Mazda 3 BM / BN.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversThe third Mazda3 generation brings a long-nosed hatch, a separate-boot saloon and a Japanese hybrid. Start with the chassis and original market: the N-29 petrol reference, N-27 hybrid and TEIN import rows are different applications.
The Mazda3 moves to a full SKYACTIV chassis.
BC Racing separates the BMEFS Mazda3 from the BYEFP hybrid. TEIN lists specific Japanese Axela and US Mazda3 versions, with different recommended height ranges even when the kit number stays the same. Check those distinctions before comparing damper controls.
This guide covers the third-generation BM and facelift BN family. Use the exact chassis, engine, body and original market to narrow the current kits. The earlier BL and the fourth-generation BP belong to their own applications; a registration year at a model change can overlap.
Mazda introduced the third-generation Axela in Japan in 2013, alongside its Mazda3 name overseas. The new body adopted Mazda’s KODO design: a longer-looking bonnet, a low grille and narrow headlights. Underneath was the SKYACTIV chassis, with front MacPherson struts and multi-link rear suspension.
Japan’s range included petrol, diesel and a 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid. The hybrid was a front-wheel-drive four-door saloon with an electronic CVT. Later updates brought revised styling and G-Vectoring Control, which changes engine torque in response to steering. Mazda’s European records distinguish the original BM and facelift BN bodies. Mazda records 49,503 UK sales for the third generation from 2013 to 2019; the MPS did not carry over into this range.
For a car being lowered today, choose the wheel package and running height together. Preserve enough movement for the roads it actually uses, and inspect the mounting parts before fitting. An imported Axela needs its original chassis and engine details checked rather than being ordered simply as a UK-registered Mazda3.
Model history: Mazda original2013 Axela launchMazda official historical chassis tableMazda public rescue-card model indexMazda2017 global updateMazda UK original twenty-year history.
Start with your 3 BM / BN.
Match the model year, engine and body style before comparing brands.
BMEFS FWD: the N-29 reference
The current N-29 listing records Mazda3 BMEFS FWD, 2013-19. Confirm the engine, body and selected configuration against that exact reference. The wider BM / BN generation name does not approve every version automatically.
View the N-29 configurations
TEIN: specific Axela and US cars
VSMA8-C1AA3 lists Japanese Axela Sport BMEFS, BMLFS, BM2FS and BM5FS, Japanese Axela Sedan BM5FP, and a US BMEFS Mazda3 row. Match the full engine, body, market and production period on the product page. There is no UK-market application row in this maker table.
View the TEIN application table
BYEFP hybrid saloon: N-27
The Japanese Axela Hybrid is a four-door saloon with its own N-27 reference. Keep it separate from the ordinary N-29 application. Confirm the hybrid chassis, supplied springs, mounts and rear hardware before ordering.
View the hybrid configurations
Other markets, facelift cars and projects
Send the complete chassis, original market and engine if your application is not an exact match. Include any altered hubs, mounts, wheel package or suspension parts. We can check those details before a kit is selected.
Check my Mazda3 applicationWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Choose usable height and controls you will actually adjust.
Read the buying advice
For a confirmed N-29 application, BR RA gives coupled compression and rebound adjustment. The current listing specifies pillowball front mounts and rubber rear mounts; discuss transmitted noise as well as wheel clearance. If your exact imported car appears in the TEIN table, FLEX Z offers reinforced rubber mounts at both ends. Check the two applications first before comparing their construction.
- Coupled compression and rebound
- Confirm mounting parts and noise expectations
- Allow for passengers and normal road loads
Match the inverted front construction to the build.
Read the buying advice
N-29 RM MA specifies an inverted front damper. Discuss that choice with the fitter alongside the tyres, springs and planned circuit sessions. BR can still suit occasional track days. Record a baseline height and alignment, then make one damping change at a time so the effect can be understood.
- Inverted front construction
- Agree springs around the actual tyres
- Keep a repeatable setup record
Separate damping controls add work as well as adjustment.
