Coilover options

[SharpSpoon]

I'm currently running a bilstein/koni setup but they are old and worn out.

What are my options are far as a coilover setup are concerned? I dont want to break the bank but I do want a street/track setup.

[whiltebeitel]

What's your budget? 2k? 3k? 5k?

[Philo]

What's your budget?

This is what it all depends on.

[rwh11385]

95% of E30s with coilover-type suspension have Ground Controls

[nando]

a basic GC spring/adjuster kit is $400

add in whater shocks you wanted to run

you can go further of course but you don't "need" the full $2500 kit. If I were spending that much it would be for ASTs

[bzboardz]

i just installed the GC kit on some koni's with their RSM and camber plates (i feel was overkill for my DD needs). IMO if your shocks are good just get their basic kit

[SharpSpoon]

I was thinking $1500 as the upper end. It will not be on a strictly race car.

How are KW variant 1 or 2's?

[nando]

I would get a basic GC kit, and spend the rest of the money on replacing bushings, ball joints etc. stiff suspension does not mix well with 20 year old rubber.

[Tonys18t]

I've used KW V1 and V2 in several cars, just ordered the V1 for my E30.

never had any quality issues with them,

Tunershop.com is the best place i've found for them, their service has always been good, but its improved a lot now that the US orders are handled direct from Germany.

[sharky]

anyone else with the KW?, looks like a good option. Does the V1 come with camber plates? I like how the housings are already set up.

[z31maniac]

I'd go with the custom valved E30 GC kit at that price point. And like nando said put the rest toward fresh control arms, bushings, tie rods.

[sharky]

true, GC is pretty tried and true since countless people are running them

[Hellabad]

anyone else with the KW?, looks like a good option. Does the V1 come with camber plates? I like how the housings are already set up.

Unfortunately NOT true. The housings are not set up. Pretty much every KW picture on the internet, both in the US and Germany, is the wrong pic. Most e30 pics are of a Golf mkV kit (even though it says e30)

PLEASE NOTE: If you are ordering E30 coilovers, we will require your old struts on an exchange basis due to the BMW E30's strut with insert design. This can either be done by providing struts at the time of order, or by paying an extra £340 deposit which will be refunded upon receipt of your old struts. Please just ask if you'd like clarification on this.

That is about US$ 550 for a deposit, for your struts to be sent to Germany. The freight cost is about US $170 to get there, and about $300 to get here, and I heard it takes about 6 weeks.

Jay from Ground Control

[M-technik-3]

H&R are doing pretty much the same as supplies of new front strut assemblies are gone or cost more than is viable to make a profit. E30 M3 coilovers from H&R are $3500 these days and that's insane. I have driven a GC equipped M3 and mine and honestly it's hard to tell the difference.

Tires alone can make more of a difference.

[Hellabad]

This is why y'all are confused. Its not your fault. All of the people trying to sell KW, don't have any pictures of the parts they are trying to sell (?), so they just use a pic from a different car.