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      08-05-2013, 07:34 PM   #1
jafo1701
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Swift Spec R springs installed.

I just got my Swift Spec R springs installed today. I previously had the BMW performance springs and Koni dampers. I also have M3 bits installed as well as Dinan Camber plates. I only drove the car for around 30 miles but here are my initial impressions. The drop is very nice, car is noticeably firmer then the BMW performance springs, even though from what I've read the spring rates are about the same. Koni's are set 40% from full stiff on the front and rear. I took some tight corners and pushed it as hard as I dare on the street and the car felt great. It seemed to plant on the corners, it feels a bit tighter and more composed then the BMWPS. Since I got the car I've been trying to get the suspension to feel close to my old E36 M3, which had AST 4100s. This is the first time where the car kind of feels similar to the feel my E36 M3 had. Of course this could all be a placebo effect. Need to get more wheel time. I have a track day next week and will get lots of wheel time on the drive to the Chicago area on the highway, city streets as well as on the track. Then I have an autocross in 3 weeks, so I'll have all the bases covered. I'll update my review next week after the track day. For now, here are some pics. They are with my 17" track wheels...and I know I need to replace the Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Going to do that next year.





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      08-05-2013, 08:37 PM   #2
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Nice drop, how low are you compared to stock?
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      08-05-2013, 08:41 PM   #3
jafo1701
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rukuss View Post
Nice drop, how low are you compared to stock?
I would say I'm around 1" to 1.25" lower then the BMW M suspension that came stock with the car.
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      08-05-2013, 09:41 PM   #4
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nice quick recap jafo. Quick question,

An 18" wheel is going to be tucked in this setup no (koni yellows)?
how much lower are these vs the BMWPS?
Can you comment on the ride comfort vs BMWPS? Vs Stock MSport?

Is the extra drop worth the decrease in ride comfort (speaking as a daily driver, not track application)?
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      08-05-2013, 11:31 PM   #5
jafo1701
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 128GP View Post
nice quick recap jafo. Quick question,

An 18" wheel is going to be tucked in this setup no (koni yellows)?
how much lower are these vs the BMWPS?
Can you comment on the ride comfort vs BMWPS? Vs Stock MSport?

Is the extra drop worth the decrease in ride comfort (speaking as a daily driver, not track application)?
An 18" wheel with the correct off set should be tucked in with this setup. I haven't put my stock 18s back on since the summer started. I would be a pretty harsh ride with the runflats. Need to get rid of those. I would say the Swifts are just above .25 inches lower then my BMWPS. I compared it this way. When I had my BMWPS I could get 3 fingers under the tire fender well up front and 2.5 in the rear. Now I can only get 2 up front and 1.5 in the rear. As far as the ride comfort it is firmer then the BMWPS, but it absorbs the bumps very nicely. Then again I like the firm ride. Compared to the stock M sport it's hard to compare, as when I had the stock M sport springs in I also had the stock M sport Dampers, which were horrible. I imagine the stock M sport springs would work well with the Koni yellows..aka sports. As a daily driver I think they would work well with the BMW performance dampers or Koni's set near full soft. There are so many variables involved it's difficult to say if you would like it or not. As I mentioned before I like my suspension on the stiff side. That along with all the M3 bits, including the M3 subframe bushings makes it really firm. This is not my DD, but I could live with the suspension if it was.

Last edited by jafo1701; 08-06-2013 at 01:01 PM..
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      08-06-2013, 06:14 AM   #6
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I ordered mine 3 days ago can't wait to get them! Like you Im installing all m3 suspension except the rear link conversion of m3 bits with koni yellows as well
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      08-06-2013, 11:53 AM   #7
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Glad to hear you are liking the spec-R springs!!! The more reviews the better!

-Mike
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      08-06-2013, 11:58 AM   #8
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From the pics, it looks like you have a bit of rake to the front. Are your front 17's larger diameter than stock?
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      08-06-2013, 12:01 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech View Post
From the pics, it looks like you have a bit of rake to the front. Are your front 17's larger diameter than stock?
Wheels and tires same diameter front and rear. Not sure on the diameter of the 17s vs stock 18s. I was on a slight decline. If anything the Dinan camber plates push the fronts up .25 inches.

Last edited by jafo1701; 08-06-2013 at 01:18 PM..
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      08-14-2013, 04:45 PM   #10
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Well got done with my first track day with the Swifts and I absolutely love the set-up. If anyone read my previous post about my first track day with the 135i, I was extremely disappointed. I did do few other things with the car also. Minor tweak in the alignment and stiffened up the Dampers. I also added the M3 front swaybar. So other variables in play besides the springs. The result the car felt completely different.

