Questions finalizing suspension refresh

[Subfra///Me]

Thank you guys. Good to know.

[Bry5on]

Ball joint RTABs definitely have a bit more harshness on sharp edged bumps (the H in Noise, Vibration and Harshness) along with slight increase in noise on the same impacts. If your roads are good, you might not hear or feel a difference. It is not a zero change in NVH, but it’s probably worth the trade.

If you’re sensitive to creaky squeaky plastic trim, it will probably make your OCD worse. That comes from the harshness.

[karter16]

Yes replace bump stops. I would get bilstein b6 over junk konis if performance is of any concern.

Don't need shorter end links. CSL bar is good, hotchlis is better. Both hollow, but hotchkis has adjustability. I would put it in the middle. No need to get a rear bar.

Don't bother with camber plates if you're sticking with konis. Just an increase in nhv and you don't need the extra 5/8" of travel. Get them if you go with B6s.

Don't bother with TMS monoball fcabs. They're junk. They feel like junk. Go oe rubber for that classic bmw road feel.

“Junk konis”?

I thought the Konis were regarded pretty well here?


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[Subfra///Me]

“Junk konis”?

I thought the Konis were regarded pretty well here?


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That's what I thought as well. Seemed like Koni yellows were a way to get a slightly better ride and well as performance over stock. Many seemed to like the Koni's paired with Dinan/Eibach springs. That's the route I was going, but am torn with how much worse the ride would be with the B12 kit, which I specifically remember needed to be paired with camber plates to allow for full travel.

[Phoenix///M3]

I run Koni Yellows / Eibach / GC camber plates and 100% refreshed stock everything else suspension wise front and rear and have no complaints in an aggressive Sunday driver on occasional crap roads. No track time.

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[cobra]

That's what I thought as well. Seemed like Koni yellows were a way to get a slightly better ride and well as performance over stock. Many seemed to like the Koni's paired with Dinan/Eibach springs. That's the route I was going, but am torn with how much worse the ride would be with the B12 kit, which I specifically remember needed to be paired with camber plates to allow for full travel.

Are they bad? No, they work perfectly fine, don't leak, are adjustable, and are plug-and-play with no modifications.
Are they good? No, they are mediocre and there are better options out there.

[karter16]

Are they bad? No, they work perfectly fine, don't leak, are adjustable, and are plug-and-play with no modifications.
Are they good? No, they are mediocre and there are better options out there.

Better options for track? Or better options for road driving? Or both?

(Am genuinely interested in better road options, have had my car on konis for the last 6 years, but when it comes time to replace them I’m certainly interested in understanding what options are better)


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[Subfra///Me]

I'd like to know as well. As far as I understand, Koni/stock and Koni/Dinan or Eibach are actually better than OE in just about every way on the street. There are better performance options like the B12 kit, but at how much of a compromise? Obviously, coilovers can be better than simple shock and spring replacements, but not everyone wants to go down that route.

Other than coilovers, you have OE, Koni and Bilstein B4/6. What other options are there and which are "better"?

[cobra]

If it were me I'd try the B8's with stock springs if I was just after a stock replacement that will probably perform better. Simply by virtue of them being monotubes from Bilstein they are probably better than the Konis. Make sure to get new bump stops.

Then again, knowing what I know now, I think going up in spring rate is the key to a much better handling car, and you're only going to be able to do that with a "coilover" kit. By going to coilovers you get that flexibility and end up with a far better setup in the end. Something that is probably slightly more bumpy but far better handling.

[karter16]

If it were me I'd try the B8's with stock springs if I was just after a stock replacement that will probably perform better. Simply by virtue of them being monotubes from Bilstein they are probably better than the Konis. Make sure to get new bump stops.

Then again, knowing what I know now, I think going up in spring rate is the key to a much better handling car, and you're only going to be able to do that with a "coilover" kit. By going to coilovers you get that flexibility and end up with a far better setup in the end. Something that is probably slightly more bumpy but far better handling.

I thought B8’s were designed for use with lowering springs? Don’t they end up pre-loaded too much with stock springs?


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[Subfra///Me]

Do not think B8's are available for the M3. B4/6 only.

[cobra]

Yeah my bad, I meant B6's

[K_M3]

Are they bad? No, they work perfectly fine, don't leak, are adjustable, and are plug-and-play with no modifications.
Are they good? No, they are mediocre and there are better options out there.

I'm in a similar boat to the OP and this is just making things wildly confusing. It seemed like the consensus around the forums was Koni/stock or Koni/Dinan was the go to for stockish-but-not-stock. Now B6s are the better stock alternative?

[Tbonem3]

B4s (twin tube) are the stock equivalent from Bilstein. B6s and koni yellows are the "sport" upgrade from stock sachs.

So if you have mildly increased spring rates, go with konis or b6.

Then it's a matter of twin tube koni vs monotube billys which is no contest.

All susp benefits from thinner camber plates from a bump travel perspective because this car shouldn't be lowered much at (unless you ramp up the sp rates) . As well as shorter bumpstops.

The only complaints about B6s are "harsher/firmer" are non starters to me - why are you "upgrading" if you want stock feel (comfortable twin tube). Monotube will last longer as well, though a trick with konis to is slow (adjust) their rebound as they age.

[Subfra///Me]

The only complaints about B6s are "harsher/firmer" are non starters to me - why are you "upgrading" if you want stock feel (comfortable twin tube). Monotube will last longer as well, though a trick with konis to is slow (adjust) their rebound as they age.

This is really what it comes down to for me personally. I know the Koni/Dinan combo will be an upgrade to stock in just about every way. Just trying to figure out how much of a ride compromise the B12's would be over that combo. Hard to know without real world experience. Although it's very subjective, it sounds like many here who have gone with the B12 kit are happy as well.