KONI vs BILSTEIN

[Apex381]

After many questions in response to me selling my set of Koni yellows for Bilstein sports, I think that we need this thread.

I for one have always heard that Koni's are stiffer even on their softest setting than Bilstein sports. I have ridden in car equipped with both and agree with this idea, but this is just an observation from somebody who rode in the car casually.

I found this interesting chart/slideshow here

http://www.koni-na.com/presentations/mustang/

Yes its a mustang but the concepts should be sound. The data on that slideshow certainly back up my impression that the koni's are stiffer.

I know the Koni rears are monotube and the koni's are twin-tube, but dont know exactly how this would effect the handling of an e30. Some magazines have read mention that the bilstein sports ride better than the stock shocks (Bimmer has run this many many times). It seems the bilstein Sports have a soft initial dampening and then self adjust and firm up?

I know there are people who know more about this than I do so chime in please.

[e21pilot]

Konis > Bilstien

[Teaguer]

I'll mention as wel that the Bilstein Sports have the SAME EXACT valving as the Bilstein HD's .
Many believe the Sports are firmer , not true , they are only shorter to lessen the chance of bottoming out the piston with lowering springs .


With the kOni v Bilstein it really depends what you are after , but since most of us want a firmer ride I think that makes the Konis a clear winner .

Plus they are adjustable , even if you have to undo the lower bolt in the rear and spin the shock that is stil one up over the Bilsteins .


Koni = clear winna .

[matt]

Bilstiens are better shocks, konis are better setup for our cars.

Revalved bilsteins are really the way to go.

[asubimmer]

bilstein > koni

[egk2]

I've always believed Konis were softer than Bilsteins.

[Apex381]

Bilstiens are better shocks, konis are better setup for our cars.

Revalved bilsteins are really the way to go.

yeah and I hear revalving them is actually pretty cheap

[StereoInstaller1]

yeah and I hear revalving them is actually pretty cheap

I was quoted about $300 for all 4.

[Apex381]

ok maybe not

[e30polak]

konis are only better if u order the ones that are rear top adjustable as well

[boom-monkey]

I was quoted about $300 for all 4.

It's actually $60 a shock, so $240.

[Jon325i]

It's actually $60 a shock, so $240.

Yep - sounds right. I have revalved B-Sports paired up with IE Stage 3s. I also have TreeHouse Racing CABs. The sways are stock and no camber plates installed either. Ride quality is firm by livable for DD usage (at least I think they are.....opinions may vary). I've tracked this set up a few times while rolling on Azenis Sports and it was decent for what it is. Bigger bars would dial out some body roll and some other tweaks would improve things for sure.

As for the B-Sports themselves? Good product - not a single problem. If my car were more of a dedicated track car then adjustable Koni's would be the way to go - but for a car that's mainly used on the streets, B-Sports are more than up to the task.

Jon

[1990m3]

Bilstein > Koni. I have a set on each car and I hate the Koni's. Bili sports all the way for me. I had them revalved this winter to match my J-stock springs I bought and it is fantastic. Car is on rails at the track and feels great. BTW, it was $60 per shock for revalving.

[PaintPro21]

The complaints we here rutinely is that bilsteins are too stiff in comparison to koni shocks.

Bilstein's use an inverted shock body and do their dampening on the compression stroke. This means that the shock is actually adding to the spring rate. and the inverted shock body means that the shocks is sealed in its own housing and you can't see when it's leaking. The bump stop is contained in this housing and it gets soaked with hydraulic fluid which then makes the shock hit an extremely ridged bump stop.

Koni's do their dampening on the rebound stroke. This allows the spring to do it's dampening at the rate it was designed for. (if you want a soft ride you install soft springs, if you want a stiff ride you install stiff springs) then on the rebound stroke it controls the spring and prevents it from bouncing back too fast giving the car a springy feeling.

I run a koni/GC setup and sold off my Grp.N suspension that used bilstein shocks.

[romkasponka]

Do not agree with you PaintPro21. Nothing depends in damping because of inverted or traditional shock. Bilstein adds 1% to spring ratio or even less because of nitrogen pressure. Bilstein has two seals and to damage it is not so easy.