eibach vs h&r across the board!

[dark_sounds]

right round 1:

assuming they cost the same:
eibach anti roll bars vs h&r
adjustability vs thicker

i would have thought h&r are better,, as realistically you only need 1 decent setting for your own drving type on the street.. track would be different no??

round 2:
eibach springs vs h&r springs
assuming same shocks (bilstiens anyone?)
assuming same price
assuming same drop

whats the better in terms of handling/comfort? etc??

lets 'av it!

[Simon]

Eibach springs for the E30 M3 were tested to actually be softer than standard springs, this helped me in the decision to go for the H&R's.

So for the springs, H&R's all the time.

Can't speak for the roll bars, as I've never tried either.

[M5pilot]

On the E30 M3 use the H&R's.

On other cars it's down to personal taste. They both work well. Eibach's are softer. Alot of people give very +ve feedback on the H&R's.

Roll bars - H&R's are cheaper and thicker at the rear. Quality wise I can't see any difference.

Evo-S

[dark_sounds]

but less adjustable at the rear? as i said,, assume same price ;)

ok so softer springs with a hard shock ie. bilstien, should even out nicely right? or h&rs harder spring with the harder shock will be even better?? and still a semi decent ride??

[tim-ix]

I didn't have a choice. Eibach don't do springs for my car.

[M5pilot]

The only way your going to know what it is you want is by driving cars with those setups on.

There are plenty of people who have bought Eibach/Bilstein , H&r/Bilstein with both kind of ARB's.

I have a certain amount of experience with different setups.

I used Bilstein shocks on my Alpina which were a different part number to what we supply now. The ride was aweful with H&R springs. With the P36-0335 with H&R springs it was alot less crashy and less suspension travel.

Eibach Springs with P36-0335's is a little softer and really needs a set of Anti roll bars to reduce the amount of roll.

KW 60/40 springs with P36-0335 and B36-2027 in "my" opinion is the best overall. Nice subtle and stable ride with excellent control.

As for ARB's, I would always go with the H&R's simply because the real bar is thicker and have found that you only really have to adjust the front to reduce any oversteer.

Oz has KW springs with Bilsteins (Mtec ones) and he is very impressed.

If your looking to make a decision then you can come try out the Alpina which has Bilstein/Eibach and I have another car here which has Bilstein/KW and H&R Anti Roll Bars.

Nothing better than trying the kits out first.

[DaveD]

I have eibach with gaz adjustable and I am quite pleased...not to much of a drop and compliant suspension without being to harsh

[dark_sounds]

anyone got a H&R on billies ride with H&R roll bars??

[Dan318-is]

I've got HnR 35mm springs on scaffold pole billies with eibach roll bars, brand new bushes all round with both bars on the stiffest setting and my car goes round corners like a fookin train. Iv also got alloy wishbones but ihave to say the roll bars, which i had fitted before the shocks, made a supreme difference and i much prefer to sacrifice one mm of thickness and have the adjustability factor.

[dark_sounds]

but the setting you have it on,, is it not achievable on the h&rs??

[Dan318-is]

not at the rear, from what iv seen they only have two adjustable links at the rear, the eibachs have three. You have to remember that although the general consensus is that stiffer is better for handling, on a 15 year old road car, bars like whiteline will be to stiff and if you go round a corner and wheel lifts of thats 25% less grip; thats just an example mind. I would like to drive the same car with HnR and eibac roll bars i bet you hardly anyone could tell the difference

[oguz327]

KW springs and Bilstein shocks combo on my car now, works really well and i cant fault it, it handles perfectly and well impressed, cofortable but still firm. Looking forward to testing them on the track on saturday.

Ive got H&R roll bars on my sport too and they made a massive difference when i put them on, adjustable front and rear, you cant go wrong, tryed and tested by many zoners.

[dark_sounds]

I would like to drive the same car with HnR and eibac roll bars i bet you hardly anyone could tell the difference

thats my guess as well... i doubt anyone will notice,

[dark_sounds]

oguz, iv got both sitting here,,, im just trying to decide which one to use!

[oguz327]

Roll bars?

[dark_sounds]

yeah and springs for that matter!

roll bars,, eibach ones used... h&rs brand new,, (does it make much difference??)

springs,, both sets used. H&Rs less used! (does it make much difference?!?)

just seeing which ones to keep and stuff

[Andyboy]

I had Eibach springs and adjustable Konis on my M3 with stock anti roll bars. I thought it drove very well, a little bit lower and a tad stiffer than standard. Certainly the coils were marginally thicker than standard M3 coils but we're talking about 1mm and the next owner replaced the springs with AC Schnitzer ones to improve the ride. The quick way to test coil diameter is to use an open ended spanner. I'm not a fan of hard springs and dampers though. I had a Spax kit on an E36 which was just horrible. Great for a track day but awful on the road with a nasty restless ride. I took the fronts off and reverted to gas Boge with Koni springs. I would go so far as to say change anti roll bars first. Too many tuners like Alpina etc tried to make their cars handle via rock hard springs and shocks which is the wrong way to go about it although the buyers probably thought it was great. I recall a standard Golf GTi Mark and the astonishing difference Eibach anti roll bars made to a stock car but anything adjustable and decent quality is okay. H&R is known to be good, KW is (to me) the German Spax, i.e a bit cheap and cheerful.

The main difference between the E28 M535i (which had vicous on limit handling with plenty of roll) and the M5 was the thicker anti roll bars, 19/5.5 versus 25/19. The M5 actually used softer Boge dampers than the M535i's yellow Bilsteins so go figure!

