Koni FSD installed on 2012 335i Sport Line

Fredo · 10-03-2019, 01:51 PM

I refreshed the suspension on my F30 2012 335i Sport Line at 87k miles. I went with Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping). These are the parts installed:

31126855743 Thrust Rod Bush, F30 2.0 @ 64.19 =$ 128.38
31336787114 Low Spring Pad, F30 2.0 @ 9.03 =$ 18.06
31306868240 Strut Mnt Gskt, F30 2.0 @ 11.35 =$ 22.70
SHOCK KIT Koni FSD 1.0 @ 550.00 =$ 550.00
33506866038 Shock Mnt Gskt 2.0 @ 7.06 =$ 14.12
33536855439 Bump Stop, F30, Rear 2.0 @ 25.07 =$ 50.14
31306880438 Strut Mount, F30 2.0 @ 186.96 =$ 373.92
33506862725 Rear Shock Mount 2.0 @ 109.99 =$ 219.98
31336857729 Bump Stop, Frt 2.0 @ 27.99 =$ 55.98
31306863134 Strut Mount Bolt 6.0 @ 3.99 =$ 23.94
31306792211 Sway Bar Link, Frt 2.0 @ 63.99 =$ 127.98
31306791712 Up Spring Pad, F30 2.0 @ 12.74 =$ 25.48

*** Total in parts = $1,610.68 + tax
*** Koni FSD has been replaced with Koni SA (Special Active)

I didn't replace the stock springs. I considered the BMW Performance suspension kit (#33-50-2-320-981) which requires to replace the coil springs but decided against it. My main reasons : this car is my DD, I don't track it, and I didn't want to lower it. Koni FSD specifically requires to keep the stock springs.

My car has the option "S2VFA Adaptive M suspension" also known as EDC (Electronic Damper Control). Koni FSD is a non-EDC set and it required coding to remove the EDC out of the car. My mechanic coordinated with Joe @ TopGearSolutions for this. You may know TopGear is a sponsor on the bimmerpost forums with good reviews. I was told next time I visit the dealer, they may update the software on my car and this would require coding to remove the EDC again.

I'm very happy with the results. The clunking noises are gone. If I could use one word to describe how the car feels, it would be "luxury". The ride is not harsh at all. The car feels smooth on the road but it doesn't feel floaty. My wife drove the car afterwards and she didn't complain at all. I believe Koni FSD is one step above the factory setup. But I bought my car with 76k miles so I can't tell for sure.

So far I drove 300 miles after the install, I will update again in the future.

otay · 10-14-2019, 06:35 PM

Thanks. Why did you switch from Koni FSD to SA?

scostu · 10-14-2019, 06:42 PM

Interesting you did NOT replace springs as well. Most on the forum replace both at the same time.

I replaced my suspension with the Koni Special Actives and Eibach springs.

I have 2016 F25 regular suspension....non EDC.

otay · 10-14-2019, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scostu

Interesting you did NOT replace springs as well. Most on the forum replace both at the same time.

I replaced my suspension with the Koni Special Actives and Eibach springs.

I have 2016 F25 regular suspension....non EDC.

How do you like the ride?

FaRKle! · 10-14-2019, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otay

Thanks. Why did you switch from Koni FSD to SA?

He didn't. He was noting that Koni's FSD line was rebranded/replaced with the SA line.

GeorgeF31 · 10-14-2019, 10:51 PM

Koni does not spec Special Active/FSD for anything other than stock springs — standard and M-Sport. That's straight from Koni support when I was looking into them for my F31.

I do know of one person who put them on an E60 with lowering springs and the struts wore way too quickly. However the car had active sways and the Konis replaces active struts so that may have contributed.

And, of course, it's a sample of one.

johnung · 10-15-2019, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeF31

Koni does not spec Special Active/FSD for anything other than stock springs — standard and M-Sport. That's straight from Koni support when I was looking into them for my F31.

I do know of one person who put them on an E60 with lowering springs and the struts wore way too quickly. However the car had active sways and the Konis replaces active struts so that may have contributed.

And, of course, it's a sample of one.

FYI- you can definitely use "mild" lowering springs with Koni Special Actives. Mild is defined as about 3/4" drop. So for my 2015 335ix that meant either of these two:
Eibach F0.8"/R0.6" so eliminates some of xdrive reverse rake wheel gap. About 10% stiffer than stock
Dinan 0.75" all around. About 30% stiffer than stock

I went with the KoniSA/Eibach combination which Koni North America actually tested and approved.

I got all of my information directly from Koni NA technical support before the Special Actives were released in the US over a year ago. There is a communication issue at play here. I had numerous phone and email conversations. It became apparent that when Koni says "SA's are not for lowering springs", they define lowering springs as about 1.0" or more.

Whenever I asked specifically about Eibachs or Dinans I was told "oh they are mild, they're fine. We tested with the Eibachs in NA." So in Koni-speak mild (3/4" drop) springs are considered the same as stock height springs. They are not considered to be lowering springs.

I also had several conversations with them about bump stops. They swore up and down that with the Eibachs the stock bump stops were fine. They said that if any modification such as shaving or replacement were necessary they would tell me. They even repeated their calculations using the Eibach drop and said that stock bump stops were right there within their tolerances.

The KoniSA/Eibach combination has been great! Made the rough roads and highway seams much smoother but at the same time they really handle the curves.

Note: The "mild drop" Eibachs that I refer to above have a -06 in the middle of the part number. The -05 have about a 1.5" drop.

