Next Mod - suspension

[BMDub325is]

Look what Santa (Fedex) brought me today....

http://www.geocities.com/bmdub325is/images/suspension/IMAG0040.JPG

Vogtland springs (German)

Koni Shocks and struts

Bimmerworlds Lifetime warranty RSMs (will work for the price)

Install coming soon.
((( I was going to put them on this week because I am on vacation but the damn things didnt show up until today so I may have to put it off for a week :( .)))

Oh yeah... What is adjustable about the Koni shocks/struts? Is it adjustable dampening or height? If it it dampening then where should I set them for street/spirited driving?

[hellrot325]

Oh yeah... What is adjustable about the Koni shocks/struts? Is it adjustable dampening or height? If it it dampening then where should I set them for street/spirited driving?
Same thing that I'll be doing. The Koni have adjustable damping. The springs provide the ride height, which is fixed. As far as settings, search and you will get feedback that you relate to what you feel would be optimum.

[beatniks325]

makes me jealous, I want a new suspension too!

those bimmerworld repair shop RSMs will for sure work for ya....I installed a set about a month ago. in summary, they rock.

[B.Watts]

Oh yeah... What is adjustable about the Koni shocks/struts? Is it adjustable dampening or height? If it it dampening then where should I set them for street/spirited driving?

You have a shock leak if your Koni's are acting as dampeners. The damping, on the other hand, may very well be adjustable. ;)

[BMDub325is]

You have a shock leak if your Koni's are acting as dampeners. The damping, on the other hand, may very well be adjustable. ;)


You made me go out to dictionary.com... lol. I guess damping is the word I was looking for not dampening.

Still have not had a chance to put the setup in yet. I am shooting for wednesday but my dad has his spring compressor locked up in storage and I am not sure if I can get it by wed. I might just get one of those goofy loaners from autozone. The one my dad has is a MAC (kind that attaches to the wall) and is much quicker/easier to use though.

[metale]

They lost the x-brace on the way!... :mad

Or you didn't order 1? It's on my top list for BMWs, on top of suspension... ;)

[BMDub325is]

They lost the x-brace on the way!... :mad

Or you didn't order 1? It's on my top list for BMWs, on top of suspension... ;)


Not very high on the list. After I get this setup in it may move up the list. We'll see.

[CrazedBMW]

They lost the x-brace on the way!... :mad

Or you didn't order 1? It's on my top list for BMWs, on top of suspension... ;)


you probably will see better handling from the x-brace AFTER you do suspension upgrades/updates on your car. just my .02's

[e36'n]

where should I set them for street/spirited driving?

I just got the same kit with Koni Springs (made by Vogtland) and it's great. I set mine at 1 turn from the softest setting (1/2.5 turns) in the front and 1.25/2.5 in the back.

I tried setting it firmer but the roads where I live are horrible

[metale]

you probably will see better handling from the x-brace AFTER you do suspension upgrades/updates on your car. just my .02's

IMO, they are 2 different (almost separate) fields (chassis and suspension).

Of course suspension plays a big role, but I find the x-brace to be the best bang for your buck. Especially on bad roads, where you can't go very far with suspension :)

[makken]

very nice!
if you don't mind my asking, how much did you pay for the entire set?

[e36'n]

i paid $795cdn for mine

[yanatron]

i paid $795cdn for mine

wow! from where?

[BMDub325is]

I just got the same kit with Koni Springs (made by Vogtland) and it's great. I set mine at 1 turn from the softest setting (1/2.5 turns) in the front and 1.25/2.5 in the back.

Our roads suck too..... What do you mean by 1/2.5 turns up front and 1.25/2.5 turns in back? Is softest all the way counterclockwise or clockwise?


very nice!
if you don't mind my asking, how much did you pay for the entire set?

I paid 683$ with shipping from puremotorsport. It is a better price than the group buy that was going on here. They also have a tokiko setup for 5 something but I am not putting that garbage in my car. They have an all koni setup too but I cant remember if it was more or less (it was around the same price).

[Slick Willi]

im ordering the vogtland kit when i get back from vacation myself :) the all koni kit is $665

the vogtland kit drops it more than the koni doesnt it? and isnt the vogtland kit a match spring for the konis?

[e36'n]

wow! from where?

www.tunerworks.com

ask for Rob and I'm sure he'll hook you up


What do you mean by 1/2.5 turns up front and 1.25/2.5 turns in back? Is softest all the way counterclockwise or clockwise?

The front softest is counterclock wise...so it's about 40% towards firm.

The back I couldn't figure out which way was firm or soft b/c the instructions aren't as clear as they should be...that's why I put it in the middle.

[yanatron]

thanks man...i'll give them a shout!

[bigbadboss101]

I got the Koni Struts/Springs from Tunerworks. Haven't played around with the adjustments yet.

[e36'n]

I got the Koni Struts/Springs from Tunerworks. Haven't played around with the adjustments yet.

Were you the one who claimed that they raised the back by any chance?

[bigbadboss101]

Were you the one who claimed that they raised the back by any chance?

No wasn't me. ARe you going to Bimmerfest this weekend? Would be good to meet and see others' cars. The back right now is a little higher than the front, but not too much. It will settle over the next little while. You said you set it to next to soft? Mine I can turn the wheel 3 times. The not so useful sheet of paper said max is 720, which would be 2 turns. Mine is at one full turn. You said you can adjust the back? The Mechanic said the back in not adjustable, and looking in my trunk there is not strut tower, unlike my Prelude where all 4 are adjustable.

