The Best Lowering Springs for BMW F80 M3 & F82 M4!

If you’re reading this, you must agree that the F80 M3 and F82 M4 have too much wheel gap in stock form. As soon as I bought my M3, I researched the best way to lower it. To save you from spending hours digging through forum posts and Facebook groups (like I did), I’ll explain what I chose and why you should consider it too.

My goal: eliminate wheel gap and retain comfortable ride quality without spending thousands of dollars.

When researching the endless options available, I read horror stories about bouncy rides and blown shocks. That was exactly what I didn’t want. I also saw M3’s and M4’s that didn’t sit quite right, still too much wheel gap or a reverse-rake stance. Again, not what I was looking for.

And then I found Emmanuele Design lowering springs. I was skeptical at first because I never heard of this company. But as I continued my research, it seemed that everyone loved these springs. So, I bought them… and I’m so glad I did!

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Emmanuele Design Lowering Springs

• Ride quality remains the same or better than stock.
• Compatible with both standard and adaptive suspension.
• Engineered specifically for stock shocks to avoid premature failure.
• Perfect stance, lowering the front 1.3″ and the rear 0.3 – 0.9″.
• Linear spring rate, similar to stock springs.
• Made in the USA.
• Affordable at $300-350!

Review: Emmanuele Design Lowering Springs

EMD Auto (or eMMOTION) is popular among the Audi and Volkswagen crowd, but this is their first BMW product. Let me tell you, they knocked it out of the park! I highly recommend these springs after installing them myself and driving on them for many miles.

The installation is simple and anyone with mechanical knowledge should be able to install these at home. Follow my complete DIY lowering spring installation guide if you want to save yourself some money. Everything fit like OEM and went together smoothly.

After driving on these lowering springs, I can recommend them with confidence! The car drives as if it was still brand new, it rides great. Comfortable with a sporty feel. I have installed many different suspension kits and some ride better than others. My previous experience with lowering springs hasn’t always been good, resulting in a bouncy or stiff ride. However, EMD gets 5 stars from me on these springs.

How much do they lower?

EMD advertises a front drop of 1.3″ for both the M3 and M4. I saw a 1.45″ drop in the front on my M3. Your results may vary.

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The rear drop depends on whether you use the spacers or not. The M3 kit includes spacers and the M4 kit does not. EMD advertises a 0.3″ drop with spacers on the M3. They advertise a 0.9″ drop for the M4, which doesn’t use the spacers. Since I wanted a more significant drop, I chose not to use the spacers on my M3 and saw a 0.75″ drop. Your results may vary.

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Spring Rate is Important!

I think their linear spring rate is the secret sauce. Unlike most aftermarket lowering springs that use a progressive spring rate, EMD springs use a linear rate just like the stock springs. Linear springs maintain the same spring rate along the entire length of the spring as it is compressed. Progressive springs, on the other hand, have a spring rate that is constantly changing as the spring compresses and decompresses.

Good news: Emmanuele Design specifically engineered these lowering springs to be used with the stock shocks and struts. That’s right, they’re a perfect match for the factory dampers!

Front spring rates:

• Stock spring rate: 186 lb/in
• EMD spring rate: 194 lb/in

Rear spring rates:

• Stock spring rate: 608 lb/in
• EMD spring rate: 645 lb/in

Other great lowering kits to consider…

I love my Emmanuele Design lowering springs, but there are a few other options out there that I’m confident recommending.

KW HAS (Height Adjustable Suspension) Kit

This is a great option if you want control over your ride height. It fits the BMW M3, M4 and M2, and allows you to re-use your factory shocks and struts. It maintains a linear spring rate and offers a comfortable, sporty ride. The KW HAS kit retrofits the stock dampers with adjustable spring perches, allowing you to raise or lower the car. I have heard nothing but good things about this kit, and it is an affordable alternative to coilovers.

M Performance Suspension Kit

Again, this kit allows you to adjust your ride height. It is very similar to the KW HAS kit above, but comes with a higher price tag. The M Performance HAS kit is for the true BMW purist. You’ll be able to drop your M3 or M4 anywhere from 0.2″ to 0.8″ lower than stock. It boasts excellent ride quality and also re-uses the factory shocks and struts.

Avoid these suspension options…

That’s right, these are the lowering options I would steer clear from. During my research, I found negative feedback on a few lowering kits.

H&R Super Sport springs

I initially considered these lowering springs because the drop was similar to EMD springs. But after reading comments about bouncy ride quality, that was the end for me. Not only that, but some enthusiasts reported pre-mature failure of their factory shocks and struts. I’d assume that the spring rate is not matched properly and that comes with a cost. Save yourself the heartache and don’t look up the price of replacement dampers.

If you have any questions about these suspension options, please contact me. Otherwise leave a comment and let me know what you think!