Hope this helps!

scostu · 10-15-2019, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otay

How do you like the ride?

Install and review.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1641417

GeorgeF31 · 10-16-2019, 08:30 PM

That is true about the mild drop. Presumably that is because the milder Eibach springs drop close to the range the M-Sport springs drop.

I admit I didn't ask about exactly what they called a "lowering".

Fredo · Yesterday, 02:54 PM

Update: I had some issues after the EDC removal. What that coding did was to update the Vehicle Order (VO) to pretend the car came out of the factory without the EDC option.

A couple of years ago, I needed to replace a part (Fuel Control Pump Unit P/N 16147411596) which required to be coded into the car. My mechanic had a lot of trouble to make this work.

His notes say "Unable to code EKPM3 with standard BMW ISTA+. Found vehicle order has been modified which caused the ISTA+ programming issues. The EKPM3 is now coded successfully (the only way to code this vehicle is E-SYS only)."

He also said any new part that requires coding will have similar issues.

10-03-2019, 01:51 PM	#1
Fredo Lieutenant 189 Rep 537 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (3)	Koni FSD installed on 2012 335i Sport Line I refreshed the suspension on my F30 2012 335i Sport Line at 87k miles. I went with Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping). These are the parts installed: 31126855743 Thrust Rod Bush, F30 2.0 @ 64.19 =$ 128.38 31336787114 Low Spring Pad, F30 2.0 @ 9.03 =$ 18.06 31306868240 Strut Mnt Gskt, F30 2.0 @ 11.35 =$ 22.70 SHOCK KIT Koni FSD 1.0 @ 550.00 =$ 550.00 33506866038 Shock Mnt Gskt 2.0 @ 7.06 =$ 14.12 33536855439 Bump Stop, F30, Rear 2.0 @ 25.07 =$ 50.14 31306880438 Strut Mount, F30 2.0 @ 186.96 =$ 373.92 33506862725 Rear Shock Mount 2.0 @ 109.99 =$ 219.98 31336857729 Bump Stop, Frt 2.0 @ 27.99 =$ 55.98 31306863134 Strut Mount Bolt 6.0 @ 3.99 =$ 23.94 31306792211 Sway Bar Link, Frt 2.0 @ 63.99 =$ 127.98 31306791712 Up Spring Pad, F30 2.0 @ 12.74 =$ 25.48 * Total in parts = $1,610.68 + tax * Koni FSD has been replaced with Koni SA (Special Active) I didn't replace the stock springs. I considered the BMW Performance suspension kit (#33-50-2-320-981) which requires to replace the coil springs but decided against it. My main reasons : this car is my DD, I don't track it, and I didn't want to lower it. Koni FSD specifically requires to keep the stock springs. My car has the option "S2VFA Adaptive M suspension" also known as EDC (Electronic Damper Control). Koni FSD is a non-EDC set and it required coding to remove the EDC out of the car. My mechanic coordinated with Joe @ TopGearSolutions for this. You may know TopGear is a sponsor on the bimmerpost forums with good reviews. I was told next time I visit the dealer, they may update the software on my car and this would require coding to remove the EDC again. I'm very happy with the results. The clunking noises are gone. If I could use one word to describe how the car feels, it would be "luxury". The ride is not harsh at all. The car feels smooth on the road but it doesn't feel floaty. My wife drove the car afterwards and she didn't complain at all. I believe Koni FSD is one step above the factory setup. But I bought my car with 76k miles so I can't tell for sure. So far I drove 300 miles after the install, I will update again in the future.
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10-14-2019, 06:35 PM	#2
otay Major 826 Rep 1,342 Posts Drives: 2015 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Thanks. Why did you switch from Koni FSD to SA?
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10-14-2019, 06:42 PM	#3
scostu Colonel 1623 Rep 2,036 Posts Drives: 2016 F25 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space Coast Florida...aka NASA area iTrader: (0)	Interesting you did NOT replace springs as well. Most on the forum replace both at the same time. I replaced my suspension with the Koni Special Actives and Eibach springs. I have 2016 F25 regular suspension....non EDC. __________________
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10-14-2019, 10:51 PM	#6
GeorgeF31 Private 47 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2017 330i xDrive M Sport Wagon Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	Koni does not spec Special Active/FSD for anything other than stock springs — standard and M-Sport. That's straight from Koni support when I was looking into them for my F31. I do know of one person who put them on an E60 with lowering springs and the struts wore way too quickly. However the car had active sways and the Konis replaces active struts so that may have contributed. And, of course, it's a sample of one.
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10-16-2019, 08:30 PM	#9
GeorgeF31 Private 47 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2017 330i xDrive M Sport Wagon Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	That is true about the mild drop. Presumably that is because the milder Eibach springs drop close to the range the M-Sport springs drop. I admit I didn't ask about exactly what they called a "lowering".
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Yesterday, 02:54 PM	#10
Fredo Lieutenant 189 Rep 537 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin TX iTrader: (3)	Update: I had some issues after the EDC removal. What that coding did was to update the Vehicle Order (VO) to pretend the car came out of the factory without the EDC option. A couple of years ago, I needed to replace a part (Fuel Control Pump Unit P/N 16147411596) which required to be coded into the car. My mechanic had a lot of trouble to make this work. His notes say "Unable to code EKPM3 with standard BMW ISTA+. Found vehicle order has been modified which caused the ISTA+ programming issues. The EKPM3 is now coded successfully (the only way to code this vehicle is E-SYS only)." He also said any new part that requires coding will have similar issues.
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