Stock shocks - replace OEM or upgrade?

[m3f_hooked]

Guys - just bought a creampuff 99 with 53K miles. Shocks are obviously tired. I drive a car pretty hard on the street and race on weekends (with a Spec Miata) - but really want this car for a daily driver. Tempted to just stay stock, as I'm an old fart and like the ride. Are there options that won't upset the ride much?

[m3f_99Blk&Tan_6738c76028]

I just did a lot of searching on past threads about shocks and decided on the Koni Sports since they are supposed to have a good ride and good handling.

[m3f_M-avant_0baeb1c2f5]

I have Koni SA. agree with 99Blk, the Konis offer a good balance between performance and ride quality. no NVH like Bilsteins

[m3f_SG_M3_d1201712b5]

stay stock. Stock shocks offer the best ride, thats what i would do.

[m3f_salty_80d4b8491b]

stay stock. Stock shocks offer the best ride, thats what i would do.

When I bought my car at 23,000 miles, I would assume the shocks felt about like new ones. The ride is good, but if I had a handling complaint, I would say that the rear end feels slightly floaty at 7/10ths driving, but seems to settle down nicely when pushing harder. Do you have any experience with the factory Euro suspension tuning? What level of handling increase do Koni's offer if one is willing to accept degradation of ride quality? I will be replacing my shocks by about 40K. Thanks,

[m3f_SG_M3_d1201712b5]

the euro's used the same shocks, but slightly stiffer springs. A koni is leaps and bounds better than the stock shock. At their softest setting, i'd say they have a bit more compression and rebound than stock. I've never had koni's with stock springs.



The ride penalty is really nothing. I the original posters case, he has a track/race car and really doesn't seem interested in pushing the m3 in a track situation. In a track/street car a koni shock is an easy choice.

[m3f_peteE36M3_f22c2175db]

I am running the Hartge set up only been on car for less than 500 miles but i am very pleased with it lowers car by approx 15mm and ride quality is spot on slightly firmer than standard but still a great ride

They use bilstein shocks which they revalve to there own spec



Also remember Hartge is a BMW tuning company only

[m3f_Avus Blur_f64e36e460]

Don't get Bilstiens, my ride was bumpy even with the stock springs.

[m3f_Predator_7d824d33ea]

whayt if you used GT/LTW springs on oem shocks

[m3f_hooked]

I have Koni SA. agree with 99Blk, the Konis offer a good balance between performance and ride quality. no NVH like Bilsteins

OK - I'll bite - what's NVH mean?

[m3f_salty_80d4b8491b]

OK - I'll bite - what's NVH mean?

Noise, vibration, harshnes.

[m3f_dcasanova_f75d803f45]

I live in an area where lowering isn’t a good idea for a daily driver, so I went with the Koni S/As on stock springs. I have them set max soft. They provide a excellent ride, can be stiffened up for the track and have a lifetime warranty that you can only get from stocks if you let the stealer do the work. I priced the stealer. Parts and labor $1700+. I had a local Bimmer shop do the Konis that I got from Tire Rack for around $600 and the whole bill was less than $1000 for a savings of over $700.



The ride is unbelievable, firm yet not harsh. On the HWY I don’t think you could beat them. Also you can now get the rears that can be adjusted from inside the car for about $100 more. I wish I’d done that too.

[m3f_salty_80d4b8491b]

I live in an area where lowering isn’t a good idea for a daily driver, so I went with the Koni S/As on stock springs. I have them set max soft. They provide a excellent ride, can be stiffened up for the track and have a lifetime warranty that you can only get from stocks if you let the stealer do the work. I priced the stealer. Parts and labor $1700+. I had a local Bimmer shop do the Konis that I got from Tire Rack for around $600 and the whole bill was less than $1000 for a savings of over $700.



The ride is unbelievable, firm yet not harsh. On the HWY I don’t think you could beat them. Also you can now get the rears that can be adjusted from inside the car for about $100 more. I wish I’d done that too.

Koni honours warranty claims even if you install them yourself. I made a claim for my Corrado last year, and was extremely impressed with their customer service. Great product.

[m3f_berjepalon]

I went back to stock everything on mine. It looked pretty high when I picked it up from the shop but after a few hundred miles, the suspension has settled and it looks low enough for me with a nice ride to go with it.

Not getting jarred to death any longer.

[m3f_hooked]

I live in an area where lowering isn’t a good idea for a daily driver, so I went with the Koni S/As on stock springs. I have them set max soft. They provide a excellent ride, can be stiffened up for the track and have a lifetime warranty that you can only get from stocks if you let the stealer do the work. I priced the stealer. Parts and labor $1700+. I had a local Bimmer shop do the Konis that I got from Tire Rack for around $600 and the whole bill was less than $1000 for a savings of over $700.



The ride is unbelievable, firm yet not harsh. On the HWY I don’t think you could beat them. Also you can now get the rears that can be adjusted from inside the car for about $100 more. I wish I’d done that too.

Danny - this is the post I was looking for - thanks - I drive Hwy 1 occasionally too - will look into the externally adjustables...would be VERY cool.