Anyone use KONI Special Active?

Spitfire007 · 11-23-2018, 01:18 PM

Has anyone used these on their car yet??

Newish design.
Would install on 2009 e90 sport package...

Currently have B6s with stock sport springs. Rides like a wooden plank.

biz77 · 11-23-2018, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

Has anyone used these on their car yet??

Newish design.
Would install on 2009 e90 sport package...

Currently have B6s with stock sport springs. Rides like a wooden plank.

They are the same product as the Koni FSD, just repackaged and renamed. My guess is if you dislike the monotubes you have, don't put in any time on an auto x or road course and are sticking with your factory sport springs, you will love them.

Spitfire007 · 11-23-2018, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biz77

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

Has anyone used these on their car yet??

Newish design.
Would install on 2009 e90 sport package...

Currently have B6s with stock sport springs. Rides like a wooden plank.

They are the same product as the Koni FSD, just repackaged and renamed. My guess is if you dislike the monotubes you have, don't put in any time on an auto x or road course and are sticking with your factory sport springs, you will love them.

Thanks!

I love the B6s on smooth roads, and smooth highways. Rough roads at slower speeds are horrendous....need to find something better adapted to around-town speeds

feuer · 11-23-2018, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

Thanks!

I love the B6s on smooth roads, and smooth highways. Rough roads at slower speeds are horrendous....need to find something better adapted to around-town speeds

I suggest higher profile tires or diferent vehicle. No strut/shock/spring will get this chassis to ride smooth....

Spitfire007 · 11-23-2018, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feuer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

Thanks!

I love the B6s on smooth roads, and smooth highways. Rough roads at slower speeds are horrendous....need to find something better adapted to around-town speeds

I suggest higher profile tires or diferent vehicle. No strut/shock/spring will get this chassis to ride smooth....

You might be right.
Currently on stock 17s with DWS06. Softer tire doesn't exist.

Thinking F10 5 series

Phil325i · 11-24-2018, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feuer

No strut/shock/spring will get this chassis to ride smooth....

I tend to disagree. Ohlins R&T on full soft comes pretty close to a perfectly smooth ride. Pricey, yes, but great...

tlow98 · 11-28-2018, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feuer

I suggest higher profile tires or diferent vehicle. No strut/shock/spring will get this chassis to ride smooth....

Why is that? The e46 rode so well - did they shorten the length of the control arms? Even after ditching the run flats I’m not very impressed with the ride. Still pretty harsh. Base 328i e91...

Spitfire007 · 11-28-2018, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlow98

Quote:

Originally Posted by feuer

I suggest higher profile tires or diferent vehicle. No strut/shock/spring will get this chassis to ride smooth....

Why is that? The e46 rode so well - did they shorten the length of the control arms? Even after ditching the run flats I'm not very impressed with the ride. Still pretty harsh. Base 328i e91...

Same here. I was looking to reproduce the e46 ride and balance.
My car is paid for so I'm not up for giving up yet. BUT this has to be the worst 'luxury car' ride ever.
Was even worse stock.

feuer · 11-28-2018, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

Same here. I was looking to reproduce the e46 ride and balance.
My car is paid for so I'm not up for giving up yet. BUT this has to be the worst 'luxury car' ride ever.
Was even worse stock.

Luxury? 3-series? Far from it. Is just the brand perception especially in US market.

feuer · 11-28-2018, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlow98

Why is that? The e46 rode so well - did they shorten the length of the control arms? Even after ditching the run flats I’m not very impressed with the ride. Still pretty harsh. Base 328i e91...

Chassis and suspension design and suspension travel that isn't very compliant. For example: the strut bar. It fastens bellow the windshield line. Every impact from road imperfections ends up rattling the dashboard and steering wheel. Another example: it's riding on the bump stops often.

mermade · 12-03-2018, 11:33 AM

rather than reboxed FSD, they are a generation two version and do ride really well
https://mp-uk.com/choose-your-car/bm...snf=1&brand=92

MAMSport · 12-27-2018, 09:36 PM

I recently installed Special Actives on my E82 128i M Sport with less than 40k miles. Car has lots of suspension upgrades to M3 pieces but not RTABs.

Driving on Massachusetts roads, the car encounters lots of crack seals, potholes, mild frost heaves, etc. The OE shocks/struts felt mushy and harsh over this type of surface, probably because they were designed to absorb the impacts instead of the run-flat tires that came as OE rubber. I am very happy with the ride quality improvement.

While I don't have any track time plans, as a DD, this is pretty good. I'm on 17" wheels with Bridgestone RE980AS (225/45) which were a bit of an improvement over Pilot A/S 3 (not 3+) in staggered 18" sizes, mounted on BMW performance wheels. I'll probably install the 18s in the spring to burn off the last rubber on the Pilot A/S 3 tires, and if the ride is still tolerable, consider 18" tires for the wheels in the future. Otherwise, those wheels will go up for sale as bare wheels sometime next summer.