[oguz327]

Well ive never used the eibach roll bars so cant really say what they are like but the H&R bars worked realy well on the Ring trip last year

Not sue on the springs dude, havnt used either, i know Si13 is using the H&R and think Demlot is using the Eibach springs, might be worths asking them for some feedback too.

[Gwynleym10]

I had Eibach springs and adjustable Konis on my M3 with stock anti roll bars. I thought it drove very well, a little bit lower and a tad stiffer than standard. Certainly the coils were marginally thicker than standard M3 coils but we're talking about 1mm and the next owner replaced the springs with AC Schnitzer ones to improve the ride. The quick way to test coil diameter is to use an open ended spanner. I'm not a fan of hard springs and dampers though. I had a Spax kit on an E36 which was just horrible. Great for a track day but awful on the road with a nasty restless ride. I took the fronts off and reverted to gas Boge with Koni springs. I would go so far as to say change anti roll bars first. Too many tuners like Alpina etc tried to make their cars handle via rock hard springs and shocks which is the wrong way to go about it although the buyers probably thought it was great. I recall a standard Golf GTi Mark and the astonishing difference Eibach anti roll bars made to a stock car but anything adjustable and decent quality is okay. H&R is known to be good, KW is (to me) the German Spax, i.e a bit cheap and cheerful.

The main difference between the E28 M535i (which had vicous on limit handling with plenty of roll) and the M5 was the thicker anti roll bars, 19/5.5 versus 25/19. The M5 actually used softer Boge dampers than the M535i's yellow Bilsteins so go figure!

This kind of thing has made me decide to put H&R ARB's with my brand new (almost..) stock IS suspension. I think I should get the best of both worlds and not have to worry about speed bumps!

[dark_sounds]

ill wait for their replies,, im sure theyve ridden each others cars!

[toby]

Both H&R and Eibach have a following and their respective approval. You could try them out mate, as it's only a matter of personal preference for your driving style. And you have said I bet it would be very difficult to tell the difference unless you were really going fast I suppose. If one spring is much harder and uncomfortable at low speeds that may influence your choice.

The softer spring and firmish damper would be my choice for road use.

[Pal318is]

Eibach Springs and Koni Adjsutable Shocks...Not to stiff and still go's good round corners...These are with the standard arb's tho'

pal

[oze30]

Ali,

i got H&R with Billy (inverted front, normal rear) and H&R roll bars. find they ride quite nicely, even with the 3.5, but would like to stiffen the rear up a bit. Thinking of diff springs, but not sure what to go for.. So I'm watching this topic with interest.



You can come for a spin if you like?

[dark_sounds]

cool you gonna be around next ace cafe

[randomdave325]

i think really it's all down to personal preference. As i've never had any h&r kit on any of my cars i can only go on what i've experienced of it on other peoples. For me it's eibach all the way with bilstein shocks. i think the overall ride is better. again personal preference but the eibach stuff certainly works for me

[X3MCP]

Has anyone had any experience with KW Coilovers I'm trying to decide what kit to get need to find out before the end of the week, just bought new Hi-Spec Billet 4 Disc Brake Conversion with Gold calipers and its all getting fitted at the same time.
Any thoughts

[dark_sounds]

i think you should start your own thread.. ;)

[dark_sounds]

btw, does wear and tear. i.e. if its been used for a few years, effect the rollbars????

[Andyboy]

Coil overs are okay but they're not really ideal for all year round road use. I've seen some a year old in a shocking state because there isn't any dirt/water protection sleeve plus the ride can be very crashy. TBH there's not a lot wrong with standard struts with good springs and dampers.

No, anti roll bars don't wear out!

[Simon13]

I'm using H&R springs and rock hard bilsteins. The ride can be pretty bad on sh!t roads.

Hartge anti roll bars, these are imbertween H&R,eibach bars

Toureg does handle sweet, but it's a setup i like and have used on the ring before and is plenty good enough for my driving ability.

H&R springs are progressively wound
Eibach springs are progressively sprung!

Horses for courses is suspension, poly bush the whole car! engine mounts and all!

[dark_sounds]

wound sprung??? whats all that about??

[Andyboy]

Progressive (rising rate) springs are those that get stiffer the more you compress them. Nothing new, even a Cortina has them. That's the difference between a coil spring and a torsion bar or leaf spring. Progressively wound means there are more coils at the bottom of the spring than the top. The logic behind this is that to retain a decent ride you use the top (softer) bit first and as the spring compresses it gets a lot stiffer a lot faster than a regular coil. That's why the Eibach springs give quite a decent ride.

[E30BeemerLad]

The only experience i have of coilovers was a recent drive of a MK1 Golf Gti and the ride was absolutely apalling, very very crashy and just plain rock hard.

Would go for decent springs and dampers over coilovers for road use any day.

[Templ8e30]

I had Eibach springs with Koni adjustable shocks on my 2 door, gave a nice smooth ride and decent cornering although speed bumps and pot holes would have it hitting the bump stops.

I've now got H&R springs with the konis's on my touring, the springs are a little stiffer and don't bottom out on speed bumps but the cornering is much better.

I've also fitted H&R ARB's now and it's fantastic in the bends, brilliant setup.

Cheers,

Iain T

[Juriic]

Hi all!

Which Eibach springs works fine (track/road use) with Bilstein B8 Sprint (P36-0335 front B36-2027 rear) (please, with part numbers, if possible!)

Car E30 325i M20B25 M Tech II

Thanks!