Stance Coilover Review

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  • mcgillaguddy
    E30 Addict
    • Mar 2011
    • 487

    #1

    Stance Coilover Review

    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
    Last edited by mcgillaguddy; 11-03-2015, 06:25 AM.
    1988 M6 - The real project.
    1993 325i Vert - Project/Weekender
    2013 ATS 2.0T - DD
    1997 740i - sold
    1987 325is Turbo -sold
    1991 325ix - Sold
    1990 m50 325is - sold
    1987 535is - sold
  • BECKSTER
    Mod Crazy
    • Jun 2015
    • 667

    #2
    How much do these sell for $?
    1990 Alpine 325is
    1992 Schwarz 325ic (sold)

    Comment

    • mcgillaguddy
      E30 Addict
      • Mar 2011
      • 487

      #3
      Originally posted by BECKSTER
      How much do these sell for $?
      Slow_Rotary has been selling them for $1000 on the forum here. - First time dealing with him and it went quite well. He will also do other spring rates (standard rates are 8kg front/9kg rear) or a true rear coilover setup.

      I looked around a bit and they seem to sell for $1150+ elsewhere, so I think it was a pretty good deal.

      Edited the post to include cost as well.
      Last edited by mcgillaguddy; 09-21-2015, 09:52 AM.
      1988 M6 - The real project.
      1993 325i Vert - Project/Weekender
      2013 ATS 2.0T - DD
      1997 740i - sold
      1987 325is Turbo -sold
      1991 325ix - Sold
      1990 m50 325is - sold
      1987 535is - sold

      Comment

      • gotaloveRWD
        Mod Crazy
        • Jul 2011
        • 708

        #4
        Pics arnt showing for me, anyone else having this issue?
        IG- nv_e30

        Comment

        • mexocutioner
          Advanced Member
          • Apr 2015
          • 113

          #5
          yeah pics aren't working

          Comment

          • mcgillaguddy
            E30 Addict
            • Mar 2011
            • 487

            #6
            Originally posted by mexocutioner
            yeah pics aren't working
            Originally posted by gotaloveRWD
            Pics arnt showing for me, anyone else having this issue?
            Thanks for letting me know. I will try hosting them with something other than google. In the meantime, here is a link to all the photos:

            Coilover Photos
            1988 M6 - The real project.
            1993 325i Vert - Project/Weekender
            2013 ATS 2.0T - DD
            1997 740i - sold
            1987 325is Turbo -sold
            1991 325ix - Sold
            1990 m50 325is - sold
            1987 535is - sold

            Comment

            • mexocutioner
              Advanced Member
              • Apr 2015
              • 113

              #7
              They're huge now hahaha. cant wait to see em on though!

              Comment

              • mcgillaguddy
                E30 Addict
                • Mar 2011
                • 487

                #8
                Originally posted by mexocutioner
                They're huge now hahaha. cant wait to see em on though!
                How about now? I've never had such a difficult time getting photos up here.
                1988 M6 - The real project.
                1993 325i Vert - Project/Weekender
                2013 ATS 2.0T - DD
                1997 740i - sold
                1987 325is Turbo -sold
                1991 325ix - Sold
                1990 m50 325is - sold
                1987 535is - sold

                Comment

                • gotaloveRWD
                  Mod Crazy
                  • Jul 2011
                  • 708

                  #9
                  Much better
                  IG- nv_e30

                  Comment

                  • Vanilla Gorilla
                    Grease Monkey
                    • Dec 2006
                    • 357

                    #10
                    Great review!
                    sigpic

                    Comment

                    • rcsoundn1
                      No R3VLimiter
                      • Nov 2012
                      • 3361

                      #11
                      In for updates.

                      Comment

                      • mcgillaguddy
                        E30 Addict
                        • Mar 2011
                        • 487

                        #12
                        Installed picture added. I have only driven ~.5 miles so no updates on the ride yet. Initial reaction is the car feels great, but when I get to drive it more I will make adjustments.
                        1988 M6 - The real project.
                        1993 325i Vert - Project/Weekender
                        2013 ATS 2.0T - DD
                        1997 740i - sold
                        1987 325is Turbo -sold
                        1991 325ix - Sold
                        1990 m50 325is - sold
                        1987 535is - sold

                        Comment

                        • luna_edirty
                          Noobie
                          • Oct 2015
                          • 14

                          #13
                          PM'd
                          ig- luna_edirty
                          drive fast take chances

                          Comment

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