12-28-2018, 09:46 AM

After hearing most every review end with "these dampers seem to wear out very quickly and mimic factory suspension soon after install" I'm not sure why peeps still even consider these.

mpathic · 12-28-2018, 12:13 PM

SpecialActives are a next version of the original FSD. Not the same with a paint job.
Considered them, seriously considered them. Ending up going with Koni Sport single adjustable, same as on many BMW's before. The cost difference doesn't justify risking not being happy with the new calibration, vs a strut I'm familiar with from using them on many cars before, and being able to set it for how I want it.
Btw the car came with Bilstein B4 on the rear. Unbolted them and gave a few up and downs on the shaft. Nice shock for what it is, not sure why these get dismissed so quickly.

Spitfire007 · 12-29-2018, 04:59 AM

I just drove an X2 with M sport package as a loaner.
The most impressive was the 8-speed. For someone that hasn't driven anything other than a Tiguan or my 6MT 328, I was blown away. Finally an auto trans that does what I Want.
Interior was nice.

Suspension was......meh. Rough and unrefined. What is it with BMW?
Rode like a diving board.

Thorin · 12-29-2018, 03:58 PM

Nurburgring Syndrome.

11-23-2018, 01:18 PM	#1
Spitfire007 Captain 192 Rep 684 Posts Drives: 09 328i Sport 6MT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [0.00]	Anyone use KONI Special Active? Has anyone used these on their car yet?? Newish design. Would install on 2009 e90 sport package... Currently have B6s with stock sport springs. Rides like a wooden plank.
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12-03-2018, 11:33 AM	#11
mermade New Member 6 Rep 27 Posts Drives: m5 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	rather than reboxed FSD, they are a generation two version and do ride really well https://mp-uk.com/choose-your-car/bm...snf=1&brand=92
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12-27-2018, 09:36 PM	#12
MAMSport Second Lieutenant 97 Rep 277 Posts Drives: '13 128i M-Sport coupe Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: North Shore of MA iTrader: (1)	I recently installed Special Actives on my E82 128i M Sport with less than 40k miles. Car has lots of suspension upgrades to M3 pieces but not RTABs. Driving on Massachusetts roads, the car encounters lots of crack seals, potholes, mild frost heaves, etc. The OE shocks/struts felt mushy and harsh over this type of surface, probably because they were designed to absorb the impacts instead of the run-flat tires that came as OE rubber. I am very happy with the ride quality improvement. While I don't have any track time plans, as a DD, this is pretty good. I'm on 17" wheels with Bridgestone RE980AS (225/45) which were a bit of an improvement over Pilot A/S 3 (not 3+) in staggered 18" sizes, mounted on BMW performance wheels. I'll probably install the 18s in the spring to burn off the last rubber on the Pilot A/S 3 tires, and if the ride is still tolerable, consider 18" tires for the wheels in the future. Otherwise, those wheels will go up for sale as bare wheels sometime next summer. __________________ E9x M3 front & rear suspension arms; BMW Performance brakes upgraded to drilled rotors in rear; BMW performance shifter; BMW Performance Exhaust; Wave Trac LSD with modified 'nannies'; BMW Euro Intake box; BMW Aluminum Strut Tower bar; ECS front and rear sway bars; 3 stage intake with BPC software; BMW style 78, 17 x 8" wheels with Bridgestone RE 980AS 225/45-17 tires; Koni Special Active struts/shocks, E9x M3 RTABs.
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12-28-2018, 09:46 AM	#13
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	After hearing most every review end with "these dampers seem to wear out very quickly and mimic factory suspension soon after install" I'm not sure why peeps still even consider these.
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12-28-2018, 12:13 PM	#14
mpathic First Lieutenant 38 Rep 310 Posts Drives: Z4 MCoupe,3.0Si R,E61 535xiT Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	SpecialActives are a next version of the original FSD. Not the same with a paint job. Considered them, seriously considered them. Ending up going with Koni Sport single adjustable, same as on many BMW's before. The cost difference doesn't justify risking not being happy with the new calibration, vs a strut I'm familiar with from using them on many cars before, and being able to set it for how I want it. Btw the car came with Bilstein B4 on the rear. Unbolted them and gave a few up and downs on the shaft. Nice shock for what it is, not sure why these get dismissed so quickly. __________________ And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
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12-29-2018, 04:59 AM	#15
Spitfire007 Captain 192 Rep 684 Posts Drives: 09 328i Sport 6MT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [0.00]	I just drove an X2 with M sport package as a loaner. The most impressive was the 8-speed. For someone that hasn't driven anything other than a Tiguan or my 6MT 328, I was blown away. Finally an auto trans that does what I Want. Interior was nice. Suspension was......meh. Rough and unrefined. What is it with BMW? Rode like a diving board.
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12-29-2018, 03:58 PM	#16
Thorin Second Lieutenant 121 Rep 272 Posts Drives: e91 6MT ZSP Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Nurburgring Syndrome.
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