Please help a novice: Bilstein PSS vs. TC Kline

[kaivonp]

I need a suspension upgrade for my e36 328i daily driver. Spirited driving, but no track use. Lots of big pot holes in New England. I'm looking for improved handling but not lowering the car much--I already have the sports package suspension on there. Under $1200 to spend (putting money into other suspension upgrades too).

A lot of people seem to like Bilsteins, but I've also heard that they give a harsh ride because they use high pressure gas. Is that peoples' experience with the PSS?
Alternatively, I'm looking a TC Kline/Koni coilover setup. I've heard that the ride is more forgiving because Koni uses low pressure gas. The TCK springs are also thinner gauge "to allow for more travel" (good over potholes), but they're shorter so I would need height adjusters to keep the rear from dropping too low. The Bilstein PSS doesn't have that, so I'm wondering: a) does it compromise the ride to use adjusters, should I get springs to match the actual height I want, and b) Will the PSS be as low as the TCK/Koni such that I'd want to use a height adjuster with that too?

Price and warranties are comparable. So performance is the main measurement.

I've emailed TC Kline (great customer service, by the way), but I want to hear about other peoples' experiences before pulling the trigger. This seems like a fairly complex and expensive issue so I'm trying to do my homework.

thanks in advance for any advice.

[YAOGinanM3]

I need a suspension upgrade for my e36 328i daily driver. Spirited driving, but no track use. Lots of big pot holes in New England. I'm looking for improved handling but not lowering the car much--I already have the sports package suspension on there. Under $1200 to spend (putting money into other suspension upgrades too).

A lot of people seem to like Bilsteins, but I've also heard that they give a harsh ride because they use high pressure gas. Is that peoples' experience with the PSS?
Alternatively, I'm looking a TC Kline/Koni coilover setup. I've heard that the ride is more forgiving because Koni uses low pressure gas. The TCK springs are also thinner gauge "to allow for more travel" (good over potholes), but they're shorter so I would need height adjusters to keep the rear from dropping too low. The Bilstein PSS doesn't have that, so I'm wondering: a) does it compromise the ride to use adjusters, should I get springs to match the actual height I want, and b) Will the PSS be as low as the TCK/Koni such that I'd want to use a height adjuster with that too?

Price and warranties are comparable. So performance is the main measurement.

I've emailed TC Kline (great customer service, by the way), but I want to hear about other peoples' experiences before pulling the trigger. This seems like a fairly complex and expensive issue so I'm trying to do my homework.

thanks in advance for any advice.


The TCKline Racing's people are excellent to work with and offer excellent racing suspension and even better support. I've driven a few BMWs with various TCKR coilovers and my current M3 has a set of custom rebuilt TCKR D/A coilovers holding up the car. But TCKline Racing's off the shelf dampers are not going to make a very good suspension for use on very rough roads. TCKR builds race car suspension which is capable of use on the street which is a very different thing. TCKline's Koni based coilovers are going to feel much more firm than even a fresh stock BMW E36 M3 even dialed all the way down but man do they work well in the canyons and race track.

Bilstein HD dampers if they offer an application for your particular car will ride just a little bit firmer than new stock BMW dampers but they are MUCH better handling, much more durable and longer lasting. Bilstein Sports can be VERY harsh riding depending on the application and it is hard to tell which ones ride well because there are so many different versions out there. The Bilstein PSS system dampers are basically Billie Sport dampers in a coilover body and can be very harsh riding for some reason on BMWs. This is very different from the PSS9 coilovers. Bilstein's PSS9's seem to give an acceptable ride that tends to be on the firm side again depending on the application. Billie PSS9's when turned down are actually pretty good riding and when turned up have firm control for sporty driving on the spring supplied by Bilstein.

Koni Sport dampers are going to be slightly firmer but very similar in ride to the way a fresh stock BMW sport suspension car rides. The Koni Sports can also be adjusted to provide much improved body control for sport or racing use and to compensate for normal wear and tear unlike the stock BMW dampers or Billie HD or Sport dampers. Like the OEM BMW sport/non-sport dampers and TCKline Racing dampers Koni Sports are a twin tube damper design. Bilstein devotees will tell you that monotube technology is "better" and I don't disagree but "better" is very hard to demonstrate on street cars or even dedicated track cars. Koni Sports are very durable and are the maybe closest thing to a stock BMW damper after Billie HD dampers in terms of ride but due to the way they are valved they handle and last a heck of a lot longer than BMW dampers.

If your main concern is to retain the most comfortable ride on poor local roads you may want to reconsider your thought process. The absolute best ride is going to be found with stock BMW springs, struts and rear dampers. If you want to keep your stock like ride and your dampers are shot replace the worn dampers with stock dampers! Even if you do replace your worn out dampers new stock dampers will feel much firmer than worn out struts and dampers. Also consider that worn out bumpstops and bushings will be found under the car if you have any sort of mileage (50K+) and this will also contribute to poor ride and handling especially if the car has seen these rough roads while accumulating this mileage.

I hope this helps!

[kaivonp]

This is awesome--very useful.

Thanks for taking the time.