Koni 862277SPORT Public Service Announcement

[redlightpete]

I ordered these Koni strut inserts for my 325is, not realizing they don’t have an adjuster on the top of the shaft. You have to completely compress the shaft and rotate it. So if you want to make an adjustment after it’s installed, you have to completely disassemble and reassemble the strut! I guess this might be okay if you or your shop has a shock dyno and know exactly what you want, or if want the adjustment to be tamper resistant. But for the typical user, who wants to be able to make adjustments, it’s pretty useless.

These are listed for E30s by multiple sellers and I didn’t see any indication that they have to be fully compressed to adjust them. Hope this is helpful information.

[Mike36]

Copy and pasted from another thread:

Koni does not sell top adjustables from the factory. The general consensus of how to get top adjustable rears for E30's is by using shocks from a ford mustang

The most popular part # seems to be: 8041 1186SPORT (Mustang 94-04, All Models-Exc. IRS rear susp.)

A variation I heard of was with a double adjustable shock part number: 8042 1026 Sport (Mustang, 8 cyl. 87-93 — Double Adjustable Rear Alternative)

And in double adjustable.

—Double Adjustable Sport Alternative 8042-1134 Sport (Fits Mustang 94-04 Exc. IRS rear suspension. External Rebound & Compression Adjustment)

Up front I have heard of people using shorter shocks from VW'S to work with lowering springs other than the shock Koni manufactured for the E30: 8641 1021SPORT (325iS 84-91)

People have used these shocks

shocks for VW Corrado G60 VR6's. (unsure of part number)

Front 8041-1198sport (not sure what car these are from?)

And double Adjustable

Fronts 8611-1258Race (Strut Insert Front, Koni Race Double Adjustable Fits Golf II, Jetta II 1985-90 (Models w/non-sealed struts). Rebound and Compression Adjustable.)

Fronts 8610 1447 Race (I believe there double adjustable, not sure what car these are from?)

[mtech325]

I think OP is talking about the front strut inserts, which for a Koni yellow should be top adjustable in the e30 application. That part number originally posted I don't recognize for the e30, when I looked it up online it almost looks like an e36 m3 strut insert with the nub that a bolt would thread into when gutting the stock e36 m3 housing, unlike the more flat bottom e30 inserts. As mentioned above though, the e30 specific rear Koni sport requires removal from the car to adjust which I agree is quite annoying.

Tirerack is usually pretty good when ordering shocks. Below are the part numbers they list. I have only used the 'normal' e30 Koni sports including use with lowering springs/coilovers, but there's also the m-tech versions as well which supposedly don't extend as far at full droop to keep lowering springs in place and slightly firmer

8641-1210SPORT M-Tech front insert

8641-1021SPORT front insert

80-2641SPORT M-Tech rear shock

80-2522SPORT rear shock


Info on the m-tech version: https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/for...-clarification

[redlightpete]

Yeah, I was just warning people that these 862277SPORT strut inserts are sold for e30s but aren’t top adjustable.

Regarding the rear shocks, if you take out the bump stops and the plastic discs around the shock rod, you can adjust them from under the car. You just need to take out the bottom mounting bolt, push the shock up until it is bottomed out, and then rotate it. It’s a lot easier than taking out the trunk liner to get at the upper shock mount.

[reelizmpro]

Yeah, I always thought that was silly. Companies like GC, would use Koni's from other cars (Mustang/Corrado) that were top adjustable and revalve them.

[reelizmpro]

Yeah, I was just warning people that these 862277SPORT strut inserts are sold for e30s but aren’t top adjustable.

Regarding the rear shocks, if you take out the bump stops and the plastic discs around the shock rod, you can adjust them from under the car. You just need to take out the bottom mounting bolt, push the shock up until it is bottomed out, and then rotate it. It’s a lot easier than taking out the trunk liner to get at the upper shock mount.

What we used to do is cut the liner to gain access to the top of the mount. Makes everything even easier.

[Northern]

Copy and pasted from another thread:

Koni does not sell top adjustables from the factory. The general consensus of how to get top adjustable rears for E30's is by using shocks from a ford mustang

The most popular part # seems to be: 8041 1186SPORT (Mustang 94-04, All Models-Exc. IRS rear susp.)

*snip*

Quick clarification on the Mustang Part numbers:

From Koni:

The 8041 1026sport is shorter by 5mm in compressed length position. However it does not use a bump stop. The 8041 1186sport does have a bump stop installed from the factory which makes contact with the shock body 50mm before full compression is reached. The dampers are valved exactly the same.

Note:
8041-XXXX is Single Adjustable
8042-XXXX is Double Adjustable

I'm running 8041-1026. I think the 1186 are more popular, and probably better to have the bump stop, but I don't know if there's any chance it's in a good location for the e30 anyway.

Front stuff (ALL of this for shortened housings):

E30 IX Koni Sports seem to work well with shortened housings. I think they were fine on the street with a 450lb/in spring, but I was last in that car like a decade ago.
G60 Corrado are potentially stiffer.

"Race" part numbers:
8610-XXXX is Single Adjustable
8611-XXXX is Double Adjustable
I don't know if there are exceptions to this...

I run 8610-1437-Race. They're similar to E30 iX dimensions. Put up with a 450/500lb front spring very well. There are ~a half dozen other lengths/part numbers in another Koni thread on here somewhere, I believe valving is the same but don't quote me.

[Northern]

Found it:

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/e30-technical-forums/suspension-unsprung/springs-shocks-sways-steering/130070-e30-shock-option-thread?p=10113317#post10113317