My Koni FSD review

B39 B58 · 04-04-2013, 07:38 PM

Hi all,

Bought an e90 335i sedan a few months ago and love it. I feel like it can do pretty much anything I ask it to do.

BUT... until recently I didn't really enjoy driving it around the city. With the sport suspension, handling was great, but the ride was very stiff. It wasn't necessarily the lack of comfort that bothered me--it was the feeling that I was abusing the car whenever I drove down a bumpy road. As someone who hates hearing rattles from my car, I was cringing every day thinking I was shaking my car to pieces because the suspension wasn't doing its job.

Time for an upgrade. After researching here (thanks to those who answered my questions and posted earlier reviews), I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think.

Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle.

Paid $640 for the dampers plus $250 for labor.

335dFan · 04-04-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF Space Grey

Hi all,

Bought an e90 335i sedan a few months ago and love it. I feel like it can do pretty much anything I ask it to do.

BUT... until recently I didn't really enjoy driving it around the city. With the sport suspension, handling was great, but the ride was very stiff. It wasn't necessarily the lack of comfort that bothered me--it was the feeling that I was abusing the car whenever I drove down a bumpy road. As someone who hates hearing rattles from my car, I was cringing every day thinking I was shaking my car to pieces because the suspension wasn't doing its job.

Time for an upgrade. After researching here (thanks to those who answered my questions and posted earlier reviews), I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think.

Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle.

Paid $640 for the dampers plus $250 for labor.

Don't you love it when you get your money's worth and you don't have buyers remorse?! Good news.

jjellyneck · 04-05-2013, 11:56 AM

How many miles did you have on the original dampers before the new install?

B39 B58 · 04-05-2013, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjellyneck

How many miles did you have on the original dampers before the new install?

There were 30k miles on the previous dampers. I still have them--I'll put them up for sale soon.

CALWATERBOY · 04-06-2013, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF Space Grey

Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle.

Beginning to thirst for that LSD?

Yo - you'll take it up a few notches, again.

jjellyneck · 04-06-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Beginning to thirst for that LSD?

Yo - you'll take it up a few notches, again.

Always makes me think of hallucinogenic driving enhancements. On a related topic, I need to take a quick glance at the overall costs of an LSD option. It'll likely increase my driving pleasure, but also increase speeding tickets!

fireline43 · 04-06-2013, 11:45 AM

this seriously sounds like an improvement I would like. the sport suspension is really ruff like you say.

jakuum · 04-07-2013, 11:45 AM

Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.

CALWATERBOY · 04-07-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjellyneck

Always makes me think of hallucinogenic driving enhancements. On a related topic, I need to take a quick glance at the overall costs of an LSD option. It'll likely increase my driving pleasure, but also increase speeding tickets!

It'll increase your traction and cornering ability too....not t'mention that feeling of confidence....

B39 B58 · 04-07-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakuum

Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.

I got them through the indy shop that did the installation. That price--through them--was a little better than what Tirerack and Amazon were asking for the damper set, and better than I could find elsewhere online.

chuckc · 04-07-2013, 03:31 PM

Are you running run flats also or go flats now?

Legato2057 · 04-07-2013, 05:33 PM

I've had my Koni FSD's on my e90 335i for 40,000+ miles. Definitely one of the best mods I did to my car. It just makes the car feel "right", as if this is how it was always meant to be like. Highly recommend the FSD's

Messiah62 · 04-07-2013, 07:46 PM

how much do you think these would lower my ride coming from stock suspension?

B39 B58 · 04-07-2013, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckc

Are you running run flats also or go flats now?

Switched from the OEM runflats to michelin pilot super sports the first month I had the car... much better

Legato2057 · 04-07-2013, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Messiah62

how much do you think these would lower my ride coming from stock suspension?

The shocks alone won't lower your car. You would have to change the springs as well. I used the Eibach Pro-kit springs and it lowered it about 1 inch.

srcstc · 04-28-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakuum

Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.

This is where I just got mine ($635 shipped!!) :http://konimarket.com/products/bmw-e...shock-kit-1001

Best price I could find. No one even came close.

