E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > My Koni FSD review



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-04-2013, 06:38 PM   #1
B39 B58
Private First Class
15
Rep
110
Posts

Drives: 2016 340i / M Sport / 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA

iTrader: (0)

My Koni FSD review

Hi all,

Bought an e90 335i sedan a few months ago and love it. I feel like it can do pretty much anything I ask it to do.

BUT... until recently I didn't really enjoy driving it around the city. With the sport suspension, handling was great, but the ride was very stiff. It wasn't necessarily the lack of comfort that bothered me--it was the feeling that I was abusing the car whenever I drove down a bumpy road. As someone who hates hearing rattles from my car, I was cringing every day thinking I was shaking my car to pieces because the suspension wasn't doing its job.

Time for an upgrade. After researching here (thanks to those who answered my questions and posted earlier reviews), I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think.

Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle.

Paid $640 for the dampers plus $250 for labor.
__________________
2016 340i M Sport | 6MT
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 06:59 PM   #2
335dFan
Jumping Jack Flash
335dFan's Avatar
United_States
321
Rep
1,692
Posts

Drives: 2021 X3 M40i
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: California (east of Sacramento)

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by SF Space Grey
Hi all,

Bought an e90 335i sedan a few months ago and love it. I feel like it can do pretty much anything I ask it to do.

BUT... until recently I didn't really enjoy driving it around the city. With the sport suspension, handling was great, but the ride was very stiff. It wasn't necessarily the lack of comfort that bothered me--it was the feeling that I was abusing the car whenever I drove down a bumpy road. As someone who hates hearing rattles from my car, I was cringing every day thinking I was shaking my car to pieces because the suspension wasn't doing its job.

Time for an upgrade. After researching here (thanks to those who answered my questions and posted earlier reviews), I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think.

Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle.

Paid $640 for the dampers plus $250 for labor.
Don't you love it when you get your money's worth and you don't have buyers remorse?! Good news.
__________________
2021 X3 M40i: M Sport Differential, Adaptive M Suspension.
Previous BMWs: 1971 BMW 2002, 1973 BMW R75/5, and 2011 BMW 335d
Previous Other Vehicles: '67 Cougar, '70 911e, '86 Jetta Diesel, '05 and '12 Foresters, et al.
Appreciate 0
      04-05-2013, 10:56 AM   #3
jjellyneck
First Lieutenant
9
Rep
337
Posts

Drives: 2008 335i MT
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Asheville, NC

iTrader: (0)

How many miles did you have on the original dampers before the new install?
Appreciate 0
      04-05-2013, 01:26 PM   #4
B39 B58
Private First Class
15
Rep
110
Posts

Drives: 2016 340i / M Sport / 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jjellyneck View Post
How many miles did you have on the original dampers before the new install?

There were 30k miles on the previous dampers. I still have them--I'll put them up for sale soon.
__________________
2016 340i M Sport | 6MT
Appreciate 0
      04-06-2013, 12:25 AM   #5
CALWATERBOY
Major
CALWATERBOY's Avatar
146
Rep
1,160
Posts

Drives: 2009 E93 N54
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SF Space Grey View Post
Overall, I give the FSDs a 9/10 for delivering on their promise. If the improvement were any greater I'd assume witchcraft was involved. Highly recommended if you think your sport suspension makes your car feel brittle.

Beginning to thirst for that LSD?

Yo - you'll take it up a few notches, again.
Appreciate 0
      04-06-2013, 09:02 AM   #6
jjellyneck
First Lieutenant
9
Rep
337
Posts

Drives: 2008 335i MT
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Asheville, NC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY View Post
Beginning to thirst for that LSD?

