[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by jippii ensio

You are lapping nurburgring with stock springs with no problem.

Not stock OEM springs. Alpina (like me) is running with the stock Ohlins springs supplied with their Road & Track kit.

I believe they're actually manufactured for Ohlins by Lesjofors.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by jippii ensio

Thanks for your input. You are lapping nurburgring with stock springs with no problem. Some who are not even tracking their car are doubling the front spring rate. I don't get why people double the front spring rate. I've seen like +100% and +200% front spring rates compared to the stock, and the stock spring rates front and rear are very well balanced from the factory.

I agree. I know several people with the Öhlins kit, and the guy who installed it has a few ten thousand Nürburgring laps under his belt, and all agree that at least for that circuit there's not much sense in changing the springs. It may be different for other circuits which are much flatter, though.

One thing I've heard say is that it would be good to be able to change rebound and compression independently from each other. But that is far beyond my skills of suspension setting-up.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Not stock OEM springs. Alpina (like me) is running with the stock Ohlins springs supplied with their Road & Track kit.

I believe they're actually manufactured for Ohlins by Lesjofors.

I think that's what he meant. Stock springs from Öhlins as opposed to Swift springs that some such as Harold are running.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[swifty]

The springs that come with the ohlins kit, are they progressive or linear?

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by swifty

The springs that come with the ohlins kit, are they progressive or linear?

Pretty sure they're linear. The spring windings are equally spaced over the length of the spring, front and rear. See for yourself:

http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/products/bms-mi00/

[DallasBoosted]

Originally Posted by jippii ensio

Thanks for your input. You are lapping nurburgring with stock springs with no problem. Some who are not even tracking their car are doubling the front spring rate. I don't get why people double the front spring rate. I've seen like +100% and +200% front spring rates compared to the stock, and the stock spring rates front and rear are very well balanced from the factory.

The Ohlins kit is 60N/mm front springs which is 342lb/in. The stock front springs are 145lb/in.

The ohlins kit is 2.35 times stiffer than the stock sport springs in the front.

Interestingly they say their rear spring is 70N/mm, which is only 399lb/in. Thats actually softer than the stock ZSP rear springs which are 460lb/in.

[jippii ensio]

Originally Posted by DallasBoosted

The Ohlins kit is 60N/mm front springs which is 342lb/in. The stock front springs are 145lb/in.

The ohlins kit is 2.35 times stiffer than the stock sport springs in the front.

Interestingly they say their rear spring is 70N/mm, which is only 399lb/in. Thats actually softer than the stock ZSP rear springs which are 460lb/in.

Exactly. When you multiply the spring rates with the motion ratios, you get the stock wheel rates to be f 134 r 146, which is very well balanced. Now with the Ohlins spring rates, the front wheel rate becomes a lot higher than the rear wheel rate. The stock spring rates provide the most balanced wheel rates as far as I can tell.

[hobbyshop]

sorry to bring this back up, but was wondering about the swift springs, particularly in the rear.

stock ohlins in the rear springs are 400lb/in 10" in length, and i read somewhere progressive even though the springs look evenly spaced. the swift springs in rear only go up to 9" if i wanted the 12kg spring rate.

my question is: will the swift springs raise the car since it's stiffer, or would the loss of 1" actually lower the car more. i'm at max height in the rear and i don't want it to get any lower..

hope someone knows! thanks!

[nikitino25]

I had ohlins with the springs that came with kit and had same scenario as you, I had them at max height in rear and ride height was barely high enough.....was going to get swift springs and pretty sure harold at hpa said u could get 10" which I was going to get but instead sold the ohlins and got kw clubsports.....said also he could get some spring pads and plates too......I never liked how ohlins springs just sat in the susp arm metal to metal....I had a whole thread on these specific issues too.....search for it

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by hobbyshop

sorry to bring this back up, but was wondering about the swift springs, particularly in the rear.

stock ohlins in the rear springs are 400lb/in 10" in length, and i read somewhere progressive even though the springs look evenly spaced. the swift springs in rear only go up to 9" if i wanted the 12kg spring rate.

my question is: will the swift springs raise the car since it's stiffer, or would the loss of 1" actually lower the car more. i'm at max height in the rear and i don't want it to get any lower..

hope someone knows! thanks!

Send us a PM if you have specific questions.

[Ml3456]

When I put the Ohlin kit in my convertible I was worried about the extra 400 lbs of weight the rear has because of the top. Harold recommended 10" Swift Springs and it might be too much. Its higher than stock.

I was thinking of putting the Ohlin springs in but are you saying they are too low even if adjusted to max height? On a convertible this would be a big issue.

Thanks, ML

[nikitino25]

So you installed 10" swift rear springs and the ride height is too high? If so, the stock 10" Ohlins springs should work fine.

[Ml3456]

Nik, Didn't you say yours was too low with the spring adjusters maxed out? I got an extra 400 lbs in the trunk with the convertible and worried it might be lower yet.

Thoughts?

ML

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by Ml3456

Nik, Didn't you say yours was too low with the spring adjusters maxed out? I got an extra 400 lbs in the trunk with the convertible and worried it might be lower yet.

Thoughts?

ML

I went with 9 inch swift springs in the rear and ride height is perfect for me with plenty of adjustment range. I'm an E92 though.

[Ml3456]

Thanks Blast. Did you try the Ohlins or go right to the swifts. What spring rate did you use on your springs also.

ML

[Blaster400]

Originally Posted by Ml3456

Thanks Blast. Did you try the Ohlins or go right to the swifts. What spring rate did you use on your springs also.

ML

I went right with Swifts. 336F + 672R. I'm very happy with this setup. I also have M3 subframe bushings and other M3 suspension bits so that factored into my Swift spring decision.

[nikitino25]

Originally Posted by Ml3456

Nik, Didn't you say yours was too low with the spring adjusters maxed out? I got an extra 400 lbs in the trunk with the convertible and worried it might be lower yet.

Thoughts?

ML

I did have trouble getting the rear ride height high enough with the Ohlins kit springs but I think my situation was an anomaly. Most people didn't have this problem. I also did not use anything at the base of the rear arms where the springs sit; If i had, it would have been fine and in the end I was able to adjust it to a reasonable height. You can get some spring pads/thrust sheets for these which I would recommend; you're not supposed to re-use the stock spring bushing. I would just ask HPA harold to see what he recommends as far as springs and about the thrust sheets. Your extra convertible weight might warrant some 10" springs but I couldn't say for sure, just ask Harold...

[Akleifg]

Originally Posted by Ml3456

Nik, Didn't you say yours was too low with the spring adjusters maxed out? I got an extra 400 lbs in the trunk with the convertible and worried it might be lower yet.

Thoughts?

ML

holy crap.. the vert has an extra 400 pounds!!

my only issue with my setup is that I need camber plates to get my front camber back closer to spec. it's a DD for me so can't burn thru front tires like that.

looking into camber plats and toes, etc to finish it off (except for an LSD which is coming this summer).

[Turkish Mafia]

How many miles can these be expected to last before rebuild?

Any personal experiences?

[pits200]

Originally Posted by Turkish Mafia

How many miles can these be expected to last before rebuild?

Any personal experiences?

Depends on how bad you beat them. I got 70k out for my asts which is ridiculously long but that was highway miles and no track use. You should expect able to get 50k decently had driven miles on the Ohlins or that's what I'm guessing.

[Ml3456]

Update:

The Ohlin springs were way too soft for the rear in a convertible. Used 10" Swifts and just fine. Care has about 38,000 miles on it.. Rear Ohlin shock leaking after 25K miles. But $200ea to rebuild!! Expected 50K or more and was told by Ohlin the rebuild cost was $75 when I bought them a few years ago and asked about the spring strength for a convertible. They said their rear springs would work but not even close.

Replaced with Adjustable Koni's and working fine. Just a bitch to adjust because you have to remove the shock to adjust it..

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by Ml3456

Update:

The Ohlin springs were way too soft for the rear in a convertible. Used 10" Swifts and just fine. Care has about 38,000 miles on it.. Rear Ohlin shock leaking after 25K miles. But $200ea to rebuild!! Expected 50K or more and was told by Ohlin the rebuild cost was $75 when I bought them a few years ago and asked about the spring strength for a convertible. They said their rear springs would work but not even close.

Replaced with Adjustable Koni's and working fine. Just a bitch to adjust because you have to remove the shock to adjust it..

Yeah I was quoted that $200ish figure per corner as well. Kind of turned me off. Good to know about the spring rate - appreciate the info.