128 springs and dampers oppinions

[Xyloft]

trying to decide between the koni sport damper and H&R spring setup and the Bilstein B12 / prokit

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...t+Package&cat=

and

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...=Sport+Package

My 128i (w/sport package) is my daily driver. I do the occasional autoX. I recently took a job with a longer commute (16,000 miles/yr) and I plan to keep the 1 for at least 3.5 more years.

are the fronts direct replacement on either of these setups? I'm not to keen on cutting open the existing and sliding these in as inserts.

can anyone speak to which one is firmer / handles better / etc ?

i used to have eibach pro kit and dampers on a pervious car and liked them.

[Suhb]

From what I read around here, the bilstein b12 is stiffer as an overall kit despite the H&R's being the stiffer springs. I just got the B12 installed on mine and I'm very satisfied.

City driving up to 40 or so miles is stiffer and you feel more of the bumps but it comes with the benefit of the car handling the bumps a lot better than the stock suspension. On the stock suspension, on a bad patch of road I couldn't avoid, I would often brace for the impending "crashiness" of the suspension. That feeling is entirely gone. The dampers react really quick and handle any road imperfections very well. That's the best way I can describe it.

On the high way, it's all around better in every way. Car feels very planted and secure and is somehow more comfortable than the stock suspension. Hope that helps.

[Xyloft]

Originally Posted by Suhb

From what I read around here, the bilstein b12 is stiffer as an overall kit despite the H&R's being the stiffer springs. I just got the B12 installed on mine and I'm very satisfied.

City driving up to 40 or so miles is stiffer and you feel more of the bumps but it comes with the benefit of the car handling the bumps a lot better than the stock suspension. On the stock suspension, on a bad patch of road I couldn't avoid, I would often brace for the impending "crashiness" of the suspension. That feeling is no entirely gone. The dampers react really quick and handle any road imperfections very well. That's the best way I can describe it.

On the high way, it's all around better in every way. Car feels very planted and secure and is somehow more comfortable than the stock suspension. Hope that helps.

that helps a lot, thanks. there are a few rough patches of road near me and I know that exact feeling of "brace for impact"

did they bolt right in?

[Suhb]

Originally Posted by Xyloft

that helps a lot, thanks. there are a few rough patches of road near me and I know that exact feeling of "brace for impact"

did they bolt right in?

Yup. The kit is tailored specifically for our cars. It's a direct fit.

[_Ryan_]

Bilsteins have been more resilient in my experience, as you drive a bit, this may be a factor.

[aloksatoor]

My b12 pro kits getting instaled by this month end with front vorshlag plates. Did not go with the spec r springs because they are linear.