» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 410,030 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,891 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,610 Views | | | | | 11-06-2005, 03:24 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 642 | Koni any stiffer than OEM sport suspension? I've got 114K on my base ti. I upgraded to OEM sport sway bars a long time ago. Now I have a set of M-tech springs waiting to go in, but I need to decide what shocks to go with. I want to go with Koni's, but I still want t decent ride. Can anyone who had the oem sport suspension who upgraded to Koni's chime in here and tell me if the ride was the same or any noticeably stiffer. My choise is Koni vs OEM sport struts and shocks. Thanks. __________________ '95 330ti CS w/sr delete, S50USB30, cams, 24# inj, Conforti SW, Euro HFM, Samco Silicone Intake Boot, BBTB, Euro Oil Cooler, JTD CAI Duct, RE DMS exhaust, RE Tranny mounts, CF Valve Cover, LTW flywheel/Kevlar sprung hub clutch, RE SSK, 3.46 Finned LSD (M6) , M3 tranny, Brembos, RE Wheel Studs, SS brake/clutch lines, CF interior, Rear Headrest retrofit, Tilt Steering retrofit, 13.5 lb DynaBatt in rear, LED interior/footwell lights, ZKW HID, Headlight Aim Control, Rear fog light w/cluster indicator, CF 3 Aux gauge pod, BMW Traffic Pro/Alpine MP3-CD Changer, Staggered LTW wheels, '95 M3 steering rack, VIS CF Hood, M3 LTW Strut Bar, TCK SA coilovers, Red LTW Motorsport Seatbelts, OEM Fire Extinguisher, Z8 Starter button, Auto dim rear view mirror w/ Homelink/Compass, PDC, Rear Sun Shade, Euro Gauge Cluster w/oil temp/shift light , Headlight Washers, "Motorsport" Door Handles, CF Grills, French ZKW Fogs, Euro dash bins, Power Lumbar Support is next, Coming e39 M5 interior light, Bimmer Magazine 8/2007 | | | 11-06-2005, 08:57 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: southern CA Posts: 127 | go with bilstein HD or sports, they will outlast any shock/strut. I have the same set up as you and i love my bilsteins. __________________ 1996 318ti sport model, m3 bumper cover, velocity splitter, AKG shift knob, factory clears, super sprint exhaust, UUC floormats, UUC tranny mounts, UUC clutch bushings, UUC shifter bushings, Powerflex LCABS... replaced with treehouse eyeballs, front sway bar bushings, RTABS, TMS rear shock mounts, Bilsteins, Xbrace, sparco strut brace, AKG subframe bushings, AKG differential mount bushing, M coupe shifter, meyle ball joints and sway bar endlinks | | | 11-07-2005, 02:41 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 642 | Thanks. I've heard bilsteins are pressurized and may slightly raise the ride height? Any truth to this? I've also heard they are stiffer than konis. I have koni's on my 911 and they great, but the ti's my daily driver and I'm looking for sporty but not harsh. Anyone with Konis willing to give me their opinion? __________________ '95 330ti CS w/sr delete, S50USB30, cams, 24# inj, Conforti SW, Euro HFM, Samco Silicone Intake Boot, BBTB, Euro Oil Cooler, JTD CAI Duct, RE DMS exhaust, RE Tranny mounts, CF Valve Cover, LTW flywheel/Kevlar sprung hub clutch, RE SSK, 3.46 Finned LSD (M6) , M3 tranny, Brembos, RE Wheel Studs, SS brake/clutch lines, CF interior, Rear Headrest retrofit, Tilt Steering retrofit, 13.5 lb DynaBatt in rear, LED interior/footwell lights, ZKW HID, Headlight Aim Control, Rear fog light w/cluster indicator, CF 3 Aux gauge pod, BMW Traffic Pro/Alpine MP3-CD Changer, Staggered LTW wheels, '95 M3 steering rack, VIS CF Hood, M3 LTW Strut Bar, TCK SA coilovers, Red LTW Motorsport Seatbelts, OEM Fire Extinguisher, Z8 Starter button, Auto dim rear view mirror w/ Homelink/Compass, PDC, Rear Sun Shade, Euro Gauge Cluster w/oil temp/shift light , Headlight Washers, "Motorsport" Door Handles, CF Grills, French ZKW Fogs, Euro dash bins, Power Lumbar Support is next, Coming e39 M5 interior light, Bimmer Magazine 8/2007 | | | 11-07-2005, 07:06 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | According to Koni their stiffness starts at the OEM sport level. So dialed down it is the same as stock theoretically, and dialed up it is stiffer. This comes from Koni tech support not my seat of the pants. __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 11-07-2005, 07:32 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: southern CA Posts: 127 | When I installed my bilsteins, I noticed that the wheel gap was increased. After a month or so of driving, the ride height settled much lower, a bit lower then my oem sport struts. __________________ 1996 318ti sport model, m3 bumper cover, velocity splitter, AKG shift knob, factory clears, super sprint exhaust, UUC floormats, UUC tranny mounts, UUC clutch bushings, UUC shifter bushings, Powerflex LCABS... replaced with treehouse eyeballs, front sway bar bushings, RTABS, TMS rear shock mounts, Bilsteins, Xbrace, sparco strut brace, AKG subframe bushings, AKG differential mount bushing, M coupe shifter, meyle ball joints and sway bar endlinks | | | 11-07-2005, 09:56 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Great White North! Posts: 701 | Quote: Originally Posted by 96 3 1 8 ti go with bilstein HD or sports, they will outlast any shock/strut. I have the same set up as you and i love my bilsteins. | I agree. Go with the Bilsteins. I have the Hartge valved bilsteins which are basically Bilstein Sports since the car was new('96). Excellent ride. They are self-adjusting; kinda like progressive spring rates. I live in Montreal and our streets are like Boston's (HUGE RUTS AND POT HOLES!). Bilsteins are very robust and excellent for street and track events. At the shop we outsell the Koni 4-1. Clients love both HD and Sport. If you're interested email me at philip@vitessetuning.com for a quote. Cheers, __________________ Engine: 2.1L Hartge conversion (bored to 86X91mm, ported & polished head, new valves, new crank, & upgraded ECU), Supersprint SS headers, Hartge exhaust, custom cat bypass (track), KV85 wires, Bosch platinum plugs, Vitesse cf spark plug cover, Vitesse cf CAI, Samco hoses, Fiamm air horns. Drivetrain: custom ssk, Vitesse adj. clutch stop, Redline D4 ATF & 75W90. Chassis: 18x8.5 Hartge Classics on 225/40/ZR18 Direzza DZ101s, 17x8 Hartge 7 spokes on 235/40/17 Direzza Z1 *specs and 17x9 Enkei MT1-R on 235/40/17 Direzza Z1 *specs(track), Vitesse 10mm spacers with cf/billet hub extenders, Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, Hartge sway bars & strut brace, urethane offset LCABs, Vitesse rsb, billet/urethane RSMs, X-brace, ATE BBK, ATE slotted rr. rotors, Goodridge ss. lines, ATE Superblue. Exterior: Violettschwarz, Hartge lip spoiler, window spoiler, hatch spoiler & mirrors, Vitesse cf door pillars, Vitesse cf fog light blanks (track), ZKW ellipsoids, HIDs in headlights, highbeams and foglights, and much more... Performance BMW Magazine feature car March 2003 www.vitessetuning.com | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |