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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Those with FK Silverline Plus Coilovers...Whats your setting?



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      08-04-2009, 01:52 PM   #1
Alan l.
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Those with FK Silverline Plus Coilovers...Whats your setting?

What do you guys have the front and rear dampening set to and how is the ride compared to oem sports suspension?

I want the ride to be as good if not better than stock sports if thats even possible. I prefer ride quality over handling at this point. Since the rear struts are a pain to adjust I want to get it right the first time around. I was thinking something inbetween 50-75% soft for the rears.

Thanks,
Alan
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      08-09-2009, 10:14 AM   #2
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75% soft in rear ( 1+1/2 turns clock wise from the full firm)
1 Full turm up front towards firm. (Aprox 50% Soft, because the knob actualy can turn 2+1/2 times)
After experimenting many set ups this is the closest I've come to stock.
The rear makes the greates difference. at 50% in rear I find it very stiff for highway driving, any softer than 75% in rear beginds to bounce.
Hope this helps.
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      08-09-2009, 04:21 PM   #3
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Thanks! So the comfort level is close to stock or better? I've read a few reviews about these coils and people claim they are more comfortable than the stock sports package suspension while handling is also increase by a huge margin.
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      08-10-2009, 06:03 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan l. View Post
Thanks! So the comfort level is close to stock or better? I've read a few reviews about these coils and people claim they are more comfortable than the stock sports package suspension while handling is also increase by a huge margin.
Yes comfort is close to stock in the softer setting. Handling is greatly improved however this is contingent to a good alignment. I have M3 settings on mine and love it, one thing immediately apparent is the decrease in body roll.
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      08-14-2009, 12:43 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavaria330 View Post
75% soft in rear ( 1+1/2 turns clock wise from the full firm)
1 Full turm up front towards firm. (Aprox 50% Soft, because the knob actualy can turn 2+1/2 times)
After experimenting many set ups this is the closest I've come to stock.
The rear makes the greates difference. at 50% in rear I find it very stiff for highway driving, any softer than 75% in rear beginds to bounce.
Hope this helps.
Bavaria330, after your review, I ordered a set... I havent received them yet but was trying to get an idea of what they should be set at...

Just to clarify...
Clockwise softens the rears?
1. Turn counter clockwise to full firm
2. Turn 1 1/2 turns clock wise from the full firm to soften to approx. 75% soft.

Thanks...
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      08-15-2009, 10:17 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turbologist View Post
Bavaria330, after your review, I ordered a set... I havent received them yet but was trying to get an idea of what they should be set at...

Just to clarify...
Clockwise softens the rears?
1. Turn counter clockwise to full firm
2. Turn 1 1/2 turns clock wise from the full firm to soften to approx. 75% soft.

Thanks...
yes now i'm actualy set at 1 3/4 soft in the rear which I like better, it is closer to stock, and 3/4 towards firm at front.
I do a lot highway driving and this is more comfortable.
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      08-17-2009, 09:07 AM   #7
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So would you say that even at full soft would the car still handle firmer/better than stock sports or will the car be way too bouncy?
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      08-17-2009, 03:06 PM   #8
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I will be adjusting to full soft soon, because on bad spances of freeway it is a bit abrupt. Will let you know
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      08-17-2009, 11:26 PM   #9
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Ok I just got back from getting these coils installed. Matt the resident installer here has done tons of e90/92's and everything went in smoothly. The only thing is that he said for the rear struts is 2.5 turns from full stiff (max counter clockwise) to full soft (clockwise) not 2 turns. He said he could feel the shock stop right at 2.5 turns so we did 2 turns soft in the rear and 50% for the front.

The car rides like stock so i'm very happy in that regard. I have to do more driving to see if this setting is good for me or not.

So can anyone else confirm if these struts are 2.5 turns from lock to lock?
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      08-18-2009, 07:55 AM   #10
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Trust Matt....he did many installs of the FK and is VERY familiar with it, if he told you that, trust him!
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      08-18-2009, 08:46 AM   #11
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yeah I looked it up on Koni's site and it says most of their shocks are 2.5 turns.
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      08-18-2009, 03:21 PM   #12
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This makes sence, because up front you get 2 1/2 turns so the back must be the same, eventhough the instructions say 2 turns.
I will be interested on your impressions on the highway at faster speeds, how those it compare to stock on those settings.
I was planning on doing 2 full turns in the back but I'm going to try 2 1/2, how much pressure you are running on your tyres?
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      08-18-2009, 03:28 PM   #13
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As of now i'm only running about 33-34 psi F and R. I have to bump them up alittle for NYC roads to protect the rims

Typically should we have the front dampers more stiff than the rear for all cars?