Yo - you'll take it up a few notches, again.
Always makes me think of hallucinogenic driving enhancements. On a related topic, I need to take a quick glance at the overall costs of an LSD option. It'll likely increase my driving pleasure, but also increase speeding tickets!
Appreciate 0
      04-06-2013, 10:45 AM   #7
fireline43
Lieutenant
42
Rep
497
Posts

Drives: 2013 Mercedes C250
Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Florida

iTrader: (0)

this seriously sounds like an improvement I would like. the sport suspension is really ruff like you say.
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 10:45 AM   #8
jakuum
Private First Class
United_States
17
Rep
187
Posts

Drives: SGM e92 335i M-sport
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2011 BMW 335i  [0.00]
Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.
Appreciate 1
      04-07-2013, 11:18 AM   #9
CALWATERBOY
Major
CALWATERBOY's Avatar
146
Rep
1,160
Posts

Drives: 2009 E93 N54
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jjellyneck View Post
Always makes me think of hallucinogenic driving enhancements. On a related topic, I need to take a quick glance at the overall costs of an LSD option. It'll likely increase my driving pleasure, but also increase speeding tickets!

It'll increase your traction and cornering ability too....not t'mention that feeling of confidence....
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 01:20 PM   #10
B39 B58
Private First Class
15
Rep
110
Posts

Drives: 2016 340i / M Sport / 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jakuum View Post
Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.

I got them through the indy shop that did the installation. That price--through them--was a little better than what Tirerack and Amazon were asking for the damper set, and better than I could find elsewhere online.
__________________
2016 340i M Sport | 6MT
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 02:31 PM   #11
chuckc
Enlisted Member
3
Rep
46
Posts

Drives: 2012 335is
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Carlsbad, CA

iTrader: (0)

Are you running run flats also or go flats now?
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 04:33 PM   #12
Legato2057
First Lieutenant
Legato2057's Avatar
United_States
14
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2008 monaco blue e90 335i
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: San Diego

iTrader: (1)

I've had my Koni FSD's on my e90 335i for 40,000+ miles. Definitely one of the best mods I did to my car. It just makes the car feel "right", as if this is how it was always meant to be like. Highly recommend the FSD's
__________________
2008 Monaco Blue/Tan interior 335i sedan. Mods: AFE intake w/ scoops, AFE Exhaust, ER FMIC, Koni FSD/Eibcach Pro-Kit, Breyton Race GTS wheels w/ Continental ExtremeContact DW tires, Cusco OS strut bar. BavAuto Black/Beige seat covers w/ black floor mats, M3 rep trunk lip, eBay front splitters.
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 06:46 PM   #13
Messiah62
Private First Class
11
Rep
129
Posts

Drives: 2011 335D
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Omaha NE

iTrader: (0)

how much do you think these would lower my ride coming from stock suspension?
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 07:16 PM   #14
B39 B58
Private First Class
15
Rep
110
Posts

Drives: 2016 340i / M Sport / 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Francisco, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckc View Post
Are you running run flats also or go flats now?
Switched from the OEM runflats to michelin pilot super sports the first month I had the car... much better
__________________
2016 340i M Sport | 6MT
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 07:28 PM   #15
Legato2057
First Lieutenant
Legato2057's Avatar
United_States
14
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2008 monaco blue e90 335i
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: San Diego

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Messiah62 View Post
how much do you think these would lower my ride coming from stock suspension?
The shocks alone won't lower your car. You would have to change the springs as well. I used the Eibach Pro-kit springs and it lowered it about 1 inch.
__________________
2008 Monaco Blue/Tan interior 335i sedan. Mods: AFE intake w/ scoops, AFE Exhaust, ER FMIC, Koni FSD/Eibcach Pro-Kit, Breyton Race GTS wheels w/ Continental ExtremeContact DW tires, Cusco OS strut bar. BavAuto Black/Beige seat covers w/ black floor mats, M3 rep trunk lip, eBay front splitters.
Appreciate 0
      04-28-2013, 08:02 AM   #16
srcstc
Major
United_States
82
Rep
1,365
Posts

Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NJ

iTrader: (9)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jakuum View Post
Thanks a ton for your review. This definitely cements my decision to go with Koni FSDs to replace my stock suspension with 66k miles. I definitely feel it driving around Irving lol. Where did you buy your FSDs from if I may ask? The price you paid seems pretty darn good.
This is where I just got mine ($635 shipped!!) :http://konimarket.com/products/bmw-e...shock-kit-1001

Best price I could find. No one even came close.

