H&R with Koni Clarification

[Powling]

I'm about to order a new set of Koni Sports adjustable struts to go with my H&R super sport springs, but am confused on what are the actual part numbers with Koni that I need.

They are for a bone stock 318is, and some people state certain strut part numbers work but not with lowering springs.

Can anyone clarify what part numbers I need? The attached image is from the Koni site, but I'm still confused on if this is correct or not from what I've read on here in old threads.

[Powling]

For anyone interested in the future, here is the reply I got direct from Koni support.

I expect that your car is a late E30 chassis and not an early E36 chassis because the E36s have some different issues from 4 to 6 cylinder and luckily the E30 does not. Unless you have extreme lowering amounts, most normal street based lowering does not require a shorter damper body. Since KONI only makes strut inserts to go inside the factory strut housing on the E30, the factory length strut housing is required. The design of the E30 housing with the big spindle attached at the bottom (unlike E36, E46, E90) makes making a complete strut impossible at a price that normal E30 owners could afford.

We have two inserts that will fit your E30: 8641 1021Sport & 8641 1210SPORT. Both are externally rebound adjustable yellow KONI SPOrt inserts. The 1021 is about 30 mm longer on maximim extended length which if could leave the spring a little bit loose when teh car is jacked up with the wheels off the ground but will not make any difference when the car is on the ground and driving. It is also very slightly softer on compression damping (may ride a tad bit softer on bumps) and the same on rebound dampiong. The 1210 Sport that we use on E30 M3s and other E30s is that 30 mm shorter on maximum extended length and slightly firmer than the 1021. Both should be pretty easily available and about the same price. Given the choice between teh two, for your lowering I would give a slight preference to the 1210 but the 1021 should also work fine too.

[Mwishlist]

Thanks for posting this!

[S.J.1981]

Thanks for posting this!

May i ask, does one need to purchase bump stops for the front and rears? or does Koni include bump stops?

Thank you

[Powling]

May i ask, does one need to purchase bump stops for the front and rears? or does Koni include bump stops?

Thank you

I bought OEM BMW bump stops and cut about an inch off of them, but just I only did that to be safe.

My Koni's didn't come with bump stops from what I remember.

[S.J.1981]

I bought OEM BMW bump stops and cut about an inch off of them, but just I only did that to be safe.

My Koni's didn't come with bump stops from what I remember.

Are you certain of this?

I find it bonkers that spending nearly €400 on a set of dampers, and not to have anything else included, so i would guess a new dust boot as well is required?

Those B8 Sports are ridiculous on the street and crash everywhere, but at least they came with some washers and a dust boot.

If Konis are the same, then i will just trash those Bilsteins and get me some proper coil overs instead.

[Powling]

Are you certain of this?

I find it bonkers that spending nearly €400 on a set of dampers, and not to have anything else included, so i would guess a new dust boot as well is required?

Those B8 Sports are ridiculous on the street and crash everywhere, but at least they came with some washers and a dust boot.

If Konis are the same, then i will just trash those Bilsteins and get me some proper coil overs instead.

From what I remember they didn't come with bump stops which is why I used OEM ones I ordered separately.

[wworm]

any part numbers on shorter housing'ed rear konis?

[Powling]

any part numbers on shorter housing'ed rear konis?

That I don't have, but I do know my set that I ordered (same part numbers in the first post) fit perfectly with my H&R Super Sports which are a bit lower than regular Sports but not as low as H&R Race's.

[S.J.1981]

any part numbers on shorter housing'ed rear konis?

Here in Germany, there are three part numbers for the rears:

80-2522Sport

80-2641Sport

80-2522SP1

On their website, the only information mentioned is "Remove bump rubber before adjusting", even the pictures show the 2641Sport and 2522SP1 to come with some hardware (washers and a nut) while the 2522Sport comes just with the damper.

I shall give Koni a call next week and ask which one is short if you like, or someone here can just tell us ;)

[AndrewBird]

FYI, the shorter OAL strut for the front is shorter because the length of the strut shaft is shorter. That means with a lowered car, you are less likely to bottom the strut out because there is more room below the shaft inside the strut. I. E. - You have more travel.

[Powling]

I just remembered that I messaged Koni customer service about this issue around a year ago. Have a look at the below response from them, hopefully it helps in some way.

Reminder that below he is referencing my question of H&R super sports on my car for springs.

"Unless you have extreme lowering amounts, most normal street based lowering does not require a shorter damper body. Since KONI only makes strut inserts to go inside the factory strut housing on the E30, the factory length strut housing is required. The design of the E30 housing with the big spindle attached at the bottom (unlike E36, E46, E90) makes making a complete strut impossible at a price that normal E30 owners could afford.

We have two inserts that will fit your E30: 8641 1021Sport & 8641 1210SPORT. Bioth are externally rebound adjustable yellow KONI SPOrt inserts. The 1021 is about 30 mm longer on maximum extended length which if could leave the spring a little bit loose when the car is jacked up with the wheels off the ground but will not make any difference when the car is on the ground and driving. It is also very slightly softer on compression damping (may ride a tad bit softer on bumps) and the same on rebound dampiong. The 1210 Sport that we use on E30 M3s and other E30s is that 30 mm shorter on mximum extended length and slightly firmer than the 1021. Both should be pretty easily available and about the same price. Given the choice between teh two, for your lowering I would give a slight preference to the 1210 but the 1021 should also work fine too."

[hopeful]

Hi wondering if Powling used the m3 shock cartridge? Found this by googling "Koni catalogue".

I see the rep said the m3 carts will work but I'm wondering if you did indeed fit them?

[Powling]

Hi wondering if Powling used the m3 shock cartridge? Found this by googling "Koni catalogue".

I see the rep said the m3 carts will work but I'm wondering if you did indeed fit them?

hopeful its been a while but from what I remember I ended up going with what was in the photo I originally posted, so the 1210 which looks to be the same as the M3 in the chart you posted.

[hopeful]

hopeful its been a while but from what I remember I ended up going with what was in the photo I originally posted, so the 1210 which looks to be the same as the M3 in the chart you posted.

FRONTS
Thanks for the quick response, I have found some conflicting information with KONI p/n on this forum regarding the 8641-1210 sport fitting the front however with what you've said here and the fact that the B8's are the same P/N for my '88 325i and a '88M3 I'm going to go with this route.


REARS
Here's the new confusion borne of this, on the Koni catalogue, it lists 80 2522Sport for my '88 325i, 80 2522SP1 for an M3 and for Powling the 318iS 80 2641Sport? which is better? I see they are all remove from car to adjust but there must be differences amongst them?