So I just picked up a set of Stance coilovers from Slow_Rotary, and I figured I would do a review. The only info I could find on e30 coilovers from Stance was a 2011 thread on e30tech bashing them before they ever even hit the market (forums are a wonderful place).
As a point of reference, I have had three e30's before my current vert, and they have had the following suspension setups:
1990 325is - Complete GC coilover kit (not the coilover conversion)
1991 325ix - Bilstein sport & H&R sport
1987 325i turbo - Bilstein sport & eibach
There seems to be a lot of people on here that think GC's are the only coilover option that isn't shit. I will say, from my experience there is nothing all that special about GC's in reference to build quality - customer support, knowledge and services are top notch. Build quality is good and I do love the GC camber plates.
On to the Stance Coilovers - no they are not another BC/Megan copy, these are similar design (as they are weld on) but aside from that they share almost no other similarities. Please take a good look at the design before jumping in with "another BC" comments.
I went with a 6kg front setup and a 9kg rear setup. There was the option for a true rear coilover, but I opted for the standard shock + spring setup (kinda wishing I went true rear though).
Fresh out of the box:
Cost - $1000 through slow_rotary, which seems to be a great price based on what I have found from other vendors. I will change this to "value" and add more detail once fit and ride quality have been determined.
Design-
FRONT - You will notice a number of differences from the standard BC design to these. The inverted front is about the most sturdy shock setup I have seen, it is what sold me on these and I am very glad it did. Now, there is a downside to this, which is that the adjuster is on the bottom and it requires you to remote mount the extension knob. The camber plate design - solid top mounting plate with the adjustment screws milled in so that they lay flush with the top, then pillow ball mount, then what appears to be a reinforcement plate, then the solid strut mount. Camber plate is nice, but this is one item that GC has nailed down with the camber/caster plate. I could still pick up a GC camber/caster plate and have less money into the setup than buying full GC, though. Bottom weld on portion - very heavy duty, which is good because it does have a hole in it so the adjustment knob can be accessed.
REAR - Rear is a simple design, with a threaded strut tube and bottom threaded mount with bushing. Both top and bottom mounts are very nicely done, with the top being spectacularly overkill. Rear spring uses a spring adjuster on bottom and the top of the spring is shaped to fit the stock perch.
Build Quality -
I have spent a good amount of time inspecting these, and I will say the build quality is spectacular. Welds are great, bushings are very beefy and the mounts are overkill. All materials seem to be very good.
Finish -
Coatings, milled edges and overall finish is very good. Everything is consistent and I have been unable to find any issues with the manufacturing or materials. This could be attributed to good manufacturing, good QC, or both - either way, I like it.
Fit -10/12 update: 100% perfect fit. Not a single issue, everything went together wonderfully. I had a professional welding company do the weld on bottoms for the front setup. According to them everything fit snuggly without issue and it looks pretty gorgeous.
Ride quality - Will update once driven and adjusted.
Rear assembly:
Huge RSM:
Rear shock bottom mount bushing:
Camber plate construction:
Bottom, threaded, weld on mount -
Spring assembly and the world's beefiest strut tube:
adjustment knob & extension:
Rear spring and adjustable perch:
Installed and adjusted toward the higher end:
Currently have room to go down ~3"/2" (F/R) and up about 1" on both. That is with maintaining the stock spring pads and keeping the adjusters in. You could probably get a full 3" lower in the rear without.
Cheers,
Guddy
As a point of reference, I have had three e30's before my current vert, and they have had the following suspension setups:
1990 325is - Complete GC coilover kit (not the coilover conversion)
1991 325ix - Bilstein sport & H&R sport
1987 325i turbo - Bilstein sport & eibach
There seems to be a lot of people on here that think GC's are the only coilover option that isn't shit. I will say, from my experience there is nothing all that special about GC's in reference to build quality - customer support, knowledge and services are top notch. Build quality is good and I do love the GC camber plates.
On to the Stance Coilovers - no they are not another BC/Megan copy, these are similar design (as they are weld on) but aside from that they share almost no other similarities. Please take a good look at the design before jumping in with "another BC" comments.
I went with a 6kg front setup and a 9kg rear setup. There was the option for a true rear coilover, but I opted for the standard shock + spring setup (kinda wishing I went true rear though).
Fresh out of the box:
Cost - $1000 through slow_rotary, which seems to be a great price based on what I have found from other vendors. I will change this to "value" and add more detail once fit and ride quality have been determined.
Design-
FRONT - You will notice a number of differences from the standard BC design to these. The inverted front is about the most sturdy shock setup I have seen, it is what sold me on these and I am very glad it did. Now, there is a downside to this, which is that the adjuster is on the bottom and it requires you to remote mount the extension knob. The camber plate design - solid top mounting plate with the adjustment screws milled in so that they lay flush with the top, then pillow ball mount, then what appears to be a reinforcement plate, then the solid strut mount. Camber plate is nice, but this is one item that GC has nailed down with the camber/caster plate. I could still pick up a GC camber/caster plate and have less money into the setup than buying full GC, though. Bottom weld on portion - very heavy duty, which is good because it does have a hole in it so the adjustment knob can be accessed.
REAR - Rear is a simple design, with a threaded strut tube and bottom threaded mount with bushing. Both top and bottom mounts are very nicely done, with the top being spectacularly overkill. Rear spring uses a spring adjuster on bottom and the top of the spring is shaped to fit the stock perch.
Build Quality -
I have spent a good amount of time inspecting these, and I will say the build quality is spectacular. Welds are great, bushings are very beefy and the mounts are overkill. All materials seem to be very good.
Finish -
Coatings, milled edges and overall finish is very good. Everything is consistent and I have been unable to find any issues with the manufacturing or materials. This could be attributed to good manufacturing, good QC, or both - either way, I like it.
Fit -10/12 update: 100% perfect fit. Not a single issue, everything went together wonderfully. I had a professional welding company do the weld on bottoms for the front setup. According to them everything fit snuggly without issue and it looks pretty gorgeous.
Ride quality - Will update once driven and adjusted.
Rear assembly:
Huge RSM:
Rear shock bottom mount bushing:
Camber plate construction:
Bottom, threaded, weld on mount -
Spring assembly and the world's beefiest strut tube:
adjustment knob & extension:
Rear spring and adjustable perch:
Installed and adjusted toward the higher end:
Currently have room to go down ~3"/2" (F/R) and up about 1" on both. That is with maintaining the stock spring pads and keeping the adjusters in. You could probably get a full 3" lower in the rear without.
Cheers,
Guddy
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