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      10-27-2018, 08:15 PM   #23
MAMSport
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Yes, stock sport springs on 2013 128i. Wish I understood how to create the footer with modifications that have been installed though. Lots of suspension upgrades - M3 front and rear pieces; ECS sway bars (squeak wildly), etc.


Interestingly, the left upper strut mount was full of dirt/mud and on its way out - with 38k miles. Not sure why it was so grunged up?
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      10-31-2018, 04:37 AM   #24
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The Flatter in the corners feel comes from rebound dampening as well. If your old shocks were worn out & not good at rebound dampening OR if the Koni Special Actives have stiffer rebound dampening than stock they will move up slower, in effect holding down body roll.

When I changed from stock to my new shocks it was a massive improvement in cornering "flatter" feel.
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      11-04-2018, 10:32 AM   #25
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Only had 39k miles, no track time, on the suspension prior to going to the Special Actives. After ditching the Run Flat tires, the suspension seemed to be too soft/mushy for the performance all-season tires in 17" diameter.
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      11-04-2018, 10:39 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MAMSport View Post
Interestingly, the left upper strut mount was full of dirt/mud and on its way out - with 38k miles. Not sure why it was so grunged up?
I replaced mine when I installed my new springs and shocks etc. at 50K the old bearings made a lot of crunchy noises. I think I picked up new ones for around 20 or 30 bucks a piece. I bet the mushy feel is from the stock springs.
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      11-05-2018, 09:08 PM   #27
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Springs remain as the OE sport suspension pieces. I just think the 'mushiness' has to do with being set up for the run flat tires where the suspension has to provide all of the damping/cushioning. Without run flats, there are other parts that can now be recalibrated for performance without the sacrifice of ride comfort.

I think I made the right decision for my needs as a DD. Still want to consider RTABs at some point, but again for street use, maybe not necessary. Need some more time with things!
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      07-18-2019, 09:50 PM   #28
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MAMSport - now that you have some miles on your Koni shocks what do you think? Still a good choice. At 70K on my 128i with sport suspension I'm looking at new shocks.
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      11-09-2019, 03:55 PM   #29
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Yes, definitely feel I made an appropriate choice!
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      11-10-2019, 09:35 AM   #30
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Have had Special Actives on E88 135i for about two weeks now. Comments similar to MAMSport at this stage. Old shocks were getting "clunky" (70,000 mi) but these are much quieter. I know pavement strips and dips are there, but the noise and impact are no longer there. Going through Round abouts seems firmer. FL backroads seem smoother than they were before, but I also suspect there is some sort of learning curve to predicting what these will do.
HAve had Koni yellows on older 5 series when I was younger and really liked them. However, the Special Actives seem better suited to me now. They are better than stock, but they are not Koni Yellows since they are constantly responding to road changes.
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      11-10-2019, 05:28 PM   #31
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You guys need to find a washboard gravel road to test them on. That was where I really seen them shine.
All the normal paved road stuff was pretty normal to a new shock IMO.

They are not constantly adjusting. There is a 'popoff valve' inside that loosens them if the up/down frequency (washboards) hits a certain point and above. In normal mode they are in the firmer setting (only 2 settings).


For daily driving, (once front sway is removed) the car is very comfortable. You do get body lean, but no loss of grip because of. Body roll is not always a bad thing.
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      11-10-2019, 09:57 PM   #32
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Thanks. That helps me understand what is going on. Need to find washboard just to know the feel.
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      11-13-2019, 11:39 PM   #33
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What springs are you guys using with these?
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      11-14-2019, 12:54 PM   #34
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What springs are you guys using with these?