Better get em soon though cause it looks like they're currently on sale:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=KONI+FSD
Appreciate 0
      04-28-2013, 10:26 AM   #17
jakuum
Private First Class
United_States
17
Rep
187
Posts

Drives: SGM e92 335i M-sport
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DFW

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2011 BMW 335i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by srcstc View Post
This is where I just got mine ($635 shipped!!) :http://konimarket.com/products/bmw-e...shock-kit-1001

Best price I could find. No one even came close.

Better get em soon though cause it looks like they're currently on sale:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=KONI+FSD
Yup that's where I ended up getting them . Had them installed last week and they are awesome compared to my old sports suspension. So nice to not wince after the car has gone over a rough patch of road. Then again one of the rear struts wouldn't even rebound completely after being compressed. It was time to get them swapped out.
Appreciate 0
      04-30-2013, 10:33 AM   #18
adema24
Private
52
Rep
98
Posts

Drives: 228i
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: TX

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by srcstc View Post
This is where I just got mine ($635 shipped!!) :http://konimarket.com/products/bmw-e...shock-kit-1001

Best price I could find. No one even came close.

Better get em soon though cause it looks like they're currently on sale:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...light=KONI+FSD
I just ordered the last set they have! Guy said they will be backordered until September now.
Appreciate 0
      04-30-2013, 10:36 AM   #19
srcstc
Major
United_States
82
Rep
1,365
Posts

Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NJ

iTrader: (9)

Quote:
Originally Posted by adema24 View Post
I just ordered the last set they have! Guy said they will be backordered until September now.
Damn good thing we ordered when we did!
Appreciate 0
      05-13-2013, 07:59 AM   #20
greenbokchoy
Registered
United_States
0
Rep
4
Posts

Drives: e90 335i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bay

iTrader: (0)

Space Grey,

Where'd you get your install done at in the Bay?

Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      05-13-2013, 08:34 AM   #21
CALWATERBOY
Major
CALWATERBOY's Avatar
146
Rep
1,160
Posts

Drives: 2009 E93 N54
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SF Space Grey View Post
I pulled the trigger and had my dampers replaced with the FSDs. Ride height remained unchanged, as I wanted, and when I first got into the car after the change, I thought at first that the switch hadn't made much of a difference. The ride was still very firm, and the steering was responsive as ever. If anything, I felt like I was expericing more "jostling" from side to side movement on uneven roads, as if the suspension had gotten stiffer. But over the next half hour or so, I noticed the difference. Actually, it wasn't what I noticed, but what I didn't notice. Gone were the harsh impacts that made me feel like I was hurting my car. Gone were the shudders that made me cringe over bumpy roads. The car is anything but floaty--it doesn't glide over bumps and lull you to sleep. But the jarring bumps that made me wince before just aren't there anymore, or are greatly reduced. My dampers are actually damping now. Handling is as lively as before I think.

I might be nuts....had the same experience with Yellows, though did a whole suspension change at the time too.
Appreciate 0
      05-13-2013, 10:26 AM   #22
longhorn335
Private First Class
8
Rep
190
Posts

Drives: 08 335i Coupe
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Houston

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by adema24 View Post
I just ordered the last set they have! Guy said they will be backordered until September now.
I just placed an order and there was no mention about these being in backorder
__________________
2008 335i E92 | Sparkling Graphite | M-tech | M3 Lip Spoiler | Sport Package | Logic7 | VMR 19" V701 Gunmetal | 30% Tinted Windows | Cobb Tuning | P3 Boost Gauge
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:13 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST