lowered bronze BMW E88 convertible with its roof open on a coastal road

E88 convertible

Check the convertible-specific part and axle limits. Eibach PSS65-20-013-13-22 is a separate E88 listing; BC I-149 is also a convertible application. Plan the height with the loads the open-top car will normally carry.

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Lowered orange BMW 1 Series M Coupe with wide arches in a circuit paddock

E82 1 Series M Coupe

The 1M has its own application group. BC I-21 and the listed AST/MOTON 1M specifications sit here. M Sport trim on a hatchback or ordinary coupe does not put it in this group.

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White BMW E82 coupe competition project with bronze wheels and a rear wing in a pit lane

Changed arms, mounts or body?

Tell us about donor suspension parts, altered mounting points, a cage or a stripped interior. Those details can change the specification you need, even when the original chassis code matches a catalogue row.

Ask about the build

What do you want
from the car?

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

Kit starts from£1,276.80inc. VAT · Bilstein B14 47-269064

Set the height and leave the damping fixed.

Read the buying advice

Bilstein B14 47-269064 has threaded height adjustment and vehicle-specific fixed damping. It is a useful starting point when you want to set the stance without a damping dial to tune. Check the exact non-M engine/body row and axle ratings, then retain enough clearance and travel for uneven roads and the passengers you carry.

  • Height adjustment with fixed damping
  • Listed non-M engine and body applications
  • Plan clearance for everyday loads
View our recommended kit
Kit starts from£3,072.00inc. VAT · AST 5100 Street ACT-B1601SD

Use the damping adjustment with a recorded setup.

Read the buying advice

AST 5100 Street ACT-B1601SD is listed for the listed non-M E81/E82/E87/E88 applications. Its separate rear spring arrangement and specified mounts need checking with the exact order. Start with the supplied setup advice, write down each adjustment and assess one change at a time. A 1M requires its own specification, including the listed ACT-B1603SD.

  • Adjustable damping for recorded changes
  • Separate rear spring specification
  • Confirm mounts and supplied droplinks
View our recommended kit
Kit starts from£5,424.00inc. VAT · AST 5300 Competition RAC-B1601SD

Choose the springs around the whole build.

Read the buying advice

AST 5300 Competition RAC-B1601SD is an example for the listed non-M applications. Discuss the tyre, operating weight and suspension changes before specifying a competition package. Confirm the reservoir installation, spring and mount details with the supplier. The separate 1M application uses its own part references; do not copy this example onto a 1M because both cars are E82 coupes.

  • Spring specification for the actual build
  • Reservoir and mounting installation
  • Record height, alignment and damping
View our recommended kit

Separate rear spring, or true rear coilover?

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

On a standard BMW E8x, the rear spring and shock absorber are mounted separately.

Layout only. Mounts and spring seats vary by kit.

The factory-style E8x rear suspension has a spring on its own seats, separate from the damper. Many coilover kits keep that arrangement and add an adjustable spring seat. Bilstein 47-269064 covers the listed E81/E82/E87/E88 bodies and shows the rear spring-seat assembly separately from the damper in its fitting instructions.

AST ACT-B1601SD for listed non-M cars and ACT-B1603SD for the 1M retain a separate rear spring. Clubracing ACC-B1604SD and ACC-B1605SD are examples specified with front and rear coilovers. With a true rear coilover the spring surrounds the damper, and its load passes through the damper mounts. Have the installer confirm the mounting requirements of that exact conversion before ordering.

The spring position belongs to the kit specification. It is not an adjustment you switch between while setting the height. Moving the spring changes its leverage at the wheel, so compare the complete spring and damper specification instead of using two spring-rate numbers to rank unlike layouts.

Understand height and preload
Modified green BMW E87 on a wheel-alignment rack with optical targets carried by wheel clamps, front turnplates and rear slip plates

Fit it around your wheels and normal load.

Have the fitter inspect suspension joints, bushes, bearings and mounts before installation. Include the rear mounting areas if the proposed kit moves the spring onto the damper. Play elsewhere in the suspension will still affect the car after new dampers are fitted.

Give the workshop the wheel width, offset, tyre size and any spacer measurements. Check the arch, tyre and spring-seat clearances at steering lock and through suspension travel. Set the final height with the car settled, then measure the alignment for its intended road or circuit use.

Wheels and working clearance

Check the wheel and tyre combination before committing to a low stance. A spacer moves the tyre away from the strut and towards the arch. The tyre still needs clearance as it turns and rises into the body; wheel diameter alone does not describe that space.

Mounts, bearings and bushes

Check what the selected package supplies and which original parts it reuses. Worn mounts or bearings are worth resolving during the fitting work. A solid or spherical mount can transmit more noise and vibration, so discuss that choice for a car used every day.

Previous suspension changes

Send part numbers or photographs if the car has different arms, hubs, top mounts or spring seats. The 1M has its own chassis hardware, and a car with donor parts needs the combination checked. Include any changed electrical damper equipment in that conversation.

Track preparation and records

Arrange tyre, brake and cooling checks alongside the suspension work for repeated circuit use. Keep the final height, alignment and damper settings in a notebook. Tell the supplier about removed interior weight or a cage before choosing springs for a developed build.

The current E8x range.

Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.

BC Racing

The current manufacturer table separates I-11 hatchback 120i/130i coverage, I-149 E88 convertible and I-21 1M. Check the selectable series and mount specification on the exact product. The broader abbreviated chassis text in a product title does not extend that table to another body.

View BC Racing E8x kits

Bilstein

B14 part 47-269064 has fixed damping and height adjustment for its listed non-M 1 Series applications. Its engine/body rows and permitted axle loads decide fitment. The fitting instructions retain separate rear springs and dampers.

View Bilstein E8x kits

Eibach

Pro-Street S PSS65-20-013-01-22 lists selected hatchback and non-M coupe engines. E88 uses the separate PSS65-20-013-13-22 listing. Compare the exact engine, axle limits and fitting notes, including wheel clearance and original suspension equipment.

View Eibach E8x kits

AST

The manufacturer application rows distinguish non-M and 1M specifications. Street ACT packages and Clubracing ACC packages use different rear spring arrangements. Confirm mounts, spring specification and supplied parts before choosing a series.

View AST E8x kits

MOTON

The listed non-M and 1M references are separate. Compare the adjustment layout and mounting package against the intended use, and allow for the reservoir installation where specified. Springs and mounts should be agreed for the actual car and its operating weight.

View MOTON E8x kits

Find your E8x coilovers.

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

26 listings

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

6 of 26 shown
All E8x kit links and part numbers

Before you order.

  1. Identify your car

    Record E81, E87, E82 or E88, then engine, build date and whether it is a 1 Series M Coupe.

  2. Match the kit

    Match the exact engine/body row and permitted axle loads to the manufacturer part number.

  3. Check what’s included

    Confirm supplied or reused mounts, droplinks and the rear spring arrangement of that kit.

  4. Check your modifications

    Provide wheel width, offset, tyres and spacers for clearance checks through steering and suspension travel.

  5. Plan fitting

    Agree fitting and final alignment, and confirm current supply timing before booking the work.

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 E8x coilovers.

Check the details before choosing your kit.

Will one coilover kit fit every E81, E82, E87 and E88?

Some parts cover several bodies, but the exact engine and body row decides. Eibach PSS65-20-013-01-22 lists selected hatchback and coupe applications, while PSS65-20-013-13-22 is a separate convertible listing. Check axle ratings and fitting conditions as well as the chassis code.

Does M Sport suspension mean my car needs a 1M kit?

No. M Sport trim on a regular 1 Series does not make it a 1 Series M Coupe. The 1M has its own chassis components and kit applications. Identify the exact car before choosing the non-M or 1M group.

Can I choose BC I-11 for an E82 coupe?

The current BC manufacturer application table gives I-11 for 120i/130i E81/E87 hatchbacks. Its product title uses broader abbreviated chassis text. We keep I-11 recommendations to the manufacturer table and check an E82 separately.

Does the E8x have a separate rear spring and damper?

Yes. The factory-style rear layout has a spring on its own seats, separate from the damper. Many kits retain that layout with an adjustable rear spring seat. A true rear coilover moves the spring around the damper and needs its own mounting requirements checked.

Is lowering the rear the same as adjusting spring preload?

No. A separate rear spring-seat adjuster sets installed spring position and ride height within the kit instructions. Preload, spring location and damper travel have to be checked for that design. Follow the exact fitting instructions and keep the spring correctly seated through the working range.

Can I adjust the damping on the B14 example?

Bilstein B14 part 47-269064 uses fixed damping specified for its applications. You can adjust the height within its instructions, but there is no damping-adjustment dial. If you want damping control, compare an applicable adjustable package and its mount and rear-layout details.

What wheel measurements should I give the fitter?

Provide wheel width and offset, tyre size and any spacer thickness. Clearance needs checking at the strut, spring seat and arch as the wheels turn and the suspension compresses. Eibach lists a possible spacer requirement on these Pro-Street S applications; that is an exact fitment check, not an automatic instruction to add spacers.

When should I book the alignment?

After the suspension is fitted and the final height has been set with the car settled. Have the workshop inspect worn joints and bushes first, then agree settings around the tyres, normal loads and how the car is used. Record the measurements so later changes can be assessed.

Let’s talk suspension.

Use the finder below to identify the car, then tell us its body, engine and any suspension changes. Wheel and tyre measurements will help us check the appropriate kit and fitting requirements.

Call Coilovers Direct0115 647 9207
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