My BMW 128i Project

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I felt it just kicked the can down the road to the stock struts.

Six of one, a half dozen of the other. Half empty, half full.
For me, I would have felt like I was chasing something elusive if I'd done it the other way around. It now feels like it's still not damped as well as it could be, but at least it doesn't feel downright weird in the rear. At least the (stock for now) rear dampers can actually attempt to control motion. The stock SFBs were simply un-damped springs, and they felt like it.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Six of one, a half dozen of the other. Half empty, half full.
For me, I would have felt like I was chasing something elusive if I'd done it the other way around. It now feels like it's still not damped as well as it could be, but at least it doesn't feel downright weird in the rear. At least the (stock for now) rear dampers can actually attempt to control motion. The stock SFBs were simply un-damped springs, and they felt like it.

I can see that. I drove a stock 1er the other day and was reminded just how awful those SFBs were.

[The Dowager Countess]

Now that I have the swift springs in and the konis- the car feels MUCH better. That being said, I haven't installed my subframe bushings yet because I'm waiting for my LSD to be built- but damn can I feel the ass end if this car wiggling around like something is broken. The stock msport suspension at least hid it a bit- but between the run flats, the springs and the konis- it has never been more obvious how terrible these bushings are. I need to bite the bullet and get them in.

[andrey_gta]

Any more impressions on the over all drop & comfort of the swift/koni setup?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by The Dowager Countess

Now that I have the swift springs in and the konis- the car feels MUCH better.

To echo Andrey, how's the drop? Base on BMW's published weights and weight distribution and assuming the springs were designed for a 25 mm drop on a 135i, I calculated a front .916 in/23.27 mm and rear .957 in/24.31 mm drop. It'd be interesting to know how close that is.

[The Dowager Countess]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

To echo Andrey, how's the drop? Base on BMW's published weights and weight distribution and assuming the springs were designed for a 25 mm drop on a 135i, I calculated a front .916 in/23.27 mm and rear .957 in/24.31 mm drop. It'd be interesting to know how close that is.

it seems about 25mm to me- i didn't measure before though.

looks good- just got a really good $100 alignment done...here: http://www.suspensionspecialists.com/

these guys have been there for a 100 years and do all the city fire trucks and stuff and have all the hunter tools and are really thorough. the $25 jiffy lube alignment probably would have been fine- but i know it's right now.

c

[The Dowager Countess]

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

Any more impressions on the over all drop & comfort of the swift/koni setup?

it feels great- certainly stiffer but doesn't seem as clanky if that makes sense. the rebound does feel fast- at least fast than i expected- but i'm pleased. i haven't had a chance to really throttle it yet- but i'll do that later...big thing is the subframe bushings suck and you can certainly feel that now.

c

[TheSt|G]

This seems like an area where comfort becomes very subjective. I found the stock suspension uncomfortable as it felt out of control and unpredictable with its crashy and sloppy nature. Even though I'm running 650lb springs in the rear now, I do find it to be more "comfortable" as I know what the car is going to do and it is not pogo-sticking over bumps.