Installed new shocks

[JazzMan]

I installed Koni's on my car yesterday. I already had Eibach pro springs on there. My OE shocks were starting to wear out - very juddery over bumps. What a transformation its actually quite a bit more comfy than it was before with the old worn OE's on the shocks on the softest setting. I think i need harden up the front a bit as I'm getting oversteer on high speed corners under accelleration. Recently powerflexed my anti roll bars and front lower wishbones. The steering and turning is so much more precise and "fluid" now. The front seems to be sitting lower than before too which is odd as I've only switched the shocks round. Anyways Im very happy with it :)

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni02.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni02.jpg)
Lacky-band springs - not so useful for cornering

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni03.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni03.jpg)

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni04.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni04.jpg)

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni05.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni05.jpg)
Shame you can see the pretty yellow shocks from the outside!

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni07.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni07.jpg)

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni08.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni08.jpg)

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni09.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni09.jpg)
Rear top mount hole
http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni10.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni10.jpg)

http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/tn_koni11.jpg (http://www.caraudioarchive.net/repository/e46coupe/koni11.jpg)
New rear top mount - these are extra tough lifetime warranty ones. Also using a steel plate on the top to a little extra support - probably dont need these as I wont be running them set very hard.

[peppernick]

Good stuff DIY-ing [ok You can't go wrong with Konis, some of the best shock absorbers around.

Changing the shocks alone can sometimes alter ride height, as the shocks themselves are pressurized and will give a decent amount of rebound. At ride height, the springs are compressed to a point where the weight of the car has overcomed their initial compressability and the individual spring tension at that point is able to hold the weight of the car. Any little change in leverage (ie. stronger shock rebound) can very easily give the spring a bit more leverage to raise the car.

[JazzMan]

That makes sense, thank you :)

I've been doing quite a lot of DIY since I started building my kit car a year ago. I've been able to save myself several trips to the local mechanics!

[Chaos]

Welcome to the wonderful world of suspension tuning. :D

The shocks will almost always give you a different height from oem, as the compression damping will usually be different between manufacturers and types etc and spring prelaods vary in the same way slightly.

You should have a ride height adjustment on the Konis. I wouldn't adjust the rebound damping to give you a ride height adjustment as the performance may suffer as a result. Lift the height to the point where you like it (if you want to), then work on the rebound damping to address the oversteer. You can squeeze this up little by little until it feels more comfortable in the corners and doesn't want to keep digging in and oversteering, but I stress the importance of doing this little by little and trying each setting very thoroughly, as suspension adjustments that are not tested properly can sometimes cause spectacular results of the expensive variety! I watched the outcome of someone who wound their rebound damping off one notch too far at Cadwell once and it wasn't pretty.

Anyway, I digress, nice write-up and fingers crossed that you get it how you like it and it settles down well.

[Ian E]

Nice write up and pics. Need to do the shocks on my 330ci but was wondering how much a set of Koni's would be? And where from?

[JazzMan]

I drive 55 miles a day so I shall be doing a lot of test this week. The only thing thats a bit of a negative is that you need unbolt the bottom of the rear shocks, push them all the way up and twist to adjust them. On the plus side the adjust cant get rotten like the do on other brands. The fronts are easy to do under the bonnet with the supplied adjuster. I cant set the ride height on these. The Eibach pro springs are the 25mm front/10mm rear ones.

(Ian YGPM :) )

[peppernick]

Nice write up and pics. Need to do the shocks on my 330ci but was wondering how much a set of Koni's would be? And where from?
They are available from most good tuners but you can always speak to Roy and squeeze out the best deal :D I would say budget around £400-450 for the shocks alone.

[JazzMan]

Took quite a long drive to work today. Bigger bumps it deals with much better than before - probably due to the old shocks being on the way out. Smaller bumps cause a bit more, vibration is probably the best word, through the seat. So on one hand its more comfortable, but on the other you get more knocks from the smaller bumps. So far I have to say I'm very pleased - especially when I turned into a roundabout today [cool good fun :D