Convertibles with stiff suspension.

[reelizmpro]

I'd like to hear from vert owners on their impressions. I'm debating between H&R Race springs/Koni SA's or 450/650 GC's/Koni SA's. These are off the shelf Koni's by the way. I have both in my possession so price isn't a factor. We all know verts flex a bit and are noisy. Will the GC's just be too harsh for a vert (thinking long term)? Are the rates too high for off the shelf Koni's? The Koni's seem to be pretty soft on compression. I've heard this is normal but mine seem almost too soft. Just trying to figure out which way to go. Thanks guys.

[Justin B]

Cabby with H&R race / billy sports. Car has been going strong suspension squeak and tweak-wise for several years now. The car has thuds and squeaks but they all do and especially now that I took my carpet out I hear it resonate through. I dont know about the GC's rates though...

[McGyver]

im running H&R race for a coupe and billy sports shocks. I have front and rear pads in and 15mm drop hats. Its pretty stiff and a little annoying at times in the city because the roads are so bad, but if you are on even a semi-decent road it feels great.

im not sure about the konis and gc though.

[N2MYE30]

Im on sport billys and coupe sport H&Rs, 15mm drophats, with all pads and no braces...yet. No complaints! I would think that the GC setup would feel much stiffer and the race to sag and bounce a bit, imo. I am going to get braces next when the fundage comes around or I dive into some sort of engine swap but in all, i wouldnt change the ride quality or stance for that matter. BTW, I dont have any pix of my new setup. Stay tuned. :)

What I would do is goto the cabrio suspension thread and PM some of the memebers that have each of these setups for some answers.

[dannyg]

I'm running the GC set up, and I love it. Granted I don't drive the car often, but its not too stiff and the ride height adjustability is awesome.

[mikeedler]

I have an adjustable SPAX suspension (only stiffness is adj.)-- the car is SLAMMED- about a 100mm drop and the front and rear shocks are set very stiff.-- both of my rear quarterpanels are dented from it being so stiff and the car rattles like a can of marbles!

Its a love hate thing though- sux for cruising, but all so fun to run it very hard

so what I am trying to say is-- if you don't want to ruin your car in a short time- go with the softer set-up of the 2!
I had a different vert many years ago with stock M tech shocks and a 70mm drop and the car didnt rattle after 5 years still with that suspension.

[bmw325csi]

I have d2 coils with 333lbs all around, with the shocks set at the stiffest setting its a little annoying on Cali roads, esp the cowl shakes but at the moment I have em set to the softest setting and it feels close to stock but still has the characteristics of coil overs with the fast rebound and all.

[reelizmpro]

I installed the GC's today but haven't driven the car yet. I guess we'll see how the Off the shelf Koni's hold up.

[MR 325]

I would have voted for the H&R, ha! What did it have on there before?

[reelizmpro]

Sedan Eibach Prokits which are way too soft for a vert. It was bottoming out too easily. They had to come out and I had the GC's sitting in the garage so I tossed them in. Hopefully the off the shelf Koni SA's can handle the stiff spring rates. The H&R Races are still on my M3 so I would have had to take them off first anyway, etc. etc.

[MR 325]

5 lug the vert, 4 lug the M3. Problem solved.

[fporro]

GC's & 475/675 & on HD's.

She'll rattle and cowl but chasis will be fine.
You're bearings will pulvorise before anything else.

I'm in town for a few days, lets chill.
Going by IE's then to see Rob at e30motorwerks.

[Wh33lhop]

Grab a 4-point lower tie bar/brace for the front, it should help a bit.

[vlad]

I got GC 450/600 with adjustable KOnis, car is very low (the skid plate looks like a german tank after the Kursk battle) but the ride is very nice, the adjustability is very handy

[VicSkimmr]

I'm on GC too, 450/750. It's stiff as shit but eh you get used to it. It isn't bone jarring, but it'll definitely spill your coffee on medium sized bumps.