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TC Kline True-Match Coilovers
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09-09-2011, 05:58 PM | #1 |
Hellafunctional
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Now available for xi/xdrive: TC Kline True-Match Coilovers
All,
Big thanks to Erik Maxwell from TC Kline and Wayne Moubray and James Muskopf from Road Race Tech. Specifics: -Koni yellow, custom TC Kline valved, Single external adjustable -height adjustable -Choice of either TC Kline linear rate springs or others (Hyperco, Swift, etc for an upcharge) -Priced around $1800 Review: In a word: Appropriate Background: I use my car as a daily driver, but I plan on tracking or autocrossing it at least monthly. I need to be able to drive through snowy mountain roads as well as road courses. All the while I didn’t want to worry about a shock blowing up from a nasty pothole, or getting tons of slop from a setup that was too soft. Install: Wayne let me know that the installation was pretty cut and dry. The only area that required a little creativity was under the strut tower brace where the adjuster would contact the brace. This was a simple fix by pinching/crimping the underside of the brace to give some clearance underneath. No sweat. James Muskopf chose the spring rates for me (450/700 Hyperco). They also put in Vorshlag camber plates, M3 subframe bushings, and an H&R rear bar. The reason they only went to 700# in the rear was due to the nature of single adjustable shocks. They haven’t had luck running anything higher than 700# on any single adjustable shock. If you decide to run something higher, grab the TC Kline double adjustable. Since the RWD shocks are the same as the AWD, there shouldn’t be any fitment issues. Driving: Like above, the TC Kline coilovers are exactly appropriate for my needs. The ride is firm, but completely compliant. It absorbs potholes, expansion joints, and speed bumps extremely well. Before, there was just a sensation of slop throughout the car. Steering was imprecise. Bumps would unsettle the car and leave you feeling like a bobblehead. Braking threw you forward in a dive. Not anymore. Additionally, I have yet to hear a squeak, pop, groan, or any other “because racecar” noise. Every time I drive it, I have the windows rolled up and the stereo off to try and hear anything. Have I driven more precise, or more track-ready cars? Yes. But that wasn’t my goal. I’m living in reality. I have a 4000# luxury sedan…not a stripped Miata or a Cup car. This is absolutely a car that I could take the wife or clients in and they would have no idea that the ride was anything other than stock. However, it is a changed animal when you drive it with some anger. I love it. However, if anybody is looking to replicate my setup, I would advise a little bit more front bar. Wayne felt the same way. Wayne suggested either using the stock bar or the UUC bar and hacking off the ends and then welding in adjustable blades. Definitely the route I plan on going down when I get to it. To purchase these, I would recommend going through RRT. They have the install/parts experience, as well as knowledge of other suspension setups for your needs. For the hookup contact Wayne @ Road Race Tech: sales@rrtracing.com, 703-661-4222 Or you can go through TC Kline via Erik Maxwell: erik@tcklineracing.com, (614) 771-7744 Pictures to come. Last edited by Doyle; 09-14-2011 at 11:37 AM.. |
09-09-2011, 07:16 PM | #2 | |
Private First Class
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09-10-2011, 08:07 AM | #3 |
Racer 5
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Drives: '09 E92 335i xDrive M Sport
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: MD
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Back in late '09, I was talking with TC Kline in Ohio about doing a one-off coilover set but I opted for the KW V3 since it was a known commodity and I could get a vendor deal.
A few of my buddies with older BMWs love the TC. Hopefully they work well on the X.
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09-10-2011, 02:38 PM | #4 |
First Lieutenant
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Drives: '09 Jet Black E92 335i Xdrive
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Yeah, thanks Doyle! Finally! Haha..I'm sure it will have been worth the wait though. Waiting on your full report.
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09-13-2011, 09:06 AM | #6 | |
Hellafunctional
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Review is now up. I'll post pictures as I get them from Wayne.
