[HP Autosport]

HP Autowerks, Inc. is proud to announce the new AST 4150 and 4250 Series Damper. The new design builds on the success with the AST 4100 and 4200 series damper and the recent wins in GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, including new technology developed specifically for GRAND-AM racing teams.

New for 2012 AST 4150s and 4250s with digressive valving and several other advantages over previous models. Shopping for a quality set of coilovers for your BMW E8x E9x 128i 135i 325i 328i 330i 335d 335i can be a little overwhelming. Many people turn to the forums to make a decision. The problem with this is anyone can post anything on forums. The information you get will likely be out of date and many people who recommend a coilover on forums do not have any direct experience with anything other than the coilover the are recommending and their oem shocks. If you look past all of the re-branding and forum hype you can make an informed decision.

Before you spend over $2000 on coilovers it's important to understand what you are buying. To know that you are getting the best possible set up for your application and budget you must understand the differences between the options you are considering. We strongly believe that in this price range AST 4150s and 4250s are by far the best option. These are Dutch made monotube coilovers with digressive valving. All other options in this price range (including KW Clubsport and Competition 2-way models, Bilstein) are twintube inserts, out of date linear monotubes or built in China/Taiwan. Monotube coilovers are superior to twintube coilovers in all aspects of performance. They provide a larger range of adjustment, respond quicker and deal with heat/heavy use better. Digressive valving is better than linear valving in all aspects of performance because it allows damper manufacturers to properly set up both low speed and high speed damping instead of having to compromise between the two. This means you get the best of both worlds. Instead of a damper that only handles high speed or low speed damping correctly, you get a damper that handles both of them correctly at the same time! These will give you better lap times than other options in this price range and give you better ride quality on the street as well.

DDP Technology Piston
Our latest digressive piston developed for GRAND-AM gives drivers and race engineers the best of both worlds. Drivers love the low speed damping response and body control, while race engineers love the “blow off” at high shaft velocities. When the rebound adjustment is soft, the damper curve looks similar to an OEM street shock profile. When the rebound adjustment is hard, the damper curve looks like a race shock!
This “Jekyll and Hyde” personality is exactly what AST 4000 Series customers want: soft street ride and race car track performance in ONE shock - all with the turn of a knob!

Lower Drag Seals
High performance seals are a challenge for any damper. They must balance friction and sealing ability while not impacting shock performance and not leaking; a difficult balancing act! While the seal was originally developed for GRAND-AM road racing, AST is taking our knowledge from the track to the street again. Newly redesigned seals decrease hysteresis in the damper and decrease seal drag over 50%.

Discontinuing Steel Shocks
In 2012, most AST 4150s will come with aluminum shock bodies. Strut bodies will continue to be built from steel, but all shocks will switch to aircraft grade aluminum. Economies of scale have allowed us to switch to aluminum without a large increase in cost of manufacture. For some models, this represents a 50% reduction in the weight of the damper (unsprung weight).

Structural Improvements
Several new designs proven in GRAND-AM racing will be added to various products on an “as needed” basis. All strut models will receive a new two piece top guide assembly that separates the dust seal assembly from the oil seal/bearing assembly. This two piece design is stronger in compression loading (bottoming out) and side loading (in the turn). Some models will receive weld-on stabilizer brackets which take the guesswork out of setting the stabilizer height and torque setting of the clamping ring.

Upgradeability
4150s will be upgradeable to 4250s! Using a modular build system, customers can send their shocks to AST at a later date and upgrade from a 1 Way shock to a 2 Way internal reservoir or remote reservoir system. Some models may only upgrade to remote reservoirs. An upgrade matrix will be published in 2013.

[Aridk]

Hi Harold

Will these be priced simmillar to the old ones and due they come as a complete set with springs and all, whats the difference between the 4150 and 4250 series?

And last is it track only application or daily driver also? Thx

Peter

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by Aridk

Hi Harold

Will these be priced simmillar to the old ones and due they come as a complete set with springs and all, whats the difference between the 4150 and 4250 series?

And last is it track only application or daily driver also? Thx

Peter

PM sent!

[tonyVCF]

Hey Harold - I'd appreciate the same info you sent to Peter if possible. Thanks!

[tom]

I would as well.

[dlouie87]

pm me with price please.

[TheJacka]

It's great to see Grand-Am technology trickle down to their street-car systems.


PM me with pricing & info.. thanks

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by TheJacka

It's great to see Grand-Am technology trickle down to their street-car systems.


PM me with pricing & info.. thanks

Anyone interested in the new 4150's? PM or email us to express your interest. We need a minimum of 5 sets for AST Holland to start making these for the BMW E8x and E9x chassis.

[pits200]

Harold, PM me a price, I have the 4100s and am thinking about upgrading. Price for 4150s and 4250s.

[dorifto88]

does anyone have these installed yet? I'm interested but would like to read some reviews

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by dorifto88

does anyone have these installed yet? I'm interested but would like to read some reviews

Read reviews on the 4100's, they are similar. The 4150's will just ride and perform better with the internal upgrades.

AST needs 5 sets to roll out the BMW kits.

[tahoerdr]

I'm one of the 5, deposit paid. Anybody else planning on joining in?

[nikitino25]

Interested, sent HP a pm for info...

[idspeedskater]

Sent PM for info

[Flyer]

Available for the XIs???

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by Flyer

Available for the XIs???

No, no xi AST 4150's at this time. However, if I can give AST USA/Holland a definite 5 sets order, they may make one!

[flip4335]

Harold,

Count me in if it is still available, and also need prices!

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by flip4335

Harold,

Count me in if it is still available, and also need prices!

For i or xi?

We need 5 people to commit for 4150s to happen on i models.

Xi version of the 4150 may or may not happen even with 5 people, that is up to AST. 4100 is available as made to order only.

[flip4335]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

For i or xi?

We need 5 people to commit for 4150s to happen on i models.

Xi version of the 4150 may or may not happen even with 5 people, that is up to AST. 4100 is available as made to order only.

335i

[nikitino25]

What's the status on these, did we ever get 5 people to commit. I would probably go in on a set for 335i....

[tahoerdr]

Any XI's out there willing to pony up on the deposit to Harold, please add your name to the list and PM Harold. I have my deposit in already. If we can't get at least 5 XI's within a month, I'm going to need to look at other options.

1. tahoerdr
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[turb0mik3]

Originally Posted by dorifto88

does anyone have these installed yet? I'm interested but would like to read some reviews

I was the first with the 4250s. I haven't been able to compare "times" yet because my car has been under the knife for basically the past year, haha. I can tell you that this setup is SOOOOOOOOO good!!! I did the infield of Cali speedway and I was the fastest car there. Great response, stiffness, adjustability, everything.

Harold, I don't recall if I wrote a review yet or not but I will after I hit Big Willow. I will surely tell the difference after that experience, hehe.