Selection of "true coilovers"

[Dissembler]

I've been researching the selection fo true coilovers that are available to the E30 (springs over shocks in the rear, OEM spring mount goes unused)

So far I've found 3 kits that seem to be promising in the under $2000 range

GAZ Gold Coilovers

A google search reveals a couple forums (especially drifters) who have some good things to say about these. Unfortunately doesnt seem like they are readily available in NA but I'm emailing the sales dept ar Balance to see if they ship here

http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=84928

KW Variant 2 Coilovers

From what I've seen the Variant 1s are performance replacements for the factory components, but Variant 2s are true coilover kits. Haven't heard much about them from E30 owners though and you have to send your old stuff to them

http://www.driftworks.com/catalog/products/kw-coilovers-for-bmw-e30-3-series-m3.html

Ksport Kustom Pro Damper System

I jsut read about these from another guy's post here on R3v, and the look to be really good stuff, but again, havent seen reviews from anybody whos used them

http://www.ksportusa.com/asp/coilovers_detail.asp?product_id=cd01

I havent looked at GC because all the stuff of theirs I've seen is not true coilovers, however I will probably phone them before making any final decisions.

Has anybody else heard of these or had any first hand experiences with them?

[shiboujin]

I'm very interested in these if we can get them in NA. Are you 100% sure these are real coilovers?

I don't get how they get past the unified spindle/strut combo. Do they just give you a new spindle? Then you'd have to press in new wheel bearings and such.

[erik325i]

I'm very interested in these if we can get them in NA. Are you 100% sure these are real coilovers?

I don't get how they get past the unified spindle/strut combo. Do they just give you a new spindle? Then you'd have to press in new wheel bearings and such.

I'm pretty sure you're asking about the front... This thread is about rear coilovers.
The fronts are already a coil-over design.

Erik

[Dissembler]

I'm 99.9% that all these are true coilovers. I got an email back from the guys at balance motorsports, and they require you send the front strut assembly to them for modification, and the shipping estimate they gave me was 120 GBP. Right now it looks like the K-Sports are the front runners due to being more accessible.

[shiboujin]

I got an email back from the guys at balance motorsports, and they require you send the front strut assembly to them for modification

oh ok that answers my question. Do they ship and such to the US?

[Dissembler]

Well if they ship to Canada they should ship to US for around the same cost

I have a feeling (actually I know) that shipping costs will easily spiral out of control as well as customs fees for shipping large suspension components across the Atlantic, so unfortunately that rules out the GAZ for me.

After doing some more searches, I've read a lot of good things about the Ksports and have decided that I will go with them Instead. Other vendors (not the Ksport site but its other distributors) have them available for $1225 USD. Just waiting on shipping estimates. Anywhere in the 100 to 200 range is acceptible in my books for something so large.
I've decided to go with K-sports

[Liam]

Perhaps a little off the subject but to run a true coil-over in the rear on an e30 (unlike weight jacks everyone seems to associate with coil-overs) you will need to reinforce the shock towers, they are not meant to bear the weight of the whole car.

[asubimmer]

I have heard the k sports are garbage. Like don't last more than about a year. Search for them on BFC.

[DRTSRFR]

Looks like a "true" coilover to me??

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=770/CA=8

[SEdgell]

what kind of reinforcement are they talking about?

[erik325i]

what kind of reinforcement are they talking about?

Boxing in the whole shock tower and preferably tying in to the rollcage.

Erik

[gearheadE30]

Out of curiosity, what is to be gained from running true coilovers instead of, say, a GC or AST kit?

[nrubenstein]

Out of curiosity, what is to be gained from running true coilovers instead of, say, a GC or AST kit?

If you have tube framed the rear of the car, a true coilover will avoid the spring twist/bind issues you get in the stock location.

Honestly, I tend to think that it's pretty useless on an E30. On an E36 or E46, you can get big unsprung weight savings by replacing the upper control arm with a tubular piece. On an E30, well, you're stuck with the trailing arm as is. And rear spring changes become more inconvenient as well.

[Hellabad]

Out of curiosity, what is to be gained from running true coilovers instead of, say, a GC kit?

Pretty much nothing. For example, you may have to run narrower rear tires with a coilover. Look under the back of your car. Look at the gap between your tire and your shock. Now you have to fit a spring in there. The only thing you can do is move the tire outward. If you already have a meaty tire up against the fenderlip, then you need to run a skinnier tire.

The main advantage maybe is that it is faster to adjust.

Jay

[Eric]

KW variant 2's are not rear coil overs, neither are variant 3's. you have to order the KW competition coil overs special from KW to get the rear coil overs.

GAZ is the guy who used to design LEDA coil overs. I've heard good things about GAZ, and i've heard they are crap

Ksport is crap