Quote:
2-Price point: Since the only 2 coilovers that have similar features are the V3s and ASTs, the TC Klines come under them by $100s. Price for TC Kline is around $1800. Price for AST (with springs) is $2300. Price for the V3 (with the linear conversion kit) is $2700. 3-Reputation/Durability: TC Kline has one of the best reputations on the market. Additionally, they have been doing this for a very long time. I wanted something durable that wouldn't rust, have sway bar tabs shear off, etc. There is a reason why TC Kline is one of the most common setups you'll see on tracked BMW's. |
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09-16-2011, 10:29 AM | #7 |
Hellafunctional
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Pictures
Here are a couple of quick iphone pictures of the car. I know it's dirty. It can be dropped lower. The photos and the high offset of the wheels make it look higher than it is, though. As it sits it is slightly lower than ZSP RWDs.
I'm autocrossing it this weekend, so I'll report back with some seat time. It'll be interesting relearning driving after moving from a CTS-V to the xi! |
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09-20-2011, 08:58 AM | #8 |
Hellafunctional
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Just knocked out the autocross. It was a good time. Had a pro driver ride with me and he was impressed with the car. I had a hell of a time trying to keep up with the other STIs in the STU class. Learning how to drive with AWD is pretty fun. Huge change of pace. With that, I need more negative camber all around (ran with -2.5f and -2.1 r) and a little stiffer front sway.
Also, I just got some pictures from the install. Just in case there are still people who don't believe! |
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09-20-2011, 10:42 AM | #9 |
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Drives: 2008 Jet Black M3 Coupe
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yucca Valley, CA - Kelowna, BC
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Try adding a small spacer in front before you change the front sway. 10 or 12 mm should make your xi very neutral.
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09-22-2011, 08:45 AM | #12 |
Hellafunctional
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09-23-2011, 06:41 AM | #13 | |
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Quote:
I installed bilstein sport shocks with eibach springs, M3 subframe bushings and UUC front and rear sway bars. Love the handling. |
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09-23-2011, 08:37 AM | #14 |
Hellafunctional
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From my first post on the "end-all..." thread:
"For the higher rates (450/850), the UUC front and e93 M3 rear have great balance and roll below two degrees." That was just a baseline to build off of. Like I mentioned, there is the "paper" suspension engineering, and the real world. Those suggestions get you in the ball park. From there you go by feel. It's a black art. I used the H&R M3 bar for the rear. Since it is softer than the e93 m3 bar, and I'm running lower rear spring rates, I think the UUC bar is still going to be waaaaay too stiff for my needs. The only reason I think I need more bar is that I was getting alot of scrub and rollover throughout the autocross. Part of it is my skill (or lack thereof) in autocross. The other part is that it is still a 4000+lb BMW running only -2.5 camber up front. Driving aggressively on the streets/back roads, I can rotate the car extremely well at 7-8/10ths. It's the 10/10ths that I began to feel the excessive play up front. One potential my shop suggested is that it is the deflection in the sway bar and control arm bushings up front. It may give the sensation that there is more roll/slop than there really is. I'll give that a shot once my bank account comes around! Last edited by Doyle; 09-23-2011 at 08:49 AM.. |
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09-26-2011, 04:15 PM | #16 |
Wannabe Track Rat
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Curious about the vorshlags. Did you adjust them at the AC or leave them set? Have you considered changing them at the event or are you concerned about adding too much toe?
THX |
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09-26-2011, 05:52 PM | #17 |
Hellafunctional
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I left them as is because I wanted a baseline. I like only changing one variable at a time and that day it was tire pressure.
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10-17-2011, 07:50 AM | #20 |
Hellafunctional
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lol, yeah I'm still alive. I just didn't see that this got bumped. My bad.
I'm still pretty blown away by these coilovers. This is my first experience with TC Kline, and all I can say is that they live up to their reputation, and more. They are extremely well controlled, smooth, comfortable, etc. Perfect for a car that is primarily a daily driver. In the future, I may swap out the lower control arms for the M3 ones. At that point, I may switch over to some M3 double adjustable shocks. That way I have some more options for spring rates. But, I don't see the need for now. |
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10-18-2011, 07:36 AM | #22 |
Hellafunctional
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It has settled another 1/4-1/2" since I took those pictures. I haven't measured the ride height, but it is noticabley lower than the e92 zhp that parks next to it. The front has about 2 threads left until it is totally dropped. I believe the rear has some more range. I'm sure that you can use shorter springs if ride height is your main goal.
As it sits the I'm at 51% f/r weight distribution with a full tank of gas. |
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