[JamesO]

I'm still pretty new to this, but I've been doing a lot of reading in older threads. I haven't seen this specific question come up, so I wanted to ask.

I don't plan on taking my e90 to a track, but I live very close to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, so I have some awesome, very curvy drives available.

I'm deciding between a KW V1 and a Koni yellow/H&R sport setup. Which of the two would eliminate body roll the most? Or would they be pretty comparable?

I like the idea of lowering it a bit, but I also might also just go with sways.

Thanks for any ideas.

[MonacoTT]

Originally Posted by JamesO

I'm still pretty new to this, but I've been doing a lot of reading in older threads. I haven't seen this specific question come up, so I wanted to ask.

I don't plan on taking my e90 to a track, but I live very close to Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, so I have some awesome, very curvy drives available.

I'm deciding between a KW V1 and a Koni yellow/H&R sport setup. Which of the two would eliminate body roll the most? Or would they be pretty comparable?

I like the idea of lowering it a bit, but I also might also just go with sways.

Thanks for any ideas.

I've been looking at the KW V1 for a while, and recently learned about the new Suspension Techniques coilovers:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ion+techniques

Apparently this company was bought by KW, and the shocks themselves are 100% identical to the KW V1, except the fact KW V1 uses stainless steel for the sleeve, whereas the ST shocks use galvanized steel.

I hear the price difference between the two is about $200-300, so the savings are significant for just a different sleeve material which will not affect performance at all (maybe longevity, but I'm sure the galvanized ones will last you for many many years, probably longer than you will own the car).

It also helps that KW gives you a lifetime guarantee on them, so to be honest, I see no benefit in buying the V1 over these.

If Sam at autotalent gives me a good deal on these, I'll probably get them for myself. I'll let you know how it goes.

[JamesO]

Hey man

Thanks for the heads up on those. If I go coilover, I'm actually planning on getting them, too. Ron at Mod Bargains gave me a great price, but the quote was confidential. You might contact him, too. I didn't initially want to say I was thinking about the ST because I didn't want everyone to say, "Just get the ST's!" I saw that happening a lot in other threads.

I'm really interested in a learning more about the cornering characteristics of shocks/springs as compared to coilovers. A lot of the threads indicate that coilovers are superior because the spring and dampening rates are matched. I haven't found much information about the handling abilities of either kind of setup. I've found, "handles better," but not the hows. How do they handle better? What areas do they handle better in? That kind of thing.

It's all pretty pricey for me, so I want to make the most educated decisions that I can.

[ohsnap]

Originally Posted by JamesO

Which of the two would eliminate body roll the most?

neither c/o or spring/shock upgrade is going to improve cornering like a sway bar. upgrading from the stock sway bars would be the answer here as that is the primary purpose of a sway bar.

[stressdoc]

Suspensions are really complex systems. IMO the best way to go is work with the Euro M-sport, Alpina, Dinan, etc. packages or wait for other high quality tuners here to sort things out. I am really excited about the new Hotchkis sway bars w/ Bilstein PSS10s package.

[uberschnell]

If you do go the sway bar route then replace both front and back as a set. I'm running stock sport springs, Koni FSD, and H&R front and rear sways on the track. It's probably one of the most under-rated set ups out there. Night and day difference from stock.

[fast_lap28]

for example, doesn't a tuner such as Dinan who use the Konis run basically the same FSD or Yellows but with a different valving per their own specs? just curious cause so many opinions are out there that makes you pull your hair

I can't justify paying Dinan's $$$ for the same shock/strut if they are the same. Anyone can confirm this as far as Koni shocks are concerned? I am sure that the spring rates they use are def custom to their specs (probably Vogtland springs if I guess right).

I just want to throw the kit together myself for a decent price without mortgaging my house to name brands i.e. Dinan. Nothing against their products cause I know they do their homework....just that pricing is out of this world!!!

Here is my intentions with rgds to upgrading....

want to upgrade my sport suspension on the e92...I've had Vogtland coilovers in previous car and loved them, but this time I want to go with a matched strut+spring combo. I keep on hearing good tings about the ride quality and performance of the Koni FSD's (or Yellows). also know that TCKlines uses Koni struts and springs are supplied by Vogtland and tuned to their specs (spring rates) for some of their setups.

I DO plan on autox'ing several times a year with a track day here and there....problem is that this car is also my daily driver and the roads here in NC are HORRIBLE!!! coming from coilovers I know what it feels like when driving on screwed up roads and with this car I don't want to sacrifice too much ride quality....just need to improve the turn in and balance out the suspension (eliminate most roll). this sport suspension is alright, not great as expected for BMW......the ZSP could have used a better shock/spring setup IMO. if not a dedicated track car then coils are overkill IMHO. just haven't had luck with other strut/spring combos i.e. Bilstein Sport + Eiback Pro Kit before I went full out Vogtland coilovers on previous car.

Let's hear some valid opinions on shock/spring combos that don't hurt the wallet.

