[hevykevy420]

Loved the ride quality and look, but they just started a massive construction project near where I live that I'm forced to drive through frequently. Currently also desiring a slightly softer ride for the wife and kid and also for when I have co-workers in the car on longer trips.

Current setup is Bilstein B8s and H&R sports with 18" staggered Bridgestone RFTs and non-msport (base line) sway bars. I figure my tires are causing their fare share of harshness, but I really don't want to ditch the RFTs as they have a fair amount of life left.

Would swapping the H&R springs to something with less of a drop or milder spring rate, say Dinan/ACS/Eibach and retaining the b8s give me much of an improvement (if any), in ride quality should I retain the b8s?

I'm also considering swapping everything out for OEM msport springs and bilstein "OEM equivalent" b4s.

Is there a spring/strut combo only a hair firmer than the OEM msport/sport set up, or one that would be on the softer side compared to what I have now? I have heard the Koni FSD units are relatively kind. I wrench everything myself, with limited time, I really can't afford timewise to experiment a whole lot. I'm leaning towards erring on the soft side and just moving towards an OEM msport/sport setup and live with it if its deemed slightly too soft. I figure that might be better than trying different spring/strut combinations to only find its always a little too firm...

Any thoughts/comments/suggestions appreciated, I know this is all subjective.

[cfm56d7b]

You are facing a very common decision:

1. Try to find the right suspension behavior by mixing and matching springs and shocks never designed to work together?
2. Invest a bit more upfront and get springs and shocks optimized to work together by design - i.e. coilovers?

In my humble opinion, Option 2 always lead to better results especially if the coilovers provide individual dampen / rebound controls, giving you the widest range of suspension behavior tuning options.

[hevykevy420]

True, but I don't want coilovers. The adjustability is nice, but if you don't have the time to mess with said adjustability, its kind of a moot point.

[kern417]

If you're not really worried about looks and just want a slightly sportier ride, I'd snag up a cheap msport setup and call it a day. I sold my stock msport springs to someone with a base model f3x and they were happy with the results. I only have the shocks and bump stops left.

[jh_f30]

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

Loved the ride quality and look, but they just started a massive construction project near where I live that I'm forced to drive through frequently. Currently also desiring a slightly softer ride for the wife and kid and also for when I have co-workers in the car on longer trips.

Current setup is Bilstein B8s and H&R sports with 18" staggered Bridgestone RFTs and non-msport (base line) sway bars. I figure my tires are causing their fare share of harshness, but I really don't want to ditch the RFTs as they have a fair amount of life left.

Would swapping the H&R springs to something with less of a drop or milder spring rate, say Dinan/ACS/Eibach and retaining the b8s give me much of an improvement (if any), in ride quality should I retain the b8s?

I'm also considering swapping everything out for OEM msport springs and bilstein "OEM equivalent" b4s.

Is there a spring/strut combo only a hair firmer than the OEM msport/sport set up, or one that would be on the softer side compared to what I have now? I have heard the Koni FSD units are relatively kind. I wrench everything myself, with limited time, I really can't afford timewise to experiment a whole lot. I'm leaning towards erring on the soft side and just moving towards an OEM msport/sport setup and live with it if its deemed slightly too soft. I figure that might be better than trying different spring/strut combinations to only find its always a little too firm...

Any thoughts/comments/suggestions appreciated, I know this is all subjective.

Are you selling the Bilstein B8s?

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by jh_f30

Are you selling the Bilstein B8s?

Yes, I will be eventually, they are on the car right now. I'd be selling them a lot faster if someone could source me a set of 328i msport/sport line springs! I'm hesitant to try 335i springs...they seem to be a lot more prevelant in the classifieds. I believe the front springs are different between 328/335.

[MacklinUSOB]

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

Yes, I will be eventually, they are on the car right now. I'd be selling them a lot faster if someone could source me a set of 328i msport/sport line springs! I'm hesitant to try 335i springs...they seem to be a lot more prevelant in the classifieds. I believe the front springs are different between 328/335.

PM me.

I have a full set of 704 springs. I also have a rear pair Bilstein B6 shocks. They did a really good job of keeping the rear end planted without making things harsh.

[chriscruz7411]

let me know when you part with the b8s. I'll take them off your hands!

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

Yes, I will be eventually, they are on the car right now. I'd be selling them a lot faster if someone could source me a set of 328i msport/sport line springs! I'm hesitant to try 335i springs...they seem to be a lot more prevelant in the classifieds. I believe the front springs are different between 328/335.

[perryo91]

Originally Posted by hevykevy420

True, but I don't want coilovers. The adjustability is nice, but if you don't have the time to mess with said adjustability, its kind of a moot point.

It's faster to mess with the settings than to actually install the coilovers themselves. So like the poster said above, it really is more logical to get them for a perfect pairing.

Now if cost is a factor, of course maybe going through two spring combos will be cheaper, but after that if you include time installing... coilovers would have been better.

[hevykevy420]

Originally Posted by perryo91

It's faster to mess with the settings than to actually install the coilovers themselves. So like the poster said above, it really is more logical to get them for a perfect pairing.

Now if cost is a factor, of course maybe going through two spring combos will be cheaper, but after that if you include time installing... coilovers would have been better.

You have a good point there. I've already learned that lesson trying the OEM shocks with the lowering springs, and that didn't turn out so well... and I had to do the work twice. I'll admit, I'm hesitant to go with c/o's as the last time I had a set of H&Rs on a GTI I think I received kidney damage, although I had the ride height set way too low...

What is the best "street performance" level coilover out there. In other words, what would have the kindest spring rates with the most liveable shock units, if they are the lower end non-adjustable type? I have read Koni street comfort, but those don't appear to be available any longer, are the V1 their replacement?

B14 PSS? I really can't see myself spending $2k for fully adjustable damper units, this is a commuter car after all.