daily driving set-up

[n2motorsports]

trying to determine the best setup for a pure daily driver or cruizer and i want it low with wide 16's. how much does the quality of the shocks influence the ride quality vs. springs?

currently looking at used vogtlands and new billy sports. any thoughts or other combo's i should consider?

this is for a 318is.

TIA

[whiltebeitel]

I wouldn't go to Konis or anything stiffer than Bilsteins for a DD. You want the springs and shocks to match. I think I'd go up to H&R sports for a DD-only car. I'd personally go with soft springs and a good-sized sway bar to dial out body roll if you feel frisky.

[E-rich]

GCs with 375f/475r with koni sa shocks set up soft. and depending on how low and which wheels you use...you could run a 45 or 50 series tire for comfort. if you want comfort then bilstein sports are not what you want. very aggresive dampering... my e30 rides better on my 440f/625r with konis and big IE sways than it did on bilstein sports and eibach pro kit which is notorious for being soft..too soft.

[PaintPro21]

Agreed. Koni's have a smoother ride then Bilstiens. Billi's have a harsher ride in general. Most of the people that are saying koni is stiffer then bilstien, have never owned them. I don't know if they were miss informed, or the car they had them on was setup poorly. but its never a reasonable comparison.

eibach and koni would get you low and smooth still. The quality of the ride relies mostly on the shock because the shock controls the springs movement. stock shocks (or similarly valved shocks) with lowering springs (with stock spring rates) will simply bottom out. Stock shocks with significantly stiffer lowering springs will be very bouncy. You need a shock that can absorb a springs tendency to bounce, and control it while it compresses and rebounds.

they cost a bit more but Koni will be more satisfactory for daily driving then bilstein. and obviously the softest spring will result in the best ride quality. I run 450/650 springs in a gutted car, but this e30 was on eibachs before, and I can say even though they tend to be softer then other brands (on purpose) they are by no means mushy. They were still significantly stiff, so don't feel like your loosing out on anything.

-Eddy

[n2motorsports]

great input...im leaning heavily towards the koni's now.

which model koni for my e30? i came up with 4 different terms?

a) koni sa
b) koni single adjustables (what's the range of adjustibility?)
c) koni sports
d) koni yellow

best pricing i could find was $524 shipped at AJUSA for the sports.

[E-rich]

the koni sa is the koni single adjustable. if they are a little bit more than there sports..i would say look into putting the extra money in if you can. as far as the sports i dont know what there dampening is like. you could probably give koni a call and see hat they would recomend. what springs are you thinking of running?

[StereoInstaller1]

Best choice in springs for a DD 4 banger late model?

B+G. Perfect stance, great feel.

Cheap, too.

Luke

[n2motorsports]

I just picked up some vogtland springs, made in germany and have not read any bad reviews on them. They are suppose to have an aggressive drop as well, with spring rate between h&r sports and race.

The place near me only carries the sports and on the Koni website, "sports" is all that is offered to all e30's. That'll be what i go with.

thanks for everybody's input.

[Spec]

Update on how you're liking that suspension?

[Mr.sexymorningvoice]

well i just got the Vogltands, with like a 350/500 spring rate, and they are awesome. Close to 2in drop.