(2009) Do I Need Camber Plates?
I know some here (Jonathan, Woody, Brian, Bogdan and Pete to name a few) have more experience autocrossing BMW so if you may I'd like to pick your brain. I am planning to install some stiffer sway bars, shocks/struts and springs on my 330Ci. I am debating whether I need to install camber plates at the same time? The reason why I cam considering getting camber plates is to run as close to stock sport setting as possible for daily driving to preserve my tires and change it to the maximum negative camber for autocross. Does this make sense or am I looking at this the wrong way?
I already have the sway bars, shocks and springs and if it's beneficial to get camber plates, do you guys have any experience with any specific brands? I am looking at either UUC or Vorschlag. Thanks for the input guys.
Inexpensive Camber Options for the Non-M E46
The stock left and right strut bearing tops are identical, so there's no advantage to swapping them side to side. However, the E46 does have elongated holes in the strut tower that can be useful somewhat, 0.7 degrees camber from one end to the other. There is a locator pin that protrudes through the top that can be knocked out with a hammer blow. But the stock position is near center within the elongated holes and will allow only 0.4 degrees of additional camber. At stock ride height the camber is -1.0 and shifting the mounts toward the inside will give about -1.4 degrees. Lowering the car an inch yields about 0.4 degrees additional camber. But lowering the car may appear to add static camber but it also gives up camber-gain while cornering.
As Craig mentioned above, The E36 M3 front strut mounts ($160 a pair) can be used on the Non-M E46. Installing them on their proper sides and making use of the slots yields -1.7 to -2.4 degrees camber at stock ride height and adds 1.5 degrees caster (significantly increases steering effort). With the E36 M3 strut mounts installed on their proper sides and stock springs, there's just barely enough clearance inside the towers. Not sure if your aftermarket springs have a smaller diameter or not, but my coil-overs have plenty of clearance and can handle swapping the E36 M3 strut mounts (installing the left on the right and right on the left side) yielding -3.2 to -3.9 degrees camber at stock ride height and still retains 1.0 degree of additional caster.
As mentioned in the posts above, changes in camber affect toe. Get some toe plates so you can adjust them yourself or you'll go broke getting it aligned every time you want to try something different.