Read the buying advice
The listed N-29 ER option has remote reservoirs and independent compression and rebound controls. Plan the reservoir positions and protected hose routes before installation. Agree springs, operating weight, tyres and setup support for the car. ZX is another listed option when separate low- and high-speed compression controls are useful alongside rebound.
- Independent compression and rebound
- Check reservoir and hose clearance
- Plan test time and servicing
A multi-link rear with a separate spring.
On a standard Mazda3 BM (non-hybrid), the rear spring and damper are mounted separately.
Component layout only. Mounts, dimensions and adjusters vary by kit.The non-hybrid BM rear suspension places the coil spring on the lower arm, separately from the shock absorber. At the front, the spring surrounds the strut. Check the rear spring seat and damper as separate parts when confirming the kit.
Check the selected kit’s rear spring seat, adjuster, rubber parts and damper instructions. Rear height adjustment at the spring and damper-length adjustment have different jobs. Confirm the hybrid package separately; an ordinary-car layout illustration does not establish its exact supplied hardware.
Understand height and spring preload
Measure the clearance before choosing the height.
Give the fitter the wheel width, offset, tyre size and any spacers. Check the inner tyre beside the front strut and spring platform, then the outer tyre at the arch. Allow for steering lock, suspension movement and the loads the car normally carries.
Inspect joints, bushes, mounts and spring seats before fitting. Settle the car at the agreed running height before its final alignment. Keep the measured settings with the spring and damper specification, particularly if the car also does circuit days.
Wheel width, offset and tyres
Check the actual tyre shape and clearance rather than relying on nominal wheel width alone. Spacers move the outer tyre towards the arch. Ask the fitter to inspect the car through steering and suspension movement at the intended height.
Original market and body
Keep the Japanese Axela Sport, Axela Sedan and hybrid details with the order. TEIN’s BM5FP saloon row has a different recommended height range from its hatchback rows. A shared kit number does not make those settings interchangeable.
Mounts and retained components
Confirm the front and rear mounting package, spring seats, bump stops and any reused rubber parts. Reinforced rubber and pillowball mounts have different noise and isolation characteristics. Follow the instructions for the exact kit being supplied.
GVC and suspension changes
On applicable facelift cars, G-Vectoring Control works through engine torque. It is not a damper adjustment setting. Identify the car’s original equipment and tell the fitter about other changes before agreeing the suspension package.
A useful setup record
Record the final height and alignment, tyre pressures and damper settings. For track use, include tyre model, conditions and what changed between sessions. That record makes later adjustments easier to assess.
The current 3 BM / BN range.
Compare the controls and hardware included in each range.
N-29 records the BMEFS FWD Mazda3 application, with BR RA, RM MA, ER and ZX options. N-27 is the separate BYEFP hybrid reference, currently offering BR RA and RM MA. Confirm the exact springs and mounting package; the listed default spring rates differ between those two applications.
View BC Racing 3 BM / BN kits
FLEX Z VSMA8-C1AA3 uses twin-tube dampers with 16-level coupled damping adjustment and reinforced rubber upper mounts. Its current maker table has five Japanese application rows and one US row, with 6 kgf/mm front and 5 kgf/mm rear springs. Check the original market and the exact recommended height range before ordering.
