What are coilovers? And are they the best?

[5ickride]

What are coilovers? Are they better to have on a street car than, say, regular aftermarket shocks and springs?

I checked a website called Ground Control and they have a full kit for about 2k.

For 2k i can have my suspension completely made over but thats going with regular aftermaker shocks and springs route.

Anyway, let me know what set up you guys think works best for street use, not a daily driver. Pics would be awesome.

thanks

[castros]

consider the d2's from eurostop. they are coil overs with rear shock mounts, camber plates, and inlude front and rear shocks and struts.
I think they run for about 1200.

[619E30]

Some bilstein sports and h&r race springs will do you well.

This might help:

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=52154

[Philo]

I would stick to a standard strut/spring combo. It will serve your needs for the street. If you do go for coils, I would go another route than the d2s. They require you to cut off the old tube housing and weld in a new one. For the $ I like Konigsport coils from ecstunning. $1200 and a much better quality.

[5ickride]

are springs sold separately? If so, which work best?

I want to redo my suspension, so i'm guessing i'd have to also buy control arms, tie rods, etc...separately as well?

thanks

[5ickride]

So what's so special about coilovers?

[Danny]

they're adjustable

[nrubenstein]

Why "coilover" setups are better:

1) Decent shocks are rarely available for the stock spring setup.
2) Adjustability. You can pick your ride height and spring rates. This is especially useful as E30 spring setups typically are too low and WAY too soft.
3) Interchangeable springs. I have a shelf full of springs that I can largely interchange between my E46 M3, my E46 323 race car, and my E30 (when I get around to installing the perches that are currently sitting on the shelf).

The truth is that "coilover" setups are not inherently any better than the standard spring/shock setup. They are better because almost no one spends serious money on shocks and retains the stock spring setup, and they are better because you can install the correct rate springs for the car.

Personally, if I were buying a suspension system right now, it would a set of AST 4100s. With the recent price cuts, they are a screaming deal.

[XvillainousX]

For the price of D2 or any other China made coilover.. You can have a set of REAL performance coilovers for the same price. Gaz coilovers are primarily sold in the UK and are virtually unknown here. Gas suspension has been around since 1967 and sponsors racing series in the UK. So they have a history of making quality products combined with a race proven predigree. Remember GC charges 160 to modify your strut. Whereas, Gaz modifiy them for the purchase of the coilover. You just have to pay for shipping to the UK.

£845.00 about 1050 bucks US dollars.. not including shipping to the UK

http://www.raceperformancemodified.com/BMW_E30_GAZ_Gold_Height_Adjustable_Coilover_Kits.asp

or the street kit

£565.00 about 820 bucks not including shipping to the UK

http://www.raceperformancemodified.com/BMW_E30_GAZ_Height_Adjustable_Coilover_Kits.asp

example:

http://racecarprep.blogspot.com/

http://www.britishracecar.com/BobPolak-MiniMarcos.htm

other forums

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...a-coupe-2.html

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f91/...england-33609/

Here are some more build threads of other e30's that use Gaz coilovers. I am sure most of you have seen these threads.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1031161&highlight=gaz

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1194975&highlight=gaz

this guy mentioned he will use gaz coilovers too

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1344968&highlight=gaz

You will commonly find postings of car builds using gaz in ameteur and professional builds in the UK. I would like to see a building using a set of those china made coilovers on Nasa or SCCA forums.

For the price of 4100 AST, I could almost buy two sets of Gaz Gold Suspension.

[5ickride]

they're adjustable

Aha! So its like Koni's?

[Danny]

No they're height adjustable

[5ickride]

Why "coilover" setups are better:

1) Decent shocks are rarely available for the stock spring setup.
2) Adjustability. You can pick your ride height and spring rates. This is especially useful as E30 spring setups typically are too low and WAY too soft.
3) Interchangeable springs. I have a shelf full of springs that I can largely interchange between my E46 M3, my E46 323 race car, and my E30 (when I get around to installing the perches that are currently sitting on the shelf).

The truth is that "coilover" setups are not inherently any better than the standard spring/shock setup. They are better because almost no one spends serious money on shocks and retains the stock spring setup, and they are better because you can install the correct rate springs for the car.

Personally, if I were buying a suspension system right now, it would a set of AST 4100s. With the recent price cuts, they are a screaming deal.

Thanks, this is kinda what i was looking for. Could you provide link to AST 4100s?

[5ickride]

Some bilstein sports and h&r race springs will do you well.

This might help:

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=52154

Thanks, I looked at this thread but didnt really know what to make of these coilover setups some are running here.

[nrubenstein]

This is probably the best deal for 4100s right now:

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93056

Also look to Vorshlag.

[5ickride]

This is probably the best deal for 4100s right now:

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93056

Also look to Vorshlag.

So it seems that with a suspension set up, coilovers ARE the way to go.

THanks