What coilover kit do you have (Poll)

[alanhasanicez4m]

I was considering doing a full track setup poll but it was getting a bit out of hand. I do think that would be really cool though considering how many of us track our cars.

Sorry if I missed out any other popular kits. Please only do the poll if you track your car.

 

[pokeybritches]

You should include TC Kline

 

[alanhasanicez4m]

You should include TC Kline

Thanks pokeybritches, does anyone know if I can add it now or will it reset the poll?

 

[alanhasanicez4m]

I kinda figured most people were on KWs, I know this is still a small base. But interesting. I will be changing my vote from stock to something else in the next couple of months

 

[Bing]

Would have been good to see the most popular for those without coilovers, but I have to vote to see the results

 

[Bing]

Not that I'm even thinking of doing it

 

[alanhasanicez4m]

Ah that's annoying, sorry about that Bing. The current results out of 14 votes are:

Bilstein    1 7%
GAZ         0 No votes
H&R         1 7%
Intrax      1 7%
KW          2 1%
Moton       0 No votes
Nitron      0 No votes
Ohlins      0 No votes
Stock       7 50%
Other       1 7%

I don't think I can edit the poll without resetting it

 

[srhutch]

Would have been good to see the most popular for those without coilovers, but I have to vote to see the results

No you don't just hit the "view results" button :wink:

 

[Bing]

:slaphead:

 

[Bing]

:slaphead:

...or read it properly and select 'stock'

 

[Mister T]

I also spoke to MeisterR about them building a set of Europa coilovers for the Z4M - http://www.meisterr.co.uk/products/europa/

They already do E36 and E46 and said they would do it if there was sufficient interest...

 

[exdos]

Sorry to be a pedant, but what's your definition of a "coilover" system? Although the Bilstein B16 is described as a coilover system by the manufacturer, the front springs are progressive (like OEM) and not linear like the KW Clubsports. The same applies to the KWV3s and my AC Schnitzer Racing. They're all "adjustable" though.

 

[TomK]

If we're being really pedantic then none of these are true coil over kits. Coil over suspension is usually defined as a coil spring over a shock absorber, none of these kits as far as I am aware have this arrangement on the rear, they all use a barrel spring and damper, only intrax will sell you a 'true' coil over rear.
Meanwhile in the real world I don't believe whether the spring is linear or progressive has anything to do with your average description of a 'coil over' suspension (for instance KW will sell you a linear or progressive spring for their kits...), it generally refers to whether the suspension is adjustable.

 

[alanhasanicez4m]

I'm glad you brought that up exdos, as I don't actually know. I just meant suspension kit of anysort, dampener and springs. I have read that that KW rears are not a true coilover but didn't know what that actually meant. Have been meaning to ask.

Are the photos of the KW clubsports accurate on the site, if so then I still don't understand as the rears look like they have a coil over a shock (http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1085408)?

 

[GuidoK]

From what I've read is that Intrax does do a geniune coilover at the rear. Whether that needs bracing on the shock towers.....probably not a bad idea.
I know for sure that their e46m3 set has real coilovers at the rear, and my guess is that that set is also the basis for the z4m (with small adaptions to the front obviously)
This is a picture of the e46 m3 kit (used sale, so no non verifiable promo pic)

(the rear shock on the intrax website for the z4m looks the same though)

 

[TomK]

Are the photos of the KW clubsports accurate on the site, if so then I still don't understand as the rears look like they have a coil over a shock ?

No that's just a generic photo for their kit, the Z4M and E3/46M3 kits will not look like that on the rear.
Guido, you're right I think only Intrax will sell you a 'true' rear coil over for the rear and indeed it will need additional bracing as the strut towers at the rear were never designed to support those kinds of loads. The standard Z4M Intrax kit is a barrel damper arrangement like the rest of these kits, for the E46M3 their standard kit is a 'true' coilover, my guess the reason being that it is a lot easier to brace the E46 than the z4.
Here's a picture of my M3 with true coil over kit and the resulting brace I needed bolted into the strut towers and through the boot floor.

 

[tertius]

Intrax offer both options for the rear - I had the "true" coil over setup and changed it for a separate spring and shock setup, because of the shock tower strength question.

 

[ba3bas]

What are you trying to achieve with this poll?

Or is it a general discussion?

 

[alanhasanicez4m]

What are you trying to achieve with this poll?

Or is it a general discussion?

I have been planning on modifying my suspension for some time now, and I'm finally about to do it. I have read so much stuff about it I'm just more confused than ever now. A while ago I was confident I wanted the KW clubsports but then my guy at the motorsports garage I use told me that he just installed clubsports on a Z3M and he wasn't convinced by them, he said the rears wearn't a true coilover and that there were clearance issues. From my research I guessed most people that have upgraded have gone for KWs. The poll seems to confirm this, it's also opened my eyes to other options.

 

[TomK]

I wouldn't get too hung up about the kW being not a true coil over at the rear, our cars are simply not designed to be able to take such a setup without the risk of damaging the sheet metal strut towers. Almost all the kits you will find follow the oem method of a separate barrel spring and damper arrangement.
Yes, in theory a true coil over is better as it allows a longer spring, but unless you really want to go balls deep and reinforce the rear personally I wouldn't recommend it.
Really the questions you should be asking are what are you using the car mostly for, and how much adjustability do you want.