View TEIN 3 BM / BN kitsFind your 3 BM / BN coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
3 listings
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
TEIN · VSMA8-C1AA3
TEIN FLEX Z Coilovers for Mazda Axela Sport BMEFS, BMLFS, BM2FS, BM5FS / Mazda Axela Sedan BM5FP / Mazda3 BMEFS (market-specific imports) - VSMA8-C1AA3
TEIN: specific Axela and US cars
![BC Racing Coilovers - Mazda Mazda 3 Hybrid (FWD) (13-19) [BYEFP]](/images/09cf8cd191b679-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-N-27
BC Racing Coilovers - Mazda Mazda 3 Hybrid (FWD) (13-19) [BYEFP]
BYEFP hybrid saloon: N-27
BC Racing · BCR-N-29
BC Racing Coilovers - Mazda Mazda 3 (13-19) [BMEFS]
BMEFS FWD: the N-29 reference
All 3 BM / BN kit links and part numbers
- BC Racing · BCR-N-27: BC Racing Coilovers - Mazda Mazda 3 Hybrid (FWD) (13-19) [BYEFP]
- BC Racing · BCR-N-29: BC Racing Coilovers - Mazda Mazda 3 (13-19) [BMEFS]
- TEIN · VSMA8-C1AA3: TEIN FLEX Z Coilovers for Mazda Axela Sport BMEFS, BMLFS, BM2FS, BM5FS / Mazda Axela Sedan BM5FP / Mazda3 BMEFS (market-specific imports) - VSMA8-C1AA3
Before you order.
Identify your car
Identify the chassis, engine, body, original market and build date. Separate the BM / BN family from BL and BP, and identify a BYEFP hybrid explicitly.
Match the kit
Match the application and configuration. Confirm N-29, N-27 or the exact TEIN market-specific row before choosing the damper controls.
Check what’s included
Check the supplied springs, mounts and rear parts. Confirm retained rubber, spring seats, bump stops and fitting instructions.
Check your modifications
Check wheels and existing modifications. Supply width, offset, tyre size and spacers, and inspect clearance through steering and suspension movement.
Plan fitting
Plan fitting and final alignment. Agree usable height, inspect worn parts and confirm current availability 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 Mazda 3 BM / BN coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
Which coilovers are currently listed for this Mazda3 generation?
The current catalogue has BC Racing N-29 for the recorded BMEFS FWD application, N-27 for the BYEFP hybrid, and TEIN FLEX Z VSMA8-C1AA3 for specific Japanese and US applications. Check the chassis, engine, body and original market before selecting a configuration.
Can the ordinary Mazda3 kit be used on the hybrid?
Do not assume that. The listed BYEFP hybrid has its own BC Racing N-27 reference, separate from N-29. Mazda’s original Japanese hybrid was a front-wheel-drive four-door saloon. Confirm its springs, mounts and rear hardware for the selected configuration.
Does the TEIN UK listing establish UK-market fitment?
The current VSMA8-C1AA3 maker table lists five Japanese applications and one US application. It does not contain a UK-market vehicle row. UK registration alone does not establish that the car matches; use the original market, chassis, engine and production period.
Do all listed TEIN applications use the same lowering range?
No. The recommended ranges vary by chassis, engine, body and market. For example, the Japanese BM5FP saloon has a recommended front lowering range of 10 to 30 mm, while the Japanese BMEFS hatch row lists 30 to 50 mm. Use the full application table on the product page.
Is the ordinary BM rear spring separate from the damper?
Yes. Its multi-link rear suspension carries the coil spring on the lower arm, separately from the shock absorber. Confirm the selected kit’s spring seats, adjusters, mounts and fitting instructions. The ordinary-car diagram does not approve a hybrid package or a rear conversion.
What changes between the listed BC Racing configurations?
BR adjusts compression and rebound together. The N-29 RM MA specifies inverted front construction. ER adds remote reservoirs and independent compression and rebound adjustment. ZX has separate low- and high-speed compression controls alongside rebound. Select the exact application before comparing those controls.
Is G-Vectoring Control an adjustable suspension system?
G-Vectoring Control on applicable updated Mazda3 models varies engine torque in response to steering. It is not a coilover damping adjustment. Identify the car’s original equipment and follow the fitting instructions for its exact suspension kit.
What should I check before lowering the car on wider wheels?
Supply the actual width, offset, tyre size and spacers. Check clearance at the strut and spring platform and at the outer arch through steering and suspension movement. Include normal loads, then set the final height before measuring alignment.
Let’s talk suspension.
Tell us the chassis, engine, body and original market, plus the wheel package and how the car is used. We can help check the application and selected configuration before you order.