Mid-budget suspensions - APEX / AP / SPAX, G-max etc.

[dpehlivanov]

The spring is coming, so i'm looking for new suspension for my touring. I was looking in some UK online shops that there are brands like Apex, AP Performance, Spax, G-max avaiable for E30 at good prices.
Since i don't have any experience with these brands i want to ask you for advice and opinions for these suspensions if you have experience with them.

I'm looking more after the APEX and AP. I'm looking for sporty, but not too stiff suspension (which is very relatively for everyone, i know), because it's everyday car.

I'm going to buy 4 springs (lowering by 30-40 mm) and 2 front shocks. Except the rear shocks, because the car has automatic ride height control. I hope this will not be a problem, i was looking that an adjustment of the ride height is possible, so i'll be able to make the ride height control system to work with the lowering springs.

So what do you think?

[capri_rob]

Think you should price up what you can get the cheap stuff for and price up Boge Turbo or Bilstein B4 Dampers and Eibach Pro or H&R Springs and then ask yourself with the amount of work involved to do it all do you really want the cheap stuff ?

Only ever had Spax on one car - my 16v Astra GTE - it handled like it was on rails on very smooth tarmac. On anything else it was horrible - I'd had enough after 6 months.

Buy cheap buy twice IMO

[Morat]

Eibach springs are cheap enough as it is, and they're a great compromise between comfort and handling. Recently I've decided that they bottom out a bit easily in the rear if you're commuting with 3 large adults, a toddler in a child seat and 60kg in the boot... but that's not really surprising

[toby]

I've got APEX on my touring with Bilstein B4 dampers. It's a firm ride but then they all are really. I prefer these springs to the others mentioned but if you want comfort for a daily driver you could consider all new M-Tech stuff or just new M-tech shocks. Many tourings had M-Tech springs and dampers as standard.

I'm not sure about the ride control system and lower springs.

[dpehlivanov]

Think you should price up what you can get the cheap stuff for and price up Boge Turbo or Bilstein B4 Dampers and Eibach Pro or H&R Springs and then ask yourself with the amount of work involved to do it all do you really want the cheap stuff ?

Only ever had Spax on one car - my 16v Astra GTE - it handled like it was on rails on very smooth tarmac. On anything else it was horrible - I'd had enough after 6 months.

Buy cheap buy twice IMO

Ok, forget about the SPAX. I called the thread mid-budget, not low-budget, because i have offers for Low Tec, FK and Maxtrac suspensions which are cheaper, but i'm pretty sure they are crap.

I just don't want to buy expensive suspensions for a car that i may sell in a year or two. I'm sure there are cheaper suspensions than koni, billys and HR that will be good.

There is also an option to look for a good used kids (koni, bilsteins, etc.) on low miles. And i was asking about the AP and Apex because i've heard of them and i know them as a good quality suspensions.

About the original M-tech suspension - i want to lower the car a bit, that's why i'm looking for lowering springs.

Thank you guys for the answers.