Better get em soon though cause it looks like they're currently on sale:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=KONI+FSD

jakuum · 04-28-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srcstc

This is where I just got mine ($635 shipped!!) :http://konimarket.com/products/bmw-e...shock-kit-1001

Best price I could find. No one even came close.

Better get em soon though cause it looks like they're currently on sale:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=KONI+FSD

Yup that's where I ended up getting them

. Had them installed last week and they are awesome compared to my old sports suspension. So nice to not wince after the car has gone over a rough patch of road. Then again one of the rear struts wouldn't even rebound completely after being compressed. It was time to get them swapped out.

adema24 · 04-30-2013, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srcstc

This is where I just got mine ($635 shipped!!) :http://konimarket.com/products/bmw-e...shock-kit-1001

Best price I could find. No one even came close.

Better get em soon though cause it looks like they're currently on sale:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=KONI+FSD

I just ordered the last set they have! Guy said they will be backordered until September now.

srcstc · 04-30-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adema24

I just ordered the last set they have! Guy said they will be backordered until September now.

Damn good thing we ordered when we did!

greenbokchoy · 05-13-2013, 08:59 AM

Space Grey,

Where'd you get your install done at in the Bay?

Thanks!

CALWATERBOY · 05-13-2013, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF Space Grey

I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think.

I might be nuts....had the same experience with Yellows, though did a whole suspension change at the time too.

longhorn335 · 05-13-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adema24

I just ordered the last set they have! Guy said they will be backordered until September now.

I just placed an order and there was no mention about these being in backorder

04-04-2013, 07:38 PM	#1
B39 B58 Private First Class 17 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 2016 340i / M Sport / 6MT Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	My Koni FSD review Hi all, Bought an e90 335i sedan a few months ago and love it. I feel like it can do pretty much anything I ask it to do. BUT... until recently I didn't really enjoy driving it around the city. With the sport suspension, handling was great, but the ride was very stiff. It wasn't necessarily the lack of comfort that bothered me--it was the feeling that I was abusing the car whenever I drove down a bumpy road. As someone who hates hearing rattles from my car, I was cringing every day thinking I was shaking my car to pieces because the suspension wasn't doing its job. Time for an upgrade. After researching here (thanks to those who answered my questions and posted earlier reviews), I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think. Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle. Paid $640 for the dampers plus $250 for labor. __________________ 2016 340i M Sport \| 6MT
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04-05-2013, 11:56 AM	#3
jjellyneck First Lieutenant 9 Rep 337 Posts Drives: 2008 335i MT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0)	How many miles did you have on the original dampers before the new install?
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04-06-2013, 11:45 AM	#7
fireline43 Lieutenant 43 Rep 497 Posts Drives: 2013 Mercedes C250 Join Date: May 2012 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	this seriously sounds like an improvement I would like. the sport suspension is really ruff like you say.
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04-07-2013, 11:45 AM	#8
jakuum Private First Class 17 Rep 187 Posts Drives: SGM e92 335i M-sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: DFW iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i [0.00]	Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.
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04-07-2013, 03:31 PM	#11
chuckc Enlisted Member 3 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2012 335is Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA iTrader: (0)	Are you running run flats also or go flats now?
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04-07-2013, 05:33 PM	#12
Legato2057 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 2008 monaco blue e90 335i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	I've had my Koni FSD's on my e90 335i for 40,000+ miles. Definitely one of the best mods I did to my car. It just makes the car feel "right", as if this is how it was always meant to be like. Highly recommend the FSD's __________________ 2008 Monaco Blue/Tan interior 335i sedan. Mods: AFE intake w/ scoops, AFE Exhaust, ER FMIC, Koni FSD/Eibcach Pro-Kit, Breyton Race GTS wheels w/ Continental ExtremeContact DW tires, Cusco OS strut bar. BavAuto Black/Beige seat covers w/ black floor mats, M3 rep trunk lip, eBay front splitters.
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04-07-2013, 07:46 PM	#13
Messiah62 Private First Class 13 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 2011 335D Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Omaha NE iTrader: (0)	how much do you think these would lower my ride coming from stock suspension?
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05-13-2013, 08:59 AM	#20
greenbokchoy Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Bay iTrader: (0)	Space Grey, Where'd you get your install done at in the Bay? Thanks!
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