Bilstein vs Koni vs Illumina on 450/550

[etxxz]

So i'm finally going to spend some major $$ and do the suspension and also going to drop the rear subframe to do the bushings and have a few questions on which shocks could handle the springs rates i want.

Did hours of searching and came up with NO info on the illuminas on e30's and then found plenty of info on koni vs billies and ultimately their performance on a chart:



Now my major concern is that the info i found online about the koni's is that they are good up to 450lbs springs and that after that they dont have enough dampening (that's the warranty speaking) I just want to know what shocks i should get with a 450/550 or 500/600 setup and wether Tokico illuminas (adj) will do the job beucase my friend wrecked his convertible and i have access to a cheap set of new illuminas. *I DO NOT WANNA BOUNCE AROUND ALL DAY LONG*

I know i can revalve the billies but would rather not spend the extra money for this service or the koni's...purpose is track and plenty of street driving

Thanks for the help i just oculn't find any more info and i wanna do shit right the first time!

[etxxz]

talked with bilstein and they didnt recommend i run the sports unless i get them custom valved as it will void my warranty so i got some koni's w/ rear ext adjustable for $517.20shipped and said fuck it since nobody here had any imput on the tokico illuminas

now to my bad luck i just ordered bushings and was checking under my car to see what else i should order/repair while i'm down there and turns out my car already some red trailing arm bushings ($70 down the drain!) i coulnt see them before 'cuase they were covered in black...the rear subframe bushings are fine but some IE streets won't hurt.

[e30 gangsta]

the subframe bushings is were the money is @ enjoy and i must get a ride when you install everything. :)

[backtrail69]

I have the Tokiko's on my car. I am not all that impressed with them. My bilsteins seem to ride much better on my eta w/ stiffer springs. I will try the Konis next.

[CarsSuck]

my brother has koni/H&R sprts on his e36 and it rides way better than my e30 does on bilstein/H&R sprts

[etxxz]

i started yesterday and dropped all of the suspension and CAB. The rear shocks will take a 3-4weeks 'cuase they're sold out everywhere...so sorry for my current shocks. will rip them bushings today. THIS IS A ONE MAN JOB

droped it with diff and everything


and this is what happens when you try to take a pic around a load of crap

[browntown]

whoopsies. done similar, laughing with you.

[joshh]

Just to let you know.....you made the right choice!
Illuminas are a bit better than KYB AGX's but inferior to Koni's.
Have fun, good luck.

[matt]

Where did you find that graph? Is it for the fronts or rears?

I don't really trust it...

[etxxz]

found it looking at R3v's countless bilstein vs koni threads:
post: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...91&postcount=9

THREAD HERE
source says depaul university (???)

Just to let you know.....you made the right choice!
Illuminas are a bit better than KYB AGX's but inferior to Koni's.
Have fun, good luck.

i have good news...i will have the privilege of trying out both koni and illuminas because my externally adjustable rear shocks won't be in for another month so i'll ride on these for the time being and will post results when i change.

[e30sd]

hey etxxz

how did you pull the ebrake cables?

[etxxz]

Just a little update, turns out my "red" bushings were KMAC lol so idk i replaced the subframe and left the Kmacs (EZ adj!!), having LOTS of problem getting the control arm bushings back on the car w/o the right tool (anyone got tips??) and i proceeded to start my strut coilover conversion. still waiting on springs and shocks to arrive:hitler:

hey etxxz

how did you pull the ebrake cables?

simple from inside the car, remove the plastic console that cover the e-brake assembly (one nut). Then remove the two 10mm nuts for adjusting the e-brake cable and manuver the line/cable from under the e-brake handle and pull from outside...remember there's 2-3 tabs holting the cable from under the car, just un-tab them d:

i just hope your car doenst have much rust...there's a sleve where the cable connects to the cabin and one on the hub and i spent 8hours with a dremel eating though metal on my last e30 to get these loose!! that's why i ove my current e30 not a hint of rust LOVE IT!!

[e30sd]

yea it seemed simple, except the donor car had rust in the same spot which made it a bitch. had to use a little jig saw to buzz through.