On my drive home from the install the ride quality felt very close to stock. My fiance didn't even notice anything different when she got in

When your shop installed your rear shocks the first time you said they had it 6 turns pass full soft? how bad was the bounce? Very noticable or barely? I asked my installer and he said when you go from full stiff to full lock you feel it click which is where you would stop.
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      08-18-2009, 05:44 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan l. View Post
Ok I just got back from getting these coils installed. Matt the resident installer here has done tons of e90/92's and everything went in smoothly. The only thing is that he said for the rear struts is 2.5 turns from full stiff (max counter clockwise) to full soft (clockwise) not 2 turns. He said he could feel the shock stop right at 2.5 turns so we did 2 turns soft in the rear and 50% for the front.

The car rides like stock so i'm very happy in that regard. I have to do more driving to see if this setting is good for me or not.

So can anyone else confirm if these struts are 2.5 turns from lock to lock?
confirmed
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      08-18-2009, 05:46 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavaria330 View Post
This makes sence, because up front you get 2 1/2 turns so the back must be the same, eventhough the instructions say 2 turns.
I will be interested on your impressions on the highway at faster speeds, how those it compare to stock on those settings.
I was planning on doing 2 full turns in the back but I'm going to try 2 1/2, how much pressure you are running on your tyres?
2 1/2 will be very bouncy, that was what i had before
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      08-18-2009, 05:51 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ontopofm View Post
2 1/2 will be very bouncy, that was what i had before
Good to hear from you. What are you set at now?
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      08-18-2009, 05:57 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan l. View Post
As of now i'm only running about 33-34 psi F and R. I have to bump them up alittle for NYC roads to protect the rims

Typically should we have the front dampers more stiff than the rear for all cars?

On my drive home from the install the ride quality felt very close to stock. My fiance didn't even notice anything different when she got in

When your shop installed your rear shocks the first time you said they had it 6 turns pass full soft? how bad was the bounce? Very noticable or barely? I asked my installer and he said when you go from full stiff to full lock you feel it click which is where you would stop.
That's what they say I'm stil experimenting, I think my initial poor ride was due to the fact that the rears were set at different points.
I did notice that ride quality is more noticeble on the expressway at fast speeds, on regular road at mod speeds is hard to tell.
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      08-18-2009, 06:21 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bavaria330 View Post
Good to hear from you. What are you set at now?
1 turn from full stiff, its somewhat harsh but too lazy to adjust it again
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      08-18-2009, 08:11 PM   #19
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50/50 is a great setting for the city...I have it set from initial install and I love it...very close to stock, drop softer though when hitting bumps is which I love the most
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      08-18-2009, 11:55 PM   #20
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most of my clients with FKs havent had an issue

Im waitin for Bknight to get in on the thread, but im sure with his busy work schedule he will see this months from now lol...

Scott (bimmer335i07) also has Konis, I think I left his in the middle, and his car rides great. Then again its only on H&R sports and Koni Yellows...spring rates arent as harsh..
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      08-19-2009, 02:59 AM   #21
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Hey guys, just got mine installed. Here are my settings: on the rear, from full stiff, I turned 1.5 turns. On the front, from full stiff, I did 1.25 turns but I will probably adjust to just 1 full turn. The front is a bit soft for me.

Counter clockwise = stiffer
Clockwise = softer

Always adjust from stiffest as it locks for both front and rear. To adjust the rear, push down all the way on the strut, leave it there and turn with an allen wrench until it locks. You will feel it lock as long as you are pushing the strut all the way down. This took me a while to figure out but all works well.

No clanking sounds whatsoever either!

Stock wheels clear without any problems.
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      08-19-2009, 08:18 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itsbrokeagain View Post
most of my clients with FKs havent had an issue

Im waitin for Bknight to get in on the thread, but im sure with his busy work schedule he will see this months from now lol...

Scott (bimmer335i07) also has Konis, I think I left his in the middle, and his car rides great. Then again its only on H&R sports and Koni Yellows...spring rates arent as harsh..
Yep never doubted your work Matt despite Dre's reaction when he saw you at the shop

Drove the car some more last night but mostly on local streets. I LOVE THESE COILS! I use to have H&R coilovers on my E46 and it was way too stiff for daily driving. The rebound on those were way too aggressive and everyone in the car would have the bobble head syndrome

Current 50% Front and 2 turns soft (80%) Rear feels great on local roads. Initial contact with bumps actually feels better than stock but as the shock does it thing it rebounds slightly harder than stock. It feels nice and solid.

I'll try to experiment with some high speed highway driving going over bumps and dips to see how this works. Especially with people in the car.

Alan
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