Bought mine as a kit. Came with Eibach sportlines.
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      11-14-2019, 01:15 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iminhell1 View Post
Bought mine as a kit. Came with Eibach sportlines.
Sportlines? That seems like a very aggressive drop to pair with the SA. Do you have any photos of your setup? How many mi on the setup so far?
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      11-14-2019, 02:05 PM   #36
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Significantly increasing the spring rate (and upping the 'natural frequency') of the vehicle can put the SAs into 'perma-soft' mode. They're made to be stiff for a natural frequency of around 1 hz, softening up as the frequency rises (small, sharp impacts). IIRC, the M-Sport suspension of the 135s are around 1.25 to 1.5 hz.
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      11-15-2019, 09:21 AM   #37
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I am using stock M-sport springs and the normal ride is smoother as are the disruptions from individual sharp impacts. Have not found the 'washboard' yet.
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      11-15-2019, 12:38 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6ixSpd View Post
Sportlines? That seems like a very aggressive drop to pair with the SA. Do you have any photos of your setup? How many mi on the setup so far?
I did the kit from an E90 (for the touch heavier spring rate). The Koni part number at the time was 2150-4036 (FSD + Eibach Pro springs).

It looks like the current Koni part number would be, 1165 1013. Not sure which Eibach springs it comes with.


Looks like I put them on back in mid/late 2017.
So that's 2 seasons of ice racing, HPDE, drag racing and street driving. I don't keep track of time or miles well, at all. LOL But I'd say I have a good 60,000 miles on them, if not a little more. And none of them would be easy miles.

Everything has held up very well.
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      12-02-2019, 02:10 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iminhell1 View Post
I did the kit from an E90 (for the touch heavier spring rate). The Koni part number at the time was 2150-4036 (FSD + Eibach Pro springs).

It looks like the current Koni part number would be, 1165 1013. Not sure which Eibach springs it comes with.
Surprised the e90 springs didnt push front higher
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"The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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      12-02-2019, 02:13 PM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atr_hugo View Post
Significantly increasing the spring rate (and upping the 'natural frequency') of the vehicle can put the SAs into 'perma-soft' mode. They're made to be stiff for a natural frequency of around 1 hz, softening up as the frequency rises (small, sharp impacts). IIRC, the M-Sport suspension of the 135s are around 1.25 to 1.5 hz.
Would you discourage people to run these with Swift springs? They have the rates lbs 201/ 503.
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"The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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      12-06-2019, 04:00 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrey_gta View Post
Would you discourage people to run these with Swift springs? They have the rates lbs 201/ 503.

Those aren't that much stiffer, IIRC, than the MSport springs. I ran a set of the Special Active predecessors (FSDs) on an '08 135i MSport and they worked. I wouldn't want them on a car that I was going to do track days with though. I'd opt for Bilstein B8s in that case . . . YMMV, of course ; -)

Here's an old thread that some folks much wiser than I commented on: https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...tr_hugo&page=3

Last edited by atr_hugo; 12-06-2019 at 04:07 PM.. Reason: Updated to include thread that explains natural frequency
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      02-13-2023, 03:09 PM   #42
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Grave digging a little here.

My factory M Sport struts and shocks are feeling pretty tired.
Time to replace / upgrade.

I have no intent of lowering the car, and want to retain the factory M Sport springs. I also, do not want to lift the car either, ride height is perfect.

Since I don't track the car, and it's used as a weekend toy, primarily on rough city streets - I'm looking for something that offers enhanced performance and comfort over the factory sachs.

I have experience with Bilstein sport (what they used to call the B6/B8).
I found them to be pretty harsh, combined with lowering springs - also, they actually lifted the car a bit. I do not want to alter the ride height.

I have no experience with Koni - though the Special Active seems to be a decent choice, at least by marketing language.

Looking for some opinions on the Koni SA vs. Bilstein B8.
SA with factory M Sport springs... a decent way to go to improve comfort while retaining or improving performance?

FYI - I don't winter drive, and I put on about 2000mi/3500km per year.
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      02-13-2023, 04:46 PM   #43
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I have had SA for about 10,000 mi or a little less. I like the way they handle, but they are not Bilsteins(though I have not experienced those in a decade or two). Ride seems better than OEM at 70,000.
For a daily or for someone who does not need to be at the handling peak from a lowered Bilstein, they work well.
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      02-14-2023, 08:39 AM   #44
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Quote:
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I have had SA for about 10,000 mi or a little less. I like the way they handle, but they are not Bilsteins(though I have not experienced those in a decade or two). Ride seems better than OEM at 70,000.
For a daily or for someone who does not need to be at the handling peak from a lowered Bilstein, they work well.
Seems like it could be a good way to go...
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