[fast_lap28]

Originally Posted by fast_lap28

for example, doesn't a tuner such as Dinan who use the Konis run basically the same FSD or Yellows but with a different valving per their own specs? just curious cause so many opinions are out there that makes you pull your hair

I can't justify paying Dinan's $$$ for the same shock/strut if they are the same. Anyone can confirm this as far as Koni shocks are concerned? I am sure that the spring rates they use are def custom to their specs (probably Vogtland springs if I guess right).

I just want to throw the kit together myself for a decent price without mortgaging my house to name brands i.e. Dinan. Nothing against their products cause I know they do their homework....just that pricing is out of this world!!!

Here is my intentions with rgds to upgrading....

want to upgrade my sport suspension on the e92...I've had Vogtland coilovers in previous car and loved them, but this time I want to go with a matched strut+spring combo. I keep on hearing good tings about the ride quality and performance of the Koni FSD's (or Yellows). also know that TCKlines uses Koni struts and springs are supplied by Vogtland and tuned to their specs (spring rates) for some of their setups.

I DO plan on autox'ing several times a year with a track day here and there....problem is that this car is also my daily driver and the roads here in NC are HORRIBLE!!! coming from coilovers I know what it feels like when driving on screwed up roads and with this car I don't want to sacrifice too much ride quality....just need to improve the turn in and balance out the suspension (eliminate most roll). this sport suspension is alright, not great as expected for BMW......the ZSP could have used a better shock/spring setup IMO. if not a dedicated track car then coils are overkill IMHO. just haven't had luck with other strut/spring combos i.e. Bilstein Sport + Eiback Pro Kit before I went full out Vogtland coilovers on previous car.

Let's hear some valid opinions on shock/spring combos that don't hurt the wallet.

oh, and I know that upgrading the sways will def help with eliminating roll

[stressdoc]

I'll hurt your wallet: if what you want is on the fly flexibility -- switching from comfortable stock-like settings to firm high performance in a second -- then Bilstein ride controls are the way to go. Unless you really want to hurt the piggybank and spring for a M3 with EDC.

Unless you go the DIY route, labor will be a significant chunk of the upgrade cost. Why pay a ton to get second rate dampers installed?

[fast_lap28]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

I'll hurt your wallet: if what you want is on the fly flexibility -- switching from comfortable stock-like settings to firm high performance in a second -- then Bilstein ride controls are the way to go. Unless you really want to hurt the piggybank and spring for a M3 with EDC.

Unless you go the DIY route, labor will be a significant chunk of the upgrade cost. Why pay a ton to get second rate dampers installed?

this is very true stressdoc, but I do have options I suppose. I can do pretty much any installation (don it before) with the right tools and time. I just wonder if there are real benefits to going the dampers route instead of opting for the "full" package coilovers deal? I know I will give up some comfort for a better handling suspension, I just don't need that full adjustability because I rarely track the car or need to make changes on the fly. I honestly would rather install and forget, but with improvement in all four corners.

looking at Dinan site they upgrade the front and rear sways where they believe is optimal for balance....do you see the need to upgrade the current stock sways up to front 28mm and rear 15mm? what are the OEM specs on these anyway....I saw the numbers floating around here - will search.

[stressdoc]

OEM depends whether you are sport package or not. ZSP is 26.5 / 13. But diameter of bar is not the whole story -- the material (alloy) used, the bend design, even the bushings have significant effects.

The most cost effective route is pretty much as you suggest, get a set of H&Rs, or a M-sport rear bar, and some good dampers (Koni fsds or whatever), and DIY. Long painful job though.

[ae8t6ix]

Sway bars should eliminate roll. Whether a matching set is necessary again is trial and error, I prefer oversteer so I'd upgrade the rear only. The way it works is as a car goes into a corner one side tends to lift, a larger bar will aid in resisting it. This keeps all four tyres planted better and will ultimately result in better cornering speeds. Good luck.

[SV Concepts III]

Unless you plan on changing the ride height regularly, I would save a bit of cash and stick with a Spring/Shock combo. The Koni FSD/Eibach Pro Kit is a great combo but will ride a bit softer than the KWs. Another option are the H&R Cup Kits which will offer a more planted and stiffer feel than the FSDs.

[fast_lap28]

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

Unless you plan on changing the ride height regularly, I would save a bit of cash and stick with a Spring/Shock combo. The Koni FSD/Eibach Pro Kit is a great combo but will ride a bit softer than the KWs. Another option are the H&R Cup Kits which will offer a more planted and stiffer feel than the FSDs.

what would be recommended for the car to stay more neutral (roll)....I keep on hearing that rear sway bar upgrade is the way to go.....say a 16mm solid bar? I don't think the matching set from H&R is necessary....I rather have more overstear than understear

[fast_lap28]

Originally Posted by ae8t6ix

Sway bars should eliminate roll. Whether a matching set is necessary again is trial and error, I prefer oversteer so I'd upgrade the rear only. The way it works is as a car goes into a corner one side tends to lift, a larger bar will aid in resisting it. This keeps all four tyres planted better and will ultimately result in better cornering speeds. Good luck.

did you upgrade your rear only? if so, what sway bar did you go with (mm?) and what is a good mfg? I have no experience whatsoever with H&R products but I see everyone points to them