M3 Gurus -- differences between struts?

I've found an H and R spring/Bilstein combo locally for a good price (used). I have noticed that there are different struts for early and late E36 M3s. The seller tells me its the top strut mount that is different, and since he's selling the entire assembled unit this wouldn't be an issue.

Thoughts on that?

Rob

The strut mounts are directly interchangeable. It's the upper spring plates (perches) that must be matched to the springs.

On the 95 the strut mounts are one part # for both sides, for the 96+ they are side specific and a different part # for each side.

Installed swapped (left mount on right side and vice-versa) 96+ strut mounts onto a '95 will net an additional -1.3 degrees negative camber and caster increased by 1 full degree to +7 degrees. (Numbers maybe a little off)

I'm using 96-99 E36 M3 H&R Bilstein on my 93 E36 by using all 96-99 E36 M3 hardware.

Strike_Zero wrote: The strut mounts are directly interchangeable. It's the upper spring plates (perches) that must be matched to the springs. On the 95 the strut mounts are one part # for both sides, for the 96+ they are side specific and a different part # for each side. Installed swapped (left mount on right side and vice-versa) 96+ strut mounts onto a '95 will net an additional -1.3 degrees negative camber and caster increased by 1 full degree to +7 degrees. (Numbers maybe a little off) I'm using 96-99 E36 M3 H&R Bilstein on my 93 E36 by using all 96-99 E36 M3 hardware.

So if I were to go the other way and install the '95 struts on a '98 -- do I lose camber?

Thanks,

Rob

Nope . . . The extra camber comes from using the 96+ strut mounts on the opposite sides.

If you use the struts from the 95 E36M3, it has no bearing on camber/caster.

Now, if you use the 95 E36M3 strut mounts, you'll lose some caster .The 96+ strut mounts have more caster than the 95 strut mounts. Can't remember if it affects camber . . .

Quick Q: can you swap the mounts between sides on a 96 and yield better camber?

Si