[DeeM55]

4/21/2020 2-Month UPDATE


So several of you have asked about an update on the ST XA coilovers. I have not ran into any issues with the set. The dampening feels perfect. Like I stated in my original post, I normally have my gf and lab in the car 85% of the time so at 8 clicks, its perfect. The gf has never complained about a floaty or harsh ride (she used to do this with my previous car).

There have been no popping or weird noises after the install. The height is perfect at the moment. I occasionally scrape on really bad roads but thats just part of being somewhat low. Keep in mind, The ST-XA can go really low so adjust them according to your desirability and be conscious of debris on the road if you go really low. This goes for any set of coilovers.

I have the M-Performance Lip so I'm somewhat careful about my driving habits. I took it off for a bit and I had zero issues with scraping. It took me 3 or 4 tries to get the perfect height. On my first try, I went so low that the tires were practically up against the fenders. I pulled out of the garage and pulled right back in. Adjusted in less than 20 minutes and did this over and over until I got the perfect height (IMO).

If there is anything you'd like me to add, please feel free to ask. I have not adjusted the dampening afterwards but will do sometime soon just to see how stiff they can get.





This is an initial review post installation and 1 week or so of driving. Alignment was done the very next morning after the coilovers went on. I installed the the rears on a Saturday and then did the Fronts the next morning. I installed everything myself without help. This was part of the reason why I chose to do the install in two parts.


The Install:

The install was straight forward except for some unexpected headaches. The only tool I did not have was a spring compressor but Auto Zone loaned me a set for $60ish. They returned the $60 when I returned the set. The rears took longer than usual to install. You'll read all about it below. The fronts went in super easy.



Now let me tell you about the headaches. First and foremost, I get the rear in the air. I start taking off the lug nuts and one on the rear driver side will not come off. Fuck me...So I move over to the other side and start taking those off. What do you know.. one on that side will not come off either! Im pissed at this point. I knew right away they were over-torqued. The last time the wheels were off was when I had my TPMS sensors switched from my old 442M's to my new 437M's by a shop near work. The shop must have torqued the shit out of those nuts.
So at this point, I put the car back down, try again, and feel like they're stripping. Shit shit shit.. I call up a shop near my place. I explain the situation. The place tells me they'll try their best but they wont risk stripping the nuts any further if that starts to happen. I completely understood but I asked them to try their best. They did and could not get them off.

I call up a second shop, explain the situation, and head over. The shop owner greets me, takes a look at the nuts, gives me the (idk about this look) and brings out a breaker bar. He manages to get one off but cannot get the second one off. He eventually breaks off the second one using a special socket and the breaker bar I shoot him $10 for getting me out of this pickle and head back home.

I proceed to install the rear driver side, take measurements, make sure everything is back in order and move over to the passenger side. I swap out the old spring setup for the new ST XA spring and strut. I'm putting the mounting strut bolt and nut together. This is the bolt that holds the strut to the lower control arm/hub. I slide them together, place the wrenches on both sides start to tighten. I end up CROSS THREADING the damn bolt!! At this point I just smiled. It was one of those moments when you tell yourself "you fucked up". lol I loosen the nut, called an uber, and headed over to BMW of Buena Park to buy the lug nuts and rear strut mounting bolt. Came back and completed the rear installation.

My only other headache was breaking the tip off a torque bit and getting it stuck inside the top of the rear strut when taking off the top hat. Luckily, I was able to use vice grips to hold the strut while I took the nut off with an impact wrench. I remembers Brian from Kies mentioning this when he did the B16 install on his F30.


Before I post a bunch of pics. I'll get into what the ride is like after a week. I'll update this after a couple of months as well. I want to be as transparent as possible.

Pros:
-Rebound is currently at 8.
-I have a 100 pound yellow lab and my gf in the car a lot of the time so the ability to adjust the rebound is perfect.
-Car feels smooth and planted.
-Body roll is gone
-Car goes over bumps and harsh spots on the road without it transferring to the driver
-The ride height can be adjusted to go really low in the front. Its taken me 3-4 adjustments to get about a 1/2 finger gap in the front and rear.
-No noises at all. No popping when turning the wheel

Cons:
-Camber plates were not included when this was shipped to me. You can read all about that in my other thread.
-Lowered the front a bit too much on my first try and the tires rubbed like crazy. The noise alone made me cringe. This is my fault though. I'm also running 255 in the front and 275 in the rears with minimal camber in the front due to lack of camber plates.