[BMDub325is]

No wasn't me. ARe you going to Bimmerfest this weekend? Would be good to meet and see others' cars. The back right now is a little higher than the front, but not too much. It will settle over the next little while. You said you set it to next to soft? Mine I can turn the wheel 3 times. The not so useful sheet of paper said max is 720, which would be 2 turns. Mine is at one full turn. You said you can adjust the back? The Mechanic said the back in not adjustable, and looking in my trunk there is not strut tower, unlike my Prelude where all 4 are adjustable.

The backs are adjustable just not while they are on the car (according to other posts I have been through and the instructions that came with them.)

I hope I get mine right the first time so I do not have to pull them back off.

[e36'n]

No wasn't me. ARe you going to Bimmerfest this weekend? Would be good to meet and see others' cars. The back right now is a little higher than the front, but not too much. It will settle over the next little while. You said you set it to next to soft? Mine I can turn the wheel 3 times. The not so useful sheet of paper said max is 720, which would be 2 turns. Mine is at one full turn. You said you can adjust the back? The Mechanic said the back in not adjustable, and looking in my trunk there is not strut tower, unlike my Prelude where all 4 are adjustable.

Most likely. I want to get my car looking good first though...I'll let you know if I am. I took out the spring pads in the back as per Rob's advice and the back is definitely lower than the front.

For the front I set it to about 40% firm. I can only turn it 2.5 times from soft to firm and I'm 1.5 from fully firm.

Yeah the instructions suck for the back...I couldn't figure out what way so I set it in the middle. I found decent instructions on the website. http://www.koni-na.com/comp.cfm

Was a bit hard to figure out but once you feel the click you're set.

[MikekiM]

Post up pics once they're in!

[BMDub325is]

Got the rears in last night/this morning. Theres no way I am doing the fronts today (it is about 95 degrees out).

I am happy and very pissed at the same time. I am happy because my take-offs are way more solid and the rear end is not hopping anymore. It is also cornering way better (no roll).

Jingling noise did not go away (I thought it was the RSMs but I guess it is a brake clip or something). RSMs were starting to rip on one side and the metal was seperated from the rubber on the other sid, so that was a good replacement.

Heres the shitty part... I held the stock springs up next to the new ones before installing and immediately got sad. The new springs look about one inch higher than the stockers. I know springs will settle over time but damn.

Now that I got the new ones in, my rear is sitting way higher than it was with the stock setup. I was just about tucking with the stock ones and now I have about an inch gap between fender/tire.

Do these new setups settle substantially? This was my first time putting springs in the rear of a car so maybe I did something wrong. Anyone have any Ideas? I am not happy at all and would hate to call and bitch for something I did wrong..

Anyway, here is a pic of the springs side by side....

http://www.geocities.com/bmdub325is/images/suspension/IMAG0074.JPG

[BMDub325is]

Oh yeah... here are some comparison pics.... I had to enlarge the before pic (couldnt find a good one) and my camera sucks (got a new one on the way though) so quality is lacking. Here they are...

Before:

http://www.geocities.com/bmdub325is/images/suspension/RearBefore.JPG

After:

http://www.geocities.com/bmdub325is/images/suspension/RearAfter.JPG

[e36'n]

wow...that is a difference...try removing the spring pads...I did and it dropped it an extra bit....depending on how thick the pads are that could help you out alot.

As far as side effects go, I heard there are none, besides a noise that you may hear when you are backing out of your driveway. Give it a shout I'd say.

[BMDub325is]

wow...that is a difference...try removing the spring pads...I did and it dropped it an extra bit....depending on how thick the pads are that could help you out alot.

As far as side effects go, I heard there are none, besides a noise that you may hear when you are backing out of your driveway. Give it a shout I'd say.

If I remove the pads wont it be loud and annoying all of the time? Turning rubber on metal to metal on metal.

I adjusted them about one full turn from softest to firm. They seem to be super firm unless I have some other rear suspension component going out. I still get the loud thud everytime i hit small sharp bumps. Any ideas what this could be?

[e36'n]

If I remove the pads wont it be loud and annoying all of the time? Turning rubber on metal to metal on metal.

I adjusted them about one full turn from softest to firm. They seem to be super firm unless I have some other rear suspension component going out. I still get the loud thud everytime i hit small sharp bumps. Any ideas what this could be?

I don't find it loud...in fact I've never heard the metal on metal sound yet...so are you more towards full or soft?

[bigbadboss101]

I have the Koni setup and the back is riding a bit high. It's been only a week and a bit so may be it will settle. I am not sure how hard the shop guy set it but next time I have it up might soften the back end settings a bit. Will try to get some pics. Car handles well, but is a bit hard over good ol Alberta roads.

[BMDub325is]

I don't find it loud...in fact I've never heard the metal on metal sound yet...so are you more towards full or soft?

I have it one full turn from soft to hard. Full hard was 2.5 turns so I am a little softer than half way. I think I am going to yank them and set to full soft. I might get the spring pads out too but I think the spring pads collapse so much with the weight of the car that they would only take up 1/4" at most fully "squished" so it may not be worth it. I am not going to mess with it until I get a chance to do the front (hopefully friday).


When I was messing around with the adjustments I had set them to full stiff and let the shock extend, locking the setting. It was hard as hell to press the shock back together to adjust again. It kept popping out of the vise (I had it at an angle to not squish the threads). I ultimately took a mini sledge hammer and pounded the vise handle until it would not move at all. Would have probably been easier with a fresh vice with crisp corners on it though because mine is all rounded off from beating it with a hammer (was in a car shop for at least 10 years too before I got it).