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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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Coilover recommendations
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02-21-2011, 01:50 PM | #1 |
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Coilover recommendations
Guys I've been on H&R springs for a little over a year and wanted to get into coilovers. any suggestions?
Ive been looking into kw V2's are they any Good? this will be a daily driven car. thanks in advance. Last edited by janoys335i; 02-21-2011 at 01:56 PM.. Reason: correction |
02-21-2011, 03:08 PM | #2 |
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Every 5th thread in this forum references coilovers in some manner. Search the model you're looking at or read through some of the general recommendation threads.
That said, ppl generally prefer KWs and PSS9's over a lot of the competitors in the space. |
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02-21-2011, 03:22 PM | #3 |
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If you're looking for inexpensive coilovers that are just ride height adjustable, I hear good things about Eibach Pro Street S and ST V1 (basically galvanized KW V1). Those are the best coilovers under $1,000. Contact Alan at **********s for details about the ST V1... he'll hook you up!
If you want/need damper adjustment, then yeah Bilstein PSS9 and KW V2 are high quality. |
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02-21-2011, 03:50 PM | #4 | |
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i have the st v1's coming from an H&R setup and my only complaint is that I am depressed that I didnt go with the st's first. great setup for the street, i love em. ride is as smooth as stock with better handling. |
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02-21-2011, 04:17 PM | #5 |
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Thanks guys! And yea I'm looking more or less for hight adjustment but damping and comfort is a def plus! Considering my daily drive of 30mls a day from and to work.
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02-21-2011, 04:27 PM | #6 |
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from what i understand, additional dampning parameters dont mean that the car necessarily will be softer, just that you can dial it up for track days, then back down to street comfort levels.
the st v1 is what i would call a street comfort level in its out of the box form. perfect daily driver, and i do NOT like cars that ride stiffly. i thought my ride on h&r's was beyond awful. |
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02-21-2011, 04:28 PM | #7 |
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Trust me, I'm in the same boat. I have a daily driver. Right now, I'm on stock sport suspension, but I want to do it right the first time, so I'm getting coilovers. Eibach Pro Street S are around $860 usually on Amazon, and I hear they're perfect for DD. There's also deals to be had on the ST V1 if you look around for them. ST V1 would be perfect for you since you live in Miami, but I live in Ohio where stainless steel is a must, so I've pretty much settled on Eibach coilovers. ST V1 is made by KW and is identical to KW Variant 1, except the shocks are galvanized steel instead of stainless. Eibach coilover has Eibach springs and KW shocks that are valved to Eibach's settings.
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02-21-2011, 04:32 PM | #8 |
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i have v2's and i love them
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02-21-2011, 04:52 PM | #11 | ||
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the ONLY way im buying used coilovers is if the shock(s) are blown because i can get them rebuilt for a good price. it would have to be worth my time. |
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02-21-2011, 05:31 PM | #12 | |
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02-22-2011, 11:18 AM | #13 |
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Stock shocks are not valved for lowering springs, as he said. Most people with H&R and upgraded shocks like Koni Yellow or H&R Touring shocks really like the ride.
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02-22-2011, 06:31 PM | #16 | |
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I have however run lowering springs on stock shocks when i was younger on other cars, and the ride didnt deteriorate nearly as badly as it did this time. The ride was unbearable with the H&Rs. I was shocked that the difference was so great. I also sold the springs because I hate the look of rake and also the springs were too low for my taste. |
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02-22-2011, 06:35 PM | #17 |
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I think H&Rs ride perfectly, def stiffer then stock but not like a rock , i mean what do you expect when you lower a car?...
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02-22-2011, 06:36 PM | #18 |
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I expect it not to smack the bumpstops everytime i hit a dip in the road, which is what happened.
The stiffness was not the main problem, there was so much suspension travel it was ridiculous. I felt like i was driving a damn rollercoaster. It was not good. My new st v1s are perfect, and are 10000000x better riding than the h&r setup. That said, I am glad that you like the ride. |
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02-22-2011, 07:04 PM | #19 | |
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LOL remind yourself to never ride in a track car... With the travel you prob blew out your shocks since spring rates are suppose to be matched up with correct shocks/struts , so you really cant say H&R are terrible since you did not properly have them tuned and installed . Not trying to be a wise ass or start anything but just giving you some info that should be useful . |
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02-23-2011, 12:42 AM | #20 |
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Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'm glad to hear that you guys are taking the initiative to help out other members on the forums! The answer is simple, you get what you pay for when it comes to vehicle suspension. As such a crucial component of your vehicle, suspension is definitely something you do not want to cheap out on. A coilover suspension basically gives you a matched lowering spring and shock absorber combination with the added benefit of adjustable ride height and spring rates through a moveable spring perch or perches. Coilovers are to your car's advantage by reducing unsprung mass, increasing suspension travel, and allowing the car to be corner balanced.
All points stated are valid and it really comes down to what you're looking to get out of your suspension and what your goals and budget are for this project. Seeing how you're from Miami, I would definitely agree and say that the ST V1 is a great choice if you're looking to upgrade your suspension without hurting the wallet too much. Coming from the makers of KW suspension systems the only main difference between the ST Variant 1 and KW Variant 1 is the steel they use. While KW uses Stainless Steel for their shock housing, ST uses Galvanized Steel. However, this does not mean a drop in quality, durability, or appearance. Although coilovers that use galvanized steel are more prone to corrosion due to environmental influences (i.e. mixture of salt water); those in the lower states: California, Texas, Florida, Nevada, etc. don't have to worry about corrosion. Those in the mid to upper States that snow still don't have much to worry about as long as they do not drive in heavy snow conditions upon where salt is used on roads. to further ensure those with doubt about Galvanized Steel, ST has corrosion resistant zinc plating on all of their threaded strut housings for further protection. The KW V2 is also a great system that will give you the ability to not only adjust the height of your vehicle, but will also give you the ability to adjust the rebound damping characteristics. The rebound damping primarily, controls pitch and roll of the vehicle, especially in the low speed damping range which directly influences handling and comfort. Therefore vehicle can be adjusted to the needs of the driver, making the ride variable from comfortable to sporty and stiff, both with improved road handling I'll go ahead and shoot you over a PM and we can discuss this in a bit further detail Last edited by ModBargains.com; 02-23-2011 at 01:38 AM.. |
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02-23-2011, 04:54 PM | #22 |
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It's very easy on German coilovers, but Taiwanese coilovers like BC, Megan, Sonic Tuning are a little tougher due to the shock lowering mount. There's lots of videos on Youtube that can teach you.
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