What coilovers?

[AussieTemplar]

Hi Guys,

I need a final answer as I'm still not sure and want the best advice.

I need low on my 1989 325iS. I don't want a spring setup, I want coilovers.

I don't want to spend an absolutely fortune, but I don't want to cheap out either.

The car is mainly a street car, but isn't my primary vehicle so I don't drive it very often at all. It's more of a project.

I don't want absolutely stance and low, but I want to fill the gaps in my fenders.

If possible I want coilovers that are straight away bolt in, but if I need to organise someone to weld the struts so be it.

If anyone knows anyone in SYDNEY who does this, that would help as I can't do it my self.

Pic of car below:



Thanks for your help.

Nick

[Ant_e30]

You can go round in circles on this for ages (which you probably have!). My opinion..

If you want straight bolt in and aren't over the top about maximum low, i'd look at KW V1. They bolt straight in, have relatively modest but i'd assume street friendly spring rates and are adjustable from the perch. This means you can't necessarily slam with them but it doesn't sound like you need to. I don't beleive they come with camber adjustable top plates for the front though. The best place i found for these to get them over to AUS was Tunershop and from memory they'd be $1600-1700 or so landed. But you bolt them in yourself and easy done.

I'd say 2nd best option is BC Racing coilovers. They're readily available in Australia through JustJap and their distributors and will cost you about $1200 delivered. You can run with their stock rates and they are a bit harder than the KWs, or you can spec them as you wish (lower or higher). They're body adjustable so will have theoretically more adjustment than you will need, but that may not be a bad thing anyway. You just need to be careful with you spring selection in terms of spring length as they can get in the way. I went BC but they aren't on the car yet.

In regard to install of the BCs, this isn't an outrageous thing to weld them in this way. I don't know Sydney, but when i was initially looking into coilovers here in Perth i rang the two biggest shops here that i would trust with my suspension full stop, and both said it was no drama and they'd weld what i brought them. Incidentally, one of them offered me K-Sports and the other offered me XYZ Racing (neither of which i wanted but are other locally available options. Just the quality is a little dubious).

Its a tough call man but i don't think asking over and over will help, you'll have to bite the bullet some time!

[AussieTemplar]

That was a perfect reply. Thanks!

On another forum the K-sports were mentioned too.

Would people recommend these?

http://www.ground-control-store.com/...hp/II=540/CA=8

$1500 and a couple hundred shipping I'm guessing.

I have no idea about spring rates, what do you recommend?
What were the specs of your BC's, I think I'm leaning towards them.


Thanks.

[smerfs]

Would people recommend these?

http://www.ground-control-store.com/...hp/II=540/CA=8

I have no idea about spring rates, what do you recommend?


Thanks.

I have/had these on my e30 and they ride far better than any spring/shock or coilover setup i've driven with (driven a friends car with JOMs and another with BC coils). Shorten them 2 inches if you want to get super low, or 1" to get the job done. Having the camber plates is a nice bonus over the other options, and the quality is superb.

I have 525f and 750r spring rates and it rides great. I have larger sway bars (25/22) and fully poly bushings and it's still perfect for a DD

[broach328]

I've got about 5k on my Megan coilovers. The Megan's are the same basicay as the bc coilovers only they are like 900 shipped. I found the fronts to be a close fitment so 3mm spacers maybe be needed with yours too. I also ordered short springs up front but I've got less than 1000 in them and I really have been pleased with them for my intended purposes. I loosen the dampening, raise the height, adjust the camber for best tire wear, and drive the car 4 hours on the interstate. On the other hand I can also drive to autocrosses and do the opposite and it transforms the car. If your trailering the car to the race track or any high speed road courses you may want something a bit more high end. Overall, for full body coilovers with dampening adjustment front and rear with camber plates for under a grand, idk if there's a better route to go.

Edit: the spring rates are 8kg front and rear. (440 lbs)

[nando]

I can't imagine paying ~$1000+ for chinese coilovers. you're saving like $200 on cheap dampers and unknown rates (the kit ebay I got for parts, the springs were WAY too stiff). a basic kit from GC is going to be in the same ballpark only you'll end up with Konis.

yeah, the chinese kits spec out rates, but you really don't have any idea as to what they really are. same with the dampers, which is the most important part of a good suspension.

[broach328]

I can't imagine paying ~$1000+ for chinese coilovers. you're saving like $200 on cheap dampers and unknown rates (the kit ebay I got for parts, the springs were WAY too stiff). a basic kit from GC is going to be in the same ballpark only you'll end up with Konis.

yeah, the chinese kits spec out rates, but you really don't have any idea as to what they really are. same with the dampers, which is the most important part of a good suspension.

