Koni v Bilstein

[Gus]

looking at shox.com, im faced with a choice of the two...looking at buying in september...is the adjustability of the konis worth the extra coin? and are they rebound and compression both adjustable or just rebound? im keen on the konis as i could change to a softer spring if i so wished....whats everyones thoughts?

[Jon325i]

Adjustable shocks are nice to have if you actually plan on tweaking with their settings every now and then. I have Tokico Illuminas (5-way adjustable) and I just turned them up to the firmest setting and left them there....that was a year and a half ago. Next time I'll probably go with non-adjustable shocks and spend the difference on something else.

As for the Koni vs. Bilstien argument: from what I've learned both are very good products. So I guess it will boil down to what best fits your needs.

Jon

[fabianyee]

Have heard that KONIs are not as long lasting as the Bilsteins... But then again, it depends what kind of road conditions u're using the car on...

[hamann318is]

I'm in the same place as you, and it might depend on the springs you want to use. I'm trying to get some IE stage 3 for my 318 (because with that it'll look like a 325 lowered with H&R sports ;)), and on another forum, they were saying you could only use the Koni's with those.

Regaurdless, I think I want the Koni's first, just because I might not want them that firm sometimes, or maybe their firmest setting is too firm (yeah right). It is just cool that they are adjustable. 8)

[Mystikal]

Konis on full firm is a scary experience.

The Bilsteins are known to not have enough bound strength to keep up with stiff springs. If you're getting something soft like H$R Sports or a Pro-kit then Bilsteins will be fine, get them for the better ride quality. But if you're going GC or IE 3's, they will suck without the stiff Konis.

[MattM20]

the adjustability makes a bigger difference than you would think. the ride isnt greatly affected but you can deffinately feel a difference between full soft, full firm, and any variety of settings going into turns. another way to look at it is, if you dont like understeer than you will be pleased with the koni's.

[Gus]

well....i dont like understeer....so i guess konis it is...what online retailers sell them cheapish? i got a friend going over to states in sept so will get them then im thinking

[StereoInstaller1]

Summit has them: I am willing to bet they are one of the cheapest.
Konis do have better bragging rights, so I am gonna go there when I do coilovers in like 15 years or so when I pay off my child support!

Just imagine $900 a MONTH put into your car...damn I hate that bitch!
Luke

[brodee]

I had the Koni adjustables with H&R sports on my e36 M3 and loved them. Ran them soft for the street and tightened them up before putting it on the track.

My 325is came with bilsteins on it, I'll change them to Koni's when they die.

[nzer]

well....i dont like understeer....so i guess konis it is...what online retailers sell them cheapish? i got a friend going over to states in sept so will get them then im thinking

Don't get them from shox.com - any one of our shops here gets Koni - Imagine the warrantee hell.

[nando]

konis are the only way to go on a lowered ix (they don't make a front sport for our cars).

that said, I leave mine on full stiff all the time. they are definetly stiffer than my old bilstiens, but I suppose if I wanted to go out on a date or something I could adjust them. I removed the bumpstops on the rear so I don' thave to take them off for adjustment. right now, I just back the car up on some ramps, use a breaker bar on the bottom bolts, adjust them and retorque them down..

[M-technik-3]

well....i dont like understeer....so i guess konis it is...what online retailers sell them cheapish? i got a friend going over to states in sept so will get them then im thinking

Don't get them from shox.com - any one of our shops here gets Koni - Imagine the warrantee hell.

Nothing wrong with buyng them from www.shox.com I have always had good warranty issues right from the factory. Konis by the way can come in two flavors SA or DA units. DA's are way expensive, TC Kline sells the DA units, or you can get them done by Truchoice Motorsport.

[Gus]

warrantee issues would be a problem as im half way round the world! konis here are like $NZ1600......from shox and least $NZ1000....a tad cheaper....i take it SA and DA mean single and dual adjustable? in relation to rebound and compression damping...thanks for the advice...i better start shopping

[burtonownz]

I believe that you can get both single and double-adjustable (special order, specially made) Koni's. My friend's put a set his E30 M3 recently and he loves them.

[Den]

I'd spend the extra $150 for Konis.