Right but you (and modbargains) said the company was founded by two ex KW engineers and that is just a lie. Of course they employ engineers. But it's cheap stuff for a reason.
Comfortable and performing coilovers around $1500?
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You may want to review your reading comprehension skills. I never said they were founded by former KW engineers; I also never stated a number. I said they were designed by former KW engineers. Those two things are a big difference. I design parts for a living, but that doesn't mean I founded the company I work for.
What you said, "I've read it in multiple forums and mod bargains website says that they are designed by former KW engineers."
What Modbargains says, "Founded by two former KW engineers, Solo-Werks Coilovers were their way of fighting the corporate bureaucracy by offering an affordable coilover option at a price that grassroots enthusiasts can afford."
But it seems that depending on what part of the mod bargains site you read, this story changes. But either it's bullshit because the founders are not engineers, and whether or not they employee former KW engineers is unknown.
What Modbargains says, "Founded by two former KW engineers, Solo-Werks Coilovers were their way of fighting the corporate bureaucracy by offering an affordable coilover option at a price that grassroots enthusiasts can afford."
But it seems that depending on what part of the mod bargains site you read, this story changes. But either it's bullshit because the founders are not engineers, and whether or not they employee former KW engineers is unknown.
If you want to argue with me, use my words as the basis for your argument. If you want to argue with Mod Bargains argue with them. I just Google real quick when you asked for sources and found a Mod Bargains post that backed up my understanding of how they are designed. I don't give a cap what Mod Bargains says. Clearly you just want to be argumentative. You probably spent way more on your coil overs and are upset that you could have saved some money. Have fun with your 3k rpm rotors.
From everything I've read the ideal geometry from a performance standpoint is close to m-sport ride height, and for comfort I think it makes sense that having more travel should be more comfortable. I looked but couldn't really see any coilover options that maintain stock (or close to stock) ride height.
I don't think there is one, but sport/m-sport suspension is lower on RWD vs. AWD. I was referring to RWD sport/m-sport height above.
Running BC coilovers here. Corner balanced with preload adjusted (effectively changes springrate)
I ran Bilstein PSS10 on my Evo IX MR and they were incredible. My wife never complained on the street and during a ride along at an Autocross on Hoosiers I had more than one person complement the control they provided. I'm looking at the Bilstein electronic control system for the 335is for when I upgrade from the current sport suspension.
Whatever you choose find an extremely competent shop to do a full suspension setup on your car after. For everything to work well you can't just get an alignment and set the ride height. You want to do a full corner balance and alignment together, because as the corner balance changes the alignment will change and needs to be tweaked. I used Texas Track Works and they spent several hours setting up the suspension on their Hunter rack...with me in the driver's seat (to get the weight right). Make sure you bring snacks, an ipad, and something to drink cause you'll be sitting in that driver's seat forever!
Whatever you choose find an extremely competent shop to do a full suspension setup on your car after. For everything to work well you can't just get an alignment and set the ride height. You want to do a full corner balance and alignment together, because as the corner balance changes the alignment will change and needs to be tweaked. I used Texas Track Works and they spent several hours setting up the suspension on their Hunter rack...with me in the driver's seat (to get the weight right). Make sure you bring snacks, an ipad, and something to drink cause you'll be sitting in that driver's seat forever!
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On a side note: I didn't think me sitting in the car would be that big of a deal. So once TTW was done setting up the suspension they had me get out of the car while it was still on the rack so I could see the effect my body weight had on the suspension and therefore the alignment... I can't remember exactly what it was, but it was extremely noticeable.
I can also say that on my stock MR suspension with just a Hunter alignment I was going through 2 sets of slicks a season doing autocross. I went to the Bilstein PSS10, fully set up, corner balanced, aligned, etc, and I could easily get a full season out of one set of slicks. My tires were wearing so much more evenly... I saved enough on tires in one year (between street tires and slicks) to pay for the suspension setup from TTW.
I can also say that on my stock MR suspension with just a Hunter alignment I was going through 2 sets of slicks a season doing autocross. I went to the Bilstein PSS10, fully set up, corner balanced, aligned, etc, and I could easily get a full season out of one set of slicks. My tires were wearing so much more evenly... I saved enough on tires in one year (between street tires and slicks) to pay for the suspension setup from TTW.
Fortune Auto 500s here. Did the M3 rear lower camber arm swap, so essentially the rear struts are M3 spec. Radial bearing + swift upgrade were the options, and came with standard camber plates in the front. My total was around the $1600 mark if I remember correctly.
Originally, they weren't the greatest setup. I was really disappointed as the car bounced in the rear. I fought with Fortune Auto's tech team, and questioned their default spring rates, 8k/12k. I made a thread on E90p with all the calculations I tried to do on my own and figured out that the front was too stiff, and the rear too soft. Even for switching to shorter travel coilovers, the OEM motion ratio wasn't carried over at all.
Long story short, I went to a 14k swift spring in the rear, and had the struts revalved. Car feels great. A little on the firm side in terms of ride comfort, but I never felt uncomfortable driving through Boston city roads. Handles great, excellent turn-in and confidence.
If you're looking at them I'd probably go with a 6k/14k setup from the beginning.
Originally, they weren't the greatest setup. I was really disappointed as the car bounced in the rear. I fought with Fortune Auto's tech team, and questioned their default spring rates, 8k/12k. I made a thread on E90p with all the calculations I tried to do on my own and figured out that the front was too stiff, and the rear too soft. Even for switching to shorter travel coilovers, the OEM motion ratio wasn't carried over at all.
Long story short, I went to a 14k swift spring in the rear, and had the struts revalved. Car feels great. A little on the firm side in terms of ride comfort, but I never felt uncomfortable driving through Boston city roads. Handles great, excellent turn-in and confidence.
If you're looking at them I'd probably go with a 6k/14k setup from the beginning.
Thanks for starting this thread. I've been looking at coilovers, and have been pretty set on Ohlins, but if people chime in enough about a cheaper set that will ride comfortably on the street and do well on spirited drives while getting rid of the sport wheel gap, I'm all ears. So, I guess bump for more reviews!
This is still an unsolved topic for me. I may just keep the sport suspension until I look deeper into a wide body.
I agree. Can't say they are that great. But I won't be doing anything until I find a permanent solution. Whatever it is, it will be stock or stock like height.
Pulled the trigger on Ohlins and Swift 336f/672r springs 2 weeks ago. It’ll be installed maybe in 2 more weeks.
