Coil-overs or not ?

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:29 pm

318 ti sport. Front.

I may have a broken spring and my garage guy says the legs may be leaking so looking around I have found that coil-overs look to be cheaper . Like these.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Coilovers-H ... 540614d4ca

Now are these a straight swop and are they as good and what benefits/losses are involved ?

Cheers Mart.

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:03 pm

Cheap and cheerful. Depends what you want really, they'll be better than knackered old suspension and fine for normal use, just don't expect it to ride like a rolls Royce, or handle like an f1 car.

I had a set of hottunings on my compact and the frot setup felt fine, it was the rear which never felt very settled and was a bit bouncy. They were surprisingly good quality for what they cost too, hard to believe they could actually make something like the so cheap!

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:32 pm

Just normal use Harry, the rear`s have had new springs and shocks in the last 6 months so their OK but the front has a "list"to one side so I would like to change both sides as a matter of course.
If I bought these would I need to source anything else for the swop ?

Mart.

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 6:48 pm

No, should be a straight bolt on.

New topmounts while you're at it wouldn't be a bad idea and would mean not even having to bother with spring compressors to get the old ones off.

A decent 18mm six sided socket would be handy if you've not already got one as the two bolts at the bottom of the strut into the hub are usually very tight.

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 7:14 pm

Cheers Harry , but my spanner guy will be looking after the nuts and bolts as I`m a bit too old to start this type of stuff any more (A lot of appathy) but it`s spot on to hear from people like you who have done this and are willing to share information. Thanks !

Mart.

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 8:10 pm

Ah, one thing I will say,

If you're in standard wheels / tyres, there's a good chance you'll need spacers.

On coilovers the spring perch and spring sit lower and will go down behind the tyre, where on standard struts the spring perch is above the tyre. With standard 16s and 205 60 15 tyres I got away with some cheap 5mm shim type spacers, but there's so much room in the arches 15mm hubcentric spacers give tons of room on the inside, and still come nowhere near the arches.

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 9:57 pm

I put a set of Hottuning shite coilovers on a 323i Coupe recently (not mine). It was on genuine Alpina wheels (17's) and there was no rubbing. I can't say it was very nice to drive however.

Post Fri Mar 14, 2014 10:40 pm

How much stance will you be giving it? Standard gape, or full on prolapse?

Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:18 pm

DanThe wrote:How much stance will you be giving it? Standard gape, or full on prolapse?

Eh ?

Mart.

Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:32 pm

Andyboy wrote:. I can't say it was very nice to drive however.

In what way ? I`m 54 and I dont want to Blitz the arse of my car anymore. A decent drive would be fine for me right now, plus my grand kids.lol

Mart.

Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 6:38 pm

harry_p wrote:Ah, one thing I will say,

If you're in standard wheels / tyres, there's a good chance you'll need spacers.

On coilovers the spring perch and spring sit lower and will go down behind the tyre, where on standard struts the spring perch is above the tyre. With standard 16s and 205 60 15 tyres I got away with some cheap 5mm shim type spacers, but there's so much room in the arches 15mm hubcentric spacers give tons of room on the inside, and still come nowhere near the arches.

I`m on BBS style 42`s mate , factory fitted.

Mart.

Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:24 pm

What's wrong with a pair of Sachs shocks and some eibach springs or good used OEM springs?

Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:02 pm

Coiloverz innit.

Post Sat Mar 15, 2014 8:20 pm

bss325i wrote:What's wrong with a pair of Sachs shocks and some eibach springs or good used OEM springs?

Exactly

Post Sun Mar 16, 2014 2:28 pm

bss325i wrote:What's wrong with a pair of Sachs shocks and some eibach springs or good used OEM springs?

Im just looking at alternatives but I have also got my eye on a pair of second hand legs and all the bits as well.
I take it that coilovers are in the "chav " league then.

Mart.

Post Sun Mar 16, 2014 7:49 pm

bss325i wrote:What's wrong with a pair of Sachs shocks and some eibach springs or good used OEM springs?

They don't impress 19 year old Ladz innit.

Coilovers are the automotive equivalent of tattoos.

Post Sun Mar 16, 2014 8:59 pm

I'm not against coil overs of a high quality variety on a car that sees track use but some cheapo coiloverzzz on a daily tram to get lows is a big no no.

Post Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:51 pm

Andyboy wrote:
Coilovers are the automotive equivalent of tattoos.

That was a near miss !!

I`ve gone for a used set from a 318ti M sport (springs and top mounts as well) with 100k less miles so lets hope they are fine.
There`s only one thing worse than a chav and it`s a 54 year old chav

Mart.