Anyone used ST XA coilovers e86 3.0si?

[Bolle]

Are your rear subtotals correct in the middle-right-hand table? Perhaps the rear top mounts have not been included in the calculation?

Yes, you are correct. Added those later and forgot (and as I already bought them no more real impact on the money yet to spend... ). Sharp eye!

Updated sheet added.

 

[platinum]

Updated my comparison Excel

• Added droplinks to the ST options as according to the website it looks they are not included.
• Added ST X and ST XA into the overview, and hopefully added/removed the correct generic parts needed to fit them.

Of course, you can get the generic hardware for better price on Autodoc etc, but these savings will transfer over most of the options, so the difference will remain the same.

Looking at this, my thoughts are:

• Either go with the Eibach/Bilstein B4 or ST X option as the more ‘affordable’ option, as price difference isn't that massive. The ST X might be a better quality solution, but maybe a bit too hard for daily use.
• Or go for the ST XTA with the adjustable top mounts, the ST XA after adding the the extra parts needed doesn’t seem that much of a saving.

And apologies for bothering you with all these contemplations, it helps me organise my thoughts. And maybe it helps some others!
View attachment 294389

nice sheet..

noticed for the ST setups you dont have plates, pads or bump stops. I get the top plates but dont you still need pads and bump stops or do they come with the kit?

 

[Bolle]

nice sheet..

noticed for the ST setups you dont have plates, pads or bump stops. I get the top plates but dont you still need pads and bump stops or do they come with the kit

I believe that the kits come with those parts included, and the STA also with (adjustable) top mounts.

 

[Bolle]

I’ve got XTA coils. So adjustable front top mounts as well as the one way adjustable coilovers. They’re linear spring rate and camber + castor adjustable at the front. I’m running only a bit below sport suspension height to keep good ground clearance for B roads. Is about perfect height I think so no grounding but arch gap is good. I run the stock SE from arb and a sport rear arb to balance it out a bit. I’m running 2 degrees camber up front and about 2.2 rear. Castor I’ve increased from stock 5 degrees to 7 degrees. This latter change makes a big and positive difference to the steering. Much more positive, less twitching and easier to hold and line and place on a bumpy road

In terms of shock performance I’m very impressed. It is firm but I wouldn’t say any more so really than my b6 dampers on stock springs I had before. But with the much higher spring rates on the coils it resists roll and pitch/dove so much better. It feels very tight now, but well controlled. Deals with big bumps effectively and uses its travel well. It is firm though and you bounce around a bit on rough roads. I run dampers a couple of clicks softer than the recommended settings when on the road. Have done a couple of track days and firmed the dampers up and that works well. Changing the balance of damping front and rear definitely had a noticeable impact on corner entry balance.

Overall I’m very impressed and have had no problems. It’s garaged so no corrosion issues but it’s been out in the wet and no sign of any rusting still.

@DaveD, firstly thanks for sharing your experience.

Looking at the ST XTA top mount, I just have one (probably stupid) question. I can see how you can change the camber by sliding the mounting point laterally in the top mount. But how do you adjust castor (as the benefits seem clear), as that would require a front-back adjustment in the top mounts?