KONI vs BILSTEIN

[K20RI_211]

If you think HR sports and bilstein's is harsh. then you are in for a huge surprise. this is about the softest you can go on an e30 and is crap for autoX.
what you need to do it pick track and not complain about street driving. or you need to give up tracking and keep the soft ride.

Ease up there, killer. Last I checked, it's my car that I can use any way I please. So kindly STFU if you're not going to contribute anything useful. If you R-E-A-D, you'll see that I said I am not going to use the car for autox any further and focus on making it a summer cruiser. Reading comprehension, it's your friend, friend.

This is not a soft ride. My M3 on stock suspension is a soft ride. What I'm asking for is an alternative to the Bilstein/H&R setup that accommodates modest lowering and provides DD-friendly ride quality. My impression was swapping in the Konis was one possible solution.

[ajhostetter]

Thanks for the response. So to clarify - is there a possibility that the springs are really the root cause of the ride harshness?

Always assumed it was shock/strut based, but it could be the springs. Didn't research the H&Rs much, mainly because there are the standard go-to in many applications.

Absolutely. Your shocks/struts simply dampen the "bounce" of your spring. While the valve rates will have have some effect on harshness, the springs are the biggest thing. The H&R race springs are awesome on a track...and BRUTAL on the street. I know some guys run them, but I'm in my mid-30s and my DD is a Ford Escape company car. I have no interest in getting my ass kicked on weekend drives. I know tomes have been written on Eibach vs. H&R, vs. Vogtland, and then the guys who'll die on one side of the Billy vs. Koni hill. Just get something progressive and you'll have no reason to dump the Bilsteins. I bought Vogtland because they were the cheapest and people seem to like them.

[Cabriolet]

Consensus: the ride quality sucks. Entire suspension refreshed. Harsh, harsh, harsh (by my standards), bangs/crashes over road abrasions. I live in a pothole-infested city and it is not a pleasant experience just blasting around town.

If you think HR sports and bilstein's is harsh. then you are in for a huge surprise. this is about the softest you can go on an e30 and is crap for autoX.
what you need to do it pick track and not complain about street driving. or you need to give up tracking and keep the soft ride.

[K20RI_211]

Hey Man, I have Bilstein Sports with Vogtland progressives on my car. It does fine on the track and is really quite pleasant on the road, even in pothole infested Portland. A set of those springs is < $200.00. I would recommend that over spending the extra dough for the Konis.

Thanks for the response. So to clarify - is there a possibility that the springs are really the root cause of the ride harshness?

Always assumed it was shock/strut based, but it could be the springs. Didn't research the H&Rs much, mainly because there are the standard go-to in many applications.

[ajhostetter]

Guys,

Decided to bump this instead of creating a new topic. My situation: E30 autocross car that is going to become a full-time summer cruiser only. Currently sitting on H&R Sports with Bilstein Sports.

Consensus: the ride quality sucks. Entire suspension refreshed. Harsh, harsh, harsh (by my standards), bangs/crashes over road abrasions. I live in a pothole-infested city and it is not a pleasant experience just blasting around town.

In reading this thread, it would appear Koni SAs are the way to go. Most people seem to agree the ride quality is better. Softer is fine for me. This is going to be a backroads cruiser, not a track rat.

So you actually see my response.

If so, can someone point me to which vendor has the best price for what I need? Thanks.

[ajhostetter]

Hey Man, I have Bilstein Sports with Vogtland progressives on my car. It does fine on the track and is really quite pleasant on the road, even in pothole infested Portland. A set of those springs is < $200.00. I would recommend that over spending the extra dough for the Konis.

[K20RI_211]

Guys,

Decided to bump this instead of creating a new topic. My situation: E30 autocross car that is going to become a full-time summer cruiser only. Currently sitting on H&R Sports with Bilstein Sports.

Consensus: the ride quality sucks. Entire suspension refreshed. Harsh, harsh, harsh (by my standards), bangs/crashes over road abrasions. I live in a pothole-infested city and it is not a pleasant experience just blasting around town.

In reading this thread, it would appear Koni SAs are the way to go. Most people seem to agree the ride quality is better. Softer is fine for me. This is going to be a backroads cruiser, not a track rat.

If so, can someone point me to which vendor has the best price for what I need? Thanks.

[elbrack]

Do the Koni SAs and add some H&R Sport springs when resources permit. It's a perfect setup for what you want.

Pulled the trigger on the koni sports. Talked over with my mechanic and he agreed with what you were saying as well and said the price was good.

[agent]

I want a tight car that will handle some aggressive driving in mountain roads.

Do the Koni SAs and add some H&R Sport springs when resources permit. It's a perfect setup for what you want.

[elbrack]

SA means single adjustable (rebound)

NA probably means non-adjustable.

the konis will ride a little better, but I don't know that there's a big difference.

if you got SA, you could use them again if you decided to get performance springs. the HDs would not be a great idea with any sort of lowering - the front bumpstops are too long and they will be travel limited, meaning bad ride quality.

Sounds like Konis are the way to go then :-)

[nando]

SA means single adjustable (rebound)

NA probably means non-adjustable.

the konis will ride a little better, but I don't know that there's a big difference.

if you got SA, you could use them again if you decided to get performance springs. the HDs would not be a great idea with any sort of lowering - the front bumpstops are too long and they will be travel limited, meaning bad ride quality.

[elbrack]

Okay, so I need new shocks. My mechanic recommended Bilstein HD with stock springs for my DD. Sounded reasonable. However I found Konis for 50 bucks more. Now how do I tell the difference between Koni SA and NA? Is there a difference?

Which would be better for the setup. I want a tight car that will handle some aggressive driving in mountain roads.

I don't know much about changing springs or anything like that.

Thanks.

[einstein57]

I like turtles.

[woc]

That sounds about right. I had the Eibach pro-kit with old shocks, it was too flimsy to me, so I got the IE stage 3 + new billie sports. and the car handles like race car. Now...the front is not lowered like the Eibach pro did, but lowered the rear more than Pro kit. Note...IE stage 3 are Eibach's springs made for IE specs ( stiff rates. )

[sasha18yug]

eibach makes good coilover springs. H&R makes better standard springs. if you dont want to revalve or just like to adjust your shocks, get koni yellows. if you want to revalve get bilsteins.

the kit i am looking for is sold in germany or europe as a hole kit springs\shocks...and they are supose to work good togheter...lowering is 35mm frond and rear... people say on german forums that there is no better suspension then this one...excludin coilovers...wich i dont have money for...this kit costs 604 euros...