Need some help deciding on suspension

[z31maniac]

^That's because Koni's tend to be just as consistent and high quality damper to damper as the Bilstein but you also get some adjustability as far as rebound.

I'd personally go with the custom valved kit, Koni yellows valved specifically for E30's. I'd like to step up to those this fall.

you will hate yourself if you go with a rate that high. I know because i currently have 500/650 with a S52 swap....i bounce on the interstate...

O'Reary? I'm going with 550/750! And the UUC 22/19 sways with spherical endlinks and poly bushings!

I may even not run 235/40/17s and go to Toyo R1Rs in 245/35/17. I suspect I will might hate life on the commute. Either way the springs are easy enough to change if I don't like it.

[Hellabad]

So I called GC and spoke to Mark with regards to the setup that I'm thinking of going with (First post)...He suggests that I go with 375/500. He is also saying that the Billy's may not be the best choice and that Koni's would work better...

At the same time, I was told that GC will always tell you that Koni's are a better choice but the Billy's will give you a more comfortable ride...

With that said, any thoughts or input? Thanks

Here is the bottom line from GC /Jay point of view. Konis for e30 are adjustable, Bilstein for e30 aren't. The adjustability lets GC help a customer adjust his car AFTER he installs the suspension.

It would be cool to have a perfect world with perfect math, where a shop can sell a "predetermined" shock and when it goes on the customers car it is the most perfect shock ever. But it just doesnt work that way. GC really feels its important to adjust the car to suit individual conditions and desires.

Why does GC sell more koni than Bilstein? Because Koni will make us special shocks and Bilstein won't, plus the adjustment thing.

Don't get me wrong, I LIKE Bilsteins. But I took them off my M3 (e46) cause they sucked, but I put them on my Jeep and our tow rig because nothing worked better.

I even have a car with electrically adjustable Bilsteins, with remote reservoirs and adjustable ride height. How do you get that? We made it, buying parts from Bilstein circle track and off road department.

So it not Bilstein vs Koni, its just a matter of making the customer happy, and for an e30 the Koni is working better.


Jay GC

208

[PaladinReed]

Thank you Jay your professionalism and capacity for knowledge from experience. It is refreshing as is GC's customer service! Honestly a coilover system is the way to go. If you have the funding to consider GC, consider their suggestions because they're the pros. And as far as getting low, I was too considering a GC kit for my vert. I explored alot and did shi* tons of research and in the end decided to go with a traditional shock/spring kit with a Vogtland 1.8in lowering spring kit on non-adjustable bilstein sports all the way around. I chose to go this route so I could allocate the (roughly) 3k dollar summer e30 allowance to more places than just a baller ass suspension set up. StereoInstaller had a point about GC kits but that is also very conclusive. Too conclusive. Sometimes the only way to accomplish what you want is to adopt something meant for the track and apply it to your street ride however inpractical. If you want a full GC kit (not inlcuding bushings of any kind, less CA's and ties) expect to spend around 2k or more. I wish you best of luck and know that when I corral the financing, Ill be joining you in the pursuit of coilovers! GL!

Paladin

[z31maniac]

I <3 my GC's.