Which slightly stiffer shocks with stock springs?

[cu260r6]

I'm a bit lost among all the shock choices. I drive a lot and use my non-sport suspension 128i as my daily driver, so I am wary of compromising the comfort for an extreme setup that includes lowered springs, but I'd like something slightly stiffer than stock. Which of the following choices would you suggest?

I've tried to rank these from stiffest to softest. Let me know if my ordering is off.

Koni Yellows - $600
Bilstein Heavy Duty - $800
Koni FSD - $740
KYB Excel-G - $370
Bilstein Touring Class - $500

Suggestions given the price disparity?

[ShocknAwe]

Either Koni Yellows or the Bilstein HD will serve you fine. General rule is go Koni if you want to adjust and find the "perfect" setting for you, and Bilstein if you don't.

Both have lifetime warranties. Koni is slightly narrower and adjustable dampening. Bilstein are slightly thicker, lighter, and firmer.

[TheSt|G]

Bilstein HDs are going to feel stiffer than the Koni Yellows. FSDs will feel the softest.

[andrey_gta]

add koni str.t ( a Yellow set to about middle) - using Koni webpage for the shock part numbers - skipping the H&R springs

If you are goign to continue using Stock springs in any trim( sport/non sport) FSB is for you because of its variable valving. Koni's annual spring sales are good opportunities even for the Str.t kit


Next consider installation cost ( for the front mostly) - It requires touching the springs to seat them on new shocks and so will not cost any more if you add different springs

[cu260r6]

Thank, Andrey. I think I'm going to go with the SRT.T's as I found a new set for under $370 shipped. I don't need to ever take my car to the track (that's what my racebike is for ), so I hope they offer a decent enough dampening rate to get rid of the floating feeling, even with the stock springs.

[Dmak]

where do you get koni yellow for 600?

[Pyrat 2]

FWIW you can get the Bilstein prokit with springs for $730. Sounds like you've already made up your mind though. I'm running Bilsteins on my 135is and e46 323. Had them on my old audi and e36 318is. Like someone else said if you aren't looking for adjustable struts/shocks then this is a solid solution. Firm but not too harsh.

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by Dmak

where do you get koni yellow for 600?

Look at recent threads - last 5 pages or so - people have dug up like 5 websites searching by part number or kit number
But I imagine Koni Sales - spring/summer are the best chance

Originally Posted by cu260r6

Thank, Andrey. I think I'm going to go with the SRT.T's as I found a new set for under $370 shipped. I don't need to ever take my car to the track (that's what my racebike is for ), so I hope they offer a decent enough dampening rate to get rid of the floating feeling, even with the stock springs.

Good stuff - they are quite nice. What site did you use - they are hard to find as shocks only

[cu260r6]

Here are the cheapest deals I found; $600 for the yellow sports and $370 for the orange SRT.Ts.

Koni Yellows: http://www.redline-motorworks.com/Ko...ort-shocks.htm

Koni SRT.T fronts (there's a different part number for the right one though): http://raceconsultingagency.com/i-19...FQyFaQodCysAfg

Koni SRT.T rears: http://sohiperformance.com/bmw-135is...FYVaMgodjRYAWA

[Ski Killset]

I got Koni yellows shipped from Tire Rack for $540. Really good shock, not too stiff.

Keep in mind that they are single adjustable for rebound, so when someone says they have them set "full soft" or "full stuff" it isn't adjusting the compression.

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by cu260r6

Here are the cheapest deals I found; $600 for the yellow sports and $370 for the orange SRT.Ts.

Oh forgot to say - e9x versions of the Koni Yellow or Str.t have the rear shock as a different part number. Curiously i think the Yellow kits for e8x come with the e9x version rears part number anyway. So e9x orange rears ordered instead of e8x rear Orange Str.t are a good idea

[cu260r6]

Related question... do you suggest ordering all the strut/shock mounts and bearings as well or do these usually come with the shocks? Do they normally require replacement? I priced everything at bravarian autosports, and it came out of $140 shipped. Ouch.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by cu260r6

I'm a bit lost among all the shock choices. I drive a lot and use my non-sport suspension 128i as my daily driver, so I am wary of compromising the comfort for an extreme setup that includes lowered springs, but I'd like something slightly stiffer than stock. Which of the following choices would you suggest?

I've tried to rank these from stiffest to softest. Let me know if my ordering is off.

Koni Yellows - $600
Bilstein Heavy Duty - $800
Koni FSD - $740
KYB Excel-G - $370
Bilstein Touring Class - $500

Suggestions given the price disparity?

