Suspension: Front strut...a few different types?

[flyin2wheeler]

In a bit of a dilemma with my 99 v40 1.6!!!!
Just before lockdown,my os front spring snapped so ordered new spring via ebay,spring arrived,a taper type spring,narrow top and bottom coil and it fitted 100%.
Two weeks ago...NS spring snaps!
Duplicated my previous ebay order of the os spring.
The new spring arrives but it will not fit this ns strut!
It appears,before my ownership of the v40,somebody has fitted a used strut/spring and its different to my os strut.
The ns strut,the differences I can see are that the spring on ns is straight up and down,no taper.
It is aslo wider slightly and the anti roll bar mounting is lower down the side of this strut than on my os strut hence why i always thought my car looked slightly lower on the ns!
I actually ordered a used full strut/spring of a breaker,it arrived,its from a 2000 v40 1.8 and it again is totally different to to both struts in my car!
Its too long,has no anti roll bar mounting and the stud pattern on the top mounting is all off with my turret top!
How many different struts are available for this car!!!!!
At a loss now as to which spring to get for this car.
I would fit the spring to the used strut in my car if I knew the correct type to order and mod the anti roll bar drop link to suit.
stumped on this one...HELP!!!!

[flyin2wheeler]

beginning to think previopus owner fitted a used late s40 strut at some point from an 03 s40 with this spring part no 30883423

[bimmer49]

flyin2wheeler: Sounds like someone has fitted a PH2 strut on the left side.
The springs, mounts and anti-roll supports are not interchangeable.
My PH2 has been retrofitted with PH1 stuts, mounts and anti-roll supports. My reason is the top mounts on the PH1 are more resistant to getting a battering IMHO because I live down a 5km unmade mountain track.
Spring rates are also different for Petrol/Diesel vehicles.
IIRC there are 9 different suspension codes, 3 main and each one has 3 subsets. There are colour dabs on all springs that give I.D. I think Gatos is formulating a reference list.

[magnuz]

Some models also have "handed" spring fitted to the front. On my early P2 model, if you follow the spring from top to bottom, On one side it goes down in a clockwise direction, & on the other it goes down in anti clockwise direction !