[chris55552]

Anyone running koni special actives on stock awd xi springs? Shooting for a suspension improvement and really dont care about lowering it or raising it, nor how it looks. I just want it to drive a little sportier, plan on adding either some Continental DSW 06 or some pilot sports to compliment the shocks and was wondering if it would be a mistake not doing the springs at the same time? Any help or feedback will be greatly appreciated.

[Peter Morrin]

I really like my ST-X (KV1) spring/shock combination on my 2007 328xi, but that is not your question. I can't offer first hand advice, but in your situation, I would consider the Bilstein B4 shocks.

[chris55552]

Originally Posted by Peter Morrin

I really like my ST-X (KV1) spring/shock combination on my 2007 328xi, but that is not your question. I can't offer first hand advice, but in your situation, I would consider the Bilstein B4 shocks.

How much does a coilover kit like that cost and how is the ride quality? Im open to anything

[drawz]

I did Koni active with stock springs and have been happy.

[chris55552]

Is it really that big of an improvement? All im trying to do is get it back to feeling like a good well sorted dynamic suspension you would normally associate with a well sorted bimmer and not a damn 79 thunderbird that pitches and rolls like a sail boat. Does it reduce the lovely 70s roll and is there anything you would have done differently? This is just a DD for me, to be honest I dont even drive that fast, I dont even know how to track a car.. Im mainly shooting for the reduced roll and planted feel, and good high speed interstate stability. I should be pretty easy to please. Im on the fence between koni yellow sports and the koni red special actives. Cant spend too much on one thing I have tires to replace, a wheel that needs to be relaced. plus I made the mistake of letting an idiot install a flywheel that sounds like the car is dragging tin cans underneath, or a handful of rocks in a dryer. All have to be fixed.

Look the pic says it all... The man is getting bitched out by his wife for the way the land yacht rides and makes her sea sick.

[Tambohamilton]

If you want sporty handling, don't use special active. They just don't have much control.

[chris55552]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

If you want sporty handling, don't use special active. They just don't have much control.

what spring would you recommend to go with the koni sports? Ride height, and appearane means nothing to me, unless dropping it with lowering springs is necessary to achieve the sport feel.

[drawz]

The special actives were perfect for me. Also a daily driver on horrible roads. The car feels more solid when hitting potholes and other harsh transitions without compromising handling. I don’t think it handles significantly better than any other new stock like shocks, but it was definitely better than the 80k mile original shocks that were replaced. New mounts all around probably helped some too. The xi already has less travel than the RWD cars and I didn’t want to reduce it any further with lowering springs personally (again bad roads and used to bottom out on potholes).

You could also consider sway bar or control arm bushing upgrades. Maybe rear subframe bushing insets too. Worn bushings alone will compromise that sporty feeling.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by chris55552

what spring would you recommend to go with the koni sports? Ride height, and appearane means nothing to me, unless dropping it with lowering springs is necessary to achieve the sport feel.

On an xi, stock springs only. Do consider all the arms and bushings as well - if they're aged or worn they won't be helping the handling.

[chris55552]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

On an xi, stock springs only. Do consider all the arms and bushings as well - if they're aged or worn they won't be helping the handling.

Thanks for the tip, I do believe ill order some now. Do you knowif lemforder are okay? Im kinda confused with these 6 piece sets, 10 piece set and I see individual arms. Is it the ones that run toward the rear of the car? How many control arms do each 4 corners have or which ones are vital to good driving dynamics. Thanks again for the insight

[Tambohamilton]

Lemforder is the one, but iirc if the parts aren't made in Germany they have poor reliability. Also TRW both are OEs for BMW suspension arms/bushings.

4 arms in the front, 10 arms in the rear. Though in the rear only 6 of the arms have bushings; on the other 4 the bushings are in the knuckle and subframe. Front 4 arms will make the biggest difference in driving dynamics, all other things being equal. In the rear you can swap one of the upper arms for an M3 part and gain a ball joint instead of a rubber bushing, but it's a minor gain really. I'd say that if the parts are original, replacing any/all of them will help, especially the fronts. Rubber will have deteriorated significantly by now, regardless of mileage.

[chris55552]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Lemforder is the one, but iirc if the parts aren't made in Germany they have poor reliability. Also TRW both are OEs for BMW suspension arms/bushings.

4 arms in the front, 10 arms in the rear. Though in the rear only 6 of the arms have bushings; on the other 4 the bushings are in the knuckle and subframe. Front 4 arms will make the biggest difference in driving dynamics, all other things being equal. In the rear you can swap one of the upper arms for an M3 part and gain a ball joint instead of a rubber bushing, but it's a minor gain really. I'd say that if the parts are original, replacing any/all of them will help, especially the fronts. Rubber will have deteriorated significantly by now, regardless of mileage.

The way you broke that down.....Man thank you so much nice and precise. Those 4 in the front must be 2 on each side I would assume. Ive always heard moog makes good products and I just so looked up their site to see if they had any e90 offerings and they did but your another person among many who endorse lemforder so im listening to those with the experience. So far I have replaced shocks with koni yellow, tommorow im ordering 4 michelin pilot spoort 4 A/S tires, and 4 bmw style 157 wheels to replace my 338s and dropping about 6lbs per wheel/tire per corner just from going from RFT's to non RFT's plus the wheels are slightly lighter. I just noticed my car has zero bump stops, the shop I used didnt catch it because they do mostly truck suspensions and were the only ones willing to fool with springs. Im hoping once I add the bump stops, michelins and arms with bushings my ride quality will improve. Only thing I have left to figure out is with the 17 inch bmw wheel which has 225/45 r17s now, im curious if there is a better tire size that will still fit that wheel that may be slighly wider with more contact that may offer more stability, Someone on the forum suggested 255/40 r 17s and another 235/40s I think. Know much about tire sizes? My first time overhauling a suspension so im learning as I go, this forum has been critical and im so thankful for the input I receive from you folks. How do I give folks credit or appreciates on here, im learning this forum as well.

[Tambohamilton]

Depends on the width of the wheel. 255/40/17 sounds like a stock rear tyre size. Front would be 225/45/17? Tbh I'm not sure. Plenty of knowledge on the forum about tyres and sizes though, so I suggest you search for it or start a new thread.

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