Pictures:
Lug nuts and cross threaded bolt:

[DeeM55]

Saving the next two post for pictures.
Before:

[DeeM55]

During

[DeeM55]

After

[DeeM55]

ill try to get more up close pics of the front and rear similar to the before pics. I also have the exact measurements written down on tape of the height before and after. ill get that too.

[theEZV]

Great stance. The 437m look great on the GC, the grey ones really go well with EB.

[Gen13 F36]

Sweet.... how is the ride compared to m-sport suspension?

[DeeM55]

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

Sweet.... how is the ride compared to m-sport suspension?

Originally Posted by theEZV

Great stance. The 437m look great on the GC, the grey ones really go well with EB.

Thanks brotha. It took me a bit to find a set but It happened and the price was right so I jumped on the sale.

Originally Posted by Gen13 F36

Sweet.... how is the ride compared to m-sport suspension?

I would say that at 8 clicks, it feels a noticeably stiffer than m-suspension. This is especially true when going over bad roads. You feel the bumps and holes but unlike before, the entire car doesn't flop around. The energy is absorbed a lot better if that makes sense?

[F36Imani]

Looks A1 Was thinking about getting these for my 2017 gran coupe or BC racing coilovers since I believe it might have camber plates.... do you think that the lack of camber plates for the ST XA will really be a issue for daily driving/tire wear? Would love to get these coilovers if the camber plates aren’t necessary.

[DeeM55]

Originally Posted by F36Imani

Looks A1 Was thinking about getting these for my 2017 gran coupe or BC racing coilovers since I believe it might have camber plates.... do you think that the lack of camber plates for the ST XA will really be a issue for daily driving/tire wear? Would love to get these coilovers if the camber plates aren’t necessary.

Depends on what setup you have in mind. If you plan to run a wide setup in the front or go really low then yes, you probably want some extra camber in the front.

For me, this is good until I find a more aggressive wheel setup. When that happens, I'll buy the camber plates.

[Gen13 F36]

[335JTSD]

What was the cost for the coils? I thought they were $1,189 but now the website says $989. Thanks!

[DeeM55]

Originally Posted by 335JTSD

What was the cost for the coils? I thought they were $1,189 but now the website says $989. Thanks!

They were $1,189 pre tax when I bought them. I just checked and you're right. It looks like they're now $989. That's an even better deal. I would call to confirm though.
Part #1822000J

[335JTSD]

Thanks and yep, that's the part #.

[Bimmadrae]

DeeM55, solid write up. This review helped push me over the edge to getting the same coils for my 2017 GC. Coils will be here in 10 days or so and I ordered them from KW yesterday.

[DeeM55]

Originally Posted by Bimmadrae

DeeM55, solid write up. This review helped push me over the edge to getting the same coils for my 2017 GC. Coils will be here in 10 days or so and I ordered them from KW yesterday.

I tried replying to your pm but it said you cannot accept pm's at this time. Not sure why. I wrote a pretty long message too. I'm glad it worked out tho. Post some pics when it's all said and done. You doing the install yourself? Let me know if you have any questions.

[Bimmadrae]

Originally Posted by DeeM55

I tried replying to your pm but it said you cannot accept pm's at this time. Not sure why. I wrote a pretty long message too. I'm glad it worked out tho. Post some pics when it's all said and done. You doing the install yourself? Let me know if you have any questions.

Took me a while to realize my account wasn't validated yet so that probably why. I'll pm again. Im definitely going to have to take it somewhere to get done, and somewhere that'll b able to code out the EDC for me.

[335JTSD]

Any updates or impressions to add? Thanks!

[DeeM55]

Update on the first post.

[335JTSD]

Nice thank you! I ordered mine 2 weekends ago.

[Gen13 F36]

I'm going to keep reading

[cfm56d7b]

Very nice write up. Any rubbing with 437M wheels?