[wdlfbio]

Car is a '12 335 E92. I'll track or autoX it 6-10 times a years and lots of spirited driving around town. Probably add camber plates with either suspension setup. So, if the price was pretty dang close, which set would you go with?

I'm very interested in ease of raising/lowering the car while the shocks are on the vehicle. We get several inches of snow each year and I don't need a $50k snow plow, so she'll need to be raised back up from Dec-Mar.

[Doyle]

Neither.

Check out the TC Kline SA or the HPAutowerks Koni/Swift setup. Both are a better product for a better price.

[pits200]

Originally Posted by Doyle

Neither.

Check out the TC Kline SA or the HPAutowerks Koni/Swift setup. Both are a better product for a better price.

Doyle I know you do your research but the ASTs are pretty high quality. I have a set and the drive is fantastic.

I won't comment on the TCKline since I haven't driven a car which has them. As for my ASTs, I would match them against any other coilover set I've had on previous cars when matching ride comfort with performance.

Now if you're looking for straight performance, perhaps other coils fit the bill better.

But the bottom line is, when you get into the $1500 - $2500 range for coils and find good reviews, the average driver wont notice a significant difference. With factors like tires, springs, sways and bushings, you should be happy with any of the coils you choose which have got good reviews. (Note: I know it was awhile ago, but I heard some issues with the k3s)

[wdlfbio]

How would you rank those 4 systems without cost as a factor? Msrp vs actual sales price varies quite a bit.

[ApexM3]

Hey i have a very lightly set of KW V3 for E92 XI for sale. They are off of my 2011 335XI.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=661527

$1900 OBO

LMK

[SS e93]

Based on my limited knowledge from reading some of the threads here unless you plan on putting linear springs on the kws, the better choice is AST or the other ones Doyle mentioned. Putting linear springs on KWs puts you in the same cost range as ASTs anyway.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by pits200

Doyle I know you do your research but the ASTs are pretty high quality. I have a set and the drive is fantastic.

I won't comment on the TCKline since I haven't driven a car which has them. As for my ASTs, I would match them against any other coilover set I've had on previous cars when matching ride comfort with performance.

Now if you're looking for straight performance, perhaps other coils fit the bill better.

But the bottom line is, when you get into the $1500 - $2500 range for coils and find good reviews, the average driver wont notice a significant difference. With factors like tires, springs, sways and bushings, you should be happy with any of the coils you choose which have got good reviews. (Note: I know it was awhile ago, but I heard some issues with the k3s)

I never said ASTs were bad. They are absolutely better than most coilovers on the market (H&R, Bilstein, K&W). However, I feel like for 90% of the drivers on this board, and 100% of the drivers asking this question, that TC Kline will be a better choice.

Why?

1) Due to the inherint design qualities, twin tube shocks/struts will ride better with street-friendly spring rates. Monotube shocks do better with higher spring rates. For the record, on our vehicles 400/800 isn't that high of a spring rate. This is based on my personal experience, the experience of techs that I have spoken with, and the experience of just about every race team that uses $$ suspensions (Moton, JZ, AST 5xxx, Ohlins, etc). I have not had a chance to check out the new 4150s, but they may ride a little better. ASTs ride well, but I feel like my TC Klines handle fast compression a little better.

2) By your own admission, "when you get into the $1500 - $2500 range for coils and find good reviews, the average driver wont notice a significant difference". If that is the case, then why buy the $2300 AST 4100 (per HPA) over the $1900 TC Kline SA w/ external adjusters (per HPA)? All else being equal, I'll choose the less expensive route any day!

[pits200]

Originally Posted by Doyle

I never said ASTs were bad. They are absolutely better than most coilovers on the market (H&R, Bilstein, K&W). However, I feel like for 90% of the drivers on this board, and 100% of the drivers asking this question, that TC Kline will be a better choice.

Why?

1) Due to the inherint design qualities, twin tube shocks/struts will ride better with street-friendly spring rates. Monotube shocks do better with higher spring rates. For the record, on our vehicles 400/800 isn't that high of a spring rate. This is based on my personal experience, the experience of techs that I have spoken with, and the experience of just about every race team that uses $$ suspensions (Moton, JZ, AST 5xxx, Ohlins, etc). I have not had a chance to check out the new 4150s, but they may ride a little better. ASTs ride well, but I feel like my TC Klines handle fast compression a little better.

2) By your own admission, "when you get into the $1500 - $2500 range for coils and find good reviews, the average driver wont notice a significant difference". If that is the case, then why buy the $2300 AST 4100 (per HPA) over the $1900 TC Kline SA w/ external adjusters (per HPA)? All else being equal, I'll choose the less expensive route any day!

I didn't say to get ASTs in my post, I was just trying to convey that it's hard to get suspension setup opinions because most people haven't driven on multiple coil setups for the same car.

I just know how I felt after buying a decently priced mod and always had buyers remorse. Best thing to do is just pull the trigger after some research and fine tune things with other suspension parts.

Also, when I ordered my asts late 2010, they were $1999 before the price jumps of 2011.

[Doyle]

Originally Posted by pits200

I didn't say to get ASTs in my post, I was just trying to convey that it's hard to get suspension setup opinions because most people haven't driven on multiple coil setups for the same car.

I just know how I felt after buying a decently priced mod and always had buyers remorse. Best thing to do is just pull the trigger after some research and fine tune things with other suspension parts.

Also, when I ordered my asts late 2010, they were $1999 before the price jumps of 2011.

My mistake! Sometimes I hate communicating via text. It seemed like you were pushing the ASTs.

I completely agree! Everytime I drop a fair bit of money I get a sinking feeling in my gut. The good news is that choosing between ASTs and TCK is like choosing between Brooklyn Decker and Kate Upton.

[e85sbm]

Originally Posted by Doyle

The good news is that choosing between ASTs and TCK is like choosing between Brooklyn Decker and Kate Upton.

My choice is for Brooklyn Decker....sorry to all of the Kate Upton fans, but that is my opinion

[RevC]

pssht. kate upton.