I was at the Autobahn this past week. The car felt grounded, composed. There was almost no understeer and very little felt body roll. I felt like I had complete control of the car and it did whatever I wanted it to do. The car had great turn in no matter what corner and felt solid on the straights. The suspension felt firm, and handled all the track imperfections and bumps. Now, I'm no Advanced driver. I consider myself an low level intermediate driver. I'm very happy.

As for the drive on the highway, very little to discuss. Smooth, you could feel almost every little bump through your steering wheel, but not in a bad way. I felt more connected to the road.

The drive in the city to my brothers, well some of the roads had some nasty bumps. It was a bit harsh over those, but that's to be expected. Nothing bone jarring.

Overall, thumbs up on the Swifts. Highly recommended if you don't want to do coilovers.
Now, here's a video of my fastest recorded lap. I actually felt I had some faster lap times in some of the later laps of the session but the battery in my Go Pro died. btw, I like to sync music to my track/auto X videos, just a little quirk I have.
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      08-14-2013, 06:13 PM   #11
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Nice!

Car looked good on the track
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      08-15-2013, 01:46 PM   #12
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Awesome video. You can really see the decrease in body roll through it.
These springs are pretty awesome. Very well tuned by Swift. These springs rate wise are as stiff as coilover sets yet somehow they managed to keep it as comfortable as stock.

I've had a lot of experience with their coilover springs, but this is the first time I have been on their lowering springs, and I am very impressed.

I see how people are saying that this is the route to go if you dont want to spend money on coilovers, but in my opinion, this is the perfect set it and forget it suspension setup. You don't need to adjust ride height or mess around with the dampers. Swift already did all the hard work for you.
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      08-15-2013, 07:38 PM   #13
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you buy car with paddles and no use paddles?!
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      08-15-2013, 07:56 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zombie1 View Post
Car looked good on the track
Whens your install happening?
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      08-15-2013, 08:49 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 128GP View Post
Whens your install happening?
Hopefully in the next two weeks ...
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      08-15-2013, 09:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zombie1 View Post
Hopefully in the next two weeks ...
good, looking to get some 705's, but want to see what they look like in a non coilover setup, in particular this swift setup with KY's.
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      08-15-2013, 10:12 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reapur View Post
you buy car with paddles and no use paddles?!
I was using the paddle shifters. You just can't see it clearly in the video due to my hand placement on the steering wheel. Its a quick blip on the paddles easy to miss if your not looking for it. DCT is absolutely brilliant on the track.

Last edited by jafo1701; 08-15-2013 at 10:26 PM..
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      08-15-2013, 10:29 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jafo1701
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reapur View Post
you buy car with paddles and no use paddles?!
I was using the paddle shifters. You just can't see it clearly in the video due to my hand placement on the steering wheel. Its a quick blip on the paddles easy to miss if your not looking for it. DCT is absolutely brilliant on the track.
It looks so boring lol. I'll never give up my shifter
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      08-15-2013, 10:37 PM   #19
jafo1701
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reapur View Post
It looks so boring lol. I'll never give up my shifter
I said the same thing till I tried it. For track and Auto X its tough to beat. My daily is a 330i, 6 speed manual. So I still get to drive a manual. I still do enjoy driving a manual.
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      08-20-2013, 12:58 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by littlemissbimmer View Post
Awesome video. You can really see the decrease in body roll through it.
These springs are pretty awesome. Very well tuned by Swift. These springs rate wise are as stiff as coilover sets yet somehow they managed to keep it as comfortable as stock.

I've had a lot of experience with their coilover springs, but this is the first time I have been on their lowering springs, and I am very impressed.

I see how people are saying that this is the route to go if you dont want to spend money on coilovers, but in my opinion, this is the perfect set it and forget it suspension setup. You don't need to adjust ride height or mess around with the dampers. Swift already did all the hard work for you.
Very true. If you don't need height adjustment for corner balance purposes these will fit the bill perfectly.
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      09-01-2013, 08:23 AM   #21
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The one thing I would do on my car is Dinan fixed plates so I can run 245 square for occasional track day. How do you like them?
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      09-01-2013, 10:04 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3002 Tii View Post
The one thing I would do on my car is Dinan fixed plates so I can run 245 square for occasional track day. How do you like them?
Dinan plates paired with M3 front control arms and pulling the alignment pins gets me -2.5 degrees negative camber. 245s work great on my car, but I'm running Michelin PSS. The tread width of the PSSs is narrower then those of tires like ZIIs and RS-3s. I think 8.5" vs 9.1". It's pretty tight as it is right now. Next year I'm going to switch over to Nitto NT01s. I know R compounds run wider then street, so I'm pretty sure the 245 squared will not work. I'll have to go with 235 squared, which will still be wider then PSSs at 245.
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