You may have made up your mind already, but I had exactly your motivation. Improve handling without a significant ride penalty.

I have the stock springs and FSDs (which basically require stock springs) and like the combination. I made my choice based on this Tirerack review (they sell both, so are less biased than would be otherwise true). The FSDs had slightly (insignificantly) better handling than the Yellows, with significantly better ride. They beat stock hollow.

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/tests/koni_fsd.jsp

Tirerack set the Yellows to full soft. If they turned them up, the Yellows would no doubt outhandle the FSDs. But then the ride difference would be even more substantial.

On my newer car with 30K miles, I didn't bother to replace any of the other bits.

Note that another place you can get better handling, with little ride penalty, is the rear subframe bushings. And that non runflat tires have both better ride and better handling than run flats.

[cu260r6]

I ended up going with Koni Str.t's and Megan Lowering Springs. I just picked up the car from the shop a few days ago and couldn't be more satisfied. The car corners perfectly flat all the way up to the limit of the tires, and there's zero float at high speed (had it up to about 138mph yesterday).

When evaluating the dampening, the high-speed dampening is all but perfect. I tried hitting several large seams or manhole covers with the outside tires while cornering hard, and the car soaked them up without deviating from its intended path a bit. Low-speed rebound dampening is a little low. The car does bounce slightly with the stiffer, lower springs, but the only place I've noticed this is after slamming on the brakes and coming to a complete stop. However, the low-speed compression dampening is perfect as the weight transfers are sublime.

As far as the effects of this on how the car preforms goes, the stiffer springs certainly make the car more responsive in all directions. There's no squat or dive on acceleration or braking, especially mid corner. However, there's a bit more understeer. I use to be able to start a corner with the front tires spuealing, release the gas, and the car would tighten the turn by drifting the rear out of a bit. Now that's a bit more difficult. I'm not at all disappointed in this as it still corners very neutrally and the ultimate limits are noticeably higher.

In summary, the car is like a go-kart. I can't believe I didn't do this earlier! I spent about $500 on the 3 stage intake installed, $500 for the AA tune, $100 on a muffler delete, and $1000 on the suspension installed, and for only $2000 total the car is flawless for my purposes.

[dcaron9999]

Nice job, with the spring and dampers. I'm struggling with the proper next suspension modification. My use of the 135i is 70% track and 30% street. I had my mind set on KW CS coilovers but want low maintenance, and don't want to give up my square wheel setup (see my signature). This means I would need to replace my KW CS springs with shorter springs so that my tires don't rub on the spring perch.
It all adds up and becomes a rather expensive proposition.

Ideally I would like to stay at my stock height, and get a good damper/spring combo. It must perform the best on the track and be decent on the street. I want to reduce body lean in curves. I want to reduce low speed understeer. I want to dial back my front camber now at - 3.2*...

Thinking about an E93/M3 front sway bar, stiffer springs that are close to stock height, and matched dampers that are corrosion resistant, that will not break the bank. Dont really need damper or height adjustment. Just a nice to have. Would rather have longevity, performance, and low maintenance ...

My top two choices are :
#1 - Bilstein B8 dampers and Swift Spec-R springs
#2 - Koni Sports dampers and Swift Spec-R springs

[WPG D33Z]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Bilstein HDs are going to feel stiffer than the Koni Yellows. FSDs will feel the softest.

Will the FSD's be better than stock still? Roads are crappy around here and I don't want to end up at a chiropractor but would like a bit better performance.

[dcaron9999]

Found a place locally where I could get good pricing on the Bilstein B8 or Koni Sport dampers for $75 more. I would match either dampers with Swift Spec-R springs.

According to my research, and collected feedback:
The Koni sports are adjustable, but will require frequent rebuilds. A guy I know at the track needed a rebuild after 12 months of track+street use.
The Bilstein are not adjustable, about as stiff as the Koni set for medium firm. They can last a lifetime without a rebuild. They are more resistant to corrosion.

I will be using as a dual duty setup with 70% track time and 30% street.

I was going to thrown on an E93/M3 aFront Sway Bar at the same time, but may wait until later, to fully appreciate and assess the individual changes in handling.

Which combo would you choose and why?

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by WPG D33Z

Will the FSD's be better than stock still? Roads are crappy around here and I don't want to end up at a chiropractor but would like a bit better performance.

Initially, but as you approach the limit they are definitely worse than stock. They are really a ride comfort focused shock from what I've seen, and require more frequent replacement than their counterparts.