^^ I agree with what your saying, but 1500 for GC was not an option as another 600 on top of 900 is a big difference, especially for a broke college kid. Maybe one day, for an e36 track or something similar but for now, for my less than show car/race car e30, they are fine and I'm sure would be fine for others. I know some folks tend to analyze or even over-analyze factors related to handling of their car but for the roads I drive on regularly in Charleston, balance and precise rebound and dampening characteristics are the least of my concerns. With street tires and stock sway bars, these performed exactly how I had hoped they would, better than ie3s and konis, and I do not regret the purchase. As I stated earlier, if your building a dedicated track car that requires a precise spring rate and damper, then yes custom valved koni shocks with hypercoil or eibach springs are probably your best bet. However, unless the rest of your suspension and steering components are in equally good knick (poly bushings or at least new bushings out back with new control arms up front) along with proper wheels/tires, the difference of better coilover quality wont matter much anyways I dont imagine.

my conclusion: If you can afford it, the $1500 kit from GC is top notch and very badass. if you have the doh, get those and call it a day. If camber plates are no concern at the moment or not needed at all, the $1000 kit from GC is also a very nice option and if it were available when I bought my Megans, I would probably go that route. So my advice to the OP with price a factor, I would pick these in this order:

1) $999 kit from Ground control.

2) ~$890 kit from Megan. (They are made by BC so essentially the same)

3) $1500 kit from GC, provided they are within your budget.

[nando]

the OP is from OZ and doesn't sound like a broke college kid. :p

also, how are you getting $1500 for a basic GC kit? the perches and springs are only $400 and Koni dampers are another $600-$800. if you're a broke college student you don't need the camber plates (they're easy to add later anyway). Hell you don't really need coilovers. :p

What really suffers with poor quality dampers is ride quality, it's not just about performance. They also will last longer. for basically the same price, I just don't get why anyone would waste their time with the ebay stuff?

[IronFreak]

the OP is from OZ and doesn't sound like a broke college kid. :p

also, how are you getting $1500 for a basic GC kit? the perches and springs are only $400 and Koni dampers are another $600-$800. if you're a broke college student you don't need the camber plates (they're easy to add later anyway). Hell you don't really need coilovers. :p

What really suffers with poor quality dampers is ride quality, it's not just about performance. They also will last longer. for basically the same price, I just don't get why anyone would waste their time with the ebay stuff?

It's not the basic kit but I think he was referring to these.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=754/CA=8

[broach328]

the OP is from OZ and doesn't sound like a broke college kid. :p

also, how are you getting $1500 for a basic GC kit? the perches and springs are only $400 and Koni dampers are another $600-$800. if you're a broke college student you don't need the camber plates (they're easy to add later anyway). Hell you don't really need coilovers. :p

What really suffers with poor quality dampers is ride quality, it's not just about performance. They also will last longer. for basically the same price, I just don't get why anyone would waste their time with the ebay stuff?

i never said the $1500 kit was basic. I referred to it as the 1500 dollar GC kit which exists in all its glory right here below.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/category.php/CA=173

Now, how does a college kids income relate to their needing or not needing camber plates or coilovers all together? To address your first statement about him not being broke, I was defending my own decision and reasons for purchasing Megan coilovers, not suggesting that he is in college nor broke. As far as ride quality goes with the Megans, I stated also that I typically drive on roads where an f250 wouldn't ride smoothly either. Manhole covers, potholes, paved patches, 3/4inch thick steel plates covering god knows what, and many other obstacles make for shitty ride quality regardless if the car was stock, on Megans, or on konis finest product. As to not de-rail this thread any further, I posted how I felt about them, I stated why I bought them, and I posted my advice as far as recommendations regarding value per dollar of coilover kits since he did in fact state cost was a factor.

[AussieTemplar]

Hi Guys,

I'd be perfectly happy paying $1500 for these.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=540/CA=8

But I need to factor in a couple hundred shipping, and also another hundred or two getting them welded in.

My question is, for a car that isn't going to be a stance or track monster, it's really just going to be a sometimes track car, sometimes take it out on the weekend car, is $2k~ all up worth it? Or should I just stick with the BC's.

Thanks lads,

Nick.

[acolella76]

Yes. It is definitely worth doing it right the first time around.

[broach328]

Sounds like your best option is this:

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=912/CA=173

the welding shouldn't be 200 either. remove spindles, cut them where you want or where is required for the kit, carry them to exhaust or metal fabrication shop and they can weld them on in 10 minutes.

[Ant_e30]

Sorry i didn't mention Ground Controls. GC are the same style as KW in that they are perch adjustable only, however they can section the struts down a long way and use short inserts which allows a useable range of adjustment without being base adjustable like BC Racing.

When i was quoted for Ground Control with camber plates the cost was a touch over $2000AUD landed. For me, the extra $800 wasn't worth it since i DO want 'stance' for mine and at a very low ride height and so on then i would probably be compromising the Ground Controls. And i know BC's have a lot of detractors (chinese shit etc) but there are not many people who having bought the BCs for their purpose have then found them to be crap. Most people are happy enough.

As i say i want to slam and be silly with 17x10s etc so i went for 10k/12k rates. I believe the standard spec is 8k/8k?

[broach328]

As i say i want to slam and be silly with 17x10s etc so i went for 10k/12k rates. I believe the standard spec is 8k/8k?

Yeah 8kg/8kg is standard.